Thinking about all those years ago

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I just heard about the delegate saying on TV that he cut his face shaving so that's why he got a Purple Heart and then he pointed to the stupid band-aid on his face.

It's so hurtful. I have to admit, I cried. Mr. Moonbeam has two of those and they aren't band-aids. He served 12 years active duty and was in Desert Storm.

I found his letters tonight. The first one reads:

"...the stewardesses that were on the plane with us since Ft. Hood, they were all crying when we got off the plane. You know I didn't think that many people cared about guys like us. It kinda made you feel good but bad at the same time."

He's back to thinking the way he originally did.

I sent him back a poem I wrote. I was 20 years old, so forgive any corny-ness.

Snow clouds scudding across the sky,
and I'm watching each tiny flake fall
and I'm wishing you were here.
My world is covered in ice
and my breath is smoky;
I'm needing you near me.
Pale light is sifting through my watery windows
sadness sifting through my watery eyes.
How I wish you were here
how I wish you could hold me now.
Three days until Christmas
and all I want is you.

December 22, 1990

____________________________________________

I wonder if the guy who said he cut himself shaving has ever been in war. I wonder if his wife has ever had to wonder if she'll see him alive again.

Somehow, I don't think so.

[tigereye]

1. I think those bandaids are reprehensible!

hope that rudeness backfires on them.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Yeah

I can't even find a word to describe them. It's not just the band-aid, I think. It's the culmination of feeling like every veteran has just been SHIT on for the past few weeks. The band-aids and the accompanying comments just make it more VIVID.

[Gothic Sponge]

3. They are sick!

Let's see them sending their children off to war!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. mr. moonbeam just said that tonight

he said "well it won't be THEIR kids who don't BLEED ENOUGH."

Yep.

[jukes]

4. deceitful monsters

accuse *us* of not supporting the troops. we *are* the troops.



i'm sincerely sorry for your husband's troubles, & yours.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. Thank you sweetie

I hate to admit ANYTHING the repukes do hurts, but this.......this hurts. It feels like I got socked in the gut several times.

And I'm just a vet's WIFE!

[elperromagico]

5. A WW2 vet would never be trashed like this.

Yet Viet Nam vets are trashed. Why?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. I think

it's not the war, it's the party doing the trashing. They are VILE and despicable and no depth is too low.

Seriously. You didn't see any group connected to the Dems in 96 signs a bunch of affidavits lying about Dole's service in WWII, did you? No, that's because Dems WOULDN'T DO THAT.

And I'd be heartily ashamed if they did!

[Chomskyite]

23. I remember when Dole fell off that stage in 96

and hoping the poor guy hadn't hurt himself. The Republicans today would be eagerly kicking Kerry if he fell someplace!

[JohnKleeb]

18. If Kerry was a vet of WWII, you bet they would trash him

[Rhiannon12866]

20. I'll bet they would, too. Nothing is beneath them

But I think that their biggest anger against him is his opposition to the war, once he came back, and his testimony before Congress. It has been over 30 years, but they still can't let this go. John McCain has, but they have trashed him, as well.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. As a veteran, and sort-of-proud wearer of a Military Order of the

Purple Heart, I am deeply offended by these displays of childishness.

I personally do not know of ANY veterans who are FOR *, yet I keep hearing them interviewed on radio. Of course, I am not too sure that NPR checks their DD214 before identifying them as such.

I am at a loss to explain any of this.

And it hurts.
Bad.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

8. Thank you for your service

I just told a woman on another board who thinks they are somewhat "funny" that her respect for veterans is partisan and mine isn't, because I would never smear Dole's service or McCain's service or ANY veteran who served.

That's just lower than low. And you are right, it hurts very badly. Mr. Moonbeam is holding it all inside a lot, but when he talks about it, he shakes and is enraged. He now vows that he will NEVER vote for a Republican, ever, in his lifetime, if this is how they treat vets.

I agreed.

[name not needed]

7. Those bandaids are an insult

To my grandfather, a WW2 vet and recipient of 2 purple hearts, to my great uncle, who flew planes over Europe during WW2. They are an insult to my 2nd cousin, a 20 year veteran of the Air Force. They are an insult to anyone and everyone who has ever served to defend this country. They are an insult to every veteran who has died to protect this country. But the swift boaters and their ilk don't care. Their only care right now is tarnishing the service of a war hero and propping up a dimwitted deserter.

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Jesus Christ - they're wearing purple heart bandaids?

Is that the deal?

What a bunch of goddamned filth.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

13. Yeah where have you been?

LOL!

Here's a sample of one lovely:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=706119

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. My God! I thought they'd already pl;umbed the depths of bad taste

and idiocy and sheer evil shitfuckingevilasswipe-itude

DAMMIT!

GET OUT OF MY CITY YOU FUCKING CRIMINALLY INSANE FUCKS!

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

I mean, that's raelly, really, really, really scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel low, even for republican swinefilth.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

15. Yep

which is why I've been such a mess all day and I hate it. I hate feeling like this. Like I want to punch someone's lights out then have a screaming crying meltdown. This is SOOO not like me.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. This has been a tough time for all of us

There is such hatred being evoked. The Democratic Convention was not like this. I felt such rage after hearing Dick Cheney speak that I e-mailed my friend, then asked her if I could be arrested for expressing such thoughts. She feels the same way that we do, so I wasn't worried about her turning me in, but we know that this has happened. This is not a good time for America.;(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. I wonder how republican vets feel about that...

I wonder how Dole feels, looking at people who make a mockery of bravery? I hope he's ashamed of himself.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

19. No, because THEIR bravery and sacrifice is for AME#RICA, see

and Kerry's and mine, and lots and lots of other's is for THE LIBERAL AGENDA.

Get it?

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Dole is on CNN, so you can hear him for yourself

If John McCain, who also served bravely in Vietnam, and can still endorse Bush*, after he was attacked in 2000 as savagely as Kerry is now, anything can happen.:-(

[Rhiannon12866]

24. He doesn't seem to be, much less George H.W. Bush, who

was also a war hero. But, then, he got his son out of serving in the Vietnam War. My biggest disappointment is in John McCain, the most aggressive critic in Congress of this administration, who also served in Vietnam, who was also a war hero, who was tortured as a POW, and was attacked relentlessly and unfairly by the Bush* campaign in 2000. He says that he can forgive and move on. I voted for this man in the 2000 primary, mainly because of his vigorous opposition to Bush*, who was, certainly, my last choice. I saw his interview on Letterman, last night, and was glad that Letterman held his feet to the fire. I have witnessed all this, and I can neither forgive, nor forget. I am afraid of George Bush* and his lies. I am just very afraid, since I have seen the smiles and tears of the faithful at this convention. They believe anything that they are told.:scared:

[Rhiannon12866]

17. I loved your poem

The bashing of John Kerry is a national disgrace, as is the criticism of anyone who has had the courage to serve our country. You should be very proud.:kick:

[Rhiannon12866]

25. These people are truly sick and benighted

They have no idea of war and, probably, never will, even though our brave soldiers are probably facing enemy fire as I type this. Your husband was brave, and one of our country's true heroes, as was John Kerry, and John McCain, who has also been attacked by the Bush* administration. These people have never seen action, so they have no clue. That's what these people do, though it totally baffles me. George W. Bush* and Dick Cheney lacked the courage of your husband and John Kerry and John McCain and Max Kleland. They didn't report for duty. I guess that they are sensitive on the subject. Thanks for your poem and for your feelings. You are entitled.:hug: