Posted on 08/26/2004 2:59:28 PM PDT by neverdem
He could have healed the wounds of Vietnam. Instead, he tried to exploit them.
A couple of weeks ago, when she (along with most of the rest of America) learned about the Swift Boat Veterans' campaign against John Kerry, a solidly conservative Internet pal posted the following message to our discussion group:
I really wish they wouldn't do this. It's not going to be pretty and will probably backfire. And the Dems will counter with the missing months of Bush's [National Guard] duty. It was a freaking 30 years ago, let it alone.
In her desire to "let it alone," my online friend expresses a sentiment shared by a substantial majority of her fellow Americans. The subject of Vietnam is one that most of us--especially those of us who came of age during that era--would very much wish to let alone.
Long ago we had given up almost every hope that the nation would--in our lifetimes--resolve upon anything close to a shared understanding of its Vietnam experience. All the arguments one way or the other had been said and heard so many times that only the most boorish could be foolish enough to think that more talk would change anyone's opinion. Age and experience might change some minds (mine, for instance; I was an antiwar teenager in the early 1970s), but further discussion was futile.
In the decade following our ignominious withdrawal, communists would fertilize Cambodia's rice fields with the bones of millions of human skeletons. Of the millions desperately fleeing the daily terrors of communist rule, countless thousands would perish in the Gulf of Thailand or the South China Sea when their pathetically rickety boats capsized under their own weight. If those millions of deaths weren't enough to convince you that fighting communism in Southeast Asia was a truly...
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
THE END
I heard yesterday that Kerry had his own "AWOL while in the reserves" problem. As I understand, sometime after he returned from Vietnam, he went on active reserve status for his last year in the Navy. He was supposed to go to monthly meetings and do 17 days of training. He didnt show up for ANY meetings or training, He also has an extra zinger to his absentees in that this was the time that he went to Paris France to meet with the Viet Cong whom we were then at war with. People have been shot for doing something like that instead of just being embarrassed, so John should be greatful.
John Kerry All tarnish, no "Shine".
He does seem to have a problem attending such things as meetings, briefings, and the U.S. Senate.
Funny how these leftists were more than happy to bring up their version of "the Vietnam experience" when it suited their propaganda. When real-life vets who were actually there stand up to say, "No, that's not how it happened," these leftists suddenly want "to heal the wounds of Vietnam"
Never forget - democrats and journalists were the ones who spit on the Vietnam vets the first time around and they are doing so again.
The article is strong enough that my request in comment# 1 was simply ignored.
KerrycommiecRAT didn't figure on the WEB or talk radio. These 2 have been his downfall, apparently. Thanks.
The sticker serves 2 purposes:
1 - Shows visible support for "Swift Boat Veterans For Truth" to passing motorists
2 - Gets the swiftvets.com website visible to the public, so they can and find out more about 'Hanoi John' Kerry
Made by fellow FReeper disabled vet who has a bone to pick with Kerry, like we all do!
Large (24" Wide 12" Tall) like mine
Small (12" Wide 6" Tall)
Profits go to SwiftVets.com
FReep mail for details.
I understand your respect for veterans, but the sticker in no way conveys that the driver/owner is a veteran, or a Swift Boat veteran for that matter.
The purpose is to generate interest in the SBVFT and encourage people to visit the website and learn about Hanoi Kerry, that's why I put it in the boat itself for easy reading.
It's a really great sticker, though. I'm not trying to discourage you. I just wanted to explain why I'm declining rather than having you think I'm ignoring you. I'll continue to give it some thought and see how it goes. I started out thinking that the SwiftVets were a bad idea. It was the horrible partisan treatment they received in the mainstream media that first drove me to buy the book and then drove me to donate money. If the attack gets nasty enough, it might drive me to promote them because I really respect the amount of crap those guys are willing to take for this. John O'Neill is one gutsy guy. If I change my mind on the stiker, I'll let you know.
Ultimately, I think the treatment of Bush's Air National Guard record vs. Kerry's records and Michael Moore vs. the Swift Boat Vets is going to lead to some post-election analyses that will make it impossible for the mainstream media to ever again claim to be anything other than tools of the DNC.
You are entitled to your feelings/opinion. Personally, I think that's one of the results of giving the liberals control of the issues. Anyone who can read any newspaper/website can CLEARY see what a FRAUD Kerry is as a politicain, much less a war hero, when he divided this country in the boldest attempt in the past century to re-shape our society.
Think about it for a minute... the A.N.S.W.E.R. crowd is a perfect manifestation of Kerry's 1971 speech. The anti-war VVAW protesters crowd had NO RESPECT for our form of government or for our veterans who put their asses on the line for THEM. PERIOD. Here was a reject Navy Lt., shitcanned by the real HEROES because he was a whiny crybaby when he was assigned dangerous missions, BUT he had the political CONNECTIONS with Teddy the SOCIALIST Kennedy and he got a forum to SMEAR America!
No, I think we OWE IT TO ALL THE GOOD MEN WHO FOUGHT AND WERE INJURED OR DIED, to STAND FIRM and DENOUNCE Kerry for his SLANDER!
And you don't have to be a veteran to do that. You just have to be convinced in your heart that he is BAD for America, and needs to be totally rejected by the American voter.
Now... read "UNFIT for Command" and tell me you don't feel the same!
Don't worry. I've been taking on liberals elsewhere and watching them change the subject when the discussion turns to details. Like I said, if I change my mind about the sticker, I'll let you know. I'm better with the one-on-one discussions and internet debates than I am with sign waving and pop confrontations. But like I said, if I change my mind, I'll let you know. I'm considering it.
Keep up the GREAT work!
No Problem, just tell people you were on top secret duty in Cambodia..
Then I'd have to watch Apocalypse Now again to get my details straight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.