strange, sad, sorry...
Posted on 12/02/2004 8:10:17 PM PST by moonpie57
Why do we continue to fly the Vietnam POW/MIA flag when all veterans of that war have been accounted for?
In front of every post office in the state of Connecticut hang at least two flags: the flag of the United States and the Vietnam POW/MIA flag. You probably know the POW/MIA flag, seen often on bumper stickers. It's a black silhouette of a man, with barbed wire and a guard tower in the background, above the legend, "You are not forgotten." This particular design is, in fact, recognized by a federal law. And the display of the flag is required at certain places--like post offices, national cemeteries, and major military installations--on certain special days, like Independence Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day. A federal law passed in 1998 and signed by President Clinton requires that this flag be flown.
At first, flying this flag may seem like a good idea; it honors veterans and reminds us of those who don't come home from war. But I hope I can persuade you that this flag is a more complicated symbol, one that we should question as well as honor.
I honor veterans. Veterans defended our country so that the rest of us could stay home and rest, peacefully, in the company of our families. Too many people (especially liberals) caricature the military, dismissing an institution that has been at the fore of racial integration and the promotion of social class mobility (even if I think the military's position on homosexuality is misguided).
But I believe that this flag may be the wrong way to honor veterans, for two reasons.
First, the issue of prisoners of war and missing-in-action soldiers is a partisan political tool, a leftover from Cold War, Reagan-era posturing. The hatred of communism--which I share--led many to conclude that Vietnam must still be harboring American soldiers. The Rambo movies, with their wacky conspiracy-mongering, didn't help.
This flag became a part of that battle, a battle waged even after after 1992, when a bipartisan Senate commission led by Sens. John Kerry and John McCain, found (in the words of its report) "no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia."
The committee--comprising conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats--took hundreds of depositions; questioned government officials, both American and Vietnamese, who had served in the war; and traveled to Vietnam and Laos to inspect prisons, interrogate officials, and read through records. And they found no evidence of POWs or MIAs.
I know that our government lies to its people, a lot. I respect anyone who is skeptical of power, and I am glad that veterans' groups forced our leaders to really grapple with this issue. And it's impossible ever to know the whole truth. But on this issue we've come about as close as we can. And now that we have re-established ties with Vietnam, and Americans travel there relatively freely, it is more unlikely than ever that soldiers are being held captive.
But to those of you who have weighed the evidence and sincerely believe that POWs remain, I say this: Those soldiers already have a flag. It's the American flag. The Stars and Stripes belongs to all of us. And the American flag is also the flag of Vietnam vets who made it home-- and Korea vets and World War II vets and veterans of the Gulf War, plus veterans of smaller excursions, like Panama and Grenada. It's the flag of Japanese-Americans interned during World War II and Southerners descended from Confederate soldiers. It's the flag of gay rifle-owners and Asian-American poetry slam champions.
(It's also the flag of today's soldiers, who--like Vietnam veterans--run the risk of being abandoned by their government. President Bush is paying them too little, forcing them to work too long, and lying to them about the reasons for his decisions. One way to honor Vietnam vets is to take seriously a lesson of that war: Even as we question our leaders, we must do right by our soldiers.)
So I would prefer to let the American flag stand for all of these difficult truths and emotions. Especially on federal property. The proliferation of symbols can be a bad thing: Seeing too many symbols makes us indifferent to them all. Imagine if every war's veterans had a flag on Federal Plaza, on Church Street in New Haven. All those flags would start to blend together into a big piece of public art, divorced from any original meaning.
Postmasters in Connecticut all fly the POW flag every day--much more often than the law requires. "We're in a war, we honor our veterans," says Postal Service spokesman Carl Walton. "We have a huge veteran work force, so it's as much a tribute to them as anything." Well, I honor those veterans, too--and I join in welcoming home our newest veterans, Connecticut's men and women serving in Iraq. And I believe that our public squares belong to those Gulf veterans, and all the other veterans, and all of us. And together, we have a flag.
Fax 203-787-1418 Email: editor@newhavenadvocate.com
Letters to the editor are limited to 250 words
I haven't forgotten.
We have a POW/MIA from this war:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1292780/posts
So...
Can this author explain why anyone would bother to have those rainbow flags and bumper stickers?
So...
Can this author explain why anyone would bother to have those rainbow flags and bumper stickers?
ping
"Veterans defended our country so that the rest of us could stay home and rest, peacefully, in the company of our families."
I don't think I've ever done that, well maybe for a few hours at a time. As usual I just want to be free, free of my family if I chose and free to work, which I used to love and still must do. "Pursue happiness" is the phrase, not "rest, peacefully". What a lazy sod this guy really is.
