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rbshirley
Founder
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 394
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 Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 4:13 pm Post subject: Perspective on a nation's wounds |
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Today's Chicago Sun-Time carries an article by Mark Steyn that puts the
comments of Senator John McCain and Bob Dornan's NVA flag waving into
perspective. Even Pat Caddell saw saw the significance of Kerry's mistake
back in Boston. The debate is being drawn into sharper focus
Excerpt from: Who's to blame for nation's Vietnam wounds? Kerry
| Mark Steyn wrote: |
So when John McCain sternly warns the swift boat veterans of ''reopening
the wounds of Vietnam,'' it's worth asking: Why is Vietnam a ''wound'' and
why won't it heal? The answer: not because it was a military or strategic
defeat but because it was a national trauma. And whose fault is that?
Well, you can't pin it all on one person, but, if you had to, Lt. John F. Kerry
would stand a better shot at taking the solo trophy than almost anyone.
The ''wounds'' McCain complains of aren't from losing Vietnam, but from
the manner in which it was lost. Today Sen. Kerry says he's proud of his
anti-war activism, but that's not what it was. Every war has pacifists and
conscientious objectors and even disenchanted veterans, but there's
simply no precedent for what John Kerry did: a man who put his combat
credentials to the service of smearing his country's entire armed forces as
rapists, decapitators and baby killers. That's the ''wound,'' Sen. McCain.
That's why a crummy little war on the other side of the world still festers.
That's why the band didn't play ''Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be'' and
move on to the next item of business. Because Kerry didn't just call for
U.S. withdrawal, he impugned the honor of every man he served with.
In his testimony to Congress in 1971, Kerry asserted a scale of routine
war crimes unparalleled in American history -- his ''band of brothers'' (as
he now calls them) ''personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads . . .
razed villages in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan.'' Almost all these
claims were unsupported. Indeed, the only specific example of a U.S. war
criminal that Kerry gave was himself. As he said on ''Meet The Press'' in
April 1971, ''Yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of
other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire
zones. I used 50-caliber machineguns, which we were granted and
ordered to use.''
Really? And when was that? On your top-secret Christmas Eve mission in
Cambodia? If they'd taken him at his word, when the senator said ''I'm
John Kerry reporting for duty,'' the delegates at the Democratic
Convention should have dived for cover.
But they didn't. So Kerry is now the first self-confessed war criminal in the
history of the Republic to be nominated for president. Normally this would
be considered an electoral plus only in the more cynical banana republics.
But the Democrats seemed to think they could run an anti-war anti-hero
as a war hero and nobody would mind. As we now know, a lot of people --
a lot of veterans -- do mind, very much. They understand that, whether or
not he ever mowed down civilians with his 50-caliber machinegun, Kerry
is responsible for a lot of wounds closer to home.
In the usual course of events, Kerry's terrible judgment in the '70s would
render him unelectable. Instead, over two decades he morphed into a
respectably dull run-of-the-mill pompous senatorial windbag. Had he run
for president in the '90s or 2000, he might even have pulled it off. But the
Democrats turned to him this time because the tortured contradictions of
his resume suited an anti-war party that didn't dare run as such. Ever
since the first cries of ''Quagmire!'' back in the early days of the Afghan
liberation in 2001, the left have been trying to Vietnamize the war on
terror. They failed in that, but they succeeded in the Vietnamization of the
election campaign, and that's turned out just swell, hasn't it? Remember
that formulation a lot of Democrats were using last year? They oppose the
war but ''of course'' they support our troops. Kerry's campaign is a
walking illustration of the deficiencies of that straddle: When you divorce
the heroism of soldiering from the justice of the cause, what's left but a
hollow braggart?
The Vietnamese government used Kerry's 1971 testimony as evidence of
American war crimes as recently as two months ago. In Aden, Fings Ain't
Wot They Used T'Be, but in Hanoi Kerry's psychodrama-queen
performance is a gift that keeps on giving. It would be a shame if they
understood him more clearly than the American people do.
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Inch by inch we are getting closer to the truth.
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Me#1You#10
Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Bob...that is REMARKABLE!
Truely a MUST READ for all
Thanks amigo  |
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Chuck54
PO1
Joined: 14 Aug 2004
Posts: 466
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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Great article, as is usually the case with Mark Steyn.
Youre right, Caddel clearly saw the mistake of the Dem convention focusing on Kerry's vietnam record...well the faux record as it is. I was impressed with Caddel, he seems to be one of the few sincere Dems. And, I didn't actually here from him one word of support for kerry in the dialogue with colmes, crowley, and dornan.
Caddel had a look of despair....an honest man saddened by his own party, and for good reason.
