letter to my mother
Posted: November 25th, 2007, 11:54 am
actually Mom I am not blue at all, because I know the difference between being down and out and up and going well.
I found your comments during our (Thanksgiving Day phone call) conversation to be interesting and stimulated my thinking a bit.
i know youall had hard times, and so I think that many of your generation think that is thhe way it is supposed to be.
But getting assistance for education and putting real limits on the cost of student loans would not give students an easy street, or a free education without setting limits or standards. You said, "you should have made good on your education when you had the chance, " also, "if you don't like it, move to Holland!"
Well, I could have left America and gone to Canada or Sweden a long time ago, but I decided I would rather go to jail if necessary, or suffer a bad discharge if necessary in order to stay in my country and stand up fpr my rights. The resulting blues and alienation that I experienced were a combination of what I saw in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the experience of dissent itself.
So I made connections, rebuilt my psyche, and am continuing to grow in new ways, I feel like I am growing more right now than I have in quite a while, another growth spurt if you will.
I have included a link to an article I read recently in The Nation, "How to Fix our Broken Economy," which is really an application of Kensyian economics, which is a social investment in a free enterprise economy. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071022/madrick It is, essentially, like mobilizing the economy for war, but instead, investing in education for productive capabilities, and raising the minimum wage, and getting people to work through public works programs, building infrastructure. If ( step-dad's employer) LTV can contract to make a guidance system for a missle, it can also contract to make hi tech systems to convert automobiles to hybrid vehicles, for example.
We have the capability to fly our stealth bombers anywhere in the world, with our far flung network of airborne tankers, and can bomb anyone anywhere undetected. But we have no clue how to deal with the aftermath of such an event. And the impetus to use these weapons is evident, with the inflated rhetoric and fearmongering, when in fact, the opportunities for negotiated conflict resolutions are enormous, and the loss of genuine world community support in dealing effectively with the minority of zealous terrorists is absurd.
I am not about to leave America. We are going to make some positive changes. The first step is in being engaged with what is going on, and staying tuned into differing viewpoints, communicating with elected representatives, the media, and public speakings, all of which I have been doing since I came to St Petersburg.
gobblegobblegobble
the rains finally came a little bit
kitty licked the icecream bowl
Love, Jimbo
here are several of my letters
to the St Pete Tmes
that are in their archives
Re: Put MIA suspicions to rest, Aug. 3. 1991
Tying recognition of Vietnam to the "Cambodia problem" and the MIAs does not effectively communicate any concern for the enduring war damage to the landscapes of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Some Vietnam veterans have shown this concern, establishing a medical facility in Vung Tau. Other veterans have called for recognition of Vietnam and aid for reconstruction. The Vietnamese stopped the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia - and their government is no worse than China's.
When asked about American MIAs, one Vietnamese reply was: "We cannot account for our own MIAs, how can we account for yours? Any accounting for our MIAs requires a joint effort. We should show them we care about peace and prosperity as well as democracy."
How can I show my patriotism today, to take the honor and duty of service to country and apply it to productive concerns? Can we build bases of good will? Does this Earth, this living planet, deserve our respect? James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Religious tenets have little to do with quality care Series: LETTERS
[SOUTH PINELLAS Edition]
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Date: Dec 13, 1999
I am concerned that the city attorney's office will be doing an injustice to the community by taking a hard-line stance against St. Anthony's affiliation with Bayfront Hospital. The upcoming hearings may be focused on the extent of how Catholic doctrine will influence the "secular" hospital. If this is so, then I believe that the city attorney is concerned with something relatively unimportant. I have worked at Bayfront and, now, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. The nursing environment is essentially the same. The chaplain service is also essentially the same, with a diverse array of spiritual resources and a choice of whether or not to participate. The level of caring is the same. Bayfront-St. Anthony's "problems" are more than some superficial qualms about secular versus religious affiliations. It is the way in which managed care and the profit- oriented and aggressive health care industry has forced competitive strategy into the community health care institutions. We need more money for Medicaid and Medicare and less scrutinizing over superficial dogma by less-than-unfortunate bureaucrats from City Hall.Jim Willingham, RN
More helicopter precautions needed April, 2000
I am certainly concerned about the recent crash of Bayflite's medical trauma helicopter and have some thoughts about this. Several years ago, while working as a nurse at Bayfront Medical Center, I was taken on a tour of the flight deck and chopper by a pilot friend. As a former aircraft commander and flight instructor in tactical airlift (Vietnam), I was surprised to learn that the medical helicopter had only one pilot, one set of flight controls and was restricted to visual flight rules, with no navigational ability for flying in inclement weather.
A co-pilot is required on all commercial airlines, all military passenger aircraft-including all helicopters; co-pilots are an extra pair of eyes for scanning the terrain, for other aircraft, towers, etc. as well as a back-up in case the first pilot has any difficulties. (My friend had a fatal heart attack shortly after this guided tour; he was at home.)
Furthermore, every professional flight, no matter how urgent or routine, needs a preflight review of the planned route, including all towers (which are clearly marked on aviation maps) so that these hazards can be avoided.
Was a preflight briefing done? Was a flight plan filed with the local Flight Service Station? The Federal Aviation Administration should require all medical helicopters to have dual flight controls, two pilots, filed flight plans for all trips and adequate instrumentation for marginal visibility. A co-pilot could file the flight plan in-flight, if necessary.
Since almost all trauma helicopters contract with non-profit hospitals and cost is a major concern, subsidies should be provided by federal and local governments for these extra costs. We have the money for military transports, why not civilian trauma choppers? Flight safety should always be the highest concern. Even the best pilots are not perfect and a backup co-pilot should be required by the FAA.
James Willingham, R.N., St. Petersburg
Defense spending deserves a cut April 2001
Retired Navy Adm. Jack Shanahan's column Pentagon's books are in a shambles, should be proof enough that calling for a reduction in defense spending is the patriotic thing to do. We are military-poor. We spend enormous amounts, throwing money at the Pentagon like there's no tomorrow. All the while, our "conservative" Republican friends are decrying big government as a a "liberal" malady. The Democrats are no better; they are less demonstrative about it.
When I think about all the money the government spent training me for military duty, and the pennies I got (on coming home from a war) for my personal advancement in civilian life, I am assuredly frustrated, not only for myself, but also for my country, my fellow veterans and the greater society.
Now we are faced with an incoming barrage of big spenders once again under the cover of "defense." The nominee for secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfield, will be a big-spending operative for the military-industrial complex and will be a prime mover for a new Star Wars system and an even greater military build-up.
As a congressman from Illinois, he voted against food stamps, Medicare and anti-poverty programs. He supports massive increases in an already bloated military budget.
What are we so afraid of? Losing our complete geopolitical domination of the world? Losing some money for pork spending and profiteering?
Adm. Shanahan and the Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, as well as the retired admirals and generals of the Center for Defense Information are advocating defense cuts.
We need a balanced set of priorities. President-elect Bush said that in his acceptance speech. We should help him to practice what he preaches and oppose Donald Rumsfield for secretary of Defense. He would make a better secretary of spending.
James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Antiwar debate is part of democracy December, 2001
Re: War doubters eat their words, by H.D.S. Greenway, Dec. 6.
This column was actually a lot less angry than the title seems to imply. A lot of us were surprised by the turn of events. As soon as the Taliban went on the run, I realized that my worst fears, of massive civilian casualties, were not happening. That was a turning point for me. I have seen a lot of discredit given to the antiwar opinion, but without it we would have no debate and no democracy.
As a veteran, I want the best for my country, of course, so I am continuing to have serious doubts about the idea of an expanded war into Iraq. Personally, I want us to engage in forceful rebuilding of the economic infrastructure in Afghanistan, and I believe that a more progressive political approach to this situation is needed, including diplomacy, financial means and coalition building.
The U.S. military is commanded by a civilian government, for restraint and democracy. Ironically, the politicians in recent history with the least hawkish appetites have been combat military veterans. Maybe we learned that the taste of war without discretion is no victory.
The better part of valor is to have come back later, eating words of dissent while celebrating a great victory. Many of us on the liberal wing are military veterans and want nothing less than the best outcome of events for the country. We may differ in our opinions on priorities, but we have to be impressed by the quality of the troops we have seen in service over there. The morale and the steadiness are gratifying.
James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Re: Lonesome hawk, editorial, Sept. 3. 2002
The editorial stated that the president has no right to command an attack on Iraq without a mandate from Congress and the American people. The president is a constitutional commander in chief of the armed forces, not an absolute commander. If he orders a pre-emptive attack, the military would be in violation if it complied. The armed forces should "stand-down" and cease and desist from any action without legal mandate.
One thing I learned from four years of Air Force ROTC that being excused from civics class could not miss: The military has no right to act without the expressed consent of the civilian government. The War Powers Act is limited to immediate threats and needs a follow- up consensus to continue.
I also learned from my military experience about the tremendous cost of war. Will it become necessary to destroy Baghdad in order to save it?
Saddam Hussein is a petty tyrant, nothing more. He subverts the oil-for-food program as well as an equal amount of income from selling oil on the black market. He feeds the army, nourishes the elite and his power base with products from Jordan and military equipment from Syria.
