We're a long way past Viet Nam

[gwyn]

I'm hijacking my journal for a personal rant, because I've been seething about this since last night.

I was catching up on TV last night when I saw this commercial that went on and on about how evil Saddam was and how he denied people free speech (because, you know, every country has a First Amendment and a Constitution, or should, because we have one!), and how sinister he was, blah blah. Okay, so fine, no arguments about his status as King o' the Evil.

But then at the end they had this tagline that said "support our troops." Implying, or at least I inferred heavily, that if we did not support war with Iraq and pretty much everyone that we did not support the men and women of our armed forces, and were nothing more than ingrates and hippies who would spit on returning veterans. This just makes me livid.

I come from a fairly military family: My father is a decorated WWII veteran, all of my uncles saw combat in that war. My grandfather was a combat veteran of WWI, and all eight of his brothers fought in that war as well, and later some in the Philippines and WW II -- one served all the way into Korea, and by the time he retired had earned every medal you can get besides the Congressional Medal of Honor. My dad's mom was a Red Cross field army nurse in WWI. Some of my cousins saw combat duty in Viet Nam. Most of my family are the right-wing, lifetime member of the NRA, republican ticket variety, but they're also reasonable and my dad even finds all the post 9/11 flag-waving disturbing, which surprised me a lot.

So I don't think of myself as unsupportive or blatantly antagonistic towards people in uniform. I am, however, very much against this war and feel blatantly antagonistic about our president, who I think is a moron, a fool, and worse, has serious machismo issues that I wish he would work out elsewhere with a competent therapist instead of with every human life on the planet. What I took away from this ad was that if we don't support the destruction of Saddam and his regime, then we are against the men and women in our military branches -- an idea I resent deeply. It also doesn't allow a difference of opinion for the people who serve in the military -- not all of them are going to believe this is a good idea. And they're the ones who will pay with their lives for it.

I feel incredibly glad that there are people who are willing to lay their lives on the line to protect this country and its way of life. But the idea of this ad campaign is that those of us who don't want war don't support these individuals; worse, they're close to saying that we'd spit on these people or insult them the way people sometimes did to returning vets after Viet Nam( and those stories and incidents are grossly exaggerated, too -- it happened, but not with the prevalence we've come to believe). We're a long way past that -- I think most people know the difference between the soldiers we pay to put their lives on the line for us, and the lying, cheating, war-mongering politicians who are willing to make those people do just that, without regard for their sacrifice. The only thing that George Bush seems to care about is winning this dick-size contest, and I think he's the one who should be made to feel unsupportive of the troops for asking them to give their lives just so he can prove whose is bigger.

Thus endeth my political rant. Now I'll go watch all the people on my friends list de-friend me. Sigh. I rarely talk politics, and I guess this is why. The foam on my mouth is tough to wipe off.

Comments

[sophia-helix.livejournal.com]

Aw, you can't hijack your own journal. (If so, I owe mine a thousand apologies *g*). You said what you needed to say, and said it well. :) I don't think anyone could possibly defriend you for that.

.m

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad. I worry when I depart from the impersonal to the personal, especially when I'm covered in flecks of foam. :-)

[xanphibian.livejournal.com]

I think most people know the difference between the soldiers we pay to put their lives on the line for us, and the lying, cheating, war-mongering politicians who are willing to make those people do just that, without regard for their sacrifice. The only thing that George Bush seems to care about is winning this dick-size contest, and I think he's the one who should be made to feel unsupportive of the troops for asking them to give their lives just so he can prove whose is bigger.

Word. Or however way you would prefer my total agreement expressed.

Now I'll go watch all the people on my friends list de-friend me.

Never! Never ever! :-D I love you. Why do my rants never sound so eloquent? Maybe because I do the name calling thing.

[melinafandom.livejournal.com]

I agree with you completely, gwyn. It's such a crappy argument, too, to say "if you don't support the war you don't support the troops." It has no logic whatsoever; in fact, it makes those making that argument appear as if they don't really have any cogent argument in favor of the war, so they have to resort to questioning the patriotism of those who are against it. I would hope most people recognize that -- unfortunately, I don't think I have much faith in the public anymore, between the general support for this ridiculous war and, you know, the popularity of shows like Joe Millionaire.

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

I support the war, but I also support your right to be against it.

No defriending here.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad to hear you say that -- because I think that's what's so worrying, is the inability to disagree, and to agree to disagree, in so many places I'm at right now. I hate that feeling of fear of speaking out -- and I really did think people would defriend me, so I actually learned how to do a cutaway just to save myself some humiliation! ;-) I'm a coward at heart.

And to be shallow? I love this icon with the long animation. It's gorgeous.

[dragolyn.livejournal.com]

I hope you write more political rantage, actually. Can't tell you how many times I've been called anti-American for asking questions or speaking my mind. It's refreshing to hear opinions like yours (and btw, I totally agree).