_________________
"And no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often, than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry"
Zell Miller |
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Me#1You#10
Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps (and most certainly in the course of time), we Vietnam era Vets, pundits and citizens who were a PART of the story must cede the role of final arbiter of the Vietnam experience to the next generation and to historians without a vested interest in propagandizing their position solidified so long ago.
It is that OLDER liberal coterie that now wield enormous influence over the MSM and it is WONDERFUL to witness the emergence of the NEW MEDIA pushing the Alphabet networks et al over the cliff to influential obscurity. |
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Me#1You#10
Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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Update...
Mark Steyn's article now featured at WinterSoldier.com |
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cjg
PO3
Joined: 13 Aug 2004
Posts: 254
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Wonderful Idea to have it on wintersoldier as his comments are so spot
on.
wintersoldier.com is loaded with information about Kerry, good, real
information.
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Swiftvets rock! |
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WebTalk
Lt.Jg.
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 147
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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This is just awsome:
| Quote: | When you divorce
the heroism of soldiering from the justice of the cause, what's left but a
hollow braggart?
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OK, I must have been wrong in thinking the SunTimes is MSM.
Is anyone keeping a ledger on these MSM anti-Kerry articles?
_________________
America voted for solid LEADERSHIP and gave "W" a mandate to carry on.
God Blessed America! Again! |
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Jungle_rat
Lt.Jg.
Joined: 20 Aug 2004
Posts: 106
Location: Geyserville, CA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | OK, I must have been wrong in thinking the SunTimes is MSM.
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Check out :
www.steynonline.com
He is carried by many publications. Perhaps the most insightful and witty commentator in print today.
_________________
"Medals do not make a man. Morals do."-Don Bendell |
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Robert Cooper
Lt.Jg.
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 134
Location: Tulsa, OK
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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Very well said! Added to this perspective is that Kerry was not alone - ie, he had the thrust of the liberal left media that dominated the airwaves - and,
He had the support of the liberal left Senators who staged the 1971 Hearing before Congress with John Kerry as their star.
READ: http://www2.swiftvets.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6129
It was a premeditatively staged event with fraudulant witnesses, hosted by Senators having a pre-existing agenda.
_________________
Know the difference between Politics and Mesmeratics - one embraces, propagates and promotes the truth, while the other manipulates it! |
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Raven
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Minneapolis
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:09 am Post subject: |
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The issue of Vietnam extends far beyond the losing of that conflict. It became one of the Twin Towers of the pseudo-morality the Left has predicated its very existence upon. And the Left's view was a lie and an immoral attempt to denigrate men who bled for this country and their commanders, not to mention the entire concept of fighting for freedom - a freedom upon which this country was founded. The Left sold this country, via the media and the wholesale confusion of the 1960s and 70s, the Big Lie. And everyone bought it and accepted that it was legitimate. There were no real outlets for disseminating the truth in those times and everyone was made to feel this incredible shame for the United States' involvement in trying to save another country from Communism. Where was the truth in all that was being said? It was well-hidden by the media and the purveyors of "enlightenment", and a country too shaken by the loss of so many of its sons and the turmoil of the changing political atmosphere left too many people too bewildered to search for the truth. Thus, the Left's Big Lie of Vietnam became an accepted "truth" and evidence of our own immorality as a country.
Kerry, Jane Fonda, and the entire establishment of anti-war activists did far more to this country than scream about the "horrors" of war. They brought down the sense of morality and righteousness of this country's belief in and willingness to shed blood and treasure for the freedom of people we don't even know.
The relevance even today of Kerry's actions in 1971 and thereafter is more than an election year issue. His actions tore apart this country and allowed people to wallow in a lie that has had deleterious consequences to our nation regarding views toward the military and the use of our Armed Forces. |
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neverforget
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Posts: 875
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:26 am Post subject: |
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| Raven wrote: | The issue of Vietnam extends far beyond the losing of that conflict. It became one of the Twin Towers of the pseudo-morality the Left has predicated its very existence upon. And the Left's view was a lie and an immoral attempt to denigrate men who bled for this country and their commanders, not to mention the entire concept of fighting for freedom - a freedom upon which this country was founded. The Left sold this country, via the media and the wholesale confusion of the 1960s and 70s, the Big Lie. And everyone bought it and accepted that it was legitimate. There were no real outlets for disseminating the truth in those times and everyone was made to feel this incredible shame for the United States' involvement in trying to save another country from Communism. Where was the truth in all that was being said? It was well-hidden by the media and the purveyors of "enlightenment", and a country too shaken by the loss of so many of its sons and the turmoil of the changing political atmosphere left too many people too bewildered to search for the truth. Thus, the Left's Big Lie of Vietnam became an accepted "truth" and evidence of our own immorality as a country.
Kerry, Jane Fonda, and the entire establishment of anti-war activists did far more to this country than scream about the "horrors" of war. They brought down the sense of morality and righteousness of this country's belief in and willingness to shed blood and treasure for the freedom of people we don't even know.