We need to change the oil-for-food administration with a peacekeeping force from the United Nations and weapons inspectors. American citizens are in Iraq now: Vets for Peace has a water- purification project; Voices in the Wilderness is bringing medical supplies to hospitals; and a Christian Witness protection service is in place from the Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren to act as human shields in hospitals, schools, etc. These patriots are real.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. president and general said, "I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of their way and let them have it."
James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Re: Bridge may get $50-million relief, Nov. 26. (2003)
Spending $50-million on a bridge? That is ridiculous. The Republicans are talking fiscal conservatism yet our pork-loving congressman, Bill Young, wants to appropriate $50-million to buy a new bridge over to Treasure Island! Without a toll-booth, no less!
My wife is tearing her hair out. I already have. But we have to have fish broils to raise money for my step-grandson's elementary school. And my interest rate continues to extend my student loan payments. And putting that money into Midtown would be "socialism." But spending it in an affluent neighborhood where many support the status quo is okay because these folks will vote to re-elect the Republican pork-barrel congressman.
So we need a Democratic challenger next year. And please, folks, help register somebody to vote. As a veteran of Vietnam, I want to thank all those who talk war but never serve, and all those who talk conservatism but put money where it makes the wealthy even more comfortable at the expense of the rest of us.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
Swift boat ads are shallow sept 26, 2004
John Kerry's statement on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971 was a historic document that revealed the hypocrisy of continuing the Vietnam War for President Nixon's honor, so that he wouldn't be, and these are his words, "the first president to lose a war."
I am offended by the shallowness of the swift boat ads. They do state correctly the testimony from some Vietnam Veterans about free fire zone actions. That was Kerry's duty and his courage in testifying. His truth helped to end the war and bring home the POWs and stop the dying.
As a Vietnam veteran who witnessed a large amount of destruction to the landscape of South Vietnam and eastern Cambodia, my life was altered completely by my own witnessing testimony on coming home. Some veterans are never going to forgive us for our antiwar testimony, but our conviction then was that our duty as returning veterans was to speak the truth and to end the war.
The shallowness of the swift boat ads is evident to anyone with an ability to look deeply. They say nothing about the deep character of the man and the men whose testimony he shared.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
A right to disagree with the war 2005
Re: War leaves us torn between pain, pride.
Philip Gailey's Aug. 14 column was clearly written and went further than the editorial of the previous Sunday, The military's enlistment problem. That editorial had left me with an empty feeling as so much hand-wringing without really emphasizing that the problem is the Iraq war.
Gailey's column tells about Cindy Sheehan's petitioning outside the president's ranch in Texas and also quotes a mother of a Marine from Lima Company in Ohio as stating that no one should have the right to call the war wrong, because it discredits the Marines serving there.
This dilemma illustrated the divide, emotional more than logical. I do believe that I have the right to disagree with the Iraq war. I spent a year in Vietnam flying a hearse. And if I have that right, then so does everyone else.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
The curtain closes on Plamegate July 5, David Brooks column 2007
A case of character assassination
In David Brooks' column, I read an unabashed attempt at character assassination of Joe Wilson, the former acting ambassador to Iraq during the buildup to Desert Storm in 1990. Brooks calls him "a strutting little peacock" and "the charming P.T. Barnum of the national security set."
Joe Wilson was labeled a "true American hero" by President George H.W. Bush for his actions in protecting a large number of Americans who were inside Iraq during the buildup to the Persian Gulf War. As spokesman for the president, he directly confronted Saddam Hussein in Baghdad after the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
This type of character assassination by Brooks and others confuses the salient issue here. The CIA did, in fact, dispatch Ambassador Wilson to Niger, Africa, to discern independently President George W. Bush's false assertion that Iraq was importing uranium from there to support a bogus nuclear weapons program. That this is not of concern to David Brooks and to the St. Petersburg Times is shocking and disappointing.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
Rereading Vietnam - Sept. 16, story 2007
Warriors' questions
I read Robert Kaplan's eloquent salute to America's centurion warrior class with mixed emotions. He illustrates the hard core of character that empowers courage and devotion to duty. But as the warrior-philosopher James Stockdale uttered during his vice presidential debate, "Who am I? Why am I here?", I wonder why he and his compatriots were not able to ask themselves those same questions about the various missions they were assigned to.
