It was only by luck and the blessings of God that my soldiers did not encounter an assault, that we did not run over an IED. And to dishonor our service by saying we're not worthy of being called combat veterans is insulting to the majority of men and women who serve their country honorably.
Interpretation
The speaker emphasizes the importance of honoring military service and acknowledges the role of luck in avoiding danger.
In this quote, Joni Ernst reflects on the experiences of soldiers, highlighting how luck and divine intervention can protect them during combat situations. She asserts that to deny the valor of soldiers who may not have faced direct combat is to undermine the honor and sacrifices made by all service members, thus advocating for recognition and respect for their service.
In practice
In a speech at a veterans' gathering to underscore the importance of service recognition.
In the fields of southwest Iowa, my parents and grandparents worked and sacrificed. Like so many Iowans, the American Dream for them was never about wealth or fame. Their dream was to leave their children and grandchildren a better life, with greater opportunity, than their own.
I'm frightened all the time. But I never let it stop me. Never!
I worked for suffrage for years, and got it. I've worked for peace for 55 years and haven't come close.
When violence against women is no longer societally accepted, no longer kept secret; when everyone understands that even one case is too many. That's when it will change.
I'm not afraid to look bad on the screen.
Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it's starting a new business, whether it's leaving home, whether it's getting married, or whether it's flying in space.
For the only great men among the unfree and the oppressed are those who struggle to destroy the oppressor.
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