Published May 9, 2004 in the Hibbing Daily Tribune
Our nation is at war. Even as the economy improves, jobs are moving overseas and aren’t being replaced here in America. College, homes and childcare are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Millions of Americans either don’t have or struggle to afford health insurance.
So why is so much time and money in the U.S. presidential race being wasted by ridiculous, phony questions over whether John Kerry threw ribbons or medals over a wall during a war protests in 1971? For that matter, why is John Kerry’s service a question at all?
John Kerry was wounded in combat three times in Vietnam. During this time, the Navy commended Kerry for leadership. Most of the men who served under him in combat, even the ones who are Republicans, have come out this year to endorse him. Don’t confuse this with the attack dogs brought out solely to discredit Kerry’s service. The people who served with him in combat have said that, regardless of your opinions on his politics, you can’t question this guy’s courage or character.
Watching major news outlets last week, we got to see reporters press Kerry on one of the least important issues facing America right now. Did John Kerry throw his medals or his RIBBONS over a fence in protest of the war after he returned home?
Does this matter? No. It really doesn’t. Opponents want to drum up questions about John Kerry and they are using tiny details of a 1971 war protest to paint their distorted picture. But the truth is the same. John Kerry grew up privileged – just like George W. Bush – but didn’t feel right that only working class men were being sent to Vietnam, so he volunteered for combat duty. He served with distinction, but came to believe the United States was fighting the war for the wrong reasons. So, when he returned home from the war (not before), he protested in a way far more reasoned and honorable than most of the anti-war crowd. A lot of spin doctors say he was in cahoots with Jane Fonda and that crowd, but that’s just another lie fueled by faked photographs. Vietnam was a polarizing, poorly run war. Kerry’s testimony to Congress is still considered one of the best arguments against the way America handled Vietnam.
That’s all nice, and we can talk about it if you want, but why doesn’t America talk about the future?
Listen, you can probably figure out my politics, but even my Republican friends would probably agree that the issues are more important. Let’s compare the Bush and Kerry plans making sure Americans have health insurance coverage. Let’s compare the Kerry and Bush plans on keeping jobs in America. Let’s compare the Bush and Kerry plans on managing the burden of not just taxes, but cost of living. We can all form opinions and if we disagree, at least we are people of substance, not victims of flashy fake issues pushed by a mass media loaded to the brim with some vague agenda of personal destruction.
The mass media, shadowy backstage political spinners and a massive veil of citizen apathy have joined forces to keep us voters from dealing with the problems of America. Let’s address real issues. We may disagree about the way to solve problems, but by discussing them we will be a better people.
Oh, and if anyone REALLY wants to talk about what the candidates were doing in 1971, I encourage you to try and find out what George W. Bush was doing back then. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I’ll offer this olive branch: It matters less than what he’s doing right now.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune.