HOW, HOWARD, HOW

HOW, HOWARD, HOW

By Andy Weddington

Sunday, 27 October 2024

The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.  - George Washington

Yesterday afternoon Howard introduced himself. 

We'd not before met. 

He, about same age, noticed the subtle embroidered Marine Corps emblem on the left breast of my same maroon color shirt.

Howard said, "Semper Fi!"

Naturally, I asked, "Howard, are you a Marine?"

He shook his head while saying no and offered, "But I know a lot about the Marine Corps." 

Nor is he a veteran. 

I confirmed being a Marine, albeit retired, and said nothing about rank, specialty, nor duty. 

Within minutes his claim proved false when referring to Marines in berets. 

"Howard, Marines do not wear berets. Most likely you saw Army or Air Force."

He said he lived and worked most of his life in the greater Washington, D. C. area before relocating to North Carolina. 

Having lived in both locales there's plenty for small talk (should be interesting, I thought). 

After some chit chat about local matters, for some reason he decided to ask what I thought about the Marine general in the news and comments about Donald Trump.

"Howard, don't believe everything you hear and read. I don't know the general and never served under him but I doubt the reports accurate."

"By the way, Howard, where do you get your information?"

As expected, all legacy media (including PBS). 

He continued with a couple of statements about Trump that have long been proved false.

"Howard, what you stated is not true. You do not know what you are talking about." 

During our 20-25 minutes of conversation I repeated same several times; stranger or not. 

To his credit, Howard remained calm to my blunt, bold way.

I strongly suggested he visit X - where freedom of speech is actually encouraged and practiced - for the whole story of whatever topic. 

He's not interested in social media. 

"Okay, Howard, I do periodically tune in legacy media and measure their reporting against what's trending on X and other social media platforms. Fact is legacy media is not reporting rather they're censoring, echoing, editing, and shaping an anti-Trump narrative. If not aware, you cannot come to an informed position."

When Howard stated, "What about the insurrection on 06 January and the six police officers who died that day ... " and moments later said he knew nothing about Hunter's laptop and would be taking another Covid shot it was clear he had been gaslighted through and through, and it was time to wrap up the conversation. 

"Howard, you're not voting for nor against a candidate. This vote is to preserve the Constitution. One candidate is committed to supporting and defending the Constitution and one is not. For example, Kamala Harris is on record saying social media requires government oversight and regulation. That, already informally happening, is an attack on the First Amendment."

We never got to the more serious topics of  economics, border security and infiltration, dementia, incompetency, national security, etc. 

After a step or two away an afterthought so I turned saying, "My sworn duty is still to the Constitution. Many a man, and woman, has given their life for that Constitution. Think about that."

Mulling over that impromptu conversation since ...

How, Howard, how ...

is it possible to not be at least a little curious about the whole story when so much is at stake?

There's a lot of Howards out there - unwittingly but foolishly they've abandoned the Constitution. 

Imagine George Washington's disappointment. 

I did tell Howard, sincerely, I'd say a prayer for him; though one will not undo what's been done (to him).