| Thank you, Bullet. I think your commentary is valid, and on point. Kerry actually volunteered to go to Viet Nam - a point ignored by Fundingfather. He served, and was supported with regard to his service by all but one of the men who were with him on his boat during the war - including the Special Services officer whose life he saved, and who was smeared right along with Kerry by the Swifties. And I completely understand the reaction of veterans to Kerry's actions after his return from Viet Nam.
But the Swift Boat Veterans weren't satisfied to make their stand about what Kerry said after the war. They claimed to have "served with him in Viet Nam" - a claim which was fundamentally false. I satisfied myself by reviewing the Swifties website back in 2004, and with a review of the contemporaneous documentation (including the commendation of one of the Swifties for his own valor under fire on the day he later claimed there was no fire) that the Swifties were ready, willing and eager to lie about Kerry, and that they did so, taking calculated care to shut down accusations that were too conclusively disprovable. That's what cost them my respect. Hate the man if you like - but don't lie to hurt him, that just makes you, if anything, less honorable than the man you attack.
So, Bullet - don't forgive him. That's your prerogative and I respect that. But I don't respect those who lied, and claimed to have personal information about him in an attempt to harm him, like the Swifties did. That's just dishonorable. And the Swifties were dishonorable. In a real sense they validated Kerry's post-war statements, by their conduct. Have you considered that?
The ends don't justify the means - they just define the character of those who feel that they do. To me, that's the "point" of the Swift Boat story. |