The Vietnam era was very hard on people coming of age and the old farts stuck in WWII mentalities, insisting we view everything through their eyes, made the situation insufferable for the operant age folks. Not everyone of course but the vocal Archie B. stogie old guys, who were experiencing a romanticized life from a 1940's arm chair, couldn't deal with modern circumstance on its own terms. It wasn't about them and the WW era, and to be fair we didn't always react to them amiably, making matters worse.
Whenever we tried to deal with modern circumstance in a constructive and resolute way, there they were, with a glass of scotch in hand, doing their John Wayne shtick. They were really wonderful guys and deserved to be recognised for their sacrifices in WWI, the depression, and WWII; But, the Vietnam era was not about them and what they went through. It was sad that they hadn't moved on but it was frustrating for those of us trying to accomplish something purposeful.
I protested the Vietnam war and some of the establishments of the era, some people went and fought in the Vietnam war ... when it was over most of us moved on to a different time. Some guys, like Ed, couldn't. They were either way too insulted by us protesters or they went to the other extreme to try to make up for something they later decided was a bad choice. That's where Ed is stuck. By 1987 the number of people who had committed suicide because they couldn't deal with their Vietnam era experience and move on, surpassed the number of soldiers killed in Vietnam.
I feel sorry for him just like I did the WWII vets who were obviously struggling to reconcile themselves. His suggestions are about escaping, avoiding, and abandoning, leaving and withdrawing, with no realistic regard for the consequences to others and no vision of a decent future for all. If there were such a thing as human cocooning, this is what it would look like. It contributes nothing constructive, reconciliatory, or resolute but its where he is. Maybe someday he will emerge from his cocoon with something propitious to offer but until then, I'll take his sneering and personal sniping with a grain of salt.
Best regards,
gem |
