Quote:
Originally Posted by fintstone
a coward that refused to serve the nation that he owed so much to.
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Define cowardice. Look up "courage of one's convictions" and "civil disobedience'.
I don't know where you were in the Viet Nam era or what you know about that filthy little war that Americans eventually spoke out against and brought a halt to the futility which cost this country so many brave souls. Been to the wall?
We lost that war. It was a militarily unwinable and immoral war.
Those who believe we lost that war because of "unpatriotic" citizen's protests haven't a clue regarding that whole disgraceful era. It was a very complicated era, perhaps not fully comprehendable to those who have only read about it but didn't live in it and experience it directly.
Nor do those have a clue who do not respect the loyalty, bravery and heroism of those who chose to serve rather than protest; our fighting men and women have always been the bravest and always perform magnificently. It's not their job to question.....you know the rest, so they do what they were sworn to do, as we expect them to.
However, if you believe that all who were fighting there believed they were fighting for a just cause as that war sank into the miserable abyss from which we finally retreated, you're dead wrong. Those who saw the futility and the wrongness still did their jobs as valiantly and courageously as those who were gung ho to keep fighting on, not understanding that military victory could not be achieved and not understanding what a mistake this country had made by inserting itself as it did.
There were probably a few cowards and those who chose to desert, but I believe they were very few in number. There were MANY who served their time and did their best, as they were sworn to do, then returned to civilian life (the lucky ones) and joined the protests that had grown to a monumental size in this country.
I did. And I'm no coward. And if you question my patriotism, that would be a matter better discussed some other place than this forum - probably outdoors, considering the mood that some blindly judgemental black and white posts sometimes put me in.
I don't know what your military experience has been but I assume from your posts that you are a "military man", active or retired. Have you been in combat, seen your comrades killed or have their limbs blown off? You post with such self confidence and categorical certitude on military matters that I can't help but be a bit curious.
Oh, yeah....forgot to mention; I enlisted, I wasn't drafted - learned all about Viet Nam through on the job training...a great education.