In the tenth episode of "Band of Brothers," recently promoted Maj. Dick Winters passed Cpt. Herbert Sobel on a street in Mourmelon, France, following Germany's surrender. Sobel had been Winters' training officer when then-Lt. Winters was at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. Then, Sobel's animosity toward Winters was so extreme Sobel filed court-martial charges against Winters for failure to adequately perform latrine duties. In France, Sobel exhibited the same contempt for Winters when he attempted to bypass Winter without rendering a military salute. Winters stopped Sobel and reminded him that "we salute the rank, not the man." Winters' reminder is apropos for Democrat lawmakers who refused to acknowledge President Trump's effort to enjoin all lawmakers in affirming the primary duty of the American government is to protect American citizens. Though every lawmaker had sworn their commitment to this duty during their office confirmations, Democratic lawmakers chose to express disdain for the man rather than affirm their sacred pact with the American citizen. Notably, military veteran Sen. Mark Kelly, whose service in uniform was exemplary, elected to scowl rather that reaffirm his sacred duty to ensure the safety of his fellow citizens. Those recalcitrant lawmakers should have heeded Winters' message to Sobel for the message they sent is that their commitment to the American Republic is "conditional."
