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Tag(s): Heroes; Humility; McCain-John; Republican; Senator Republicans GOP; Veterans
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September 7, 2008 at 07:15:35

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Promoted to Headline (H3) on 9/7/08:
In Admonishment of Senator McCain

by DC Rapier Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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My father was a war hero. He served in the US Navy as a radar man aboard an LCT in the North Atlantic and in the Mediterranean; most notably, at Anzio. He nearly lost his life on several occasions and, as one of the younger, unmarried members of the crew, was often asked to perform dangerous duty in service to the nation.

My grandfather was a war hero, too. He served as an infantryman on the killing fields of Europe during the First World War, what was then called "The Great War'.

There have been many heroes who put their lives on the line for the people who served with them. It can easily be asserted that each and every member of the armed services who has seen action, whether or not they were wounded, be-medaled, captured or killed, are heroes worthy of our admiration and gratitude.

As my father and my grandfather expressed it when pressed to tell their stories, they did not consider themselves heroes but simple ordinary men who managed to stay alive because of the heroic actions of their buddies. This is a most common comment made by those we consider war-time heroes.

In interviews with the surviving members of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, "The Screaming Eagles', whose story was recounted in the best-selling book, "Band of Brothers' by military historian, Stephen Ambrose, each and every man down-played their own part and honored those they served with. Their commanding officer, Richard D. "Dick' Winters expressed this attitude of noble humility best in an interview for the HBO series. When asked if he considered himself a hero, he responded with tearful eyes, that he wasn't a hero, but he had served in the company of heroes.

My father, like Dick Winters and many thousands of other veterans, did not crow and puff themselves up by harping about their heroics during armed conflict. They were modest men who saw themselves as unextraordinary despite the extraordinary conditions under which they served. This attitude of gracious humility is not exclusive to any specific generation; it is an unspoken code that is followed by all of the combat veterans known personally to this writer.

Meaning no disrespect to Senator McCain--for he must be counted in the company of heroes--he does not share the noble humility of Dick Winters or my father or my grandfather. Senator McCain's unceasing, self-serving reiteration of his experiences as a POW in order to brazenly advance his political career and this presidential campaign is most distasteful.

His service should be honored as should all be honored who have laid their lives on the line for the nation and their buddies. What is objectionable is Mr McCain's vulgar, overweening use of his experiences in Vietnam to blatantly promote himself and the agenda of the Republican Party by playing off the sympathies and pity of the public.

Former senator and presidential hopeful, George McGovern, was once asked why he hadn't trumpeted his war-time military career during the 1968 election campaign against Richard Nixon. After all, McGovern had served during World War II as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot in the Fifteenth Air Force, had flown 35 missions over enemy territory and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving his crew. Surely, his campaign as an anti-war candidate would have been strengthened if he had simply made the American electorate aware that he was an honest-to-god, decorated war hero. McGovern shook his head dismissively and replied, "That would have been unseemly."

Senator McCain, end the incessant rehashing of your war stories. It's unseemly in a hero.

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11 comments

In childhood my family stood for less government and individual rights. Watching the metamorphosis of the Republican party has been a tragic observation of the demise of individual rights and the protection of big business.

Along with being anglo-proper, caring for other Americans and humans was a big part of the mores taught by family and associates. I now understand that we would have much more likely been labeled "bleeding heart" then, even with some tough conservative princip...

to see more of bio, click on member name
MentalMagicIn childhood my family stood for less government and individual rights. Watching the metamorphosis of the Republican party has been a tragic observation of the demise of individual rights and the protection of big business.

Along with being anglo-proper, caring for other Americans and humans was a big part of the mores taught by family and associates. I now understand that we would have much more likely been labeled "bleeding heart" then, even with some tough conservative princip...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Bravo - to the author

I applaud Mr. Rapier for authoring this piece. I believe he articulated what many of us have been thinking.

by MentalMagic (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 16 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 9:02:57 AM

After years of professional starvation as a 'working musician', DC found his way to Taiwan where he has lived and taught English as a foreign language for 18 years - fourteen of them married blissfully to Yashan 'Linda' Huang.

