2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie is very wise to keep us out of committing our kids to wars in the future.
As a 66-year-old white male, I admit I did not go to Vietnam. My left arm was broken in a wrestling accident when I was 17, and I still had a plate and a metal pin in that arm.(I still have the plate in my arm, but the pin has since been withdrawn.)
I did not think much about the requirement that I go—I was opposed to the war but I thought if I did not step up, someone would step in my place. I stepped up to the draft board, was measured and weighed, and I was asked if I really wanted to go I said it’s up to you. In retrospect, I certainly am glad I did not go, given the circumstances at the time.
But I sure as hell agree with Bernie, we should not commit young men and women to war unless this is a last resort. And it has not proven so for many of the last military commitments. Instead, people salute, send them off to work, let them come home wounded or worse.
About six months ago, a question was put forth and was suggested to Republicans and I agree with it: under what circumstances would you not advocate troops?
I think the problem is that they would recommend troops all the time, everywhere, and for whatever reason. Only Bernie is cautious about this.
And then has been a problem for a very, very long time. The military seems to be a hammer (especially in election years) and people are looking for a nail. But not only does it not work for our goals, but the world is turned against us by our military incursions.
Go Bernie!!!
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We're not fodder to him. We're his employers.
mikehiggins
(5,614 posts)I actually wanted to go to VietNam. I was a nineteen year old Irish Catholic patriot who'd dropped out of college and all my working class buddies were being called up in the draft. I showed up for the physical at Whitehall Street in Manhattan and went through the whole routine. Turned out my vision was too bad for the service (and I had flat feet and was overweight--I loved me some Shaeffer beer) but it was my eyes that earned me a 1-Y rating, meaning if the Soviets invaded Long Island I should give the Army a call.
I protested that maybe I could be a medic, or a truck driver or a clerk or whatever, and the friendly doctors said no, if I lost my glasses I might accidentally shoot an officer or something.
In all sincerity I pointed out that G.I.s were already shooting officers and those soldiers obviously had 20/20 vision.
The room got very cold, very fast, and I was ushered out into the street, meal voucher in my hand. Luckily there was a White Horse Tavern right down the block so the day wasn't a total loss.
Later, as my buddies began coming home in body bags I grew up in a hurry.
Oh, and thanks, Doctor Kissinger, for all you did for my generation. I'm happy to see you and other Secretary's of State getting along so well.
Akamai
(1,779 posts)Thanks! Killing other people is wrong (almost all of the time) and organized war is almost always wrong (but I would not object to fighting the Germans in WW II).
I sure agree with you about Kissinger. And others who adore war but don't want to send themselves, but other people's kids.
Go Bernie!!
msongs
(67,407 posts)
Uncle Joe
(58,363 posts)Thanks for the thread, Akamai.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)We call them that because they chickened out of going into the service but they are always willing to send in our boys.
Bernie's stance is the correct stance and will save many lives. That's what a good president does: saves many lives.
pnwmom
(108,978 posts)cause him to declare war, then he's lying.
But I don't think he said that.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)When I told them what they could do with LBJ's war I got 30 days mess duty for being outspoken. But, I got out on 6/29/65. Some of my comrades weren't so lucky.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)I know that will never fade away for you.
You honor them with your outspokenness and eloquence here.
