Stolen honor

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Congressman Vela’s decision to boycott the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States was disappointing, but not surprising. Citing objections to statements made by the president and their alleged incitement of discrimination against a group of students from Weslaco, Vela seized on the opportunity to jump on the boycott train, leaving the Rio Grande Valley’s proverbial seat at the table empty on Inauguration Day. The pettiness of his supposed indignation was at no time more evident than when Secretary Clinton herself, who was called a liar and a crook to her face, took her seat on the platform. After the most bitter presidential campaign season in recent memory, if anyone had reason to boycott the inauguration it was her – and yet she was present. Why couldn’t Mr. Vela represent his district at this sacrament of our democracy, the inauguration? I believe I can coin a phrase here to describe the reason. 

“Stolen Valor” is a phrase now in the law books used to describe when someone who has never served in the military puts on a military uniform or otherwise attempts to receive the honors and benefits due a veteran. Receiving such undue honor is a mockery at the sacrifice and risk our men and women in uniform take when they serve. That is why Stolen Valor is not only a social stigma, but also a federal crime.

I propose that there is another, similar kind of theft which our politicians are guilty of today. I call it “Stolen Honor.” Stolen Honor occurs when someone accepts a position of honor and enjoys the honors but does not carry out the duties required by the position. For example, a football player who flaunts his Super Bowl ring which he received just for being on the winning team, even though he never showed up for practice or ever saw any game-time action on the field, could justifiably be accused of Stolen Honor. But because our democracy is not a game, and the stakes in Congress have everything to do with our future as a nation, when politicians do this we are all in trouble.

The reason Secretary Clinton showed up to the Inauguration was because she understands that inaugurations are not political, they are a wholesome and virtuous exercise of a healthy democracy. They are on the same level as saluting the flag, or the paying of respect at a state funeral. Inauguration are above politics. They celebrate the peaceful transfer of power – something everyone should celebrate regardless of who is inaugurated. If Mr. Vela has a problem with the president then he should oppose him on the political theater, not during a solemn, politically-neutral celebration of our democracy. The reason Mr. Vela did not see beyond his genuine disgust of who would be inaugurated to see the greater significance of the moment is because he chose not to. As our representative, he chose to withhold from us, his constituents, our place on the platform. In doing so, he continued a pattern of enjoying the honor appertaining his office while failing to actually represent his constituents. Congressman Filemon B. Vela is guilty of Stolen Honor.

It is because of his intentional, conscious dereliction of duty that I am running for Congress and fully intend to replace Mr. Vela in November 2018 when I am elected the next congressman for District 34.

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