Okay, I'm a dope. But tonight is reminding me of 1971

[LittleClarkie]

I remember reading and seeing (via DVD) the veteran's protest outside the White House, the one Kerry was a part of, and how the Democratic House members invaded the protest to show their solidarity with the vets so that Nixon wouldn't kick them off the plaza.

When I read that there was a peace rally outside the White House in solidarity with the filibuster-buster in the Senate, and how the 57 House members emptied out into the rally right in the middle of the thing, it just sorta got to me.

I'm sitting here fighting off tears and feeling silly.

History repeats, in a good way for a change.

[tech3149]

1. As some of us have said "I can't believe we're still protesting this shit"

Just listening to Bob Menendez finishing up, I'm glad people like that are still in the game.

[aquart]

2. Yeah, he was good to listen to.

And when I think of the lying shit they pulled on him during the campaign...my delicate hands become little evil claws.

[LittleClarkie]

3. Indeed, and some who were there, one I know personally

has told me that it's WORSE this time around

[MrMickeysMom]

4. Nothing dopey about that one, LC

nothing at all... :grouphug: I wish that was on "tape"

Remember, "we can change the world"? CSNY?

[LittleClarkie]

5. The dopey part is how I manage to make every damn thing Kerry related

Obsessed little thing, ain't I.

But I remember sitting in the theater watching "Going Upriver" and crying my eyes out at the sight of those veterans so distraught and angry at their government for what they'd been put through.

And here we are again, not having learned a thing, soldiers coming home and not even able to get their benefits. I hope things will be better now that Jim "Heck of a job, Brownie" Nicholson has resigned, but that's one hell of a mess for the next fellow.

36 years later, and we still haven't figured out how to take care of our veterans once they come home.

We didn't learn shit, did we.

[MrMickeysMom]

13. We did learn.. we just didn't act on it with enough effort

[Breeze54]

6. I don't remember what I had for breakfast this morning and

I only remember what happened, politically in 1971, through video's and other's memoirs.

I voted for the first time in 1972.

But life was like a dream then and I was only 18! ;)

I think there are many events, such as you've related, that have happened through the USA history.

None the less, this also is a special memory and I'm glad you brought it to our attention!!

The love for America and Iraq and the soldiers is in the air tonight!!

Thank You. :hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. And in twenty or so years it will be turn of the young ones to say

you know this reminsd of 2007... I hope I'm wrong, but...

God these six years are so much like the early 1970s

[Rosemary2205]

8. You dope.

:)


57 ain't much but it's a big improvement!! No reason to feel silly Clarkie!

[Elwood P Dowd]

9. I was there Friday night through Sunday night that week in 71.

Just can't remember much about the thing outside the White House. The number of people there Saturday and Sunday (200,000 plus) was astounding, and the passion was in another world compared to today. I was an Army draftee assigned to a unit in DC at the time. You would not believe the number of active duty military that were there. I don't think that would happen today. We were warned to stay away, but many of us said fuck it and spent the weekend with the demonstrators.

[LittleClarkie]

10. Wow, thank you for your efforts back then. I know this is but a taste

of what you guys went through, but damned if it isn't a step in the right direction.

I worked with someone during the Kerry campaign, named John Lindquist, who was an organizer of the VVAW in Milwaukee. He got in to see Kerry give his testimony that day in April, one of the last ones who did before they closed the doors. He ended every campaign veteran call with "Semper Fi, man" Loves playing the part of middle-aged hippy veteran.

I'm always glad to meet people who were there at Dewey Canyon III.

[Elwood P Dowd]

17. Some of my buddies wore wigs so they wouldn't look so out of place.

Me, I wore my Army field jacket (it was cold at night) and just covered up my name and US Army with masking take. Somebody loaned me a pin and I think I wrote something like FTA (Fuck The Army) on one side and Fuck Nixon on the other. It's been so long, it seems like a different world or different life.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. You'd be surprsied by today's military

I know the talking point, but you'd be surprised.

Believe you me, they are NOT republican. They actually break down quite like the rest of us

[LittleClarkie]

12. I wish they'd get more press so they could talk about what's happening.

Everyone assumes they are Republican, esp. the Republicans.

[Breeze54]

14. I can vouch for two soldiers that I know that aren't "repub rethugs".

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I can vouch for two sailors

my husband and my brother in law... they are both out, but they are progressive... not necesarily died in the wool democrats but progressive.

Hell in this household we are both independent

[Elwood P Dowd]

16. My nephew is approaching 20 years of service . He hates Bushitler, but tells me about

75% of his buddies are repukes. He did admit that they are getting pissed with the constant deployments back to Iraq and Afghanistan, and the shit will hit the fan if this keeps up much longer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. My husband's command voted 75% for Kerry

in 04