I'm proud to present my Dad's e-mail to the larger viewing public.
People , Kerry came home after his tour in Viet Nam and testified before Congress that the war in Viet Nam was wrong . He's saying it again about Iraq . I'd say listen carefully to this man .
I did not serve in Viet Nam but spent thirteen months on Okinawa , as a Marine officer prepared to go to Nam , and sat on about a dozen court martials of Marines accused of committing atrocities in Viet Nam , so Kerry is not wrong on that account . It was a minority but it happened , and broadly . And I had $.15 martinis at Happy Hour at the Officers' Club with career Majors and Lt. Colonels who said the war was wrong , we were not fighting to win , that the " Domino theory " was not valid , that we should find a way out of the morass .
So , Kerry was not wrong in his protests as he blamed the politicians , the strategists , a minority of the troops , and tried to reason with an administration that was ultimately to come to agree with this bold dissenter . This man showed leadership , commitment , valor and real manhood while his opponent was still wrestling with his demons .
I believe that Kerry can give the USA a new start on the world scene and that the USA needs to do all we can to re-create strong allied relationships to oppose the worsening terrorist threats . Just don't dismiss Kerry as a " war protestor " . He showed uncanny awareness and resolve to take the position he did . He also might be our best approach to handling the Iraq situation that everyone is having to accept because " we are where we are " ( and not discussing whether we ought to have done what we did ) , and the terrorists' attitudes toward the USA .
Then there's the economy , jobs , health care , fair taxes , global warming , energy policy , and other issues not on this administration's radar screen . I'm only suggesting that all of us step back a bit and think about the realities , letting our brains " do the walking " , not letting our gut instincts pull the lever or point that electronic pencil !! I have voted nine times for Republican presidential nominees , including Goldwater , but I suggest , in the interest of our children and grand-children , a nod to Zell , that you consider Kerry as a viable best-case for the USA and our world .
Watts Carr III
People , Kerry came home after his tour in Viet Nam and testified before Congress that the war in Viet Nam was wrong . He's saying it again about Iraq . I'd say listen carefully to this man .
I did not serve in Viet Nam but spent thirteen months on Okinawa , as a Marine officer prepared to go to Nam , and sat on about a dozen court martials of Marines accused of committing atrocities in Viet Nam , so Kerry is not wrong on that account . It was a minority but it happened , and broadly . And I had $.15 martinis at Happy Hour at the Officers' Club with career Majors and Lt. Colonels who said the war was wrong , we were not fighting to win , that the " Domino theory " was not valid , that we should find a way out of the morass .
So , Kerry was not wrong in his protests as he blamed the politicians , the strategists , a minority of the troops , and tried to reason with an administration that was ultimately to come to agree with this bold dissenter . This man showed leadership , commitment , valor and real manhood while his opponent was still wrestling with his demons .
I believe that Kerry can give the USA a new start on the world scene and that the USA needs to do all we can to re-create strong allied relationships to oppose the worsening terrorist threats . Just don't dismiss Kerry as a " war protestor " . He showed uncanny awareness and resolve to take the position he did . He also might be our best approach to handling the Iraq situation that everyone is having to accept because " we are where we are " ( and not discussing whether we ought to have done what we did ) , and the terrorists' attitudes toward the USA .
Then there's the economy , jobs , health care , fair taxes , global warming , energy policy , and other issues not on this administration's radar screen . I'm only suggesting that all of us step back a bit and think about the realities , letting our brains " do the walking " , not letting our gut instincts pull the lever or point that electronic pencil !! I have voted nine times for Republican presidential nominees , including Goldwater , but I suggest , in the interest of our children and grand-children , a nod to Zell , that you consider Kerry as a viable best-case for the USA and our world .
Watts Carr III