Wednesday, August 25, 2004
It's The Loyalty Stupid!
Believe it or not, I think we can learn a lot about the Swiftboat Vets by looking a little closer at the Abu Ghraib situation. You see, Army Spec. Joseph Darby, the whistle-blower in the prisoner abuse scandal, now has to be kept in a secret location because of threats made against him.
Why would he be receiving threats? Because he broke some unwritten code of loyalty. He "narc'd" on his fellow soldiers. He dared expose the corruption and filth that was taking place. Outside the walls of Abu Ghraib, I think most civilians view his actions as a brave thing. He stood up for decency and civility. He stood up to an abusive regime, so to speak. (Sound familiar?) So why the threats? As any elementary student can tell you, it's because he told. He's a tattle-tale.
This is the same motivation behind the Swiftboat Vets. All you have to do is listen to their latest commercial.
When is telling the truth dishonorable. When is exposing corruption and lawlessness selling out? It all comes down to the loyalty. He wasn't supposed to tell anyone. His crime is that he had a conscience. This is what they're pissed about. He told. It's not about his policies. It's not about his voting record in the Senate. It's about his loyalty to them. He broke it and they're pissed, plain and simple.
Was Kerry saying that every veteran of the Vietnam war was guilty of these atrocities? Hell no. No more than every soldier in Iraq is responsible for the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse. When Kerry testified he was simply sharing the testimony of honorably discharged veterans. These atrocities took place and he was telling the truth about it.
So what the Swiftboat Vets are really saying with their ads is shame on John Kerry. Shame on him for telling the truth. Shame on him for having a conscience. How dare he try to be honest and help others. He's setting such a poor example for America.
- Meyer also said that Frederick was "concerned about the well-being of" Army Spec. Joseph Darby, the soldier who handed over a CD-ROM full of incriminating photographs to Army criminal investigators, launching the investigation.
Darby, because of threats against him and his family, testified earlier this month by telephone in a hearing for another soldier charged in the scandal, his location kept secret by military officials.
Why would he be receiving threats? Because he broke some unwritten code of loyalty. He "narc'd" on his fellow soldiers. He dared expose the corruption and filth that was taking place. Outside the walls of Abu Ghraib, I think most civilians view his actions as a brave thing. He stood up for decency and civility. He stood up to an abusive regime, so to speak. (Sound familiar?) So why the threats? As any elementary student can tell you, it's because he told. He's a tattle-tale.
This is the same motivation behind the Swiftboat Vets. All you have to do is listen to their latest commercial.
- Joe Ponder: The accusations that John Kerry made against the veterans who served in Vietnam was just devastating .... and it hurt me more than any physical wounds I had.
Ken Cordier: He betrayed us in the past, how could we be loyal to him now?
Paul Galanti: He dishonored his country, and more importantly, the people he served with. He just sold them out.
When is telling the truth dishonorable. When is exposing corruption and lawlessness selling out? It all comes down to the loyalty. He wasn't supposed to tell anyone. His crime is that he had a conscience. This is what they're pissed about. He told. It's not about his policies. It's not about his voting record in the Senate. It's about his loyalty to them. He broke it and they're pissed, plain and simple.
Was Kerry saying that every veteran of the Vietnam war was guilty of these atrocities? Hell no. No more than every soldier in Iraq is responsible for the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse. When Kerry testified he was simply sharing the testimony of honorably discharged veterans. These atrocities took place and he was telling the truth about it.
So what the Swiftboat Vets are really saying with their ads is shame on John Kerry. Shame on him for telling the truth. Shame on him for having a conscience. How dare he try to be honest and help others. He's setting such a poor example for America.
