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June 5, 2004 I got a letter a few days before Memorial Day, and I am retyping my response to the letter. I would let it be, but I feel being an eleven year Vietnam Veteran I have to respond to it and in doing so, I will do it publicly, more than the letter did. I received this letter with a lot of information in it, with no name, evidently, the person had either read an article I wrote for the St. Paul, Pioneer Press a few weeks ago on Iraq, or they had read one of my articles on the internet magazine, Useless-knowledge Magazine. Whatever is the case; it came from, the "American Information Center [55101]," whatever that is. I had learned a long time ago, if you can't go public with what you are saying, you most likely saying something foolish. Well, sit back a moment and I will inform you about the letter, and then address it with how I feel, and/or think. I am not out to evangelize anyone to my way of thinking, I am just out to let the Toad know, in America [not sure where he is from] it is a two way street. Also, since I do not know this person name, I have to make one up for him, so forgive me if it doesn't fit - the Toad. Now having said all this let me get started: 1) Inside the envelope [several pieces of propaganda] was a picture of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam, I think in l983. Not sure what that means or is suppose to relay to me, but John F. Kennedy shook hands with Khrushchev, and Khrushchev shook hands with Castro. And Stalin shook hands with a few of our presidents also. Shaking hands means to me, lets try and make peace [if we can]. Good for Rumsfeld. 2) He puts a cartoon in the [he meaning: the Toad] into the envelope, of Americans abusing the prisoners in the Iraqi prison; capitalizing on the moment of course. Again, I am not sure what the full message is here: possible America is a mean country, or look at what we do, how terrible. Evidently he has not been to war, because if that is the worse our soldiers have done, I would consider them angels compared to what has been done to us, and to others throughout the world. I was in Vietnam for a year, and brother, this prison thing is nothing compared to what happened over there, on both sides. But the Toad seems to be set on only addressing one side of the road, the atrocities of America. I'd really like to see some of the pictures of China killing the thousands of Tibetans, and Russia's guzzle prisons in Siberia, of what they call the past, and Saddam feeding his enemies to the alligators, and some of the lovely accommodations in North Vietnam's prison [like the infamous Hilton], and the citizens North Korea kidnapped from Korea. Let's put our cards on the table - all the cards, and see who comes out smiling. How about stopping in Syria for a while and see how they treat their prisoners, or Iran - you may notice a few tongues missing. Let's not throw stones, especially at folks that had nothing to do with it. I own a nine-plex, and if someone kills another person in it, does that make me a murder - I don't think so. But I'd buy better locks, and get new tenants most likely. 3) Then in the envelope he sends me a cut out article by S. Melmouth, not sure who he is, but if he is the Toads friend, I can imagine. I shall try a paraphrase on what it implies: from l972 to the present [2004] the US has vetoed 20-UN, Security Counsel Resolutions that would have passed overwhelmingly by the rest of the voters condemning Israel for their actions. Again I am always lost for words with this Toad fella [I think it's a fella], in the sense: look under the rug for the dirt, it is not on the surface. Anyhow, let me respond: and there is logic to this, and I'm glad he brought this up actually: now we must be talking about France, China and Russia, and he kind of points to this direction, then adds salt to his insults on America: first of all Israel won a few wars over in that area, if I recall right, one in l967, another in l972 [thus taking land from them, a little piece here and there], and it would seem the ones who started it lost, big time: Egypt, Syria, and Jordan; actually, they all should be thankful to Israel that they didn't take their who country away from them, and they could have. Anyhow, let me continue [also three against one, how brave they are, with their sneak attack]: so why does the US veto Russia, France and China, because maybe they are trying to gang up on Israel, maybe because the UN and the EU are Jew haters, and possible you are also Mr. Toad: and that is why Europe is having a get together, and also already had one, on the Jewish problems they are having in Europe: their own created problem - they are Jew haters and the world knows it, it is no secret. Now in all honesty, do you think the Jew is going to get a fair shake from the EU, or UN, or China or Russia, come on now, you got the answer - no [but they all give the PLO money, cars guns and whatever they want]. 4) Now the Toad sends me a picture of children maimed from the war in Iraq, I suppose to soften my heart, and denounce America. Not to day brother. And he says the war is because of oil. Let me address this. Why not send me some pictures of how Saddam chemically brutalized the Kurds, lets look at some of them scares. How about going to the VA hospitals and looking at the soldiers that keep this country safe, the one you live in. And you quote Iraq has 20-trillion dollars worth of oil we want. I don't think its that high, last time I heard it was around the 200 to 300 billion mark; and to be quite honest it would be cheaper for us to buy it from them than to go to war for it, because we will have spent that much in a few years feeding them, dressing them, rebuilding everything for them. I'd just leave the country to be honest and let the fly's have it. They don't appreciate it, or us. But if we don't stay, then it will become a hornet's nest I suppose for other toads. [I'm getting to the end, just stick in here a moment.] 5) Now the Toad adds a typed letter telling me of all the countries we have bombed in the past - not sure, possible 50-years. He names China [we should have bombed them long ago, like General McArthur wanted to, they will be more trouble than anything, as he also said], and he adds Guatemala, not sure what they got there, it is not oil, but I know we had soldiers there 25-years ago, possible dope; maybe the Toad likes the Americans to sniff themselves to death on that crap. And he adds Cuba [our glorious freedom fighters and neighbors], and he adds Vietnam, and Cambodia, Grenada, Libya, Panama, Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Yugoslavia. That is a mouth full. And to my understanding he is right, we bombed them all I suppose, I didn't think we did in Peru, other than the dope pushers in the Amazon area [where I have been] possible that is what he means. Anyway, he left out Pol Pot, killing 3-million of his people in Cambodia, and Milosevic whom we must give credit for slaughtering human life in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. And how about Ho Chi Minh, the famous dishwasher from Paris, who Stalin couldn't stand, and wouldn't see when he came over to see him in Russia - he liked to kill. And how about Libya, who likes to shoot down planes lets not forget him, we will be shaking his hands soon also. In essence, every country the Toad mentined, I could paint a blacker street from what they did, and if they could, they'd have us under their thumbs. I'd like to make a dramatic closing to this article, but I just don't have the energy, I'm sad people have a narrow mind and look at one thing, and only one side of a story. No, we are not without our sins, but at least most of them [I hope] are out in the open. And maybe we can become better. And war, well, I'm afraid this is just part of the world's way of life, like it or not. It has been going on for 10,000-years [I heard we've had 6000 wars so far], and it will not stop tomorrow. One forth of the world is normally under war of some kind at any given time, be it civil or international, it's just the way it is. I'd rather belong to the country that is stronger, safer and richer than the opposite, and it seems like the Toad would also, but likes other people doing his fighting for him. Butter your bread well before you go to Iraq. ------------ About the author: Mr. Siluk is a world traveler, a lover of the mysteries around the world, and has visit many World Heritage Sites, the most recent being Easter Island and the Galapagos. His most recent book: "After Eve," and his 26th book thus far, can be seen on/at Barns and Nobel.com, Amazon.com, Walmart and several other sites. He spends his time between Lima, Peru and St. Paul, Minnesota, and is wroking on two more books: "Stay Down, Old Abram," and "Curse of the Abyss Worm," the second being a suspensful mystery. Visit http://dennissiluk.tripod.com Email: dlsiluk@msn.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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