Subject:
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Re: From Vietnam to Jesse Helms (Re: More on Palestine)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 15 Oct 2001 20:11:50 GMT
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Viewed:
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682 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Scott Arthur writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, James Simpson writes:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Daniel Jassim writes:
> >
> > > Even regardless of the innocent people who get killed, who have nothing to
> > > do with nothing? Goals, shmoals, the bottom line is there used to be such a
> > > thing as chivalry. The movie "The Patriot" pointed that out and it is as
> > > true then as it is now. The "anything goes in war" mentality applies to
> > > terrorists and cowards. It is very easy to kill defenseless women and
> > > children, there's no bravery, heroism, patriotism or honor in that. If
> > > anyone thinks there is, I suggest they talk to a Vietnam vet sometime.
> >
> > I have spoken to a Vietnam Vet; last night in fact; I have a special word for
> > him; I call him Dad. And you know what? Dad *never* killed defenseless women
> > and children in Vietnam. I take extreme umbrage with your statement. That was
> > a horrible war, but fought honorably and bravely by the vast majority of
> > Americans (and others - my dad has never been an American citizen, but fought
> > for the U.S. Army) who went to Hell out of no choice of their own. I find it
> > insulting to the hundreds of thousands of honorable Vietnam servicemen still
> > with us. Perhaps *you* should talk to some Vietnam Vets and/or the families of
> > the killed, maimed or missing before you dishonor their sacrifices.
>
> I agree, Dan's tarring everyone with a big sticky brush. His general
> comments are interesting though. <snipped>
I think James is reading something into Dan's comment that
I don't think is there. Dan stated that there's no chivalry
in killing the defenceless, and to ask a Vietnam vet if you
doubted that statement. I also know a number of Vietnam vets--
my parents know their parents (I was born quite late). They
all definitely agree that non-com casualties were horrific and
the antithesis of their actual mission; indeed, the antithesis
of everything these young men believed in. I think that's what
Dan was getting at; nowhere in there did he state that US
forces in Vietnam were cowardly or made a policy of killing
non-combatants. However, that was such a fluid war that
"collateral damage" (shudder) was impossible, and for a lot
of the guys I've met who did full tours in the field, *those*
were the things that still give them nightmares.
I agree with you, James, but I'm not sure you've read Dan
correctly re: Vietnam vets. Just my impression, anyways.
Oh, and "The Patriot" is pseudo-historical presentist tripe.
I trust it about as much as I trust "Gladiator" for Roman
history. The names and places may be the same, but the rest
is pure fiction.
best
LFB
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