Pitting Vets Against Vets

Let's be clear on one thing. Not all of what bothers me is about the rabid wing GOP's dominance of the message in the media.

Instead, it's hurting to watch veterans being pitted against veterans. Or having to defend themselves from people who didn't serve in the same war experience they did. With Kerry, the people attacking him worst chose not to serve at all.

I believe very strongly that there are huge differences in the war experience as recorded by people, even those who were in the same battle. That's a fact of nature, and always at least somewhat dependent on our individual frame of reference.

A lot of these veterans were sought out in these recent cases with the sole purpose being to solicit a particular negative or positive view against a particular candidate. This is tantamount to using them just as badly now as the government and the military industrial complex used them in the sham that was Vietnam. But GIs in any war, in any country, are often not privvy to the political nature of war. They're really far too busy trying to stay alive if they're in combat.

Can't we honor them without exploiting them now? They've already given... in the combat office.