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ORIGINAL: JohnWarren

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ORIGINAL: NastyDaddy

The bottom line of all this banter and pointed opinion is that Jane Fonda tried to do something to stop mutual useless carnages she felt very strongly about. While not defending Jane's methods, I stated that her motivation was indeed understandable.

Then, you would accept that while not necessarily defending the helicopter's crews methods, their motivation was indeed understandable?  Or can a person be called into account when their motivation is understandable, but the actions seem improper?

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ORIGINAL: Pavel
As to the man wounded on the ground, here were the options available; fly off (which has the possiblity of him dying anyways in a longer more protracted time frame, or if his lil insurgent friends are around, they retrieve him, and return him to the fight) or shoot him, and end whatever threat he presented.  Aircraft, last time I checked do not have the ability, and from what I know are not required to make provisions for EPWs. 

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ORIGINAL: ScooterTrash

I did go into the service as the VietNam war was drawing to a close. My recollections were not from personal accounts, but Fonda's escapades were well know throughout the general population on the inside. This how I know of what happened, of Fonda's actions and what she stood for. I didn't read it in a book, I didn't have to hear about it on the news (although I did), I certainly didn't have to check it out on the net, 40 some odd years later. I heard stories, or if you insist, hear-say since they weren't first hand, but the tales were abundent about her behavior and how she was very verbal about how American soldiers were heartless baby killers, murderous dopers and the like. No...War is not a popular activity but I went "in" to serve my country and would have done whatever was requested of me. Was I in favor of the war? Not exactly, I'll admit I would have preferred the war end and I did in fact wear a peace sign around my neck, but I was also very patriotic, still am for that matter and my personal gut feelings at the time certainly did not deter me from performing my duties to the best of my ability. I felt the cause was justified, as many of us did and just because we didn't stage pro-war demonstrations, it didn't necessarily mean we were all for it either. It was a tough time in U.S. history and the climate was active no matter what your feelings, but there is a line that should not be crossed. Think what you want to think, discuss what you want to discuss, but befriending the enemy is not something that should be done and is certainly one of those lines.
 
There is a substantial difference between being patriotic while perhaps still having somewhat opposing views about the politics of the war, than there is of obviously being sympathetic of the enemy and critical of those who are only doing what they felt was their duty to their country. Fonda a traitor? Well if she's not, she's damned close. It's fairly obvious she was not patriotic, quite far from it and the tainted place she made in the bowels of history by her actions, is well deserved.

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ORIGINAL: MsMacComb

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver
If criticizing your country for fighting a stupid war is treason, she was a traitor but others would say that is what a true patriot does.  

 

Indeed. BushCo has tried to convince everyone that questioning or dissent is either treason or aiding and abetting the enemy. Chency would accuse his own mother of being an insurgent if she didnt agree with him. The irony is that much of this mentality is exactly what our founding fathers fought against. Thank God they won. I know and used to live next to Jane. She was misguided in her approach and efforts but not her intent. She was young and we all make mistakes, more so in our youth. The difference is that most peoples mistakes are not played out in the national media.

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ORIGINAL: NavyDDG54

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ORIGINAL: MsMacComb

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver
If criticizing your country for fighting a stupid war is treason, she was a traitor but others would say that is what a true patriot does.  

 

Indeed. BushCo has tried to convince everyone that questioning or dissent is either treason or aiding and abetting the enemy. Chency would accuse his own mother of being an insurgent if she didnt agree with him. The irony is that much of this mentality is exactly what our founding fathers fought against. Thank God they won. I know and used to live next to Jane. She was misguided in her approach and efforts but not her intent. She was young and we all make mistakes, more so in our youth. The difference is that most peoples mistakes are not played out in the national media.

Travelling to an enemy country while we are in a state of hostile conflict with them, allowing yourself to be used by the enemy as propoganda, criticizing our troops(while in the enemy country), is aiding and abetting the enemy. and she should have been apprehended immediatly upon her return to the states and convicted of treason.

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

I wouldn't criticize ordinary soldiers of any country who are merely doing their duty by following orders. History has proved the Vietnam war was wrong and was obviously wrong at the time! It was a colonial war of engrandisement, it was the US politicians that sent US soldiers to Vietnam that were responsible for all the deaths in Vietnam, including most of the deaths of the Vietnamese and Fonda wasn't responsible for the deaths of anyone. She is a convenient scapegoat however.

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ORIGINAL: Morpheus07

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

I wouldn't criticize ordinary soldiers of any country who are merely doing their duty by following orders. History has proved the Vietnam war was wrong and was obviously wrong at the time! It was a colonial war of engrandisement, it was the US politicians that sent US soldiers to Vietnam that were responsible for all the deaths in Vietnam, including most of the deaths of the Vietnamese and Fonda wasn't responsible for the deaths of anyone. She is a convenient scapegoat however.

May I ask where (what country) you are from? You, like me, have your profile turned off, so it's hard to know where you are coming from. But from reading many of your posts, it is obvious that you are far, far to the left in your political leanings, and your statement above shows your lack of understanding in regard to American history.