Family status does not explain it. Uncle Ricardo rejected wealth, comfort, and a safe ride for the duration of the war in order to be with his men when they faced danger. John Kerry, born to privilege, could barely wait to get back home in order to stab his fellow servicemembers in the back, an act that counts as “honor” among his constituency and who truly do not understand why there are those of us that look upon him as a loathsome, disloyal creature, never to be relied upon.

Family upbringing does not explain it. There are countless examples of otherwise good families that have a family member that is dedicated to every form of evil that they can find. Conversely, there are shining examples of people that have overcome terrible adversity to become successful, respected members of the community with nothing but their own inner resources.

If this essence of loyalty, of determination, of selflessness displayed by persons such as Ricardo could be distilled into an elixir that any person could have if only they would voluntarily partake of it, I do not think that anybody would volunteer unless they already possessed those same values.