To paraphrase Basil Faulty: Is that what made America great? Peaceful rest? You lolling about all day?
I think not.
Well, the author seems well intentioned, I guess we all know where that leads.
Actually, having a flag for every war, conflict and "police action" blended together down a major Washington boulevard in a huge piece of public art might not be a bad idea.........
This dumbass apparently hasn't heard of Matthew Maupin, has he?
I also received this email from Lynn O'Shea about Matt Maupin:
They're planning to do it again.... According to the article below, the Pentagon is considering a change in status for Matt Maupin from captured to KIA/BNR. Read the articles and send the emails, but add this one to the list
president@whitehouse.gov
Note: the links in this article will send you to sites that will tell you how you can email each of the Senators and congressmen.
Also remember even the Army could not determine if the video of the purported execution was real or not. We can not allow the govt. to declare Maupin dead without any evidence.
Lynn
Maupin's Family Fighting Death Declaration
Family Opposes Pentagon Plan, Asks Help In Writing To Lawmakers
POSTED: 6:00 pm EST December 2, 2004
UPDATED: 6:48 pm EST December 2, 2004
PFC. MATT MAUPIN
The Pentagon is considering changing the Matt Maupin's status from "captured" to "deceased, body not recovered." And the missing soldier's family is asking you to help them fight it.
Military officials now say they have little reason to doubt the person shown being executed on a tape last summer is the Clermont County native.
The Maupin family fears a change in status would mean the search for their son is over.
They're starting a writing campaign to lawmakers to try to keep Matt's case open.
If you want to help, here's where to send your email:
Ohio Residents
To email Senator George Voinovich, visit his web site at http://voinovich.senate.gov
To email Senator Mike DeWine, visit his web site at http://www.dewine.senate.gov
Congressman Steve Chabot, http://johnboehner.house.gov
To email Congressman John Boehner, http://johnboehner.house.gov
To email Congressman Rob Portman, http://portman.house.gov
Kentucky Residents
To email Senator Jim Bunning, visit his web site at http://wwwbunning.senate.gov
To email Senator Mitch McConnell, visit his web site at http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov
To email Congressman Ken Lucas, http://house.gov/kenlucas/
Indiana Residents
To email Congressman Baron Hill, http://wwwhouse.gov/writerep
Lynn O'Shea
Director of Research
National Alliance of Families
for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen
World War II - Korea - Cold War - Vietnam - Gulf War
My reply to the editor:
Your rather brilliant idiot Openheimer doesn't put much thought or research into what he writes, does he?
The POW/MIA flag is not exclusive to Vietnam. It honors the missing from all wars, including our most recent MIA, Matthew Maupin. Yes, he's still missing. And President Bush is briefed every day on his status.
In case Openheimer was unaware, the remains of several WWII MIAs were recently found in New Guinea. There are others turning up every year in Korea and Vietnam.
Openheimer is truly a dumbass.
The guy's lying his liberal ass off here. He has to say that because Americans will NOT put up with the liberals disrespecting our troops anymore.
In my opinion some 2500 Americans were left in Vietnam. SOme were prisoners, others were missing in action and others were AWOL, or deserters.
Periodically a lone prisoner would be released in an Eastern Bloc capitol and silently wisked back to America.
Many strange stories and much intrigue. But one General I spoke with, one very familiar with all the players and information said that if he had any say--no young man should join the service because the government cannot honor its commitments to its service members in making certain every effort is made to account for its men.
(It's also the flag of today's soldiers, who--like Vietnam veterans--run the risk of being abandoned by their government. President Bush is paying them too little, forcing them to work too long, and lying to them about the reasons for his decisions. One way to honor Vietnam vets is to take seriously a lesson of that war: Even as we question our leaders, we must do right by our soldiers.)
Oppie is stuck in his own Vietnam quagmire. The quagmire being that Vietnam was the left's zenith and they been bummed out ever since with being has beens.
What ever the facts about whether any are left alive in Viet Nam, there are still missing...even if "just" their bodies.
As I see it, it's all about "all present OR ACCOUNTED FOR"...leave no man (woman) behind.
When I see that flag, to me, it stands for every soldier that was never found -- alive or dead -- since we became a country (including Viet Nam) and should fly at all times.
The American Flag can stand for all those who returned -- alive or dead, or are buried where we know where they are.
But, these missing are a part of my family. They are the fathers and brothers, mothers and sisters -- sons and daughters -- of my country who gave it all so we are ALL free...but never go their due.
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