It's often said that one lesson the "antiwar" left learned from Vietnam is not to vilify American soldiers. True enough, by and large you don't hear the kind of demonization that was the stock in trade of anti-Vietnam agitators like John Kerry*.
But that doesn't mean the left respects the troops. Instead, it seeks to exploit their sacrifice by describing them as "children" and as victims.
Sheehanoia is the most obvious manifestation of the former, and CNSNews.com describes a particularly sick example of the latter:
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the current home of hundreds of wounded veterans from the war in Iraq, has been the target of weekly anti-war demonstrations since March.
The protesters hold signs that read "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist here and die for Halliburton." . . .
Code Pink Women for Peace, one of the groups backing anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan's vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford Texas, organizes the protests at Walter Reed as well. . . .
Kevin Pannell, who was recently treated at Walter Reed and had both legs amputated after an ambush grenade attack near Baghdad in 2004, considers the presence of the anti-war protesters in front of the hospital "distasteful."
When he was a patient at the hospital, Pannell said he initially tried to ignore the anti-war activists camped out in front of Walter Reed, until witnessing something that enraged him.
"We went by there one day and I drove by and [the anti-war protesters] had a bunch of flag-draped coffins laid out on the sidewalk. That, I thought, was probably the most distasteful thing I had ever seen. Ever," Pannell, a member of the Army's First Cavalry Division, told Cybercast News Service.
"You know that 95 percent of the guys in the hospital bed lost guys whenever they got hurt and survivors' guilt is the worst thing you can deal with," Pannell said, adding that other veterans recovering from wounds at Walter Reed share his resentment for the anti-war protesters.
"We don't like them and we don't like the fact that they can hang their signs and stuff on the fence at Walter Reed," he said. "[The wounded veterans] are there to recuperate. Once they get out in the real world, then they can start seeing that stuff (anti-war protests). I mean Walter Reed is a sheltered environment and it needs to stay that way."
The Code Pinkos, of course, have the right to express their opinions, but perhaps this is an occasion on which Congress should impose some reasonable time, place and manner restrictions. If a woman on her way to an abortion clinic is entitled not to be harassed by noisome protesters, isn't the same true of men like Kevin Pannell, who have made the penultimate sacrifice for a noble cause?
taken from today's WSJ
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"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Aug 25, 2005 04:54 PM ]
posted on August 25, 2005 07:31:42 PM
I saw some senator (forget his name/state) on TV saying Iraq is turning into a viet nam, blah, blah, blah. Why do people have to constantly thread one thing to something else of past history? It's clearly not viet nam. But if they are trying to paint the picture of how the soldiers felt coming home from that war....well, all I can say is they will have what they say - because they keep repeating it, and we are clearly a nation that is influenced by what is repeated by the media over and over.
That doesnt make it right, though. Its very nasty to do that to these people in the military, imo. They are clearly trying to strip their morale with this line of negativity.
And How could this all be a lie? SH was given an ultimatum. Let the inspectors in to do their jobs or else...
Are we to believe the Bush admin was banking on him saying no? He, Saddam Hussein chose this war, I think, because nobody wanted to believe him telling the truth of not having any womds and not lettin the inspectors or the world know that, especially after 9-11, I dont think anybody wanted to take that chance.
posted on August 25, 2005 07:57:46 PM
dbl, I think I saw the same thing, wasn't that Gary Hart? He said that the anti war people needed a strong political figure to lead them, or something like that.
You know, your right, I think MOST people forgot that part. WOMD or not, Hussien was not allowing the UN to do its job, and he was give a choice here, and he chose NOT to comply.
Linda, yes that is wrong. Those men in that hospital should be able to recouperate in peace, not with a bunch of protesters out their window.
posted on August 25, 2005 08:11:52 PM
Just like during the Vietnam war, it's just a matter of time before the anti-war protestors start calling the parents of dead or wounded soldiers and telling them how glad they are that it happened and don't forget about how during the VT war they also spit on returning troops.
Linda, Dblf and NTS, the left doesn't want to hear about the UN resolutions. No instead they want to play their little games. What game is that you may ask. Well, it's a little game called 'transfering the burden of proof' They state what they say is fact, without any proof but because so many say it then it must be true and then they expect others to prove it.
posted on August 25, 2005 08:32:04 PM
When I was at the Navel Hospital in Maryland, there was a 50,000 protesters, of course this was 1967. 100 or 50,000 it hurts the same.
Seattle Washington, a group of men grouped two ladies that were with two Solders at a nightclub. Both had just returned from Iraq. The Group beat the two Solders unconscious out side the club. It was a terrible beating.
Lots of people saw it. It seem like from the tape they joined in.
posted on August 25, 2005 08:32:28 PM
I know...and I just couldn't believe this when I came acrossed it.
Like what in the WORLD is the matter with these people. Have they not one bit of compassion for our wounded soldiers? Who most say they support...just not the war. yea...this sure isn't supporting them.
I mean like protesting in front of a recruiting station maybe, I could understand....but couldn't they have thought to do this anywhere else.
I'm just floored by it...and it's been going on since March. shame on them.
posted on August 25, 2005 08:36:06 PM
Well...hi stranger. Hope everything is well with you and your special lady. Good to see you again.
I know...I read that story and couldn't believe it myself. People have gone NUTS!!
Absolutely out-of-their-minds NUTS!! Sometimes I really do fear for America's future. [shaking head here.]
posted on August 25, 2005 08:48:06 PM
Fred, good to see you too!
WTF? I didn't hear about it! And I live here, I watch the news, but damn, they don't mention A LOT of things. I can tell our 3 local news stations have an anti war undertone to them
posted on August 25, 2005 08:53:19 PM
Linda, we are very well. My Son was married in April. He sure got a ringer. We have traveled a lot this year. I do read the posts or try to when time is on my side.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:06:36 PM
Near, I think Fred wrote this was in 1967? Doubt there is a link, but I could be wrong.
You probably didnt hear about it cause - how old were you then? I bet you were busy watching the brady bunch & not the news! rofl!!
I heard today they are thinking about closing Walter Reed. I cant believe that. That is a great hospital! I suppose they are just going to shuffle them all around, but still..something hurt me to hear they want to close that place. I always just marveled at all the new research type things they were doing there.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:14:22 PM
Ms. Sheehan is becoming a cultural icon. Historically, she and her protest are going to be seen as the the watershed moment when public opinion turned finally against Bush and his war. You just gotta hate her for that.
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Fue por lana y salió trasquilado...
posted on August 25, 2005 09:14:39 PM
NearTheSea - I couldn't find your Seattle newspaper...what's it called? The Seattle PI? or something close to that?
posted on August 25, 2005 09:21:36 PM
That's wonderful, Fred, congratulations to all.
And it's wonderful to hear you're both doing some traveling too.
My 'baby' (34) SAYS he's getting married next June. I'm hoping she doesn't change her mind before then.
Just teasing...he's a wonderful son...I couldn't have asked for more....and she'll be lucky to spend her life with him too.
Since we last 'talked' I have another granddaughter too. Seven months old now. So that's three granddaughters for ol' grandma here. 16, 3, 7 mo. Course, I'm not getting any older.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:26:12 PM
I dont hate Cindy Sheenen. But I find it hard to feel any sincerity from her words. The commercials and such all seems so contrived to me.
spelling.
,.
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Aug 25, 2005 09:28 PM ]
posted on August 25, 2005 09:35:51 PM
I didnt read it yet, Linda. But I will.
I think its just awful they wont let these people recuperate in peace. Its not only the physical but the mental these people have to realign, they should really leave em alone instead of this agenda hammering they're doing to them.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:39:06 PM
And Near, I hope you know I was joking about the brady bunch. lol. Thats what I was watching and inevitably, my brother would want to watch football or some sports and he'd always say to me, c'mon, you dont want to be watching the brady bunch, do ya? But of course, yes, I did! lol.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:40:05 PM
Ok, i'll put it back up in the same place but I re-read everything in here and it just kinda saddened me to read what some of our soldiers are going through.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:44:44 PM
You know this is incredible! I hear it here, and you know when it happened? July 31 and nothing on our local news!?!
Yes we have 2 papers Seattle Time and Seattle Post Intelligencer (PI)
posted on August 25, 2005 09:51:23 PM
Yes, the first link you posted, Near. I get that paper's news online in an automatic online news source that I read almost daily. But I have never saved the link and just couldn't remember what it was exactly. Thanks...I'll save it now.
posted on August 25, 2005 09:56:11 PM
Linda, I know. Just didnt want her to think I was making fun of her if she did watch the brady bunch (or whatever shows kids watched at that age) because i was doing the same thing!
That story is horrible! It says some guys groped the soldiers dates and were saying stuff to them? Then one of the girls threw her hotdog at them and thats how it started?
Did you both, dbl and NTS, read it?