Most of us have had the experience, at some time, of not GETTING deserved credit for some great idea or achievement. It's difficult, even embarrassing, to have to TAKE credit for yourself when others fail to give it. Slapping yourself on the back is demeaning. When there is no credit to GIVE, in the view of others, but you TAKE credit anyhow, you appear to be a fool and others wonder what you are thinking.
The killing of Bin Laden was an achievement which was accomplished after years of intense investigation and intelligence gathering and analysis by hundreds of people at all levels of the intelligence apparatus. The purpose of all this labor was to find and kill this evil. Why else would we have looked look for him all those years? Once satisfied that our intelligence was solid, military people, who had trained for years for this moment, were able to execute a flawless attack which resulted in the death of the number one terrorist on our list. Given the years of effort and the solid opportunity for success, what commander-in-chief would not have made the decision to go get him?
The credit for the success of this mission is wide-spread. The intelligence community, the military planners and those unbelievable Navy seals who performed a story book strike which scratched and satisfied an itch the world had endured for many years. None of these have ever tried to TAKE credit for this great achievement. They didn't have to because a grateful nation, the whole free world, GAVE it to them freely and in abundance.
Our President made a decision. Given the same set of circumstances, Joe the plumber would have made the same decision. It was embarrassing to hear him pat himself on the back while giving only incidental praise for the others. When he said something to the effect that those military were out there "for him", I could have puked. He is the commander-in-chief and they "work" for him, but they are there for their country, their families and to defend freedom.
The satisfaction in knowing that you had accomplished something worthy of praise, that is, you would have praised someone else who had done it instead, is enough. Praise and credit from others is good, but who needs it when you can be proud of yourself.
The killing of Bin Laden was an achievement which was accomplished after years of intense investigation and intelligence gathering and analysis by hundreds of people at all levels of the intelligence apparatus. The purpose of all this labor was to find and kill this evil. Why else would we have looked look for him all those years? Once satisfied that our intelligence was solid, military people, who had trained for years for this moment, were able to execute a flawless attack which resulted in the death of the number one terrorist on our list. Given the years of effort and the solid opportunity for success, what commander-in-chief would not have made the decision to go get him?
The credit for the success of this mission is wide-spread. The intelligence community, the military planners and those unbelievable Navy seals who performed a story book strike which scratched and satisfied an itch the world had endured for many years. None of these have ever tried to TAKE credit for this great achievement. They didn't have to because a grateful nation, the whole free world, GAVE it to them freely and in abundance.
Our President made a decision. Given the same set of circumstances, Joe the plumber would have made the same decision. It was embarrassing to hear him pat himself on the back while giving only incidental praise for the others. When he said something to the effect that those military were out there "for him", I could have puked. He is the commander-in-chief and they "work" for him, but they are there for their country, their families and to defend freedom.
The satisfaction in knowing that you had accomplished something worthy of praise, that is, you would have praised someone else who had done it instead, is enough. Praise and credit from others is good, but who needs it when you can be proud of yourself.
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