Hate

[ceebeegee]

From the Washington Post LTTE page:

Some delegates at the Republican National Convention are wearing bandages with Purple Hearts on them as a way to mock Democratic nominee John F. Kerry.

This childish tactic is also an attack on all brave soldiers who were wounded in defense of this country.

These delegates should be ashamed.

My grandfather (Army Air Corps pilot during WWII, decorated numerous times although no Purple Heart--he was known for bringing his men back safely--he did however win the Croix de Guerre avec Palme) would spit on these people. How. Dare. They.

Comments

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Well, since the Democratic nominee made a point of appealing to Bush not to indulge in negative campaigning and the word on high throughout the convention was not to attack Bush personally, probably not.

Sorry, I still find those buttons appalling. You don't get Purple Hearts in a Cracker Jack box. Anyone who was wounded in service gets one, no matter how superficial. It's offensive. That's the problem with buttons--you can't qualify what you're saying with simplistic images and slogans, and backtrack and say "what I meant was..."

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

Anyone who is wounded in service in the presence of enemy fire gets one, but I'm not here to dispute whether Kerry's are legitimate. However, he opened himself up to criticism by basing his campaign on his Vietnam service as strongly as he did. Most veterans are reluctant to talk about their wartime experiences. He can't stop talking about his, because, IMHO, he's got no other achievements to run on.

I highly doubt that the Dem delegates were all respectful and nice. Most, probably, just as most Republican delegates aren't wearing those bandaids. The difference is in what gets reported.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

What gets reported--

You actually think the National Review, the Wall Street Journal and Matt Drudge wouldn't report something like that if they saw it? Of course they would. They didn't see it.

And sorry, I think Kerry's decorations are above ridicule (not criticism--ridicule). Again, Kerry mentions his service because for years conservatives have obsessed about service, and attacked Clinton for not serving. LOVE to see it biting them in the ass this time, with a man who pulled strings not to serve as their nominee. Maybe if Bush had actually gone to Vietnam he'd know how offensive those buttons are.

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

I'd like to turn this one around on you: are you saying that service in the National Guard is not honorable? Because I did a stint in the Guard after my active duty time. Perhaps I should be personally offended.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Please don't try put words into my mouth. You know I said no such thing.

However, serving in the Guard is not the same thing as serving in Vietnam.

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right. The greatest danger that Bush faced in the Guard was crashing the plane he was flying.

Not Vietnam, but also not without danger.