Having been born in 1952, I remember vividly the extraordinary Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa. Only heaven knows what happened to the courageous young man (assuming a man) who defied the column of tanks in Tianamen Square. We watched in amazement and in horror.

In the United States today, it is no overstatement to say we face the same grave, oppressive authoritarian future if we fail to act equally courageously - with minimal personal danger to do so, I might add.

Every year at this time I'm reminded of the patriotic love for our country that was carried out, person by person, wave after wave, on the beaches of France and throughout Germany. Those men and women saved many countries - including ours - from Hitler's hand. Every citizen at home marshalled whatever resources were available to support that extraordinary generation of men and women.

The shallow behavior borne of ignorance, of such a large percentage of Americans who can think of nothing but self-pity and retribution toward their own government, is sickening. Whether they deserve to living a democratic republic is debatable.

We just need to go win this thing in November. All hands on deck.