Honoring a soldier who could have become president

By Carter Bundy

Political signs aren’t common at funerals. I remember when Paul Wellstone’s supporters exhibited a bit of, to my taste, over-the-top theatrics at his memorial ceremony. But on Tuesday, I saw political signs for the first time in person at the funeral of Army Sergeant James C. Akin. And it felt just right.

Akin and three other soldiers were killed June 3 by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He was 23.

I agree that it’s hard to talk about politics and the devastating loss of young men at war in the same breath. In some cases, it’s inappropriate. As I was leaving the services at Calvary, I was leaning toward not mentioning politics in this column, instead focusing on James’ sacrifice. But from everything said in eulogies from James’ wife and close friends, I’d have gotten a good ribbing from James for not discussing how politics fit in with his vision of freedom, service and love.

Along with his family, faith in Jesus and military service, Democratic politics was a central focus of his efforts to make America and the world better. It wouldn’t be fair or accurate to leave out this part of his existence. Faith, family, service and politics were not only compatible to him, but essentially and unavoidably intertwined.

Sergeant Akin was born and raised in Albuquerque’s North Valley, and his faith was very important to him. To James’ mind, the commandments to love your neighbor as yourself, care for the least among us and act instead of talk led him to the Democratic Party. He told his wife, friends and political acquaintances that he intended to run for office upon completion of his military duty – at which he excelled. He also said he truly believed he could and would be president one day, as a Democrat.

So, flexing signs kindly printed by Focus Ink, many in the huge crowd proclaimed, “James Akin for President.” There were military lifers side-by-side with anti-war activists, all mourning and celebrating the life of a young American hero who felt so genuinely the promise of every person, and believed so deeply in freedom, that he put his beliefs into action at tremendous personal risk.

Even though, in the words of one speaker today, Akin thought Iraq was a “cluster,” he wanted to do everything he could to help the Iraqi people. He asked his wife to send individually wrapped candies and pens to share with Iraqi kids. He met every Iraqi in each new town with boisterous, friendly, Islamic greetings. He epitomized everything that is good, caring and generous about Americans. “Jimbo” Akin is an example of why the world still has a soft spot for us despite our frequent missteps.

But he wasn’t content to lead a life of military action alone. James also believed in a government and society dedicated to helping all. On the front of his funeral service program was a paraphrase of an FDR line: “Remember always that the measure of our progress is not whether we can provide more for those who have plenty, but whether we can provide enough to those who have little.” It’s hard not to see the influence of Jesus in the words of FDR or in the deeds of James Akin.

No party owns patriotism, family, freedom, Jesus

Some folks may disagree with Akin’s – and our military’s – commitment to the use of force. Others will disagree with his vision for a compassionate, activist American government. But I don’t think anyone doubts his commitment, sincerity and sacrifice. I want to thank James for reminding all of us that patriotism, family, freedom and the teachings of Jesus are not the sole property of any one political party, and also that they are thoroughly compatible with what many of us on the political left believe. In fact, James would, I think, say they’re inseparable.

As a small side note – and this is very small in the context of Tuesday’s events – Fred Phelps’ awful band of bigots were scheduled to protest the funeral. These are the folks who believe that all American military deaths are divine retribution for the fact that America doesn’t imprison or kill gays. Phelps’ Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church would be a nightmare were it not so weird and so far removed from even the conservative mainstream of America. But weird it is, and no more than a small side note will it ever be.

Sergeant Akin would probably revel in the irony of bigots drawing attention to the fact that our military defends a free country where, for the most part, we let people be who they are, where progressive, caring young men like Sergeant Akin are willing to die to protect their right to say whatever they want, no matter how bizarre or cruel. That is freedom. That is democracy. That is service. That is America at its best.

Thank you, James, for your life. Thank you, Akin family, for shaping him and sharing him with us. We of every political persuasion should be so lucky as to have someone of Sergeant Akin’s caliber in the White House. Akin for president.

Bundy is the political and legislative director for AFSCME in New Mexico. The opinions in his column are personal and in no way reflect any official AFSCME position. You can learn more about him by clicking here. Contact him at carterbundy@yahoo.com.