General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I used to read the front page of the Stars and Stripes... [View all]democrank
(11,112 posts)The memories of those body counts on the nightly news is forever seared in my head, as are the memories of all the youngsters from my paper mill town who never came back. It was all bad, but the the Tet Offensive time was horrific.
As my sweetheart was dying from Agent Orange brain cancer, he was able to get past the big boys dont cry bullshit and tell me how scared he was, how mad he was and what a heartbreaking catastrophe the Vietnam War was.
There is a thread of connection between the draft system in the Vietnam War and the people required to stand shoulder to shoulder in todays meat packing plants. Or store clerks forced to work without protective gear.
The connection? For many in power, certain people matter less than others. It was that way during the draft, its that way now.
More than ever, we have to fight to stay free.