Posted on 10/14/2004 11:27:52 AM PDT by redrock
We were sitting watching the news...my 7 year old daughter and myself. The usual was on...some talking head droning on and on about President Bush...and the War in Iraq. Soon pictures of soldiers patrolling the streets of Baghdad came on the screen.
My daughter asked me a question upon seeing the soldiers.
"Daddy...why did you go to war?? Why did you go to Vietnam??"
I tried to reason an answer for her....that I went to serve my Country. That I went because I felt that maybe,just maybe, it was important enough...that I thought that a danger was growing over there...a danger to my family.
I got part of the explanation out...and she then she interupted me...looking up at me and letting me know that she understood.
"Daddy...you went to make it safe for me to go outside and play."...and then she proceded to grab her doll...and go and do what children do. Play.
Sometimes.....it's that simple.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Who Do You Love??"
----Ellis McDaniels (I prefer the Doors version)
A few days ago I went to a funeral. A fellow Vietnam Vet had passed away..(actually I believe he was taking refuge).
A Veteran who was killed, in the end, by all the hatred he had endured.
He had come back from Vietnam...and tried to put all he had seen and done behind him. He got married. Raised a family. 2 daughters and a son. Worked hard...and tried to make a difference in his community by being the best father he could...and he was a great example.
He tried to forget, and like the rest of us, come to terms with being labeled a .."..rapist...murderer...babykiller." He was doing fine (or at least everyone thought so)...until this year.
Then ....your father killed him.
True...your father did not put a gun to his head....or a knife in his belly.
But he killed him all the same.
Because, after all these years of trying to deal with those false charges your father used to start his climb up the political ladder, here he was again. Using Vietnam as a stepping stone to further his ambitions...his greed.
Because, after all these years, there was your father trying to make 4 months in Vietnam seem like a lifetime.
Because, after all these years, there was your father ( a man who deserted his Command...his men) trying to use his time in Vietnam....as a prop.
Because...my friend in the last few months of his life...worried himself to death. Worried that your father actually could get elected as President. That the one person in the world who made the lies about those who served in Vietnam....easy....could become the next 'Commander-in-Chief'.
Worried that your father would get elected....and do to my friends son (who is now proudly serving in the Army in Iraq)...what your father did to him.
Betray him.
Sometimes....it's as simple as that
===========================================
I have talked to almost 2,500 Vietnam Veterans in the past 8 months.( I keep track)
Not one has had a kind word to say about your father.
You may only know those who have been bribed (or coerced) to stand next to your father and sing his praise. But in the real world...most Vietnam Veterans have a feeling towards your father that borders on hate.
Go out and visit some of them. It may open your eyes.
Ask your father why he went to Vietnam.
Then ask those Veterans why they went.
Most will answer something along the lines of protecting their Country...and their families.
Your father has denigrated them....made the world think of them as murderers...rapists.
And he will do the same with those serving in Iraq.
But your father is wrong.
They went to...."To make the world safe...for little girls to play."
...and they deserve better than someone who has betrayed them...like your father.
Sometimes...it's as simple as that.
redrock
Yep.
Welcome Home.
redrock
Well said Redrock. May God watch over all the Vietnam Vets this election season. I hope they have their voices heard and their good names cleared- once and for all.
redrock
bttt
redrock
Hat-Trick.
redrock
Don't worry Redrock, John F&%*ing Kerry doesn't have a chance. The country's smarter than he or the media thinks.
Thanks for your service. God bless.
"Daddy...you went to make it safe for me to go outside and play."...and then she proceded to grab her doll...and go and do what children do. Play.
Sometimes.....it's that simple.
..and I wept.
Thank you for going and trying to make a world that was safe enough for me to play in, for my future wife to play in, for my children to play in. This nation was unworthy of your generation's sacrifices, but now some of us are trying to make it right.
Thank you.
Heartfelt prayers for ALL the vets.
The "simple" is what gets past us. Remember these Kerry folks speak in legaleeze...meant to complicate the simple.
Great work, redrock.
God bless you, redrock.
I'm the sister of a Viet Nam Vet...he went over there two times. He and I are VERY close and to this day, I don't know what happened over there. Why? He did what he had to do in Nam and he didn't come back gritching and complaining. He got on with his life and THOUGHT he had put all of this behind him.
Until Kerry came back. I will NOT forgive Kerry for hurting my brother and our Vets. NEVER.
Unfortunately, from what I have seen of John Kerry's children they believe they are tooooo sophisticated to think that it could be this simple.
You are so blessed having suffered and come through your pain - stronger.
You are a blessing to your community and to your daughter - a father who didn't give up, and cares enough to share the hard lessons.
John Kerry can't win on his current path.
You can't lose on yours.
It's that simple. ((hugs))
redrock
redrock
..and the true healing will begin...both for the Veterans...and for our country.
redrock
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