But They Support the Troops
Michael Yon emailed early this morning to warn me American soldiers are being given a travel warning by the federal government.
The sad part? It isn't overseas, but related to what are now only verbal assaults on the Washington, D.C. metro.It sounds like we've got a few disciples of the William Ayers/Bernadine Dohrn wing of the Democrat Party still active. Fringe leftists haven't murdered uniformed government officials since 2002 in anti-war, anti-government violence, but it is an election year, and tensions are already running high.
Recently, there have been local incidents in which military personnel have been verbally assaulted while commuting on the Metro. Uniformed members have been approached by individuals expressing themselves as anti-government, shouting anti-war sentiments, and using racial slurs against minorities.
This isn't the kind of "hope" and "change" I think most of us expected. 5/27 Update: This one is for those authors and moderators of blog entries at the Village Voice, as they don't seem willing to correct misinformation they spread even after being contacted by both Michael Yon and myself. Despite their assertions to the contrary, I went to great lengths to correct this story, spurred on by Yon. I not only wrote the Pajamas Media article debunking the substance of this claim; I also wrote a separate article for this very blog, though I didn't update this particular post, because at that point, this post was old news pushed well down the digital page. Perhaps I should have done so. That doesn't excuse Edroso's laziness and unwillingness to actually read the blogs he claims to for the Voice, or for their unwillingness to publish my response to them as of 5:47 PM today.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 08:38 AM
Comments
1
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 05/21/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.
Posted by: David M at May 21, 2008 10:28 AM (gIAM9)
2
The Metro always has lots of passengers. The troops will have to how restraint.
I hope other passengers come to the defence of the troops.
I hope other passengers come to the defence of the troops.
Posted by: davod at May 21, 2008 11:18 AM (llh3A)
3
And it seems that the authorities are suggesting that military folks travel in civvies if possible, rather in those 'provocative' uniforms.
That's wrong. Whatever happened to 'millions for defense, and not one cent for tribute'?
Hiding out in civvies is a form of appeasement. Will the dear little lefties like us better if we look more like them?
Joe Lieberman nailed it yesterday, with a surprising quote from none other than Dean Acheson: "No people in history have ever survived, who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves inoffensive to their enemies".
And that goes in spades to our military personnel, who will never make themselves inoffensive to our domestic enemies by hiding out of uniform. Better to confront the beast in the open, and make public the savage behavior of the anti-American goons (whose parents were the ones spitting on returning Viet Nam vets, and who never were properly called to account).
And maybe, indeed, someone will step out of the crowd and forthrightly shorten the proboscis of one or more of the uniform-attackers. We can only hope.
That's wrong. Whatever happened to 'millions for defense, and not one cent for tribute'?
Hiding out in civvies is a form of appeasement. Will the dear little lefties like us better if we look more like them?
Joe Lieberman nailed it yesterday, with a surprising quote from none other than Dean Acheson: "No people in history have ever survived, who thought they could protect their freedom by making themselves inoffensive to their enemies".
And that goes in spades to our military personnel, who will never make themselves inoffensive to our domestic enemies by hiding out of uniform. Better to confront the beast in the open, and make public the savage behavior of the anti-American goons (whose parents were the ones spitting on returning Viet Nam vets, and who never were properly called to account).
And maybe, indeed, someone will step out of the crowd and forthrightly shorten the proboscis of one or more of the uniform-attackers. We can only hope.
Posted by: Micropotamus at May 21, 2008 01:11 PM (YeWPs)
4
Shades of Vietnam. I remember when the word went out in the Navy, no more uniforms worn off base, no more "military" haircuts that would make you stand out, even when in civvies, cautions on when to show your military ID card as identification. We were even cautioned by one ship's command to not hang "welcome home" banners for our loved ones when the ship returned from a 9 month deployment so as not to "offend" the neighbors and draw attention to ourselves.
When I hear stories like this post, it angers me to my very core.
When I hear stories like this post, it angers me to my very core.
