Posted on 01/29/2007 7:42:23 PM PST by smoothsailing
Aquarius Sunset
by Cal Thomas Posted Jan 30, 2007
The ideologically decrepit anti-war crowd returned to Washington last weekend for a reunion. The older among them abandoned hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Vietnamese to imprisonment, torture, death and re-education camps. Their demonstrations were encouraging to the communist Vietnamese, sending the message that America lacked the will to win. These aging hippies and their progeny now want to do the same to millions of Iraqis, who have democratically elected their leaders.
This is the sunset of the “Age of Aquarius.” Yesterday, when they were young, they were the pampered generation that eschewed self-control for self-indulgence. They were (and are) so vain; they probably thought the world was about them. They were the redeeming generation that would save their parents from their sins by ending war, curing racism and cleaning the air and water. Their failure has long been obvious to all but them. To them, intentions, not success, are paramount. Because they believe their intentions are noble, they absolve themselves from the negative consequences of their actions.
As with the Vietnam anti-war protests, several of the same Hollywood actors spoke against the effort to make Iraq a stable and independent nation. Hollywood is the land of make-believe where love means never having to say you’re sorry and acting means never having to take responsibility for your words and behavior, which are written and directed by others. These stars live behind gates with security alarms and guards who protect their privileged lives.
Is there anyone else’s freedom these celebrities would defend? Do any other lives have value beyond their own? Since none of the older demonstrators took responsibility for what occurred in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, would any like to pledge now that if their protests help embolden the insurgents and Taliban to fight on until Iraq is in their clutches they will accept blame?
Why do these people always oppose America’s efforts to defend itself and others? Why did they not protest in Washington, or in Baghdad, when Saddam Hussein was practicing genocide and his sons were raping and torturing their fellow Iraqis? Will we ever see an anti-Taliban protest? How about a demonstration against suicide bombers, or even those who produce and detonate roadside bombs in Iraq? Why do these people think only their country is evil?
This is the doctrine of the privileged and the pampered. It is salvation on the cheap. It makes the protestors feel good, even righteous, but does nothing to solve the problem, which isn’t the United States, but a very real enemy that intends to kill us. Unlike Vietnam, the Islamofascists won’t leave us alone if we leave Iraq before stability is established. They will send more fanatics to our shores. Watch the TV drama “24” for what could be our prophetic and imminent future with a nuclear device exploding in major cities. Having concluded we don’t have the stomach to fight them on their turf, they might understandably deduce we are even less willing to fight them on ours.
While President Bush may have chosen Iraq and Afghanistan to counterattack in this war, the war would have come -- and, indeed, had already come prior to the attacks on these two countries -- had he decided to do nothing.
“Peace is controversial,” said Jesse Jackson last weekend. His comment has about as much relevance in an age of terror as a declaration against lust. Peace doesn’t result when America does nothing to confront evil. Peace comes through facing and defeating evil wherever and whenever we can. If freedom is not on the march against tyranny, then tyranny will be on the march against freedom. Neither is static. Peace doesn’t “happen.” To the extent peace can be attained on earth, it arrives through strength and willpower.
Forty years ago, the protestors pledged to achieve:
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
They liberated neither their minds, nor the world. The Vietnamese who were murdered were not liberated. Today’s terrorists will not be defeated if we embrace the inane doctrines of the protestors.
A better song for them might be Brenda Lee’s “I’m Sorry,” the first part of which goes:
“I’m sorry, so sorry
That I was such a fool…”
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Copyright © 2007 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.
Well....I have to hand it to ole Cal...this one is an A+!
PING
ping
Good column by Cal.
I know...I see him on Newswatch on Fox on Saturday nights...and most of the time he makes me mad.
This is a good column.
I agree, on both counts.
WOW!! Did Cal Thomas ever hit a grand slam home run with this article, especially with the despicable Hanoi Jane, Sarandon and Jackson.
Thank you Mr. Thomas.
PING
I have some of these hippie-elder types in my family. My brother tried to start an argument on Sunday but I stopped him with 'do you feel any compassion for the millions of innocent people that were slaughtered after we pulled out of Vietnam because the Democrats cut off funding'? No answer. Next question-'will you feel any responsibility for the tens of thousands that will likely be slaughtered if we leave Iraq before it's stabilized'? No answer.
Great column by Cal Thomas! He sure has the anti-war crowd pegged.
"I'm Sorry" is the theme song for this bunch, but if they would have their way, many won't be left to sing it.
AMAZINGLY accurate!!!!!!!...Describes the liberal mind set to a "T"!!!...... A thoughtful person could read this and honestly question HIMSELF.....A liberal will read this and IMEDIATELY go into attack mode...for to think about it and question himself would devastate his being because deep in his brain..the truth is there...too painful to visit...
Ping!
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NEVER FORGET
The Age of AQUARIUS =
Pictures of a vietnamese Re-Education (SLAVE LABOR) Camp
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts
NEVER FORGET
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NEVER FORGET BTTT
Brilliant article! Cal puts into words all the same observations we have been making about the folks who take no responsibility for their actions, because they "believe" they are doing the right thing!
*****
This is the sunset of the “Age of Aquarius.” Yesterday, when they were young, they were the pampered generation that eschewed self-control for self-indulgence. They were (and are) so vain; they probably thought the world was about them. They were the redeeming generation that would save their parents from their sins by ending war, curing racism and cleaning the air and water. Their failure has long been obvious to all but them. To them, intentions, not success, are paramount. Because they believe their intentions are noble, they absolve themselves from the negative consequences of their actions.
