Give 180 for Kerry's 180 on 180 for 180 this Friday (You'll have to read it.)

For Sen. John Kerry, this Friday, July 29, 2005, represents 180 days of maintaining a 180 reversal of his promise to sign Form 180 releasing his military records to the public. What's the problem?

Let's recap. During the 2004 election, Presidential candidate Kerry "reported for duty" and made great political capital out of his Viet Nam service for which he was lauded as a hero. (Forget that protest business with Jane Fonda.) Some people expressed skepticism and wanted to see the records for themselves. If Kerry was telling the full truth, he had nothing to hide. Wouldn't most heroes want their records displayed to inspire others? Well, most would, but Kerry didn't--and, many suspect that his reason was not modesty.

Well, after the election was stolen from him (he claims); Kerry went on the air to continue pushing his message, which had something to do with flip-flops. On January 30th as a guest on "Meet the Press," Senator Kerry gave into the questioning of Tim Russert and agreed to sign Form 180 to open his military records. This story is explained in greater detail and with links by Judicial Watch.

Now, how long does it take to sign and submit that form? Well, in John Kerry's case it takes at least 180 days or more--much longer than the short 48 days it took for him to get into and out of combat duty. Kerry continues to ignore requests again and again and again, and he ignored pressures to keep this simple promise. Oh, and giving selected releases to a "friendly" newspaper is not the same as your promise.

So, what's to be done when people want the full truth but see that Senator Kerry wants to conceal it? Well, first, you can forget it, because he's never going to do what he said. You can bank on that. Or, you could form protest groups like liberal activists and chant anti-Kerry slogans and march with misspelled signs. Or, you could do something productive and make it meaningful--but, do it with a symbolic 180 for that day.

What can 180 be? It can be time: 180 minutes, or 3 hours, helping a child learn or visiting with the elderly. It could be 180 seconds of prayer for our nation and its leaders. It could be money: $180 to a charity or a political contribution or $1.80 that you stick in the contribution cup for kids at the gas station. It could be 180 (more or less) words in a letter to the media expressing your position on Kerry's inaction. Try to find something meaningful in your life on Friday, and give it the 180 to acknowledge the day, but in a way that it does some good.

So, this Friday, when we recognize day 180 of Kerry's broken promise with our expressions of good and if someone asks you why you did that, simply say, "I'm giving 180 because someone else didn't." Oh, and pass it around.