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is what's scaring me -- that if we say something, our patriotism is question, like Melina123 said and what you're experiencing. It's really hard, because I do really believe that we are in a really difficult position, but I don't want to be tarred with a brush that says I'm against the individuals in our service, when that's not my issue.

We need Giles on our side, dammit, making flashcards to scare people into behaving!

[sweet-ali.livejournal.com]

I am, however, very much against this war and feel blatantly antagonistic about our president, who I think is a moron, a fool, and worse, has serious machismo issues that I wish he would work out elsewhere with a competent therapist instead of with every human life on the planet.

Very, *VERY* well-said.

[ginmar.livejournal.com]

See, I agree with you, and I'm on active duty right now. Like you, my dad was a WWII veteran, and his father was a WWI veteran who died of his wounds. I think it's absolutely amazing when people disagree in this country, and feel no fear about calling this president a fool.
But I have to say, the 'love-it-or-leave-it' people are only the ones making the most noise. I love the whole flag and country stuff precisely because I've lived in other countries, and speak other languages. I love the fact that I live in a country where people are so used to disagreeing with their country, their neighbors, and their government that they don't even think about it. That's why I wear the uniform---these people; my people/. That's why it's possible. Because the people I serve and defend aren't the rich twits; they're my neighbors.

I do have to say, though, that I work for the intelligence division, and what I see there indicates that this war is not exactly as it's been represented in the press. I can't say any more, but I do have to say that. The stuff I see, every day...It's not a black and white situation, but I will say there are lots of shades of gray. And I love it that I live where all of them are recognized.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! I had no idea you were on active status! That's amazing.

I do feel really strongly about supporting the men and women in the service. I mean, that's my family. And they're doing it voluntarily, which makes it even more amazing. I just wish I could feel that good about our leadership, but the fact that I can speak out is what makes it worthwhile. The First Amendment is probably the thing I feel strongest about in my life -- I'm not religious, but that's as close to a feeling of religion as I'm likely to get. I think it's one of the most amazing things ever created, and I know it by heart, which I doubt most people can say.

Thanks also for sharing the stuff you know but don't know (we won't tell!). ;-)

[ginmar.livejournal.com]

I once lived in Moscow for a year. I speak fluent Russian, but at the time, it was...not that good. I kept getting lost in the Russian subway system, which is amazing to look at. But anyway, one day, I was chatting with my hozyaika, the lady I lived with, and she was asking about what it was like, living in the US. And I realized just then, just how much I'd taken for granted.
Her: "So how difficult is it, with the papers, to move from state to state?"
Me: "Huh? Well, you do have to hire the moving trucks and all..."
Her: "No, officially. How hard is the paperwork when you want to move?"
Me: "You mean, like the utilities and stuff?"
Her: "The papers." Impatient pause. "How long does it take? For permission?"
Me: "Huh?"

I'm a single woman, living in my own house, my second house, and I can do whatever I want, say whatever I want, and I'm not even aware of it. With that conversation, I became aware of that this was not common elsewhere.


I don't know if my experiance in the military has been unusual or what. I have a fairly difficult and skilled job, so it's possible I'm merely being exposed to the creme de la cream. But I've been treated in the Army, not as a woman, but as a human being, and I'm surrounded by people who devote as much effort to preventing battles as they do to winning them. Most of my immediate coworkers speak at least one more additional language, and have lived in at least a couple foreign countries.

And, yeah, I think our leaders are...Well, I can't say what I'd like. I do think Bush behaved more decisively than Gore would have in the aftermath of 9/11. Since then, however, he has returned to type. While the stuff I've seen indicates to me that this upcoming war is by no means unwarranted, he has not effectively expressed precisely why this is so.

On another note, can't they invent a pill that induces PMS? Talk about a secret weapon....Sorry, but after chasing my cats around all day, I find that PMS is a big subject with me right now and I can't resist.

[batdina.livejournal.com]

I'm always stunned at the extent to which the left accepts responsibility for the fact that the establishment didn't throw a party for the Vietnam vets. I think this is related to the fact that the right is still willing to insist that not supporting war is equal to not supporting troops.

My family was liberated from concentration camps during WW2 by American and British troops. Since then every person required to serve has served and although I wouldn't call myself a great backer of the armed forces, I'm not naive about the service it provides.

None of which means I'm even remotely interested in Desert Storm Deux.

Did you see Terry Gilliam's (I think it was him, one of the Pythons in any case) letter to the editor?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

No, I hadn't seen the letter, or even heard of it. Was it The Times?

[bientot.livejournal.com]

I too come from a military family, but I'm an unabashed peacenik, and personally? I think the only rational way to support our troops is to keep them from pointless endangerment in the service of some drug-damaged cowboy who thinks bullying is the way to popularity on the global playground.

Oh. Did I say that? (/rant)