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[SJC <indexer AT localnet.com>]

Akka Homestead wrote:
> ....  I think the way you worded that below is disrespectful to all aviators 
> who have been POW's.  In fact, it is disrespectful in general.  It is blaming 
> the victim...one does not get oneself shot down, just as one does not walk 
> into an ambush, get his ship sunk or his submarine torpedoed....Just my 
> opinion though....
>   

You are of course entitled to your opinion, as are we all. 

A number of members of  my family served in VietNam; two never made it 
home, and two of those who did return were POWs.  Of all the ones still 
living there is no enthusiasm for Obama, but there will be, I'm told, no 
votes for McCain among them.  In the words of one: "Not if he were the 
very last of the fakes on earth would I vote for him."  This person 
knows way more than I do about McCain, having been involved with many 
related incidents.  He many years ago advised to me "really research the 
information about McCain.  We can't make it readily available but it's 
there if you dig.".  I will readily admit I've never done that, not 
actually having enough interest in knowing more things military to do so. 

Another, who served five tours in VietNam and only recently retired from 
full-time POW research in SE Asia (and is in VietNam this month, in 
fact, finishing up some work) had to restrain himself from sneering when 
I recently queried him about his ideas regarding McCain.

And having said all that, I readily admit that I'm the worst of the 
worst:  a pacifist in a family of military beings.  I can appreciate 
that we live in a world that seems to require such activity but was for 
a long time depressed about my own sons' decisions to become longterm 
members of the services, and was glad when the last of them left the 
Marine Corps.   I can admire the desire to serve, the courage necessary, 
and so on, but I cannot convince myself that military solutions are 
desirable unless actual defense is involved.  Which is not to say I 
can't fight or stick up for myself (hey, I grew up the only girl with 
many brothers, whaddya figger?)......

So it all makes for a voting dilemma.  I guess instead of saying I'm 
disappointed in any one person (or specific group/s of persons) I'm 
rather disappointed and appalled by the lot of us.

Susan Jane