Tough is as tough does

[Stinky The Clown]

Triangulation is strategic .... but it isn't tough.

Sticking one's wet finger into the wind and responding with appropriate rhetoric gets one air time on teevee ..... but it isn't tough.

Voting in congress in a way that satisfies the powers that paid for you to spend a career there is loyal to those powers ..... but it isn't tough.

Going along to get along is safe ...... but it isn't tough.

Demonstrating 'moderation' is wishy washy at best ..... and it isn't tough.

Promising to fight for what's right ... and then folding your tent at the first whiff of difficulty prevents your opponent from being angry with you ...... but it isn't tough.

Posturing for a cause and then walking away will keep you safe ..... but it isn't tough.

Walking into the lion's den and calling the lion a son of a bitch and then on second reading owning the statement yet again won't make you popular with the lion ..... but it takes toughness.

Refusing to apologize for calling the lion a son of a bitch pisses off the lion ...... and it takes toughness.

Walking the corridors of the lion's lair and poking your fingers into the eyes of the lion's synchophants makes you a target ...... and takes toughness.

Going up against the lion's apologists, in public, all alone, and in the lion's lair is risky ..... and it takes toughness.

Quietly serving your country for your complete adult life and then retiring and refusing to just sit down, preferring instead to work to make things better for your fellow man ..... takes toughness

Flying 26 missions over occupied Europe when half of those who went before you failed to return for supper ..... and then opposing a war ...... takes toughness (Thank God for you, George McGovern.)

Can we recognize the tough guys (consider that gender neutral) and give them a salute?

My tough guys of the moment are Paul Hackett and Cindy Sheehan.

Who are your tough guys?

And .... who are your wimps?