PAforClark wrote a short blog the other day, and asked an excellent question: "I wonder. What do we still have in common?"  The following is one of the answers. And thanks to Kat for asking this be made a separate blog, and to PA for asking the question in the first place.

What we share is thanks to WesSubmitted by kaflinn on July 3, 2008 - 12:18pm.

We share a knowledge that with good leaders, great things really can be accomplished. Thanks to Wes.

We share the friendships that have developed over more than 5 years, with people we would otherwise never have known. Thanks to Wes.

We share a growing public voice, and a place express it. Thanks to Wes.

We share the self-confidence we developed in arguing, debating, sometimes fighting bloodily for and against each other and him, to use our voices to change our country for the better. Mostly, they are small changes, but small changes add up. Thanks to Wes.

We share the skills we've learned here that allow us to go out and help others willing to be those great leaders we hope they will be. Thanks to Wes.

We share the strength we've gained here, and directly from Wes, to question our leaders, and not let them off the hook until we get a straight answer, to hold them accountable for their actions rather than cower in submission, as though we've no right to ask "why?". Thanks to Wes.

We share a vastly healthier respect, admiration, and sincere appreciation for those who serve, and for their families. Thanks to Wes.

We share the renewed knowledge of what this country truly can be, if we're willing to fight for it, because we support somone who has shown us. Thanks to Wes.

This week, we've shared a front row seat to a demonstration of courage, strength of character, and grace under fire while the media created, then grossly perpetuated, a firestorm over the twisting of Wes' words, and their meaning, all in an effort to jump up a slow news cycle. And we watched that same media realize maybe they bit off a little more than they could chew. Thanks to Wes.

And this week, we've remembered there are more important things than our differences, more important than our own immediate events, more important than politics and the greatly over-rated virtues of political correctness...things like defending the honor of one we love and respect; of standing up for one who has never failed to stand up for us. We remembered if we sacrifice doing the right things, for doing the things we want, we're likely to end up with neither. Thanks to Wes.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad week after all. Thanks to Wes.

And maybe - in remembering all of these things - it won't feel like such a bad week for Wes, either.

Tell him thanks. Maybe send him a note with just two words:
"Thank you."