SMILE AND WAVE

FOREIGN POLLICY

Well, today was a big day. Got two governors and three senators to endorse me. I feel like I am in school again - “Do you like me?” Anyway, primary debate coming up; topic: foreign policy. Rumor has it that Europe will be the focus; they are afraid that I know too much about the Middle East and the other volatile places because of my experience in counter terrorism. Little do they know.

Brings back memories though… Wow, I was an arrogant brat when I was young. Maybe being the most active agent in Western Europe does that to you. Day after day trying to prove to smug MI-6 agents, KGB trained villains, and all the underground terror networks like the IRA and ETA that you know where each of them stand and that you could stop them if you only tried. One big game… where people die. Made plenty of enemies; not many friends. In fact there was quite the price on my head.

RUNNING

Running, running, running. As I finding myself running for office, I think back. I think back to the days when I would run free.

As a young boy growing up in the forest, I could dash through the trees and meadows fighting dragons, Calormenes, Normans, Nazis, raiding hoards, pirates, rebels, Indians, and all those who would dare face me on the field of battle. I would run against them leading a charge; I would run as if I was mustang running free; I would run with only my imaginary opponents to fear. I was always victorious.

Later, I would run, as a teen, freely around the soccer fields. I would run in circles. I would listen to my headphones and run. Other times I would run with my sister and we would see who could run the farthest, it was me (even though she was faster). I would run to workout my thoughts and prepare for fun with my friends. I would run to relax.

When I worked for the Agency I still ran. I would run at the end of the day though the park, as the sun went down and rise early the next morning to see it rise. I ran, summer, spring, fall, and winter. It was when running I would run into old friends and maintain close friendships. Running gave me a life that kept me from becoming separated from my fellow humans.

Still I run, but now I am not free. I do not run in the woods. I do not run in the on the field, I do not run in the park. Now I only run for office. I am confined to a set of duties. I have accepted the life of responsibility. My path is set, yet I do not run; I walk.

POLITICS

Politics is everyone wanting the same thing but violently disposed to do it there own way. On the trial today, after a speech, a man came up to me and said that everything the government does should be published for the people. He would not agree that because the lives of men, agents over seas, military personal, etc. were at stake, the government should withhold at the least some information. He said that he feared for his and his family’s lives more than the marine in Africa. His refused to trust those who have sworn to give their lives for him more than the forces of evil who have pledged to slay Americans who would also read the information and kill men, women, and children. Is politics worth it? I guess that I have always said if there is a problem, fix it. Do it yourself, if you want to wait for someone else to change things you have no right to complain.

PEOPLE

Well, another long day. Met many people whose names I’ll never remember. Also met several congressmen, and one congresswoman. So many people, then there are those who work for me, many names, faces, that I do ‘know.’ It would be better to say names and faces that I have stored in files in my mind. That is all they are. Raw data. They learn my name because they think it is important. They will tell their friends that they know me. They do not. Oh to have a friend that sticks closer than a brother, my brother-- he knew me. He knew me, not just my name but me. And I knew him. Indeed, someone I could trust. Now there is no one. So many people know me, yet no one knows who I am.

I AM ALONE

Since the death of my brother I have truly lived the life of a patriot. I now know what the cost of freedom is and do not want others to have to pay the high cost, but in the process of discovering all this I realized that it will take more good men and women to be willing to lay down their lives for others. In the process I have knowingly sent people to their death, for the freedom of their friends and family. They gave their lives, I took them. No, the terrorists took them. The enemy combatants took them. We all do our duty, regardless the cost. My duty is to lead. Lead the fight for freedom so that my brother and all the others, who will not return, will not have died in vain. To Lead and fight.