Today, I took a walk at the traveling Wall … a replica wall of our lost heroes called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which was at the Mankato Veterans Park.
My thoughts were of these solders … 8 women and too many men to count (over 58,000) … but they all counted to too many families … my bride noted as we were a quarter of the way through about the names … and I had noted the same thing … the names were predominately “Anglo” names “Livingston”. “Perkins”, “Bennet” …
This was my second time to see the traveling “Wall” … as it had been in Mankato years ago … long before 9/11 and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
At least 6,024 U.S. service members who declared Islam as their faith have served honorably in overseas war deployments since the 9/11 attacks, and at least 14 Muslim-American troops have been killed in action.
The Vietnam era was dominated by the draft, deferments and enlistees … today’s military is all volunteer.
Looking at the Wall, I saw my last name … and then again saw it again … in fact it was listed five times … none were related to me - but they were related to someone else … funny thing is that I never saw the name “Romney” on the Wall … so when I got home, I did an Internet check … none on the Wall … I checked the current list of Fallen Heroes … and once again, Romney is not listed. As we know, Mitt Romney received a deferment during his college years (and after being injured in a car accident during his religious mission in France, probably would have rejected by the military doctors.) And you may recall, Romney was asked about his five sons and their lack of military service, and he responded : “One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I would be a great President.”
So why do I bring up Vietnam, Romney and War … well, I watched big chunks of the fundraiser Q&A on CSPAN on Wednesday and I was struck by Romney’s comments related to Palestine, Israel and the chances for a peaceful outcome. His first thought was that there was no hope for peace --- which no doubt brought cheers from Bibi’s Lukid party when they heard them on tape … but they probably already heard them through Sheldon Adelson. In August of this year, The Daily Beast reported that Adelson had "asked Romney to state publicly that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are a waste of time because the Palestinians are unwilling to make peace"--which is pretty much what Romney said at the fundraiser …
Romney’s second comment was that a former Secretary of State (who he refused to name, but had previously said that he talked with Kissinger) told him that he had ideas on how to achieve peace but Romney decided not to follow up. That’s scary. Given the chance to work for a peaceful settlement, wouldn’t you want a President who has an open and inquisitive mind ?
Romney has no foreign policy experience nor apparently any interest in that aspect of the job … he would be Bibi’s lapdog.
There is an old expression, “a drunken man says what a somber man thinks” … well, as Jon Stewart expressed on his total trashing of Romney’s tape … “This is a guy whose religion forbids him from drinking alcohol. Can you imagine what he would say if he was sh*tfaced?”
Beware of this man who gives every impression that he would start World War III.
This man, who did not serve and whose sons did not serve - unlike say, Bo Biden who has, is far too eager to invade Iran, far too eager and belligerant in his attitudes.
As you have previously pointed out, he has the same Bush advisers that got us in to Iraq and that made such a devestation of American foreign policy that we became hated worldwide.
The Viet Nam wall brings tears to my eyes; this man is a smiling monster who smirks with arrogance and folly just like Dubya.
Today, I took a walk at the traveling Wall … a replica wall of our lost heroes called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which was at the Mankato Veterans Park.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts were of these solders … 8 women and too many men to count (over 58,000) … but they all counted to too many families … my bride noted as we were a quarter of the way through about the names … and I had noted the same thing … the names were predominately “Anglo” names “Livingston”. “Perkins”, “Bennet” …
This was my second time to see the traveling “Wall” … as it had been in Mankato years ago … long before 9/11 and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
If there was a wall for those that who fought and died in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, just for the month of August would have different names .. Army Pfc. Jesus J. Lopez, Army Pfc. Patricia L. Horne, Army Sgt. Louis Torres, and forty-four other names -- all who died in just one month … that we never talk about (even at the Republican party Convention {it must have been a party since they ignored the troops and not a Political Party}).
The face of the military has changed … do you know the story of so-called ‘green-card soldier’ José Antonio Gutierrez who was one of approximately 32,000 resident aliens, fighting in the ranks of the US Armed Forces ? Gutierrez was born in Guatemala and escaped to the US without his parents, and when he reached 18, he got residency documents and joined the Marines. Gutierrez died March 21, 2003 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
At least 6,024 U.S. service members who declared Islam as their faith have served honorably in overseas war deployments since the 9/11 attacks, and at least 14 Muslim-American troops have been killed in action.
The Vietnam era was dominated by the draft, deferments and enlistees … today’s military is all volunteer.
CONTINUED
Looking at the Wall, I saw my last name … and then again saw it again … in fact it was listed five times … none were related to me - but they were related to someone else … funny thing is that I never saw the name “Romney” on the Wall … so when I got home, I did an Internet check … none on the Wall … I checked the current list of Fallen Heroes … and once again, Romney is not listed. As we know, Mitt Romney received a deferment during his college years (and after being injured in a car accident during his religious mission in France, probably would have rejected by the military doctors.) And you may recall, Romney was asked about his five sons and their lack of military service, and he responded : “One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I would be a great President.”
ReplyDeleteSo why do I bring up Vietnam, Romney and War … well, I watched big chunks of the fundraiser Q&A on CSPAN on Wednesday and I was struck by Romney’s comments related to Palestine, Israel and the chances for a peaceful outcome. His first thought was that there was no hope for peace --- which no doubt brought cheers from Bibi’s Lukid party when they heard them on tape … but they probably already heard them through Sheldon Adelson. In August of this year, The Daily Beast reported that Adelson had "asked Romney to state publicly that Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are a waste of time because the Palestinians are unwilling to make peace"--which is pretty much what Romney said at the fundraiser …
Romney’s second comment was that a former Secretary of State (who he refused to name, but had previously said that he talked with Kissinger) told him that he had ideas on how to achieve peace but Romney decided not to follow up. That’s scary. Given the chance to work for a peaceful settlement, wouldn’t you want a President who has an open and inquisitive mind ?
Romney has no foreign policy experience nor apparently any interest in that aspect of the job … he would be Bibi’s lapdog.
There is an old expression, “a drunken man says what a somber man thinks” … well, as Jon Stewart expressed on his total trashing of Romney’s tape … “This is a guy whose religion forbids him from drinking alcohol. Can you imagine what he would say if he was sh*tfaced?”
Beware of this man who gives every impression that he would start World War III.
This man, who did not serve and whose sons did not serve - unlike say, Bo Biden who has, is far too eager to invade Iran, far too eager and belligerant in his attitudes.
ReplyDeleteAs you have previously pointed out, he has the same Bush advisers that got us in to Iraq and that made such a devestation of American foreign policy that we became hated worldwide.
The Viet Nam wall brings tears to my eyes; this man is a smiling monster who smirks with arrogance and folly just like Dubya.