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Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold
By Barbara Stock, September 1, 2004
Over 30 years ago they put away their
medals and their uniforms. They buried their anger and
bitterness and moved on with their lives--and they waited.
Revisionists are trying to change
history, claiming the returning Viet Nam veterans didn't
suffer all that much when they returned home. All that talk
of being labeled animals has been exaggerated over the
years. But the veterans know better. They were there.
On the radio last week, one man
related that he had unpacked the uniform that he wore home
from Viet Nam all those years ago.
It had not seen the light of day for
over 30 years. He showed it to his children and
grandchildren and, for the first time, spoke of the day that
he returned home from war and was spat on, cursed at, and
literally had to run a gauntlet of protesters who threw
human waste and rotten fruit on him and his fellow vets.
With the words "baby killers" ringing in his ears he was
warned by laughing policemen not to retaliate or he would be
arrested. So he ran.
The able-bodied helped the wounded as
they do on any battlefield because those on crutches or in
wheelchairs were not spared the profanity and bags full of
feces that were thrown at them by the raging anti-war
protesters.
This now middle-aged vet went on to
tell his family that he had hid in the bathroom at the
airport for over two hours, bewildered and afraid. He
wondered if he had landed in some foreign land where
Americans were hated.
Finally, he cleaned up the uniform he
was still proud to wear as best he could and made his way to
his plane, where he suffered more insults from the
passengers. When he got home, he packed up his medals and
his dirty uniform, just as it was, and he knew that one day,
he would take it out again and he would have his say. That
day has come.
One POW stated that he had never put a
face to the name until he heard the words "Genghis Khan"
pronounced only as John Kerry does and suffered his first
flashback to the time he was being tormented by Kerry's
words in a North Vietnamese prison camp.
They buried their anger and the
bitterness --and they waited. Most of them didn't know who
or what would be the signal to make their move, but they
knew they would recognize it when it happened.
On July 29, 2004, it happened. John
Forbes Kerry came to the podium at the Democratic Convention
and uttered three words that made many Viet Nam vets skin
crawl: "Reporting for Duty!" At last the time had come for
these long-suffering veterans.
The past was staring back at these
wrongly disgraced vets from their television sets. The face
it bore was that of John Kerry, the man who had shredded
their honor without a thought and climbed over the bodies of
their fallen friends to launch a political career. Kerry had
stripped them of their dignity the day he sat before
Congress in his fatigues and portrayed them as "baby
killers" and "murderers." Kerry did the unspeakable. He had
publicly turned on his fellow vets while they were still in
harm's way, and American prisoners were still in the hands
of the enemy. Kerry accused them all of being out-of-control
animals, killing, raping, and pillaging Viet Nam at will.
The anti-war movement -- the protesters - had their hero and
he was a Viet Nam War veteran, an officer, a medal winner, a
wounded warrior: John Forbes Kerry.
Many Viet Nam vets buried the memories
of their less-than-welcome homecoming, and John Kerry moved
off the national scene. The feelings of betrayal had faded,
but they were never resolved.
The unprecedented injustice inflicted
on the Viet Nam vets has always lain just under the surface,
waiting for a chance to be uncovered. The war had stolen
their youth and innocence and John Kerry stole their dignity
and rightful place of honor in history.
Like an unlanced boil, the anger
festered but there was nothing that could ease the pain.
These vets didn't ask for "forgiveness" because they had
done nothing wrong in serving their country. They never
asked to be treated as heroes, just good soldiers. All they
have ever wanted was the respect due all the men and women
who have worn the uniform of this country. Being allowed to
march in a few parades wasn't enough.
A long over-due memorial was not
enough. The Viet Nam Veterans moveable wall only brought
back the suffering as they searched for the names of their
fallen friends whose memory had been defiled and disgraced
by people who considered them rampaging killers instead of
men who died with honor for their country.
Now before them stands this man who
would be president - this man who holds his service in Viet
Nam up as a badge of honor now that it suits his purposes
This man Kerry brags about his medals
and his tiny wounds and demands the respect they were
denied, yet he offers no apologies for what he did to them
"I will be a great leader!" Kerry
proclaims, because of his brief and self-proclaimed valiant
service while wearing a uniform--the very same uniform that
they wore and were spat upon because of it.
All across America, soiled uniforms
and memories of being shamed and humiliated have resurfaced
and Vietnam vets demand their rightful place in history.
John Kerry seems bewildered by the
reaction of his "fellow vets." He has become defensive and
angry because now his service and honor are being
questioned. Kerry seems oblivious to the pain he caused
three decades ago when he stole all honor and dignity from
those same "fellow vets" for personal gain. Now he wants to
use them again, for the same reason.
All across America, Viet Nam vets are
smiling. At last, perhaps they can bury their demons. These
angry vets are demanding that this man who sentenced them to
being shunned as criminals, tell the world that he was wrong
and that he is sorry for what he did to them. Kerry must
admit that he lied about them.
For many, it would still not be
enough. Satisfaction and hopefully peace will come when Viet
Nam vets see and hear John F. Kerry give his concession
speech the night of November 2, 2004 with the knowledge that
it was their votes that helped defeat him. There are
approximately 2.5 million Viet Nam veterans in America and
they have not forgotten.
Kerry denied them their rightful place
as heroes and they will deny him his dream of the
presidency. Angry Viet Nam veterans, silent for so long,
will finally have their say.
Payment in full will be delivered
to John Kerry on November 2, 2004.
Revenge is indeed a dish best
served cold.
End of Ms Stocks remarks.
On the other side of the issue is
President George W. Bush. Here is the most common theme I
 have
heard and read from his supporters.
This is
a prayer request for a man in need of prayer.
Please, take a moment
and pray for this man. He is in a situation that few people
find themselves. He is criticized at every turn, and few
people have thanked him for the good things he has done.
Few people know the extent of his situation. We need to pray
that God gives him the guidance he needs to do his job
effectively. I have
attached a photo of this man. Look at it. Most of you will
recognize him. Please pray for him. If you were facing what
he is facing, you'd want people praying for you!
My New
Think for October is an old theme, pray that we may be
guided by our highest ideals when we vote this November.
To learn more about Poppa Kelly
please review his
initial article
- Thank you!
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