Now I know a lot of other folks are talking about the controversies over Kerry and his swift boat experience. But here are three things to keep in mind.
First, most of the people who are denigrating and attacking at him are not primarily angry at his behavior in Vietnam, no matter their protests to the contrary. It is pretty obvious that what they have been disagreeing with is what he did after Vietnam. They didn't like his leading the "Vietnam Veterans against the War" {example: Vietnam veterans against John Kerry} and protesting the continued fighting in Vietnam. There is a kind of a "omerta" in most professions, and the profession of making war is one of the oldest and very similar to the other old profession, though with more opportunity for genuine honor.
Second, the very fact that he showed up should be grounds for appreciating his patriotism and commitment to our country.
Third, this kind of demagoguing of people's personal record needs to cease and desist. There are good arguments pro and con for any group and their ideas. The fact that people resort to slurs and what is basically "Gossip" to accomplish their ends should worry any of us.
And indeed, it turns out that the stories about Kerry don't mesh with the reality.
Posted by cholte at August 18, 2004 10:17 PMChris, agreement (more or less) on your first and third points. The second one, though, is a bit meaningless to me. You wrote:
" ...the very fact that he showed up should be grounds for appreciating his patriotism and commitment to our country."
Well, maybe. On the other hand, being of the same generation, I recall all kinds of reasons and non-reasons for showing up, or not, and they didn't all have to do with patriotism and commitment to country. Too, there is how and when one showed up.
I am what some would call a low-key draft dodger. Maybe "avoider" is a better term. I took a few steps, all legal, to avoid being called up. (Details available for anyone interested - no secrets here.) But had those failed, I would have gone.
The avoidance, in my opinion, does not make me any less patriotic (and those who know me sometimes think I am a bit TOO patriotic, if that's possible), and the fact that I would have gone does not make me more patriotic. I was, like Mr. Kerry, a product of those times.
The draft was a reality, as was the war. A few wanted to go fight it (as in any generation) and most preferred not to, with varying degrees of feeling and levels of objection or support for the event itself. I know plenty of folks who did go whom I would not call overly, or even marginally, patriotic. They were just stuck with no other options. And I know folks who did not go, for whatever reasons, whom I would deem extremely patriotic.
All I'm saying, Chris, is that your Number 2 point doesn't mean much, and I rather wish you (and, in fairness, everyone) would drop that one.
Much love,
Andy
Posted by: Andy Hanlen at August 23, 2004 07:39 PMI don't know. It took guts to go to Canada. It took guts to go to Oxford. And for some people it took guts to join the service and fight. The real question is always, how much is a person guided by thoughtfulness and a sense of responsibility and how much by "Heh, man, where's the party?" On that score these two out do the current pair -- at least in my book. Nothing wrong with a party mind you. But there is a time for everything and limits too.
Posted by: Chris Holte at August 23, 2004 09:02 PM