Some of the best peace activists I've known have been vets. Not all, but some.He's gone sideways since I posted that my father was a vet. He apparently thought that peace activists could not have had family in the military, ever.
He lives in a very small world. If I had known he'd freak out like this just from finding out about my dad, I would have posted it weeks ago.
Some of the best peace activists I've known have been vets. Not all, but some.
Maineman is enough evidence for me.Actually, war veterans being spit on at all, is anecdotal.
Maineman is enough evidence for me.
Among the journalists who gave first-hand accounts of spitting on soldiers was James Reston, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Spitting was one of the actions tame enough for Reston to describe in his New York Times front page story covering the October 21-22, 1967 Washington anti-war demonstrations: “It is difficult to report publicly the ugly and vulgar provocation of many of the militants. They spat on some of the soldiers in the front line at the Pentagon and goaded them with the most vicious personal slander. Many of the signs carried by a small number of militants . . . are too obscene to print.
Responsible anti-war activists, such as Allard Lowenstein implored students who opposed the war to stop all the spitting (May 14, 1969 WAPO).
Lembcke’s 3rd Argument: RETURNING SOLDIERS DID NOT LAND AT SAN FRANCISCO OR LA COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS.
Again, I am amazed that Lembcke would simply state this without checking. The May 7, 1967 New York Times story on re-entry into civilian life states: “Almost all veterans are flown back from Vietnam, usually in commercial jets.” There are many press stories about servicemen flying to and from Vietnam through commercial airports, particularly on the US west coast.
Another first-hand account of spitting on police by an anti-war demonstrator was published in the Washington Post under the byline of Pulitzer-Prize winner Carl Bernstein on May 7, 1970. A woman described by Bernstein as a “girl” and a “University of Maryland Coed” “spit at a policeman, then called him a ‘pig’ and a ‘filthy swine.’” Less than an hour later,” the same woman “offered a flower to a different police officer,” saying, “It’s not your fault.”
Good for you. For me, it's a lot like the 69 World Series.
A lot of people claim to have been there. Some of them were.
Unlike the world series, this certainly has had its political uses.
A lot of myths do.
And here is another one...
http://www.nysun.com/article/48084?page_no=1
That I find interesting. While it recognizes your article, although I know enough people whom I respect that I believe that it happened, it also goes on to say that because there wasn't evidence of physical saliva on a soldier does nothing to mitigate the fact that they were so abused they became a protected minority by law.
Seriously, do you think they just made up those laws because they thought it was a good idea?
And I started researching. I've already found stories, contrary to claims in the book, of soldiers/sailors being spat upon....
Even first hand accounts by a two-time Pulitzer prize winner...
And even an acclaimed anti-war protester pleaded with those doing such to stop...
(note that he even showed what publication you can find it in...)
http://volokh.com/posts/1170928927.shtml
There is story after story found in the newspapers of the time listed there...
Too bad they weren't published online, we'd have found them long ago. But if this author couldn't "find" the stories, it is because he had a preconceived idea and wasn't looking for them.
I'm very glad that you brought this to the fore. I have always relied on the trustworthiness of people that I hold in esteem recounting such. Now I don't have to, there is far more evidence of them than that "The Spitting Image" book wanted you to know about if you just spend some time researching it.
That guy Lembcke just made crap up too...
Geez.... This guy's credibility is going right down the toilet. As much a scholar as Ward Churchill
As for the "girls don't spit" recounted in Lembcke's book...
Note the fact that again a Pulitzer prize winner gives a FIRST HAND account....
It appears that Olbermann is willing to believe whatever he reads as long as it fits his personal agenda without even one tiny bit of researching. It didn't take me all that long to find it. Often I hear people accusing the rightwingers of only watching FOX. Maybe you should spend some time reading and listening to people other than solely lefties like Olbermann..
why would I, an avid democrat and anti-war individual, make that up?
I said that I did not think that the anti-war protesters went to the airport with the intention of spitting on any servicemen...it was a heated moment and there were words exchanged and a couple of the protesters spit at us.
The interesting thing about war protesters in THIS war, is that many of them are former Vietnam war protesters. They are much more mellow now, and know full well that such actions hurt - not help - our cause.
I think that they were rare, but found often enough to give evidence that they happened. I never said they were commonplace, I said that they happened. You stated that they were an "Urban Myth". They weren't. People had it happen to them, it was awful.Who the heck is Olbermann?
Damo, I have to go to bed, I'll read this all tomorrow. You foudn one story and this somehow proves that it was common place, I doubt it.
I think that they were rare, but found often enough to give evidence that they happened. I never said they were commonplace, I said that they happened. You stated that they were an "Urban Myth". They weren't. People had it happen to them, it was awful.
I would also agree that protesters had it happen to them. There are always idiots on both sides, which was my point to begin with. There are always people who let out such a stench that people don't want to claim them, they are on both sides.
Right. Everybody on your side are perfect. This is such total partisan hogwash. I have watched a "pro-choicer" hit a Buddhist Priest whom he thought was protesting abortion. It really was first-hand with me. I know that both sides do have their demons. That you refuse to admit it is ridiculous self-flattery.Right, thats the conclusion you want to reach fine. Go to DC for the next march, and walk around with a peace sign, but be separated from the main march, and then walk around with a pro-war sign and walk around the main peace march, see what happens to you in each situation, and then you tell me there are a few rotten apples on both sides, because that is BS Damo.
You are right, you said they were all "anecdotal". I think there are far too many stories of people who watched it happen, then wrote about it, to say that it is all "anecdotal".Damo I never said that they were an urban myth, did I? Where?
I believe that they happened, but that they were extremely rare. The urban myth is that this was a widespread practice. But it was actually a right wing myth, and it was more of a narrative. And it was not accidental. It was to completely discredit the peace movement, and to hide the untold story of the peace movement, which was how many returning vets were actually in the movement.
Have you ever been at a peace protest Damo? Try going. See who you think the bullies are. You have no idea, none whatsoever.
This doesn't even pass the smell test for me, because I am in the midst of it, and I know these people, and as I said, they haven't changed.
Right. Everybody on your side are perfect. This is such total partisan hogwash. I have watched a "pro-choicer" hit a Buddhist Priest whom he thought was protesting abortion. It really was first-hand with me. I know that both sides do have their demons. That you refuse to admit it is ridiculous self-flattery.
Right, because peace marches in Denver aren't enough? I don't need to travel to see a peace march.Let's talk after your next appearance in a DC peace march.
I'll take a look at that other stuff you posted in the morning.