"Having lived outside the USA, away from the incessant daily blather of info-tainment that sadly passes for news reportage and journalism, I think I can safely claim a more international point of view than most in the US who live within the corporate media's '...

to see more of bio, click on member name
DC RapierAfter years of professional starvation as a 'working musician', DC found his way to Taiwan where he has lived and taught English as a foreign language for 18 years - fourteen of them married blissfully to Yashan 'Linda' Huang.

"Having lived outside the USA, away from the incessant daily blather of info-tainment that sadly passes for news reportage and journalism, I think I can safely claim a more international point of view than most in the US who live within the corporate media's '...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Thanks for your comment

I feel that I have stated what many others have been insinuating. I was taught that tooting your own horn was conceited and vain.

Furthermore it is my opinion - one I feel is also shared by many Americans - that the conflict in Vietnam was a criminal assault on a poverty-ridden third-world country that should never have happened. As much as I respect and honor those who have given service to the United States - and this includes close personal friends - that conflict is a most dubious one for which to crow about taking part.

Additionally, the vilification even by inferrence, of the patriots who fought , suffered and died defending their country, Vietnam, from foreign invasion and control is less than honorable or decent.

I will shore up my tersely stated observation by refering interested parties to the latest figures of suicide amongst those in active service.

The Pentagon has admitted the Army suicide rate is on pace to break last year’s all-time record. Ninety-three active-duty soldiers had killed themselves by the end of August. That number is on pace to break last year’s record of 115 soldier suicides. It’s also on pace to surpass the suicide rate for the general population for the first time since the Vietnam War.

These men and women have been dishonored by the indecent, insane, illegal policy of endless conflict against weak, pitiful third-world nations. They have been broken in spirit and driven to self-destruction by the Bush/Cheney administration and their corporate cronies.

Seems those that we elect as our leaders have yet to learn the lessons that most of us took to heart when we were children.

by DC Rapier (25 articles, 59 quicklinks, 44 diaries, 79 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 11:19:39 AM

disabled american veteran attending ASU for business management, deeply involved in getting the word out that there are no moderate muslims and that islam is the greatest threat the United States, in fact the entire world faces at this time. islamophacism
wileysnakeskinsdisabled american veteran attending ASU for business management, deeply involved in getting the word out that there are no moderate muslims and that islam is the greatest threat the United States, in fact the entire world faces at this time. islamophacism

Admonishment of McCain

I'm not the everyday voter you have come to expect in the time of choosing the person with qualifications and moral and ethical values needed in this time of the greatest peril the United States of ChristianAmericanPatriots has ever faced in it's 200 plus years since establishment. I'm a disabled veteran who by his very financial limitations is unable to get out, support and take part in this the most important of elections this country has ever faced. Who do you vote for when you are not particularly happy or content with either of the candidates you have to chose from. One thing is guiding my move to support one or the other and that is the ability of either to literally and succesfully attack the threat that islam's serious hateful attempt to put it's ideology, deffinately NOT a RELIGION in power and control over each and every human being, country, region and culture now on the face of this planet! Hearing the Republican candidates who lost to John McCain finally use the correct term for the threat, "iislamic terrorism," was truly a refreshing and enlightening sign that at least that side has and sees the enemy for who and what they are; 'belivers in islam!'

