Was Vietnam “a war between classes in America”? — Article-R
January 2nd, 2009 From
>Date: Tue, 22 Jul 1997 11:40:17 -0700
>From: TMO/TX
>Reply-To: swrctmo@iAmerica.net
>Organization: Kestrel/SWRC/OAssoc
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>To: mahan@microwrks.com
>Subject: Re: Was Vietnam “a war between classes in America”? — Article-R
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>
> > > As requested:
> >
>Spoken loudly and well, Lou, but unfortunately to this forum, less
>gullible than the Congressman’s audience.
>
>While the nature of the conflict in Viet Nam (or more likely the faulty
>methodolgy of our troop de/employments) may have increased casualty
>rates among the minorities or the poor, the casualty rates among Naval
>aviators or Marine 2LTs were no less “excessive” (as they have been in
>most wars).
>
>As one who spent his entire active duty in the Atlantic and Med, I don’t
>grieve for not going, but I do painfully remember the loss of my best
>man and two former roomates, college graduates from “affluent” families,
>one with a masters, all pretty close to the “Best and the Brightest.”
>On the other hand, the miserable record of all too many of our
>”academic” and “entertainment” communities has not resulted in their
>receiving the public opprobrium and rejection so well deserved.
>
>Just as my father would never purchase a Japanese-made product as long
>as there were any viable alternative, his two long years attached to the
>CHINATs providing him a with as sound a basis as exists for prejudice,
>personal experience, and my mother would never after the war trade with
>a grocer grown rich on the black market, I attempt to make conscious
>buying decisions relevant to the political and social posturing of some
>of my contemporaries. To wit…I’ll stay up late to watch Henry Fonda
>once more portray Mr. Roberts, but wouldn’t piss on Jane if her guts
>were on fire (or sentiments like unto same).
>
>On the other hand, no public “mea culpa”, no pillory or punishment, no
>painful experience could comprise adequate retribution for the grotesque
>and by God only, if then, barely forgivable sins of Robt. MacNamara.
>There’s a likely candidate for two-blocking at the mainyard of
>”Constitution” while all hands are mustered in the gangways to witness
>punishment.
>–
>Kestrel Syndicate – Oliver Associates – Southwest Regional Council
> “Quid consilium cepit…”