Jack, I tend to look at MOTIVE a lot when deciding what I think about human behavior. I understand all your qualms about Jane Fonda, but aside from the war being undeclared, I truly believe that she was a patriot who was acting out of love for her country (misguided or not). I was an anti-war protester at the time myself, also, like a seeming majority of college students, so I felt like her action was a public service, really.
I think her behavior during the Viet Nam war was much more principled than Bill Clinton's, for example.
Speaking of My Lai, there was a segment on it on 60 Minutes recently, about two airmen who rescued the villagers who were still alive, and went back there to try to resolve their feelings and heal a little. Did you see it? It was really an excellent piece. I was stunned to discover that Calley only was in prison for a few days, or weeks, and then was on house arrest briefly, and was then freed. This made no sense to me at all, and when I compare this kind of injustice to Fonda TRYING to do a loving thing to stop violence, I am much more outraged by Calley's getting off.
Please, no terribly angry posts about how I am a terrible Communist or socialist, pleased--I am not. I was much younger during Viet Nam, however, and had very strong feelings that I am not going to second guess at this late stage.
But very sorry in advance if I have offended anyone! |
