Posted on 10/23/2005 11:17:14 AM PDT by USMC Veteran
Veteran’s Day, that is. I was scanning Michelle Malkin’s blog when I saw this.
Berkeley’s Veterans Day ceremony, scheduled for Nov. 11, was abruptly canceled on Monday because the volunteer organizing committee split over the political content.
At issue was a proposal by the chairman, singer/songwriter Country Joe McDonald, to have Bill Mitchell, a co-founder of Cindy Sheehan’s organization, Gold Star Families for Peace, as the keynote speaker.
You can read the complete article here.
Country Joe McDonald. A name that returns me to the Vietnam days. Somewhere in the basement or garage, I have a box or two of old record albums. One of those albums is Country Joe and the Fish. It has a version of Joe’s Veitnam anti-war protest song, Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag, recorded at Woodstock. The most popular aspect of this verision is the cheer at the beginning, which, in case you’re curious didn’t spell FISH. Hey, when you’re a teenager, you’re liable to listen to anything without thinking of its indoctrinating effects.
And it’s one, two, three, what are we fighting for don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam And it’s five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates ain’t no time to wonder why, whoopee we’re all gonna die
For everyone who has been looking for a connection between Vietnam and Iraq: here it is. The same pot heads that protested then and humiliatated returning American Soldiers are willing to do it again. They long for their glory days.
Come on mothers throughout the landpack your boys off to Viet Namcome on fathers don’t hesitatesend your sons off before it’s too lateand you can be the first ones on your block to have your boy come home in a box
I think it’s clear how Joe would prefer to honor Veterans on their day and welcome them home. Same as he did then. Actually, I discovered Joe’s newest song at his website. Yes, the website with great links like Pot News. <> Support the Troops is what Pot fan Joe calls his newest anti-war tune. I’m just not sure whose troops Joe supports.
Some day soon, don’t know whenWe?ll see the wounded women and menLining the walls of American streetsHands out begging for something to eat
That’s Joe’s impression. Veteran – same as vagrant.
Hey Joe, since you’re such a gifted writer and poet, maybe you’ll recall this verse from Rudyard Kipling’s Tommy.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!” But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country,” when the guns begin to shoot; An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please; But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool – you bet that Tommy sees!
Like Tommy, we see. Some of us old fogies also have trouble forgetting.
Joe is also proud of his perfomance as a witness in the Chicago 7 trial. The 7 started as 8, but Bobby Seale, Black Panther and murder suspect was removed from the trial. The 7 were charged and tried with inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He talks about playing at the Electric Theatre in Chicago. I was there more than once in my misguided youth. The hippies and yippies rioted, and Joe got his nose broken by a guy with a crewcut 3 years before I enlisted in the Army.
Come on all of you big strong menUncle Sam needs your help againhe’s got himself in a terrible jamway down yonder in Viet Nam soput down your books and pick up a gun we’re gonna have a whole lotta fun
Just in case you?re curious, I checked the Berkeley City Community Calendar and there are no Veteran oriented events scheduled on Veteran’s Day. So I went back and finished reading Joe’s latest tribute to Veterans. Do you reckon he would have played it at his Veteran’s Day event? He could’ve started with the cheer and it would have been like the good old days.
Chicken hawk, draft dodging, son Of A Bush Look at all the damage you did!American war in the Holy LandBlood for oil, not in my name!Oh, not in my nameOh, not in my nameOh, not in my nameNot in my nameAmerican shameNot in my nameAmerican shame
Thanks Joe, for not letting us down.
Semper Fi!
Godspeed my friend.
God Bless All our people in uniform Aloha Ronnie. Berkleley isn't any different than it was in the sixties or seventies. The $%^^ with them. God Bless America and All Who have defended HER Past, Present, and the Future to come.
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...While visiting us in Vietnam at our 1st Cavarly Division (Airmobile) Headquarters back in October 1965...
...a Young Senator TED KENNEDY told us SkyTroopers that the Anti-War demonstrators just firing up in Berkley represented a fringe of American Opinion about the Vietnam War.
A couple of weeks later we were immersed in the 1st Major "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of that war against Soviet-Backed Communist invaders from the North.
Not long afterward, KENNEDY & Berkley were both seen going a bit off the deep end ...forever.
(See 5th Photo)
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
(See "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Paramount Pictures Website)
http://www.WeWereSoldiers.com
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Young Sen. TED KENNEDY was escorted around our 1st Cav HQ by Division Commanding Gen. HARRY W.O. KINNARD, the originator of the famous World War II Battle of the Bulge "NUTS" response to a German ultimatum of surrender issued at Bastogne.
After our "WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle in the Valley of Death known as the IA DRANG Valley of November 1965...
...those of us who survived landed with our feet firmly on the ground, fully focused on what was real about the World.
But the America we had left months earlier to fight for the Freedom of others far, far away...
...was no longer there upon our return months later.
And those who fooled America into changing for the worse...
...are still at it today.
Only now,
...several of them sit in the U.S. Senate fixing to impeach our Commander in Chief BUSH in a new Time of War with our own Freedom directly at stake here at home.
The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.
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Because Sacrifice begets Sacrifice:
911 Lifesaving Hero RICK RESCORLA, R.I.P.
http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
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Thanks for the ping!
"Never, ever let people forget."
If I was going to have someone from Cindy Sheehan's camp come talk, I can see the point, but there may be some alternative.
You're crazy if you think I let people forget. I make sure my little class of first graders learn to appreciate those who have sacrificed so much for us. I had the local AL outpost come in last year on Flag Day. Instead of the 1 or 2 I was expecting EIGHT came. Those guy had story after story. Some were over the kids' heads a little, but they all got the message that thes veterans respected that flag a great deal and were willing to sacrifice all for their country if needs be. What a WONDERFUL experience it was. I will definitely repeat it this year.
I also try to help the students develop a respect for others such as those in law enforcement and firefighters. I often have the local sherrif and fire department come in. Many years I've had the FBI come in. Last year I added the US Marshals. My students loved seeing me chained up.
I may do but a small part, but with this small part, I will do what I can to be a force for good in my own community and to make sure that people do NOT forget.
........hmmmmmm a 8.0 on the richter might clean Berkley out!!!*grin*
"The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been." I'm glad to hear someone besides me saying that Aloha Ronnie. God Bless you and all of yours.
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Sen. BARBARA BOXER is now attacking CONDI RICE in Senate Hearings last week for bringing Freedom to the Middle East.
A young Anti-War Leader BARBARA BOXER led demonstrations targeted to shut down the City Government of San Francisco in the 1960's.
A BARBARA BOXER who was supporting our Terrorist Enemy, Communist Dictator HO CHI MINH, against us during the Vietnam War.
The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.
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What a sick city to make "Country Schmo" McDonald chairman of their Veterans' Day Parade.
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Anti-U.S., Anti-War BARBARA BOXER =
Pictures of a vietnamese Re-Education Camp
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts
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