OT- Saigon Jane?!?

["John W Rosa" <JohnRosa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Doc,

I thought it was Hanoi Jane, since Saigon was the 
capital of the SOUTH which we were aiding...and 
Hanoi was NORTH.

Cartography aside, I think many of us did stupid 
things in our youth that we'd look back at now and 
regret. As a *non-combat* Navy vet myself, I can 
accept the (repeated, copious and seemingly heartfelt) 
apologies she has issued again and again. An 
impressionable young woman, seeking acceptance from a 
Svengali-type man will do whatever it takes for what 
she thinks is love. I've watched family and friends 
do similar, but less publicized, stupid things for love. 
Heck, I've made an ass of myself for it on many 
ocassions.

Removing the 'fame' element from the equation, she'd
have been forgiven if she was Jane Q. Public that drank 
too much one night, had a car accident and killed 
someone. We'd look at that same woman 35 years later,
after her repeated admissions of guilt and remorse, and
we'd most likely have allowed her to 'move on' from it.
Only her celebrity keeps this thing alive.

I make a large distinction between being anti-war and 
being anti-troops. I am absolutely against our attack on
Iraq, but I'll back every soldier involved in it. I won't
support a war BECAUSE I support my troops. I support my 
troops IN SPITE of my feelings for the war. Jane's goof
was an attempt to say that the troops on the other side 
are just soldiers ordered there by more uncaring leaders
....just more humans dying for someone else's cause. Yes,
it was a dumb way to make the point...and a very public 
one. But the sentiment was never anti-US-soldier. It was 
anti-US-policy.

I think veteran anger is best targeted at those that 
send our troops to die fighting for monetary interests,
and those that would deny them proper financial and 
medical support when they return. Jane is one flawed
woman that made an over-publicized stupid mistake,
many, many moons ago. And I think much of the hostility 
heaped on her back is actually mis-guided anger for the 
war itself and those that ran it.

(Yea- I know...big-time off-topic. Sorry!)

John