The relevance even today of Kerry's actions in 1971 and thereafter is more than an election year issue. His actions tore apart this country and allowed people to wallow in a lie that has had deleterious consequences to our nation regarding views toward the military and the use of our Armed Forces. |
May I re-post what you have written on another forum? Attribution to Raven? |
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Raven
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Minneapolis
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| neverforget wrote: | | Raven wrote: | The issue of Vietnam extends far beyond the losing of that conflict. It became one of the Twin Towers of the pseudo-morality the Left has predicated its very existence upon. And the Left's view was a lie and an immoral attempt to denigrate men who bled for this country and their commanders, not to mention the entire concept of fighting for freedom - a freedom upon which this country was founded. The Left sold this country, via the media and the wholesale confusion of the 1960s and 70s, the Big Lie. And everyone bought it and accepted that it was legitimate. There were no real outlets for disseminating the truth in those times and everyone was made to feel this incredible shame for the United States' involvement in trying to save another country from Communism. Where was the truth in all that was being said? It was well-hidden by the media and the purveyors of "enlightenment", and a country too shaken by the loss of so many of its sons and the turmoil of the changing political atmosphere left too many people too bewildered to search for the truth. Thus, the Left's Big Lie of Vietnam became an accepted "truth" and evidence of our own immorality as a country.
Kerry, Jane Fonda, and the entire establishment of anti-war activists did far more to this country than scream about the "horrors" of war. They brought down the sense of morality and righteousness of this country's belief in and willingness to shed blood and treasure for the freedom of people we don't even know.
The relevance even today of Kerry's actions in 1971 and thereafter is more than an election year issue. His actions tore apart this country and allowed people to wallow in a lie that has had deleterious consequences to our nation regarding views toward the military and the use of our Armed Forces. |
May I re-post what you have written on another forum? Attribution to Raven? |
Sure, go ahead. People need to understand the full ramifications of what Kerry did with his testimony in 1971 and his actions thereafter. |
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Misty
Lieutenant
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 223
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:38 am Post subject: |
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| Jungle_rat wrote: | | Quote: | OK, I must have been wrong in thinking the SunTimes is MSM.
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Check out :
www.steynonline.com
He is carried by many publications. Perhaps the most insightful and witty commentator in print today. |
Sort of leaves Bill O'Reilly a bit wanting. It's good to hear someone think things through with such clarity and direction.
_________________
Misty
----------
Dad was in the Navy Pacific Fleet
Brother was on the USS Regulus - Vietnam
Husband was AirForce 3rd (34th) Tactical Fighter Wing - Security Police Bien Hoa Vietnam |
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Misty
Lieutenant
Joined: 26 Aug 2004
Posts: 223
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:40 am Post subject: |
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| neverforget wrote: | | Raven wrote: | The issue of Vietnam extends far beyond the losing of that conflict. It became one of the Twin Towers of the pseudo-morality the Left has predicated its very existence upon. And the Left's view was a lie and an immoral attempt to denigrate men who bled for this country and their commanders, not to mention the entire concept of fighting for freedom - a freedom upon which this country was founded. The Left sold this country, via the media and the wholesale confusion of the 1960s and 70s, the Big Lie. And everyone bought it and accepted that it was legitimate. There were no real outlets for disseminating the truth in those times and everyone was made to feel this incredible shame for the United States' involvement in trying to save another country from Communism. Where was the truth in all that was being said? It was well-hidden by the media and the purveyors of "enlightenment", and a country too shaken by the loss of so many of its sons and the turmoil of the changing political atmosphere left too many people too bewildered to search for the truth. Thus, the Left's Big Lie of Vietnam became an accepted "truth" and evidence of our own immorality as a country.
Kerry, Jane Fonda, and the entire establishment of anti-war activists did far more to this country than scream about the "horrors" of war. They brought down the sense of morality and righteousness of this country's belief in and willingness to shed blood and treasure for the freedom of people we don't even know.
The relevance even today of Kerry's actions in 1971 and thereafter is more than an election year issue. His actions tore apart this country and allowed people to wallow in a lie that has had deleterious consequences to our nation regarding views toward the military and the use of our Armed Forces. |
May I re-post what you have written on another forum? Attribution to Raven? |
This needs to be quoted on FreeRepublic too. May I?
_________________
Misty
----------
Dad was in the Navy Pacific Fleet
Brother was on the USS Regulus - Vietnam
Husband was AirForce 3rd (34th) Tactical Fighter Wing - Security Police Bien Hoa Vietnam |
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Me#1You#10
Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 6503
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 2:42 am Post subject: |
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Raven...
Yet another for the bookmarks.
This forum is remarkable.
Thanks |
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