Anyone else want to put on a flame...

[Saffron]

I think snopes is a reliable and excellent source for debunking urban legends on the Internet. Now how reliable they are for debunking other stories, I don't know, but it's a good place to start. If they debunk something there you can always look to see what other information you can find to match up to theirs.

 

[Pin Wizard]

True.

 

[kbeverina]

Originally posted by BrinxFam
For John Kerry to try to make experiences of Vietnam into a Cinderella story and waltz into the Whitehouse as a "Decorated War Hero" is a slap in the face to the men and women who returned to be spit upon and referred to as baby killers while John Kerry returned to protest the war. His actions have been and continue to be a slap in the face and a knife in the back to Vietnam Veterans like my father.

I've felt that this is more about this than anything that did or didn't happen in Vietnam. I think many of these men are just as angry about what happened after Kerry came back and it's entirely possible that's coloring their memories of what happened.

If the administration had anything to do with this ad, it's incredibly stupid on so many levels. It will backfire and only serve to keep the issue of Vietnam at the forefront, which, of course they don't want.

I have a hard time swallowing the hooplah Kerry made over his Vietnam service because to me it's just another act of political expediency. Going with the sentiment of the nation at the time. Just like when he came back from Vietnam and built his political career on being anti-war.

I don't think protesting war crimes and being proud of his military service are mutually exclusive. But I do think that in his case it's politically expedient in the same manner that his support or criticism of war in Iraq has been politically expedient. You saw his strongest criticisms against it when he was courting the party loyal and trying to get the nomination. Now that he has it, he's swinging back the other way in order to get the moderate voters.

And one thing about the "didn't serve with Kerry" statements. These men did serve with him. They may not have been on the same boat, but they did serve together, on boats right next to each other. The offense and defense of a football team aren't on the field together, but you wouldn't say they're not on the same team. It's just picking nits to say they didn't serve together because they weren't on the same small boat. I don't know if their accounts are credible or not, but they shouldn't be discounted for a reason that's not true. I think Kerry probably has plenty of people working to discredit what they're saying, so I guess we'll probably know soon enough if that's the case.

 

[phamton]

Snopes is an excellent website because they always list their sources so you can check it out yourself. They must be pretty darn good as both CNN and MSNBC use them as a source. Both David Mikkelson (snopes) and his wife Barbara have been on CNN and MSNBC several times during the aftermath of 9-11. They were on there discussing and debunking the numerous urban legends that popped up after the terrorist attacks. On their FAQ page they say this:

Q: How do I know the information you've presented is accurate?

A: We don't expect anyone to accept us as the ultimate authority on any topic, which is why our site's name indicates that it contains reference pages. Unlike the plethora of anonymous individuals who create and send the unsigned, unsourced e-mail messages that are forwarded all over the Internet, we show our work. The research materials we've used in the preparation of any particular page are listed in the bibliography displayed at the bottom of that page so that readers who wish to verify the validity of our information may check those sources for themselves.

 

[BrinxFam]

I personally would not mind the issue of Vietnam being kept at the forefront for a while. Maybe then those of us who didn't live through the attrocities there would realize exactly what took place and how the Vietnam Veterans are still fighting the war. I am sorry if I come across as a bitter person but I am angered everytime I hear people painting hero pictures of Vietnam. My dad is a very simple man and in fact I didn't know much about his experiences in Vietnam until I was 25 years old. He never talked much about it because of the anguish it caused. Vietnam affected my family in many ways. He couldn't stand thunderstorms because the thunder and lightning reminded to much of being in country. Loud sudden noises would startle him. He didn't want to be around crowds of people. He had mood swings but would never lift a hand in anger to us, he would just leave and be by himself. It wasn't until I went to a counseling session with him that I started to realize what he had been dealing with. The very moment I heard the story and saw the look on my dad's face while he talked about being seperated from his unit in the jungles of Vietnam, I had a newfound respect and appreciation for everyone of the US soldiers that had been or ever would be involved in a wartime situation. After hearing about Vietnam from my father, I learned to decipher between something that actually happened and something that is being embellished. I am not saying that John Kerry is not telling the truth, but I will say that I find it extremely convienent that there is video of him during the war and he returned home to the US, protested the very war that he just took part in, began a political career and then uses it all for a basis to lead our country. The fact that a Vietnam Veteran must be on his/her death bed in order to receive compensation for conditions related to Agent Orange usage in the field when John Kerry is using the fact that he was on a boat during the war to get elected as US President is unreal! I am not questioning his service record, I am just saying that in my opinion he is not the man for the job. He shows a blatant disregard and disrespect to the men and women in military uniform with his flip flops and indecisiveness.

Again, this is only my opinion and I truly appreciate being allowed to share it without being attacked. Thanks!

 

[Mamu]

So the mud slinging has begun.

I cannot stand ad's from special interest groups with an agenda. I thought we were putting an end to these soft money ad's, that distort the truth with half the story. Where's Paul Harvey when you need him.

I'm sure the money wasted on these kind of ad's could find a better home.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by kbeverina
I think Kerry probably has plenty of people working to discredit what they're saying, so I guess we'll probably know soon enough if that's the case.

I don't doubt that.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by phamton
Snopes is an excellent website because they always list their sources so you can check it out yourself. They must be pretty darn good as both CNN and MSNBC use them as a source. Both David Mikkelson (snopes) and his wife Barbara have been on CNN and MSNBC several times during the aftermath of 9-11. They were on there discussing and debunking the numerous urban legends that popped up after the terrorist attacks. On their FAQ page they say this:

Thanks, phamton! I'll be sure to look for that the next time I'm there.