Military service, no matter how heroic, does not confer a permanent condition of praiseworthiness. A tale of two veterans:
One, a very senior officer, was a wounded, decorated hero, who died alone, unloved, in exile.
The other, a young soldier decorated for his service in a very short, spectacularly successful (at its objectives, whatever you or I think they should have been and weren’t) conflict, died in the company of professionals— at the end of a poisoned IV.
Benedict Arnold, and Timothy McVeigh.
Proof that one “oh crap” can wipe out a whole lot of “attaboys”.
Those are the wise words of 10-year FReeper stalwart ExGeeEye concerning Charles Rangel in this thread: Ben Stein defends 'hero' Rangel against censure (Rangel is no Superman).
With great humility I thank you for thinking enough of my work to repost it.