by Mrs Haruo » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:11 am
This country was so divided over the Viet Nam war that by the time I enlisted in 1972 as a devoutly patriotic girl, ready to follow in my father's and brother's footsteps-- Mom said she wanted to join the WACs or the WAVES during WWII when Dad got drafted, but she was too short-- my cousin told me I was "Copping out on society and joining the Military Industrial Complex" ( Her anger shocked and hurt me, as we had been close growing up, but I didn't take her too seriously, she rarely had an original thought in her head, she had learned that phrase at the state "hippie college" ) and even some kids in my own Sunday School class were muttering "Baby Killer" behind my back, yet so many adults were patting me on the back saying things like "I wanted to join up when I was your age, but Mom and Dad said "Nice girls stay at home" Well, after 4 years I had seen the truth. Wars are fought by well fed old guys in Washington D.C. who send other parents children-mostly poor parents children, off to die for their country. Most of the ones who returned came home with a chunk of their hearts or minds or both back in those stinking jungles. For what? This last 10 years has mangled so many young lives and devastated more families, left my son with the "Thousand mile stare" and a broken marriage. I still fly the flag from my yard, but that doesn't mean I am not nauseated by what has been passing for congress and the senate for the past several years. And the vast majority of television news media are worse. The major channels and FOX in particular pander to the lowest common denominator.
Don't despair if your job and your rewards are few, remember that the mighty oak was once a nut like you!