Carlton and I couldn’t be further apart on the political spectrum. I’m a conservative by nature and conviction. Carlton is a liberal in the best, most activist sense of the word.
He is above the talking points of politics and standard arguments. He’s in the vein of Robert Redford and Paul Newman in that he’s a man who doesn’t just talk about the problems of the world, he actually does something about it. He’s a warrior for what that in which he believes and I find that damned admirable. He doesn’t just sign petitions and hold up signs at rallies and mouth off at people with whom he disagrees. He acts and always had. That’s why I admire him.
In the few years since I’ve had the distinguished pleasure of knowing him, he has always offered a passionate defense of his beliefs. He never preached. He never condemned. He allowed his passion for his point of view come through in sober, rational argument. I haven’t always agreed with him, but I’ve always admired him for the poignant elegance he took the time to employ to state his point. He never got personal. He never got nasty. He had his convictions and let his intelligence and his point of view either carry the day or not. He doesn’t care if you believe him. He tells you to watch his actions and learn. And learn I have.
If everyone in the political spectrum today had a quarter of his passion and willingness to act rather than just talk about it, our country and our world would be a much better place.
In August, Carlton is leaving behind his family and the friends who love him to go off to a strange land to not only fight for what he believes in, but to make a difference. He’s not just starting a blog. He’s not just adding a comment to a CNN.com story or buying a t-shirt with a pithy liberal saying. He’s getting on a plane and doing something.
That takes more than guts. It takes conviction which is in God damned short supply in the world today.
Most people try, get smacked down and give up with a shrug. Carlton didn’t and won’t. He sticks to his convictions and does something about it. I respect him. I admire him. And I’m honored to not only say I know him, but to be able to call him a friend. His politics and his beliefs might not match yours, but he is an embodiment of what it means to be a true American: it's not enough to stick to your beliefs. You have to do something about it.
The organization he founded is: http://www.volunteerpositive.org/. I encourage you to visit it and support it if you feel so inclined. And if you don’t, I hope you’ll appreciate the effort, the dedication and the courage it took to found such an organization.
And I hope you’ll learn something about fighting for what you know is right in the bargain.
Best of luck, my friend. God bless you in all your endeavors and come back to us safe and fulfilled.
Link to Terrance's Blog
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