Posted by: Sara at May 21, 2008 02:00 PM (Wi/N0)
5
I remember those good old days too. When a fellow graduate student learned I was a veteran at our first departmental orientation party, he said "you don't belong here you fascist. We'll get rid of you."
I earned a MA with thesis and nine hours toward a PHD in four semesters. When a job counselor told a Navy friend and me we needed to hide our military past if we wanted good employment, I dropped out and farmed. Sad to say some of those grad students grew up to become college professors who warp our children's minds.
I earned a MA with thesis and nine hours toward a PHD in four semesters. When a job counselor told a Navy friend and me we needed to hide our military past if we wanted good employment, I dropped out and farmed. Sad to say some of those grad students grew up to become college professors who warp our children's minds.
Posted by: James at May 21, 2008 02:54 PM (7Plbe)
6
I ride the DC Metro everyday and I haven't see any of this behavior, but I'm not near the Yellow line. Every troop I see in Union Station gets a handshake and a "Thank You".
Posted by: Jonn Lilyea at May 21, 2008 05:15 PM (H9PcE)
7
To heck with that! Wear the uniform properly and PROUDLY. I did. They'll only make comments once, if properly "counselled".
Posted by: Tonto (USA) at May 21, 2008 07:32 PM (GAL+4)
8
Sooner or later, one of these anti-war folks will go just a little too far, in front of reasonable witnesses, and the soldier/sailor/airman/marine will teach them why you don't mess with someone who's been trained for combat.
Posted by: C-C-G at May 21, 2008 07:45 PM (ub+LC)
9
CCG: I hope not, because then the soldier/sailor/airman/marine will get busted by his chain of command. This is the 'Zero Tolerance' military, and getting into fights while in uniform (and especially busting up a civvie while in uniform) may very well be a career-ender... certainly will be a career-ender if the anti-military jerk in question manages to get his story (about how he was assaulted by a vicious, sadistic Bushitler-clone murderer-in-uniform, just for exercising his patriotic right to dissent) into the media.
I'd rather them have to put up with a few minutes of obnoxious behavior by a total jerk than have them wreck their careers by acting out.
I didn't say it was right, I just said that's what will happen.
I'd rather them have to put up with a few minutes of obnoxious behavior by a total jerk than have them wreck their careers by acting out.
I didn't say it was right, I just said that's what will happen.
Posted by: DaveP. at May 21, 2008 08:47 PM (3Aj1g)
10
True, Dave, but then again, just one of them getting their nose bloodied might convince a fair number not to try anything with the uniformed services. A lot (note, I didn't say all) of the anti-war types are plain and simple cowards, and won't take a chance on getting hurt by someone who is willing to make a sacrifice (his career) to make it easier for his buddies to walk around in the uniform they're honored to be able to wear.
Posted by: C-C-G at May 21, 2008 10:48 PM (WLr2t)
11
My uncle told me that when he came back from Germany in the 70's, some hippy threw a bottle of urine at him when he was in uniform.
I filed that in the memory banks.
I filed that in the memory banks.
Posted by: brando at May 21, 2008 11:14 PM (LXoqQ)
12
CCG - It's not the member of the military (in uniform or not) who needs to confront these idiots. It's you, me, and the rest of us who truly support the troops! As was said above by John Lilyea...walk up to the Soldier/Sailor/Airman/Marine/Coast Guard, tell them "Thank you", and shake their hands. If they are being harrassed by some unwashed miscreant, do this IN FRONT of them and then put yourself between. Don't say anything to the loser(s). It is better YOU get assaulted than the member of the military...plus, YOU have more ability to defend yourself in this case than the uniformed S/S/A/M/CG.
Posted by: Mark at May 22, 2008 10:48 AM (4od5C)
13
It just so happens that I'm going to be in DC over the 4th of July on R&R... maybe I should wear my ACUs and roll around on the Metro for a few hours and see if anyone has anything to say to me? Mind you I stand 6 Foot 4 and Weigh in at 360 Lbs... and not a bit of it fat... (hence the handle 'Big Country')
Wonder how many hippies I can fit into one of them there garbage cans/recycle bins? It'll be reeeeeaaally interesting to see.
