Comments for Called to Serve Vietnam

Comment on Obama Speaks: No Wonder Our Country Remains Obsessed with our Military Might by Kay Kaolin

Kay Kaolin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:09:58 +0000

Thank you for these articles, Tom. It is also harrowing how many miltary terms are being used in TV commercials. On CNN several weeks ago, the commentator, Don Lemon, hosted a program called “Rapid Fire”. It was simply a news program with no particular emphasis on military news. I found the title incredibly offensive and an insult to vets everywhere.

The exposure to the mass manipulation of our children, inundating them to war terms; as well, as adults, as if it will simply wear us down and go unnoticed and/or accepted is a delusion on the media’s part.

And while it remains true, that the voting alternative to Pres. Obama winning the next election, would cause a descent that wouldd be beyond belief with irreversible consequences; it is also true that we must hold the President accountable for promoting war and raising our children & adolescents, to think of themself as being of value and having a future ONLY by becoming soldiers. This is already a tragedy of mass proportions!
Their self-esteem is often incredibly low and many do not see school as an option due to the cost of it. But in addition, peer pressure o be tough falls right into affirming oneself by joining the military, getting a salary, possibly and possibly a home one day; because there is little or no alternative and our youth know that already.

We know why there are few alternatives for them, And why aren’t there more alternatives for them? Because the war wheel was designed way before they were born, to give them too few options and no choice.

That’s why.

As it happens, I will be on WTCC 90.7 FM radio (STCC) The Lewis and Morrow Financial Hour from 9-10 AM this Wed, Feb,1, 2012 and I plan to discuss this further with them. The program can be streamed, will be recorded and up on my website several days afterwards. My own book is titled “Talking About Race: A Workbook About White People Fostering Racial Equality in Their Lives”, I hope you and your readers can tune in.

Comment on The Times’ Bob Herbert: “I WOULD BRING BACK THE DRAFT IN A HEARTBEAT” – READ WHY… by car vinyls

car vinyls — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:34:21 +0000

Funny photo of Lady GaGa http://bit.ly/uMfoPD )))))))))

Comment on WHAT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO DO FOR THOSE WE SEND TO WAR by Sarah Buttenwieser

Sarah Buttenwieser — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:12:22 +0000

Spoke to retired General John Douglas who is running for Congress & this echoes what he said — bottom line: the cost of war is so unbelievably high for something unwinnable.

Comment on SPEAKING HIS TRUTH ABOUT LIFE AND THE MILITARY by Will Gilger

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Comment on THE GREAT RACIAL DIVIDE REMAINS – IN EXPERIENCE AND PERCEPTION… by The reasons why

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Comment on “WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE CLASS WAR, DADDY?” REVISITED by Mammoth Bank Owned Foreclosures

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Comment on A Reading to Remember and A Poem – “Draft Induction Day, 1969″ by Mohammed Alam

Mohammed Alam — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:12:36 +0000

Tom: Thanks for sharing this and the book. I will see you at one of the readings soon.

Comment on A Reading to Remember and A Poem – “Draft Induction Day, 1969″ by Sarah Buttenwieser

Sarah Buttenwieser — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 13:58:27 +0000

Thanks, TOm. Wish I’d been to that event at the Forbes (I love Doug & Thi). A friend was just telling me a couple of weeks ago she’s reading The Things They Carried for a book group. Such an amazing book.

Comment on The Times’ Bob Herbert: “I WOULD BRING BACK THE DRAFT IN A HEARTBEAT” – READ WHY… by okucia drzwiwoe

okucia drzwiwoe — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:47:36 +0000

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Comment on What Gets Missed on 9/11 – Tragically… by Howard Faerstein

Howard Faerstein — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:40:32 +0000

Tom,
I attended last night’s forum/reading at the Forbes and was truly impressed by the presentations given by all three readers. It was an emotionally moving experience for me and most surely for many of those in the audience.
I briefly spoke to you and asked how I might send a poem regarding my own experience. You mentioned your blog, which I’ve just been reading, though I’m not sure if this is the way to contact you. My techno skills are quite minimal.
I’m providing the website of the now defunct The November 3rd Club, which published my poem about a year ago, and I’m also sending the poem in this comment. Thank you for your words last night.
Best wishes

Howard Faerstein
http://www.wetdryvac.net/November3rdClub/2010/07-2010/poetry/faerstein.html

DRAFT INDUCTION DAY, 1969

Because I had no plan to run for President
& was not yet a felon
I walked into Fort Hamilton armed
with drugs & a therapist’s letter.

Ed was there, scratching his thighs furiously,
blood pooling beneath the legs of the stool
& I watched Johnny strip down,
peanut butter spread about his cheeks,
even in the valley of his hole.

I failed the physical’s every test
& by the end how exhausted I was
by the boys waiting to kill, longing to die,
gathered around to copy my answers even as I told them
every one was wrong.

Then the news I was “fit as a fiddle”
but had to return next morning to see the shrink.
Nothing of what I recounted made a bit of difference–
homo, junkie, opposed to the imperial conflict–
but when I explained how I cured myself of syphillis
while living in a California commune
by cutting the tip of my penis into four symmetrical parts
he hesitated then said It’s against my better judgement but I’m giving you

I leaped off the chair in great joy,
grabbing the paper,
a 4F
& headed for the discharge desk where I was jeered & scowled at
& hand-in-hand with Johnny
I skipped out on the pavement of Shore Parkway,
scows plying the Narrows,
carriers taking the boys from Sunset Park & Bed-Stuy
to Chu Lai, to Hua Ky.