As most of you know over the last week many celebrities, including Ashton Kutcher have declared themselves devoted to public service and wanting to help America and serve President Obama.
I know that some on the right have mocked the videos as being over the top (and I will admit that some of the sentiment is a bit much) but I prefer to take a different attitude toward these pledges.
Speaking as someone who has loved his country for years and through a number of administrations I welcome their decision to serve. While we may have differing views on political issues we can all agree that the United States is a great country which we all love and all want to serve.
However I do wonder where these celebrities were over the last eight years ?
The same problems we face today were around for the past eight years and indeed have been around in one form or another since the earliest days of our republic. They did not magically appear during the Bush years nor did they suddenly need to be solved once he was gone.
I point this out because it seems to Mr. Kutcher that patriotism and devotion to country are like a comfy jacket that you put on when you want and then put back in the closet until the next time you feel the need. Patroitism means putting country before self, service before ideology and they do not depend on who sits in the White House.
I did not vote for President Obama, nor indeed can I say I’ve voted twice for any President in my lifetime. But regardless of my personal view of who is in power I have done my best to serve my country. Admittedly my own humble efforts are less than those of our brave men and women in the armed services, but I have done my best.’
I am glad to see Hollywood come forward to serve, and I hope that their service will continue regardless of who serves in power over the coming years.