Anyone who truly sees the enemy and can name them for who and what they are, has to have my single, maybe insignificant vote. If and when you look into the opponent to John McCain, Mr. Obama the Christain/muslim non-supporter of the surge in Iraq, the one who fails to place his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegance and who supports wholeheartedly the murder of 40 million unborn children in this country each and every year, the one who claims to be a Christian although he follows someone who makes the statement at his pulpit of, "Not God bless America, but God damn America; can this be the person who supports our political system, our culture, our bleliefs and the Christian religious ideology of love, truth, charity and strength in the face of wrong to the benefit of the human rights of each and every living human being on the face of this planet, not only those who happen to have been lucky enough to have been born under the waving flag, the red white and blue representing these ideals to all human life on the planet. When you look closely at the qualifications, the history of actions and the complete lack of moral character of the opponent to McCain you are left with no other alternative than to vote for the only one there who truly realizes that communication and consultation with the islamic radical ideologists we face in combat and no other way possible; you vote for thes afety, stability and the only possible way of sustaining what we know is the greatest, most just and most free and loved country that has ever been established on the face of the earth; a country established to fulfill and follow the commandments of the creator, to allow men and women to live free and to live a life of substance with the full knowlledge that God the light of the world is the guiding teacher, overseer who, if followed will rain down, love, prosperity and peace over the whole face of the Earth. Amonish all you want; when given the choice of who will protect, support and build on the qualities this country shines over the world, McCain is the only choice left and there is no doubt as to what he believes, who he serves and what we will get if ellected. God bless you all; and may you make the right, just and only choice you have in this ellection.

Willy d. & Odin, citizen, United States of ChristianAmericanPatriots

by wileysnakeskins (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 2 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 12:56:42 PM

Thanks for your comment

You are obviously very passionate in your beliefs, though amid all of the assertions your pronounce so passionately, I do not see any supporting evidence. Perhaps you should write an article or two to clarify and substantiate your positions.

Also, the United States of America is a secular republic that is NOT based on religious affiliation or spiritual dogma. I would most respectfully ask you to keep your beliefs to yourself and keep them out of the politics of our country just as the Constitution demands.

If you do not like Obama and McCain is not your preference then I suggest you look at the various 'third' party candidates such as Ralph Nader.

by DC Rapier (25 articles, 59 quicklinks, 44 diaries, 79 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 11:14:08 PM

Vet WW2, 81 Us citizen, born Broohlyn N.Y, Vet WW2, lived 52 years with my Swiss wife until she died in December 2006, Retired, on Social security, starting to rebuild my life.
hoscotVet WW2, 81 Us citizen, born Broohlyn N.Y, Vet WW2, lived 52 years with my Swiss wife until she died in December 2006, Retired, on Social security, starting to rebuild my life.

Dear Mr Wileysnakeskins;

Dear Mr. Wileysnakeskins;

You claim you are a disabled veteran but you do not state of which war and when you served. Anyone can claim to be a disabled veteran.

Well I am a veteran of WWII, 1944-47, last outfit 12 airdrome squadron, 13 AF, USAAF, ASN 12233026, Palawan Army Air Base, Porto Princessa, Philippine Islands and I am a goddamned Jew b*****d who comes from a long line of goddamned Jew b*****ds going back some 5000 years. My oldest uncle, also a Jew b*****d, lied about his age and joined the US Navy in WWI and served as a "sparks" (radio operator) until my grandfather caught up with him and dragged him home. In WWII he was too old for military service and joined the Merchant Marine - made 2 runs to Murmansk and was at Yalta at the time Roosevelt and Churchill met Stalin there. My younger uncle was an MP in the POW camp in Oswego, NY during WWII, guarding German POWs.

In my generation, Mr. Wileysnakeskins, the terms "flag waver" and "he wears a flag on his sleeve" were terms of approbation denoting phony patriots, blowhards. I do not place my hand over my heart when reciting the pledge and I use the old pledge without "under God" since I'm sworn to uphold the constitution and I hold that phrase to be unconstitutional.

For your information, sir, the most influential of the "Founding Fathers" were not at all enamored of the idea of the USA as a Christian state - they had had enough of that crap from the Crown and the Salem witch hunts, and Thomas Jefferson did, indeed own a Koran since he wanted to understand that great religion which encompassed both the Jewish and Christian philosophies. But then, again, Jefferson was a red-headed rapscallion and no true Christian.

In any case those un-Americans did place seditious entries into the US Constitution such as "freedom of religion" and "there shall be no religious test for public office".

I'm sure our plane-crashing ex POW, Mc Cain will correct these errors as soon as he is elected.

A. M. Howard

Switzerland 

by hoscot (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 34 comments) on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 12:46:00 AM

George Bush: the best reason not to believe in intelligent design.
kanawahGeorge Bush: the best reason not to believe in intelligent design.

McCain flouting "war hero.

