The greatest thing I hope to pass on to my three kids and what I believe every American hopes to pass on to theirs is a single inheritance: democracy.

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When I joined the Marine Corps more than 25 years ago, I had to answer a simple but terrifying question: was I willing to die for my country?

As the son of immigrants, someone who owed everything to this nation, I didn’t hesitate. The answer was yes.

Five years ago, I was forced to answer that question again.

When a violent mob stormed the Capitol, trying to overthrow our democracy, I had to decide: was I willing to put everything on the line, again, to defend this country and the Constitution I swore an oath to protect? And once again, the answer was yes.

I wasn’t alone. That night, in that room, Democrats and some Republicans stood together and said we were not going to let American democracy die. After witnessing the horrific violence, knowing the danger was still real, we returned to the floor and did our jobs. And because of that, our democracy survived.

The greatest thing I hope to pass on to my three kids and what I believe every American hopes to pass on to theirs is a single inheritance: democracy.

But democracy is not guaranteed. It only survives if people are willing to fight for it, protect it, and defend it. Just like we did that night.

To my colleagues who deny what happened, who minimize it, or worse who glorify it, think hard about the country you want our children to inherit.

And to you, John, I hope you haven’t given up. That’s what Donald Trump and the rest of them want. If we give up, they win.

I’ll fight for this country alone if I have to, but the only way we win is if we’re all in this together.

Can I count on you?

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Semper Fi,

Ruben


 

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Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.

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