Wonder how many hippies I can fit into one of them there garbage cans/recycle bins? It'll be reeeeeaaally interesting to see.
Posted by: Big Country at May 22, 2008 02:54 PM (niydV)
14
Mark, your suggestion and mine are not mutually exclusive... why not do both?
Posted by: C-C-G at May 22, 2008 05:51 PM (WLr2t)
15
Remember, phone cameras are a big help.
Posted by: Mikey NTH at May 22, 2008 07:04 PM (TUWci)
16
Because it would be 'bad' for the service member to retaliate in any way. Now, if they were to be seen 'helping' a civilian supporter against a vile miscreant, the I agree with you. Thanks to Mikey for a way to document such an event.
Posted by: Mark at May 22, 2008 07:52 PM (KDHro)
17
But, see, none of this actually is happening.
Just as not one soldier was spat upon by hippies during/after Vietnam. It's all a myth.
How do I know? Profs tell me so:
http://www.amazon.com/Spitting-Image-Memory-Legacy-Vietnam/dp/0814751474
So, when you read about it happening today, understand that it's not really happening. And if it is, pace Jerry Lembcke, it's actually conservatives doing it, out of disrespect for the troops (for not having won).
Of course, it's all in the definitions. Apparently, somewhere along the line, Lembcke concluded that if there weren't ENOUGH stories in the press, and no film of soldiers/sailors/Marines/airmen being spat upon, it didn't happen. And if it didn't happen to every soldier/sailor/Marine/airmen, then the whole thing is an "urban legend," made up in the aftermath by conservatives.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/04/30/debunking_a_spitting_image/
And, yes, Eurasia has always been at war with Eastasia.
Just as not one soldier was spat upon by hippies during/after Vietnam. It's all a myth.
How do I know? Profs tell me so:
http://www.amazon.com/Spitting-Image-Memory-Legacy-Vietnam/dp/0814751474
So, when you read about it happening today, understand that it's not really happening. And if it is, pace Jerry Lembcke, it's actually conservatives doing it, out of disrespect for the troops (for not having won).
Of course, it's all in the definitions. Apparently, somewhere along the line, Lembcke concluded that if there weren't ENOUGH stories in the press, and no film of soldiers/sailors/Marines/airmen being spat upon, it didn't happen. And if it didn't happen to every soldier/sailor/Marine/airmen, then the whole thing is an "urban legend," made up in the aftermath by conservatives.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/04/30/debunking_a_spitting_image/
And, yes, Eurasia has always been at war with Eastasia.
Posted by: Lurking Observer at May 22, 2008 08:10 PM (9Dnrq)
18
Whether happening or not...my point still remains that our duty is to protect Service Members if such an occasion arises.
Posted by: Mark at May 23, 2008 02:57 PM (4od5C)
19
Remember one thing here. If one of those idiots assaults you, the service member is duty bound to protect you.
Posted by: Eric at May 24, 2008 05:45 PM (9V6Vj)
20
so where's the correction bob? you figured it out in pm, why not update here?
Posted by: rapid at May 27, 2008 03:18 PM (oEV28)
21
so where's the correction bob? you figured it out in pm, why not update here?
I did, slick. Folks don't often read updates pushed well down the page, so I made an entirely new post out of it and emailed dozens of bloggers on the subject. I'll post a link here as a formality, but as I've posted now two additional articles on the subject, I'm not sure I see what good it will do.
so where's the correction bob? you figured it out in pm, why not update here?
I did, slick. Folks don't often read updates pushed well down the page, so I made an entirely new post out of it and emailed dozens of bloggers on the subject. I'll post a link here as a formality, but as I've posted now two additional articles on the subject, I'm not sure I see what good it will do.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at May 27, 2008 04:36 PM (HcgFD)
Processing 0.01, elapsed 0.024 seconds.
18 queries taking 0.0201 seconds, 29 records returned.
Page size 16 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.