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Oct. 20, 2004 Abraham Lincoln, in his 2nd inaugural address, stated, "... as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle... ". The Veterans Administration selected its motto from that paragraph of Lincoln's address. A number of Vietnam veterans are opposed to John Kerry becoming president and commander-in-chief. Upon his return from the war, Kerry participated in anti-war activities. Without authorization he met with representatives of the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in Paris. That was a felony offense, since he was a commissioned Naval Reserve Officer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Kerry's accusations that his fellow service personnel were committing war crimes on a daily basis in Vietnam, on the order of Ghengis Khan, aided and abetted the enemy. The anti-war protests had a significant impact on the outcome of the war. It hurt America and rendered aid to our enemy. In the thirty years since Kerry addressed the Senate, he has neither retracted his statements regarding our service personnel, nor provided substantiation of his accusations. Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Inc. owns or controls stations that reach nearly a quarter of all American homes with a television. Sinclair planned to air a documentary film, "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal". The film, made by former Prisoners-of-War, relates how Kerry's actions affected them while they were imprisoned by our enemy. Sinclair has been hit with a number of advertiser defections, a viewer boycott, and strong opposition from Democrats. Executives who are democrats have unloaded hundreds of thousands of shares of Sinclair stock. While that is their prerogative, it can be argued that such an act might be unfair to the investors those executives supposedly represent. As a result of such actions, Sinclair stock prices dropped by 11.5 percent in two days. Democratic senators and representatives protested to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Democratic National Committee complained to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that the broadcast would be an improper in-kind contribution to the Bush re-election effort. FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell said the FCC would not intervene. Jay Rosen, chairman of New York University's journalism department, said, "Why do you need to present this issue in a special on a Friday night in prime time before the election?" The answer to that one should be obvious: to make people aware of who this candidate really is. Kerry's campaign demanded equal time on Sinclair stations to counter "Stolen Honor". Sinclair requested that John Kerry appear to discuss the charges. The Kerry campaign turned down the invitation. Apparently Kerry does not feel comfortable explaining why he committed felonious acts, and committed acts that can be construed as treason. He would much prefer that the veterans just shut up and go away. Who are they to rain on his parade? Due to the pressures upon it, Sinclair decided not to air the "Stolen Honor" film in its entirety. In its place will be shown a news special incorporating parts of the movie. David D. Smith, Sinclair's Chief Executive Officer, stated the experience of preparing the special was "trying for many of those involved. The company and many of its executives have endured personal attacks of the vilest nature", as well as boycott threats and calls for shareholders to sell stock. "More shockingly", Smith said, "we have received threats of retribution from a member of Senator John Kerry's campaign". Kerry spokesman, Chad Clanton, called the charge "ridiculous", saying, "The only threat here is Sinclair Broadcasting who's trying to use the airwaves for partisan political purposes". Sinclair executives are big donors to the Republican Party. Clanton said nothing about George Soros, the billionaire backing the Democrats, who supported Michael Moore's movie, Fahrenheit 9-11, and the MOVEON.ORG group out to besmirch the president. I wonder what "threat" Clanton sees in the airing of "Stolen Honor".The threat of aggrieved veterans telling the truth? Sinclair's Smith commented, "We can not in a free America yield to the misguided attempts by a small but vocal minority to influence and trample on the First Amendment rights of those with whom they might not agree". Kerry has chosen not to address the accusations against him. He refuses to be held accountable for his treasonous and felonious activities. Democrats feel it is more important to trample the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press than to let these veterans have their say. According to the 6th Amendment the accused shall enjoy the right to be confronted with the witnesses against them. The Vietnam veterans and POWs were refused that right. When Kerry appeared before the Senate other veterans sought time to refute his charges. Senator Fulbright denied them that right, stating there wasn't enough time. Veterans returning from that war were spurned and looked down upon. Instead of being treated, if not like heroes, at least with dignity, they often were viewed as pariahs. Many have had their children and grandchildren ask whether they committed war crimes. FOr those who served honorably, that hurts. POWs went through hell day after day for years. They endured terrible torture sessions rather than sign confessions stating they committed war crimes. Then they had to listen to their tormentors tell them how Kerry had publicly admitted that Americans were committing war crimes on a daily basis. Although they returned home in 1973, the wounds cup deep. They learned to live with them, to hide them away, to put a bright face on things. But they never forgot. Now that John Kerry is a presidential candidate they felt they needed to tell the truth. They earned the right to be heard. However, rights don't seem to matter to the Kerry camp unless they can be used as a devisive issue, to garner votes for their candidate. Principles are not steadfast, but can be picked up and dropped, depending on the circumstances. "Gay rights" will be Teresa Kerry's focal point, but the rights of our war veterans to be heard is irrelevant. It is high time we bound up the wounds of these veterans, and care for them who bore the battle. The ones who completed their tours and didn't bug out. The ones who endured for years of torture rather than collaborate with the enemy. The ones who truly fought for our country. They deserve the right to be heard. ------------ About the author Joseph Boudreau: I spent just under 24 years in the Navy, 9 on active duty, the rest in the Naval Reserves. From paygrade E-1 I advanced to paygrade O-4, and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Email: bunnyboggins@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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