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The War on Iraq; Remembering Vietnam
Topics: children, Vietnam, Iraq, death, president, fear, blogs, Politics, bush, blogging, Iraq War
Posted by Janigirl Wed Aug 8, 2007 12:15:57 PDT
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I try not to think about the war in Iraq.  I have a nephew in Iraq now.  This is his second deployment.  I had hoped the war would end before he had to go back.  Obviously it didn't, and if history repeats itself, probably won't for several years.  People are tired of the politics between the President and Congress.  People are tired of their children dying.  I realize the death counts are lower than Vietnam, but if your kid is there, it isn't a matter how many lives have been lost.  It's the knowledge that your child is there and could be the next victim of a roadside bomb or suicide bomber or friendly fire.  You want your child safe and you want them home in America.  I was a little girl when Vietnam started, and became a young woman before it ended.  I was in the 4th grade,  when a former neighbor and family friend was killed in action in Vietnam.  I remember the long drive to Boron High School where we attended the funeral for Gene Ross.  After that, the war became more personal to me.I worried about it more than my parents or teachers thought.  I would see war footage on the news, or pictures of children bleeding and bandaged in the Life magazines.  I had bad dreams that the Vietnamese came to the United States and were hunting us.  I wonder if our school age children have the same fears regarding Iraq.  When I was in 7th grade, Jane Fonda started speaking out against the war, everyone hated her.  Draft dodgers headed to Canada.  Mohammed Ali refused to fight.  Americas voice raged for a few more years then finally the President heard.   Once he made up his mind, it didn't take long to bring our troops home.  Hopefully our next President will listen with an open mind and trusting heart to what America wants.   End this war and bring our children home.  I love America. 

 

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Comment From: Tahany

JANE FONDA HAD GUTS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST VIETNAM, JUST LIKE CINDY SHEEHAN HAS AGAINST IRAQ. WHERE IS JANE TODAY? WAS SHE EVER SO RIGHT, AND ALI HE HAD HIS RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS BUT DURING THOSE TUMULTOUS YEARS A BLACK MAN WAS ALWAYS BEING TARGETED AND QUESTIONED, AND AS FAR AS THE DRAFT DODGERS THEY TOO HAD THEIR REASONS, HOW ABOUT AN UNFAIR DRAFT? Comment From: queetstatoosh

Many of us were called. Many didn't go. Those of us that didn't want to but felt it was our duty were legion, and many didn't come back. I lost one bro and another badly injured. I was lucky I guess. Do not lionize those who ran, nor denigrate those of us who went. Its not right. Comment From: Janigirl

I re-read my post, my intention was not to lionize the men that served our country, or take away from those who chose not to. I was just stating what I know as truth from my childhood memories. At each level of the war as new problems arose such as those I listed, it was something in the news that meant a lot to me as a child. I am however greatful to those who did serve our great country. Thank you sir, and I'm truly sorry for your loss. Janet