Robin “Buck” Torske of Jones County is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer and conservative activist, currently pursued by the Thought Police.
I will share a “Sea Story” about a lesson I got back when I was a boy-Sailor in the Navy.
One day, an old salty Chief Petty Officer saw me not doing my best and overheard my griping about the job at hand. He less than gently reminded me that while I’d volunteered to serve, I didn’t go into service for me.
I was there for “the taxpayer.” The aircraft I was working on wasn’t mine. The tools I used weren’t mine. The uniform on my back, the training I received to do the job, the very food I’d eaten at the chow hall, and the rack I slept in the night before weren’t mine. It all belonged to the Navy, courtesy of the taxpayer, and when I’d chosen to enlist, I’d stopped being “in it” for me. I belonged to the Navy; thus, I belonged to The People. He told me that made me a Public Trust. My service was a pact with others I’d never meet or know, and even so, they counted on me to do my best as they slept and went about their daily lives, trusting that I would do my duty. I’d been schooled.
I listened to that man, and sure, I was a little resentful — and proud — and full of myself at first. But it struck a chord, and I thought on it, and 21 years later, when I retired as a Chief, I was “piped over the side,” feeling pretty good I’d lived up to his admonishment and hoped I’d taught that same philosophy to others.
Because service to others — military, civic or elected office — is supposed to be just that — service. And it’s a Public Trust. The taxpayer writes the check and has a right to expect its worth and demand it be earned.
Well, I’m probably like a lot of you reading this today. I’m wondering where that sense of duty and responsibility is in far too many of the people in whom we have placed our trust. Where is their sense of responsibility to us and ethical, moral commitment to oath witnessed at their swearing-in ceremony?
The oaths they swear are two-fold — the words are to assure they understand their purpose and ensure they will carry out their duties. We did not elect them to have authority over us but represent us for the unified goal of freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
We, the people, are not their subjects. We are their employers and their bosses. Their roles and responsibilities don’t place them above anyone. Or above the law. It ensures all who swear are equal in responsibility. The oaths they swore have in common the words, “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same ….”
For every office-holder, remember this: There have been millions of ordinary citizens who swore their oaths and, without concern for their safety, security, paychecks, recognition, or demand for adulation, gave their very lives or suffered wounds, maiming and emotional pain and loss of friends to carry out their oath. Those people bled and died for the Public Trust and for us to remain a free people. I don’t believe the sacrifice of lives lost, those who returned with fewer or maimed body parts, and the families who missed life events while their loved ones fought overseas were for nothing. That sacrifice was intended to retain the freedoms offered to all Americans through the United States Constitution. It was never meant to support divisiveness with so many “isms” it’s hard to keep track.
Too many in government use their oath as nothing more than words on a piece of paper to secure their position. They use the Constitution as a tool to be manipulated for personal gain rather than the point to which our decisions are meant to be plumbed for a sustainable free republic.
Far too many use fear-mongering to gain power. These elected officials use fear to curb our right to speech and sheep-like groups (BLM, KKK, Big Tech, insurance, etc.) to stand in the gap for their personal benefit by creating cancel-culture, re-segregation, reduced access to goods and services. They use things like COVID as an excuse to establish executive orders, regulations, and budgetary adjustments to see our life with fear. They make us fear one another.
I often hear or read someone referring to people serving in Congress as “leaders.” Well, thinking so and telling them so will guarantee they’ll act like we’re their followers. It’s a death sentence for this Republic. Those we elect had better know we run the show, even if they don’t think so. It has to be said to them often and loudly, and when they go rogue on their oaths, then it’s up to you and me to be that “old salty chief” and put them straight.