I agree 100%.

Add the unanswered persistant rumors that he was 'less than honorable' while a POW, It is something that should be kept personal.

by kanawah (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 81 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 1:27:35 PM

Stanimal is ???

I hear cries for freedom elsewhere, while the US becomes less so. I hear support for free markets, then demanding a bailout due to incompetence.
I roll my eyes at those that accuse others being oppressed while the US has and still continues to the same and much worse. Laughing at pinheads who purchase and profit from those they curse.

Every time I return to visit I see a country I no longer recognize. A shredded Constitution, a spineless Congress ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
StanimalStanimal is ???

I hear cries for freedom elsewhere, while the US becomes less so. I hear support for free markets, then demanding a bailout due to incompetence.
I roll my eyes at those that accuse others being oppressed while the US has and still continues to the same and much worse. Laughing at pinheads who purchase and profit from those they curse.

Every time I return to visit I see a country I no longer recognize. A shredded Constitution, a spineless Congress ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

To Mr Wielysnakeskins I ask,

if he knows that Osma bin Laden and Saddam Hussein were Ronald Reagan "Freedom Fighter's" before being re-labeled "Terrorist's" by the GOP "Greed & Oppression Party" less than 10 years later.

Where is your proof that 9/11 was committed by OBL?

There is no threat from Islam, the War Of Terror being nothing more than a ploy to control where ME oil flows while filling the pockets with profits of Bu$h & Co. MIC cronies from the deaths of innocent Arabs and Kissinger "Stupid Soldiers".

I read an interesting article here on opednews yesterday that says John McCain is responsible for killing 134 men after wet starting his jet engine to "Startle" the pilot behind him, and was transferred to another aircraft carrier rather than face a court-martial as family connections with both his father and grandfather were admirals.

With this news along with McCain's cooperation with the North Vietnamese in producing propaganda movies while a POW make his claim to being a "War Hero" and deserving to be president a most absurd position.

Along with his assertion that Sarah Palin has foreign policy "Experience" by being "Commander in Chief" of the ANG. She only recently received her passport to visit ANG soldiers in Iraq and claims a refueling stop in Ireland as having visited that country.

Palin's former association along with her husband's to a group who desires Alaska to secede from the US is an act of Treason.

She also was for the bridge-to-nowhere before she was against it, received over $200 million in federal earmarks while mayor, before being against lobbyists, and still managed to leave the city with over a $2 million deficit before becoming governor.

How can you have a campaign against the Washington "Elite" when McCain has been a part of the establishment for decades?

How can special needs parents have a friend with McCain-Palin when both have slashed funding for federal and state programs?

How can you have "Family Values" candidates McCain-Palin when he was insubordinate as a a Navel Cadet, unfaithful and condescending as a husband, and a flip flopper on issues? While Palin became pregnant before marriage, having her daughter follow in her footsteps, and believes in life, yet kills it from the comfort of helicopters? Convinced the War Of Terror based off of lies and deceit can be led by General Jesus in the "Crusade" against Muslims?

These are 2 very delusional people, more so than the current AWOL and 5 time Vietnam deferred cocaine and multiple drunk driving convictions between the 2 of them Dybua and buckshot Dick. Who have proven their military genius as "War President and VP.

by Stanimal (0 articles, 4 quicklinks, 26 diaries, 702 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 1:53:30 PM

VeryConcerned citizen and one who has a grandson in the Marines. Have been against this ridiculous 'war' since before it began.
kclafVeryConcerned citizen and one who has a grandson in the Marines. Have been against this ridiculous 'war' since before it began.

