Mickey's Musings

From what I'm reading on various MilBlogs (on one which I found this), what the problem is is that when he came back from Vietnam, he testified that our troops were comitting atrocities -- not just isloated instances -- but each and every day. And yeah, that offends me. I have friends who served in Vietnam and they're not rapists, or baby killers or torturers. Of course he has a right to say whatever he wants, but I have a right to judge him on his words and his actions. Other than his service in Vietnam, he's done precious little to make this country safer.

Okay, I have much work to get finished before 5! [waves goodbye]

If anyone has the right to criticize a war, it's someone that has fought in that war. Kerry didn't burn his draft card, and head to Quebec. He enlisted, led troops, and was wounded in Vietnam. With first hand knowledge of what went on there, as a veteran, and a hero, he testified about the atrocities that were committed by some US troops. Might not have been the popular thing to do then, or now, but he has my respect for being honest.

I agree with Jonathan and I stand by what I said earlier. The guy was there, he saw it first hand and then came home and felt the need to tell Americans what he saw and how he felt about it.

Ith, I went to the site you mentioned, but it reminded me of one of those sites that kept ranting on and on about Bush's guard duty. I couldn't believe this -
"In Section 3 of Amendment XIV to the United States Constitution, ratified on July 9, 1868, it specifically prohibits anyone from serving in elected office at the State or National level who once took the oath to support the Constitution and then subsequently gave aid or comfort to the enemy.

John Kerry took the oath to support the Constitution of the United States as a Naval Officer.

John Kerry provided aid and comfort to the enemy by his actions during demonstrations and testimony before Congress as a leader of the Viet Nam Veterans Against the War. "

Gave comfort to the enemy? By protesting, he gave aid to the enemy? What kind of world does this guy want to live in where people can't protest?

John Kerry was a soldier and he fought for freedom, the same freedom that allows him to come home and speak his mind. I want that freedom and I'm glad we have the freedom to disagree with him and me.

As a veteran of the Vietnam era I would like to address this question without trying to do it an inflammatory manner. I lived through my high school years trying to make decisions for my life knowing that I first had to deal with a war that I really knew very little about. You see I had a lottery number of 13, and that meant that I would be drafted when I graduated. Yes I was opposed to the war only because I did not have any choice as to whether or not I was going to participate or not. At the time I did not understand the politics involved. I am also a patriotic person because I believe that we live in the best society on the planet. Mr. Kerry does have the right to free speech; however he does not have the right to lie. The things he said to congress were stories that he had heard while in country. They were not from personal experience, yet he delivered his speech as though he had witnessed many atrocities committed by American heroes. Every man and woman that returned from that conflict was labeled by his accusations. He made it sound as if everyone was committing these war crimes constantly. In fact he never witnessed a single act that he reported on. When men go to war, especially when they are young, many times they tell exaggerated tails of bravado to their friends. This is what Mr. Kerry put forth as typical action being perpetrated by the average solder in Vietnam. Yes those horrible things did happen, but on a very small scale. They were not the norm. Now it was my turn to go, and I did not want to be a part of anything like what he reported on. I remember his speeches; I know how they affected me personally. He lied in such a way as to make himself out to be more enlightened than any one else. He did this to serve his own purposes. In doing so, he degraded our military, our government, and our country. In so doing he aided the enemy. I will not go into whether or not the war was a ?justified? war, as this was not the issue, and that is not the argument that he used. It does not matter what he stands for on other issues of government such as the economy, education, or taxes, the fact that he lied about things he did not know of first hand to make a name for himself is the reason I am very opposed to him in the office of the President of this great country.

JT, thank you for expressing what I tried to. My sentiments exactly. I also don't understand why, if John Kerry has the right to free specch, those of us that disagree with him don't. Because he served in the military, then I have no right to question his actions? I don't remember that particular law, I'm afraid :) I will keep questioning John Kerry's record -- which he should be happy about since he's all for freedom and such, right?

Mickey, I found the site on a MilBlog, and since they were in the military, I figured they had as much right to an opnion as John Kerry. Certainly the testimony Kerry gave after Vietnam was as inflammitory as anything on that website. Sorry, I should have actually explained why I was including the link, but I was in a hurry Wednesday.

And on one last note, I still don't know who it is that's saying John Kerry doesn't have a right to an opinion. What I am seeing is John Kerry wanting to have it both ways. IMHO, John Kerry can say whatever he wants, but he better be prepared to have to take responsibility for his words and his actions, something he appears unwilling to do.

As I said, I'm not a John Kerry fan. I think the guy talks out of both sides of his mouth and it depends on who he's talking as to what comes out. I can't stand his posturing about having been a war hero. Yes, he was, no disputing that fact, that I know of anyway. But, he seems to have used his service as a stepping tool to better his political career, but not in the same way that so many others have. Many before him stood on their heroism and valor. He instead choose to align himself with a group which he apparently didn't research. The group mentioned in the web site you gave the link for was comprised of mostly rip off artists. Why JK didn't research this, or come out later to retract his testimony, which was allegedly a prepared speech, composed by someone else, is beyond me.

JT - you mention that your a veteran of the era, but you don't say that you're a veteran. Did JK's speech cause you to leave the country? I'm wondering what it was about one voice among so many others that made you believe his testimony and not that of other returning vets.

I have no problem with JK being criticized, what I have a problem with is sites like the aforementioned one that deems the man a traitor for not agreeing with the gov't and the war in Vietnam. *That* is what prompted this post. Sites like that one frighten me. The idea that if we don't all feel the same way that those in the minority might be less patriotic or worthy of living in the US.