PMJI:
I got my first notice to report to the draft board in 1962, senior year in college. I, as a matter of conscience, had no intention of serving in the U.S. military unless we were attacked or at war. I continue to be stunned that the idealism of my youth is still mocked by those that claim THEY are being ridiculed.
I for one never ridiculed those who served, rather I thought they had been victimized by a venal and oligarchic government of old men who cared more for their power than the lives of their constituency.
Now, many of you who served may think differently. But the reality is, many people of intelligence and connscience are sick of nation states' overreaching attempts to place their virtual corporate realities as tyrannies over individuals. You'd think that you who complain about the anti imperialist and anti war traditions would at least recognize that we share a common ground of mistrust of government and power.
By the way, I suggest you come up with accurate quotes for your claim that Clinton mocked those who served. When I read his speech (several years ago) I thought he was simply making the same point I'm making, that the U.S. was acting from an imperialist destiny and that going along with this program was finally not serving the cause of freedom.
I further suggest that every human has the duty to serve the cause of freedom, and just because the government asks you to serve is no sufficient reason to go along. I am proud of our democratic traditions, but I wonder how long we can last when people of such disparate views cannot view each other as having strongly opposed opinions, rather than viewing each other as enemies.
Regards,
George Van Noy |