Thanks

Thank you for pointing out the information that seems to be so missing from so many accounts of Sen. McCain. I also have a problem with getting excited about voting for someone who, in the recent past at least, has received pretty poor marks on how he has voted to support veterans. There are so many reasons to not vote for this man and newly acquired, Rove approved side kick.

by kclaf (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 4:10:41 PM

I am a World War II Marine Corps veteran who spent seven years in Vietnam throughout most of the Vietnam War as a refugee advisor for US Agency for International Development and wrote an eye witness documentary of the genocide I witnessed by our troops and agencies in Vietnam. No publisher wants to even look at the manuscript. They claim that their clientele doesn't want to know such truth. Truth hurts. We are a nation of cowards.
eagleeyeI am a World War II Marine Corps veteran who spent seven years in Vietnam throughout most of the Vietnam War as a refugee advisor for US Agency for International Development and wrote an eye witness documentary of the genocide I witnessed by our troops and agencies in Vietnam. No publisher wants to even look at the manuscript. They claim that their clientele doesn't want to know such truth. Truth hurts. We are a nation of cowards.

Mass Murder

McCain was no hero in any stretch of the imagination. He was a mass murderer. He was shot down over the center of Hanoi bombing defenseless civilians. The lake that he dropped into is in the very center of Hanoi.

I have nothing but the very deepest hatred for air force pilots. I was in Vietnam's Mekong Delta and elsewhere in South Vietnam for seven years and witness them napalm and white pospherous (Willie Peter) peasant villages and resettlement camps. They did it for the sheer joy of killing indiscriminately. They also dropped cluster bombs, daisy cutters, 500 pound block busters, etc. for no reason what so ever.

We killed three and a half million Vietnamese. That was mass murdered. No, McCain was no war hero.

by eagleeye (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 31 comments) on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 5:34:48 PM

Greg Purcell "Wordmeister at Large" is a freelance writer living near Savannah Georgia. Purcell has a broadcasting background and is also a Telly Award winning advertising copywriter and television commercial producer. Purcell is an avid political observer and occasionally volunteers with Democratic campaigns.
Greg PurcellGreg Purcell "Wordmeister at Large" is a freelance writer living near Savannah Georgia. Purcell has a broadcasting background and is also a Telly Award winning advertising copywriter and television commercial producer. Purcell is an avid political observer and occasionally volunteers with Democratic campaigns.

The real McCain

You know who I'm REALLY tired of hearing talk about Mccain's war record? BARACK OBAMA! He is carrying the Republican message for them.

What would happen if Mccain were running AGAINST Karl Rove? Oh WAIT!

Been there done that!

The folks who win elections by attacking (not enhancing) the opponent's STRENGTHS put out this info in 2000: #1.Mccain had a black out of wedlock child and more importantly #2. People who said that they were captives with Mccain claimed that McCain actually SOLD THEM OUT, giving up the aircraft frequencies,flight numbers etc, to his captors. THEY say he refused to be let out early for fear of being killed by his own comrades!

The real truth lies somewhere between these spun bios: Mccain is a spoiled brat son of an Admiral, who always had it easy in the service because of his Dad's connections. He did very poorly in school and by his own admission was operating a plane that he had not "read the book on" when it came time to eject.

After he came home, he dumped his wife of many years (who had waited for him) because she had been in a near-fatal accident and was no longer attractive. He married his mistress who was 17 years his junior and extremely wealthy. His temper has been well-documented. He calls his subordinates "assholes" and "shitheads".

Now he stands on a stage wearing 600 dollar shoes with his wife wearing 280,000 dollar EARRINGS and tries to get teh common man to believe that he cares about them and will CHANGE things, and every Democrat who mentions his name says they "RESPECT" his service to America!

Bottom line: If Jesus Christ ran against Adolph Hitler and Christ was the Democrat, the Savior would lose!

WAKE UP OBAMA CAMPAIGN!!!

by Greg Purcell (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 47 comments) on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 2:23:53 PM

Thanks

You bring up some excellent points abot McCain and the Dems. Here's what I think - although it might sound too 'conspiracy-theory' for most: The 'Crats and the 'Cans' are not two parties but two factions of the same party ; Big Business'. They both play dirty pool but the more recent crop of 'Cans' have been truly nasty; from the Reagan years to the present.

There's not a pubic-hair's breadth between them on foreign policy; a matter of tactics mostly. On domestic issues, the Crats play nicer with their constituents re: social services and entitlement but only when they are forced to do so.

by DC Rapier (25 articles, 59 quicklinks, 44 diaries, 79 comments) on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 6:54:07 PM