I have long known
that many of our FilAm compatriots are quite active politically, with some quite
vocal about their political leanings in their new homeland.
As further
information to be sifted in arriving at more-rounded political decisions, I
have also long harbored the idea of suggesting to them the unusual request as
hypothesized below.
Two very dominant
sectors in American society are the law enforcement community and the military
hierarchy and their command. Beyond
anything else, entry in both sectors is voluntary since all the members signed
up on their own volition. And the
typical and primary reason for joining these organizations with very hazardous
tasks has been the ardent desire to serve the country and the people, by
providing and maintaining peace and security.
Everything else appears secondary.
So we can surmise that we have there a good number of hardy and
patriotic citizens, with the best interests of the country in their hearts and
minds
These are big
sectors, the military comprising of about 1.5 million people from active and
reserve categories, and law enforcement totaling about 700K members. All in their productive years and prime
voters, so forming quite a formidable constituency. And it will be noted many from the military
cross over to law enforcement
All of them under
the strict control and command of the highest executive officer of the political
unit they belong to, whether the mayor of the city, the governor of the state,
or the president of the country. They
are all necessary tools of the executive department of the political unit in
the discharge of its duties, and as such needless to say, they have to be above
politics, especially partisan politics.
They cannot be otherwise given the very sensitive relationship they
possess with the corresponding city executive.
Still we are sure
deep down, they do have their political ideologies and their choices of
candidates that best exemplify their noblest goals. Choices we surmise informed by their intimate
contacts or interaction with their executive leaders.
One wonders then
how many of our compatriots have family members, or other relatives, or simply
close acquaintances who are connected or may have previously served under any
of the two groups? It would be nice to
suggest to them to find out from them what and how they feel about the current
politics. They could be reticent about
it given its delicate nature, but one is confident that the conversation being
premised in confidence, they would be coaxed into revealing their thoughts.
It would be quite
revealing to find out what the results are, and maybe quite divergent from the
pictures mainstream media has been painting.
No rush. But do try to find out. And ask clarifying questions about their
choices.