My response to Sgt. Seth Conner’s  “My Choice”-Feb 11- Townhall.com

Seth, I live here in Mission Viejo, also.  I'm proud of you and all young men who serve our great nation, “the land of the free”, and I am proud to be your neighbor.  I pray for your success in all that you do.

As Christians, both you and I, I only ask that you temper your anger towards these Hippy types, wherever they might live.  While I agree with your assessment of their motives, I feel only "your" spirit can be harmed by carrying the resentment within you that you express.

I served in the Army from 1962 to 1965, as a volunteer.  I was fortunate not to have had to go to Vietnam, as I was released to attend college just before the big expansion of that war.  When I came home, most people had not yet learned to hate the military; since the news media had not yet mustered its left leaning ideologues against it. 

However, by the time I entered UCLA, in 1968, after attending El Camino College, they had gathered their momentum.  I use to watch demonstrations on the UCLA campus and then go home and see how the media had, with their media tricks, blown them way out of proportion.  I once stood with a group of no more than 100 students listening to anti-war speeches.  Photographers with their cameras dashed about among the students like bees around a flowering bush.  Ducking here!  Darting there!  Shooting over our shoulders to get, what I thought, was an eye level view.

When I saw the finished product on TV later that evening, they made it look, and reported as such, that “hundreds, maybe thousands, involved in protests at UCLA".

I have not trusted media reports since, and probably never will.  I  thank God for the blog sites these days that allow us access to a number of observations and perspectives from which I can extrapolate a meaningful consensus.
 

Because I was older, after three years in the service-and probably not just in years-I avoided fraternities.  Until, that is, I found out about Chi Gamma Iota.  For those versed in Latin, you know the initials as XGI; all servicemen, taking advantage of the educational benefits bestowed upon us for our military service.  Many members were Veterans who had served tours (in country) in Vietnam. 

Sadly, too many of them were disheartened by the public receptions, or lack thereof, on their returning home from honored and courageous service to their country, only to be spit upon, and derided, by wet nosed kids who knew nothing, yet, of life, but who were being brainwashed by the same left-wing individuals, only younger then, who are stirring up the animosities toward the military, and America, today.  Yes, the communists may have been knocked down by President Reagan, but they have not been knocked out, nor killed and buried.  Communism continues today with its efforts to undermine our great nation, and its achievements, at every opportunity. Its proponents have merely changed their name to "Progressives", having taken that “one giant step backward, only to take their two greater steps forward”.

Americans continue to be ignorant of the causes for their hatred of President Bush and “(t)his” war because this view has been cultivated so skillfully by the left-wing media.  Yes, a lot of good young men have given their lives in a war that many Americans now feel is unjustified.  It’s sad when one life is lost for little or no reason -a drunk driver, a binge drinking or recreational drug overdose at fraternity parties, a child struck down by a random gunshot.  But let a young man give his life for his country and this media terms it a “waste” and plays upon our hearts with, what I call “the children card”. The Left uses this term anytime they can to gain support; “look at what it’s doing to our children”.

But, specifically, how has this war, which received such early support from our political leaders and our general populace, turned to such hate for President Bush- a GOD loving and fearing Christian?  Yes, we can all agree that mistakes have been made in this war-some very big ones.  This is not unusual for any war that’s ever been fought, but we don’t hate FDR, or Truman, or Eisenhower, or Kennedy, or the many other presidents who have made such mistakes.  The difference can only be the sway caused by the left leaning media that, once they found a key talking point-in this case, the lack of WMDs-they began an all out offensive of words against this president.  We’ve heard it all.  He did it for the oil; to get even for the failed assassination attempt on his father; he was behind the 911 attack, with the Jews.  The list is endless.  Outrageous yes, but it was just a negative campaign add that has, as they do, done its job.

And what might the goal be?  I can only assume that it is the destruction of the Republican Party and its conservative majority, to begin with; and the changing of America into the socialist state they envision from the capitalist ideals that has helped America become the most successful nation on this earth, since the beginning of time.  In taking over the legislative branch, and the presidency, the party of the left, would again, be in the position of total governmental control which was derailed by the conservatives a mere twelve years ago.  They would then be able to resume their path towards the socialism began under FDR.

And so, Seth, please try not to denigrate your Christian spirit by giving in to name calling, but just call an apple an apple, and leave it at that.  Continue to speak out against their anti-American efforts and to make clear to unsuspecting Americans the lefts true goal; loss of our freedoms.

But, again Seth, I thank you for your service, your passion and your faith in our struggle against these radicals.