I believe in the truth, and I am not afraid to express it.
What I am:
An American, vietnam veteran, father, moderate, moral and spiritual not religous, soldier citizen, voter, humanist.
What I am not:
Silent or subserviant.BIOI was 2nd born of five kids. I grew up in rural America, on a farm. Hunting and fishing wasn't merely a sport, it helped feed our family. I learned about hard work & hard life. Also the joys of nature. I strongly believe in the strict preservation of our natural resources.
I enlisted in the army in 1960. After finishing a full 4 year stint, I re-enlisted, and was sent to Vietnam. I was only 22 years old. My Vietnam war experience changed my perspective forever. I was exposed to Agent Orange, and have recently been part of the class action law suit over the health effects many Vietnam vets suffered, as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.
I feel that a true patriot, is someone who loves their country enough to criticize it's temporary leaders, when they jeopardize it's citizens unnecessarily. It is not patriotic to shut up, or tow the party lines. Our fore fathers, and many soldiers since, have bled and died to preserve that right. They firmly believed in the power of the soldier citizen, to protest against the central powers, should they go astray... So do I.
I am here to exercise my patriotic duty and right, to protest anything I deem harmful to the country I so deeply love.
You may not like what I have to say, but no one has the right to tell me I can't say it.
Peace and long life!
Money that we could have spent here in our country, to shore up our defenses. But instead we cut our police and fire departments, so that we can dump the money down some third world hole.
Comments (6)
turner
'They' just make shit up to scare the populous....
svdl
Right on! Here's another REAL word: Islamophobia. An unreasonable fear of anyone and anything Muslim. Like agoraphobia or arachnophobia, an ailment of the mind that in the more extreme cases prohibits the normal functioning of the afflicted patient. No therapy has been found yet.
Lenord
I absolutely agree with everything you have so eloquently stated, with one exception, Vietnam. I was in Viet Nam for 11 months 27 days and the time it took the Plane to take off. It is true about the Boredom punctuated by moments of pure Chaos but it was 24/7 pure Fear that this could be the last second.
intro
It's a classic case of media mis-direction. The Bush regime knows EXACTLY what they are. If they use the term "fascist" to describe their enemy, they believe it won't be used to describe THEM. They believe wrong.
Turin_Returns
Thank you for presenting this. I have not 'thankfully' heard the term in my nation, but I know the propaganda all too well. It warms my heart to see those apposed to the current American administration (or the processes it represents) still feel empowered to comment in this neo-McCarthy-era. I also fully agree with the comments related by 'jangled'. To detract from one's own evils - name them in someone else first!
mcranger
wow-did i have that much free time in vietnam ??? now i do remember some free time as a POW - the people do care about our wounded now - when i came home or recuperating between tours during vietnam i was assulted numerous times