Politics: J'accuse!

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
I'll take it as a joke when you actually say something that indicates respect for the military service of a decorated veteran.


I find it deeply offensive when Americans refuse to do this. It is something I used to see on the left quite frequently -- I remember nearly getting into a fistfight at a march in DC many years ago, after the Grenada invasion, because people were screaming at a US soldier for having come to the march to see what people were saying. Disgusting.

Equally disgusting, but I think far more hypocritical, is when Repubs who repeatedly profess their love and admiration for the military behave in the same way, because the individual who served his country in wartime, by actually going to war, happens to be a political opponent.

Am I on ignore? I've been saying that I repsect the guy's decision all day. But when he plays up the differences between his Vietnam era record and Bush's, isn't it fair for someone to inquire about the merits of those differences?

I mean, if Bush was saying "I was a fighter pilot, man that means I one bad-ass", and start showing Independence Day at rallys, wouldn't it be fair to say, "You can't prove you were even there."

When Kerry's people imply Bush was a coward in comparision and used family to get out of Vietnam, its fair for the other side to say "how'd you get out of country so quick, John." When he pumps up his 3 purple hearts, its a fair question to ask "what were the injuries?"

In the end none of it matters, and its just early mud. Anyone from that time knows tons of people did what Kerry did, what W did and what billy did. Those people recognize the acts of 20 year old men in 68-72 aren't really instructive as to the present day man.

It kind of like the Bullshit of someone who wants to be on the Supreme Court has to apparently claim to never smoked pot. I mean honestly, someone under 50 who hasn't smoked pot is too weird for the Court or the White House.