Senator John McCain is playing the POW card. He claims his experience qualifies him to be commander in chief and president. It also protects him from his enemies. The “Hero Pulpit” is high above the crowd and beyond reproach. If that's true, why are his records sealed and the subject taboo? And not just his military records here but the careful notes and logs made by his captors in Vietnam?
Here's a few things we DO know:
1.He graduated at the bottom of his class at the naval academy. Some reports state that he wouldn't have graduated at all if not for his father, the decorated admiral.
2.He crashed 5 planes.
3.He broke both his arms, not from abuse by Viet Cong but failing to hold them in when he ejected after being shot down.
4.He received special treatment in POW camps due to his father's position.
5.He gave military and other information to his captors in exchange for medical treatment not afforded other prisoners.
6.He made 32 propaganda films/tapes for the Viet Cong.
7.He was given access to dignitaries and international reporters.
8.He was kept away from other prisoners much of the time (which makes verification conveniently tough).
9.He was given the nickname “Songbird” because he so freely gave out information.
10.He snubbed the villager that saved his life after the crash, but maintained a life-long relationship with one of his captors.
11.He was not promoted after being released, which is often the case.
12.He went to great lengths to have his military and POW records sealed.
13.He also fought to seal the records of other MIA/POW's and prevent their families from investigating and trying to recover their loved ones.
14.He continues to hedge against benefits for GI's, even though he is the recipient of those benefits.
His whole campaign is based on his status as a war hero. But if he's really the hero he claims to be, why not release the records? Why change and embellish the few stories he likes to repeat? Why not help others who are still missing their soldiers in Vietnam after all these years? Why not speak out for better treatment of GI's and veterans? Why not talk about his experiences candidly and answer questions frankly instead of holding them up as a banner of unimpeachable glory?
Don't get me wrong. I don't question his patriotism. I think we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all our service men and women. They risk and often give their lives for us, while we sit comfortably at our computers and complain to each other about how hard life is. In that respect, John McCain is a hero, just like all the others who wear the uniform in harm's way.
But General Clark was right. In going over his list of experiences, I can't see how any of them qualify him to be president. They certainly don't prove him to be a great military tactician. If anything they point toward failure.
Is this the kind of president we want? One who hides behind the flag, whose only focus is war, and who gets his advice from the lobbyists who work to subvert our economy and our rights? I don't think so! It's time for John McCain to take his place on bingo night at the DAV lodge, where he can tell his stories any way he likes. We need a president who's up to the task of improving ethics on the hill and solving the terrible problems we face here, at home.
References:
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/february2008/020708_never_tortured.htm
http://polidics.com/ethics/fellow-pows-say-john-mccain-was-a-coward-and-a-traitor-in-viet-nam.html
-U.S. News and World Report, May 14, 1973 article written by former POW John McCain
http;//iperceive.net.
Faith of My Fathers by John McCain.
The Nightingale’s Song
The Phoenix New Times March 25, 1999
New York Daily News, June 5, 1969
The interview with Dr. Fernando Barral, a Spanish psychiatrist, was published in the Havana Granma in January 1970. March 25, 1999, The Phoenix New Times
http://www.usvetdsp.com/mcprsrel.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-542277/How-war-hero-John-McCain-betrayed- Vietnamese-peasant-saved-life.html
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_declassified_landing.htm
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Fighting for the Right to Choose
If it's wanted, it's a child. If not, it's just tissue.
Personally, I think society would be better served by "fighting" for widespread education on prevention and responsibility rather than fighting for more widespread abortion. They're already legal and routinely available. But isn't it better to teach our kids to avoid problems and be responsible for themselves rather than simply flushing whatever "minor annoyances" come their way?
I'm not talking about abstinence only education. Our kids needs every tool available to protect themselves from a host of dangers, complications and life changing situations. While abstinence is the only sure way, it's unrealistic to expect that of everyone. They need a wide range approach. To be prepared, they need to understand all the risks, all the ways to protect themselves and be instilled with a sense of responsibility for their actions.
Simply fighting for greater acceptance of abortion isn't a solution. It's a cheap excuse to relieve us all of responsibility. There's a tendency in our culture to dispose of our problems rather than manage them. We throw away marriage, family, children, friendships, financial and legal obligations, jobs, anything that might take extra effort. Trouble is, we don't learn anything and we end up losing out on the things that can bring the most joy into our lives, all for the sake of convenience.
Nowadays, with all we understand about HIV/AIDS, std's, etc, it's more important than ever to think before we act. If you don't want to be at risk for pregnancy or other things, it's very easy to prevent them. We're not mindless animals who must have unprotected sex at every opportunity.
Yes, there are situations where abortion should be considered. But it must never be touted as the normal form of birth control when there are so many things we could have done to prevent it. Whether you consider a fetus tissue or a child, wouldn't it make sense to prevent it from forming rather than having to rip it out afterwards?
This is in response to an article on Huffington Post by Frances Kissling, "The Best Candidate For Choice." She describes her many years of fighting for the right to choose, and how it applies to the current presidential candidates.
The Best Candidate For Choice
Personally, I think society would be better served by "fighting" for widespread education on prevention and responsibility rather than fighting for more widespread abortion. They're already legal and routinely available. But isn't it better to teach our kids to avoid problems and be responsible for themselves rather than simply flushing whatever "minor annoyances" come their way?
I'm not talking about abstinence only education. Our kids needs every tool available to protect themselves from a host of dangers, complications and life changing situations. While abstinence is the only sure way, it's unrealistic to expect that of everyone. They need a wide range approach. To be prepared, they need to understand all the risks, all the ways to protect themselves and be instilled with a sense of responsibility for their actions.
Simply fighting for greater acceptance of abortion isn't a solution. It's a cheap excuse to relieve us all of responsibility. There's a tendency in our culture to dispose of our problems rather than manage them. We throw away marriage, family, children, friendships, financial and legal obligations, jobs, anything that might take extra effort. Trouble is, we don't learn anything and we end up losing out on the things that can bring the most joy into our lives, all for the sake of convenience.
Nowadays, with all we understand about HIV/AIDS, std's, etc, it's more important than ever to think before we act. If you don't want to be at risk for pregnancy or other things, it's very easy to prevent them. We're not mindless animals who must have unprotected sex at every opportunity.
Yes, there are situations where abortion should be considered. But it must never be touted as the normal form of birth control when there are so many things we could have done to prevent it. Whether you consider a fetus tissue or a child, wouldn't it make sense to prevent it from forming rather than having to rip it out afterwards?
This is in response to an article on Huffington Post by Frances Kissling, "The Best Candidate For Choice." She describes her many years of fighting for the right to choose, and how it applies to the current presidential candidates.
The Best Candidate For Choice
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Celebrating Our Differences Into The Toilet
Clarence B. Jones wrote an article for Huffington Post. Clinton vs. Obama: Lest We Forget
He discussed the racial overtones that have been needlessly injected into the battle for the nomination for president, as well as a perceived struggle between race and sex discrimination. He talked about the life's message of Martin Luther King, Jr, his impact on us all and how we should be continuing in the path of tolerance and understanding.
Here are a few of my own thoughts...
It's too bad we even have to have this discussion. Many have devoted and even sacrificed their lives to make this a better country. We stand in their shadow and reap the rewards, yet we wear their suffering on our sleeves as if it were our own. Some are quick to offend and others take offense easily. The rest of us range from simple voyeurs to tag team slugging partners. Whether racist, sexist, religious or any other form, bias is ugly.
It shows up in many ways, too. Outright discrimination and abuse, crude jokes, slanderous speech, insensitivity, indifference. But also crying race as a tactic, harboring resentment for things that didn't happen to us personally, overgeneralizing and even celebrating one's race or working to advance one against another.
As long as we tolerate bias, we'll always be "us vs them." Instead of focusing on color, ethnicity, sex, lifestyle or other differences we should be working together to be better neighbors, citizens, Americans.
Beautiful walls are made by blending hues, not by throwing on colors that compete for attention. Our country is a grand melting pot. We can come together in a fine way, or continue to promote our differences as uneasy tenants and enemies. In which case the sacrifices of our forebearers will have been for nothing.
He discussed the racial overtones that have been needlessly injected into the battle for the nomination for president, as well as a perceived struggle between race and sex discrimination. He talked about the life's message of Martin Luther King, Jr, his impact on us all and how we should be continuing in the path of tolerance and understanding.
Here are a few of my own thoughts...
It's too bad we even have to have this discussion. Many have devoted and even sacrificed their lives to make this a better country. We stand in their shadow and reap the rewards, yet we wear their suffering on our sleeves as if it were our own. Some are quick to offend and others take offense easily. The rest of us range from simple voyeurs to tag team slugging partners. Whether racist, sexist, religious or any other form, bias is ugly.
It shows up in many ways, too. Outright discrimination and abuse, crude jokes, slanderous speech, insensitivity, indifference. But also crying race as a tactic, harboring resentment for things that didn't happen to us personally, overgeneralizing and even celebrating one's race or working to advance one against another.
As long as we tolerate bias, we'll always be "us vs them." Instead of focusing on color, ethnicity, sex, lifestyle or other differences we should be working together to be better neighbors, citizens, Americans.
Beautiful walls are made by blending hues, not by throwing on colors that compete for attention. Our country is a grand melting pot. We can come together in a fine way, or continue to promote our differences as uneasy tenants and enemies. In which case the sacrifices of our forebearers will have been for nothing.
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