Um, no. No they don't, and many are only learning about it now. At the time they weren't paying attention because they'd stomped their feet, threw a tantrum, and the spoiled brats got their way.
That's all that mattered.
He's rather wise.
Nah, I think most of them were stoned or tripping back then. They really didn't care about the people, it was about hating the Republicans even then.
Well then, what the hell was that sick, self-righteous exhibition of her's over the weekend.
That woman should have been in jail long ago. She will constantly be a 16 year old girl.
Asking a lib "how do you feel about..." is the best way to engage their brain, rather than trying to have a logical discussion.
Because they base all of their actions on their feelings, such a question does not result in a usual immediate hostile rebuttal, but instead, causes them to pause - like your relative did.
I am trying to be the Johnny Appleseed of teaching people how to talk to a liberal. LOL! They cannot handle logic, which seems so normal for conservatives.
He knows how to have a good time? Hmmmm. Doesn't strike me that way, but hey, he's just not my type but I usually like his opinions.
Perhaps your leftist relatives are different than mine. The ones I know are shallow, selfish, spoiled brats.
So old Hanoi Jane surfaced again!
Funny story about her: During the filming of the movie "Gettysburg," Ted Turner's limo pulled up and she got out to watch a battle scene being shot. The lead reenactor spotted her and marched over 1,000 troops back to their camp. Turner went to the guy (who had a POW/MIA flag flying over his tent) and asked what was wrong.
Reenactor Colonel says, "Get that b!tch off the set!"
Turner responds, "You realize that she is my wife."
Reenactor responds, "Yeah. Get that b!tch off the set or we don't go back. We're burning daylight here."
Turner leaves with Jane in the limo, a studio flunky politely informs the Colonel that Mr. & Mrs. Turner have left the area. The reenactors marched back out to the field and the filming resumed.
Bingo!
They are all vacant fools ........ Saranson. Penn, Fonda, all of them.
How many of these protesters, democrats, and other stupid young people even know what the end result of us leaving Vietnam was?
Ask them what happened, were people slaughtered? imprisoned? tortured? Do you still think stopping the war was a great "victory"
American politicians are weak willed and the media runs public opinion, and de facto, the government.
Did you really think it was possible that the left and the media would be able to shift public opinion against the War on Terror? I did.
On 9/11 and after I was spitting at the television with all this "We're United" "We're One America Today" bullsh!t, I never believed it for a second, I knew the traitors would show their true colors.
Like all the other trash that was there, with Fonda it's still all about her.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
****
I will never forget, or forgive, a schoolmate of mine who, when asked about the millions killed by the Pol Pot regime, said that she had not known about it. She was a Catholic Charities social worker, then a Baltimore City council member, then a US Congressman, a total sycophant of Teddy Kennedy, and if he said there were no negative results to cutting off defense funds for the South Vietnamese, then that was the story she was going to stick with!
Now she is a US Senator, and I bet she still denies that we bear any responsibility for the Vietnamese boatpeople or the killing fields in Cambodia and Laos.
Hmmmm. The shoe fits pretty well. Mine call themselves 'true pacifists'. I once asked one of them 'if a man were assaulting your daughter, wouldn't you try to kill him?' and she said 'no'. I then said, 'Gosh, then I hope I'm around if any man ever tries to assault her'. I would not hesitate to protect my loved ones.
Senator? For a moment you had me thinking it was Nancy Pelosi!
IIRC,the one America lasted about 2 weeks. Then we started hearing about quagmires.
_____
That's about right. I wanted to start the War On Terror in 1993 after WTC 1, but I'm just a yahoo, give them a free pass because they didn't do the math right to topple the buildings and kill 50,000 civilians.
I was cursing at the TV every time I heard this "One America" crap and all this it's time to support the President. The script is so predictable it's like watching a bad sitcom, with democrats as the bad actors.
Exactly ....... just another self-obsessed, falsely arrogant, Hollywood narcissist. I used to like her back in "Barefoot in The Park", but now she is totally repulsive.
And Susan Sarandon....................ugh.
You know, it really is a dangerous situation we have here.
These people are impervious to logic, and much of what they are coveting may be employed by our government.
These are dangerous times.
Their failure has long been obvious to all but them.
Because they're on the same side.
;-)
Great!
Who is she?
I am sure she LONGS for those days..
She is over the hill...and this is her "last chance" to relive her youth.
PUKE!
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NEVER FORGET
Actually JANE FONDA just got through blaming US on the FoX News Channel tonight FOR the Vietnamese boat people and the Killing Fields of Camobdia after the Fall of Saigon..!!!!
It was Sen. BARBARA BOXER that personally led Anti-U.S. Demonstrations during the Vietnam War with the goal of shutting down the City Government of San Francisco, California.
Sen. TED KENNEDY told the American People last year on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that "only" 100,000 South Vietnamese lost their lives after the Fall of Saigon.
And NBC Host TIM RUSSERT didn't call him on it.
Sen. TED KENNEDY told the American People this year on NBC's 'FoX News Sudnay' that American Solidiers have been in Iraq longer than they were in South Vietnam, when they haven't been. And FoX Host CHRIS WALLACE didn't call him on it.
All this ...when Sen. TED KENNEDY just knew better from the very start of the Vietnam War. For he toured our military installations and was briefed on our offensive operations there way back in October 1965. I know, for I was there to greet him:
See 5th Picture down of a young Sen. TED KENNEDY touring our 1st Cavalry Division Airmobile's Headquarters in then Free South Vietnam's Central Highlands:
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
NEVER FORGET
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"And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived." - Rev 13:14
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