"Surrendering the Field"

Years ago while in college I took a military history class. It was a very interesting look at war throughout history. It heralded the great strategic minds that have succeeded over ages past. Some particular battles were turning points. For example, a battle at Canne, France, led to the end of the knight as a war machine and the rise of the long-bowman as an effective warrior.

There was one term that has stuck with me over the years. It is a term I have tried to apply in my personal circumstances. You never "surrender the field" unless it is to continue the fight later on your own terms. Of course, some armies had to "surrender the field" or be annihilated. As some have supposed, its better to be a loser than dead. But these are extreme cases.

While watching a few moments of Good Morning America this morning, I was a little taken back as I watched anchor, Robyn Roberts, "surrender the field." Unfortunately in this case, it had nothing to do with putting herself in a position to continue the fight later on her own terms.

Robyn was reporting on President Obama's staged New Hampshire town hall meeting regarding health care reform from the day before. As she introduced the story, she referred to Mr. Obama as "Fact Checker-in-Chief." Now, I know I'm just a basic guy, but that sounds a lot like "surrendering the field" to me. By relegating to the president the responsibility of "fact checking," she surrendered one of the Press's most lethal weapons. So, the question remains: why isn't the Press fact checking the concerns of the American people? Instead all we hear is that the Americans who are acting all angry and obstinate at this August's rounds of town hall meetings have been whipped into a frenzy by talk radio or been bought off and planted by worried insurance executives.

Well, I say fact check it. Let's have a wary Press fact checking all the claims on both sides of the isle. I'd like to see them quote the health care bill that is being debated. Why haven't we seen such a thing? Instead all we get is Mr. Obama's denials (even though he has admitted having not read the bill himself). One Congresswoman in Missouri asked her constituency, "Don't you trust me?" It was a resounding "no!" Americans are worried about the runaway government all while the Press lays down its weapons.

If the Press refuses to do its duty to protect the American people from an unwieldy government, and instead drops their weapons and runs with the enemy, what else can a people do but put up their own fight the only way they can. Americans have been talking and writing and pressing their opinions to the deaf ears in Washington. So when a chance comes to express their opinion, they speak loudly during town hall meetings.

Call it what you will: unruly or uncivil. These boisterous Americans may not look flattering on camera, but how else can they be heard? How do you talk to the deaf? Congress continues to ram expensive programs down the throats of their constituency, even though the obvious majority doesn't support them. Well, all I can say to my fellow Americans: don't follow in the footsteps of the traitorous Press... do not "surrender the field." If we do, we all lose the battle... not only for ourselves, but our children... their children... and their children's children. Once this battle is lost, there's no turning back.