Letters to the Editor
Rambling Rose 22
Published Letters: 849 Editor's Choice: 6
-
We Will Never Get Over Vietnam
[Read the article: How is John McCain like John Kerry?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm a Vietnam era veteran, USAF. Like many others, I have grappled with all the emotions over the years resulting from a conflict that was never declared a war, entered into unwittingly by the American people, politicized by the government in order to justify it, and measured progress by body count.
I sometimes resented Americans my age who did not serve yet found fault with those who did. I also stood with good-hearted Americans who sincerely wanted an end to this wasteful war. We didn't have the words "thank you for your service" back then, or the ability to differentiate between a bad war and the honor that comes with nonetheless performing your military duty as required.
We were never properly thanked, recognized, or given any of the usual accolades afforded the men and women who fight for their country in good times and in bad times. Vietnam was swepted under the rug and many of us along with it. Even today, I feel a slight ache in my heart when I see TV spots honoring the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the out-pouring of gratitude they receive when they come home. I know they earned it. But I just wish the guys who served when I was in had received just a little of that same kind of respect. It would have made a difference.
There will never be any peaceful resolve between and among Americans about that war. It was a "damned if you do - damned if you don't" proposition back then, and still is today. We cannot argue or debate it to a consensus anymore than we could militarily find a conclusion.
McCain and Kerry have their own reasons for whatever they have done before, during, and after the war. I don't disrespect Kerry for wanting to end the war anymore than I disrespect McCain for wanting to rush normalizing relations with the country. We would love to find every MIA and confirm their deaths or survival. As with the nature of war sometimes, that probably won't happen.
Vietnam was a mistake - a serous mistake that left scars on the heart of our country's people. The object should not be to find a universal voice in explaining it or understanding it. It should be to recognize each others' contribution, each others' pain and losses, and continue to try to live with the disappointment as best we can.
The war was...well, the war. It was fought. It was lost. And it's a shame that our government and it's citizens hung an entire generation of young people out to dry in order to "move on." We will never get over Vietnam. So, why keep banging our heads into the wall trying?
-
Is This Not Part of The Lessons of 9/11?
[Read the article: Bush's delusions die in Gaza]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You cannot oppress millions of people, turn a blind eye to those that do, provide support to those that do, ignore the plight of those oppressed, ignore the genocide, and then not expect bad things to happen to YOU.
-
GOP BOOGIE MEN
[Read the article: Blowback from the GOP's holy war]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The modern Republican Party has never met a potential boogieman that it didn't embrace! This is yet one more trick from their box of dirty tricks that they've been using to get elected to office.
If there were no terrorists, the GOP would invent some for all of us to hate and loathe and be afraid of.
-
HEY, GOOD NEWS!
[Read the article: Will the press get over its love for McCain?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We already know. So, go on back to your navel gazing, suck-up selves, media. We left you on the McCain thing a few years back. Seems that you're the only ones still up his ass.
-
Well, Gee Whiz!
[Read the article: I get grossed out when I hear, "I'm a mom!"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Golly. Wow. Dang it anyway! Oooooooh, icky, icky, pooh-pooh.
How about you describe yourself the way you want, and let other people describe themselves the way THEY want no matter how ignorant it looks or sounds to you? I mean, we all can't be well-rounded, highly educated, hobby-toting, membership holding, class elitists, now can we?
Yes, pity that woman who is so stunted that she is just "a mom," but, hey don't put her down. That's what caused the last civil war between women in this country, bitch, and we're not going back there no matter how "icky" you think it is. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Like your Mom probably told you - or then again, maybe not - if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.
-
AND THEN WHEN...
[Read the article: Multiracial man]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]you and the rest of the media get done scrutinizing his race, could you please, pretty please, tell us what he stands for? Here's how I perceive Obama:
1. Arrogant upstart who thinks he should be president simply because he wants to be president.
2. Will sit down with just anyone out there - North Korea's madman, Iran's deceiving mouth piece, and Saddam Hussein if he wasn't already dead.
3. Thinks the job of president is legislating and managing the bureaucracy.
4. Campaign with "hope" and "change" as buzzwords because he has no real resume to run on, does he?
Sorry, that's not enough for me I don't care what color, gender, or race he happens to be.