I asked myself these things one day in Vietnam when I was talking with an Army chaplain. Maybe it was the Star of David he was wearing, or maybe it was the elemental question he asked me: "Hi, what's your name?" I began to consider my role in that particular war, and after finishing my tour of duty in a dedicated manner, came home to join my brothers in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
Morality and ethics as a duty belong to citizen-soldiers, not just to liberal-minded professional officers, to whom these essential qualifications should be germane. The missions to which we assign our courageous and brave young men and women demand prescience and scrutiny from the executive and Congress. We are better than Roman imperialists. The label "centurion" should not qualify for the warrior-elite in a healthy democracy.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
(another cut in th old umbilical cord0
I found your comments during our (Thanksgiving Day phone call) conversation to be interesting and stimulated my thinking a bit.
i know youall had hard times, and so I think that many of your generation think that is thhe way it is supposed to be.
But getting assistance for education and putting real limits on the cost of student loans would not give students an easy street, or a free education without setting limits or standards. You said, "you should have made good on your education when you had the chance, " also, "if you don't like it, move to Holland!"
Well, I could have left America and gone to Canada or Sweden a long time ago, but I decided I would rather go to jail if necessary, or suffer a bad discharge if necessary in order to stay in my country and stand up fpr my rights. The resulting blues and alienation that I experienced were a combination of what I saw in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the experience of dissent itself.
So I made connections, rebuilt my psyche, and am continuing to grow in new ways, I feel like I am growing more right now than I have in quite a while, another growth spurt if you will.
I have included a link to an article I read recently in The Nation, "How to Fix our Broken Economy," which is really an application of Kensyian economics, which is a social investment in a free enterprise economy. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071022/madrick It is, essentially, like mobilizing the economy for war, but instead, investing in education for productive capabilities, and raising the minimum wage, and getting people to work through public works programs, building infrastructure. If ( step-dad's employer) LTV can contract to make a guidance system for a missle, it can also contract to make hi tech systems to convert automobiles to hybrid vehicles, for example.
We have the capability to fly our stealth bombers anywhere in the world, with our far flung network of airborne tankers, and can bomb anyone anywhere undetected. But we have no clue how to deal with the aftermath of such an event. And the impetus to use these weapons is evident, with the inflated rhetoric and fearmongering, when in fact, the opportunities for negotiated conflict resolutions are enormous, and the loss of genuine world community support in dealing effectively with the minority of zealous terrorists is absurd.
I am not about to leave America. We are going to make some positive changes. The first step is in being engaged with what is going on, and staying tuned into differing viewpoints, communicating with elected representatives, the media, and public speakings, all of which I have been doing since I came to St Petersburg.
gobblegobblegobble
the rains finally came a little bit
kitty licked the icecream bowl
Love, Jimbo
here are several of my letters
to the St Pete Tmes
that are in their archives
Re: Put MIA suspicions to rest, Aug. 3. 1991
Tying recognition of Vietnam to the "Cambodia problem" and the MIAs does not effectively communicate any concern for the enduring war damage to the landscapes of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Some Vietnam veterans have shown this concern, establishing a medical facility in Vung Tau. Other veterans have called for recognition of Vietnam and aid for reconstruction. The Vietnamese stopped the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia - and their government is no worse than China's.
When asked about American MIAs, one Vietnamese reply was: "We cannot account for our own MIAs, how can we account for yours? Any accounting for our MIAs requires a joint effort. We should show them we care about peace and prosperity as well as democracy."
How can I show my patriotism today, to take the honor and duty of service to country and apply it to productive concerns? Can we build bases of good will? Does this Earth, this living planet, deserve our respect? James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Religious tenets have little to do with quality care Series: LETTERS
[SOUTH PINELLAS Edition]
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, Fla.
Date: Dec 13, 1999
I am concerned that the city attorney's office will be doing an injustice to the community by taking a hard-line stance against St. Anthony's affiliation with Bayfront Hospital. The upcoming hearings may be focused on the extent of how Catholic doctrine will influence the "secular" hospital. If this is so, then I believe that the city attorney is concerned with something relatively unimportant. I have worked at Bayfront and, now, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. The nursing environment is essentially the same. The chaplain service is also essentially the same, with a diverse array of spiritual resources and a choice of whether or not to participate. The level of caring is the same. Bayfront-St. Anthony's "problems" are more than some superficial qualms about secular versus religious affiliations. It is the way in which managed care and the profit- oriented and aggressive health care industry has forced competitive strategy into the community health care institutions. We need more money for Medicaid and Medicare and less scrutinizing over superficial dogma by less-than-unfortunate bureaucrats from City Hall.Jim Willingham, RN
More helicopter precautions needed April, 2000
I am certainly concerned about the recent crash of Bayflite's medical trauma helicopter and have some thoughts about this. Several years ago, while working as a nurse at Bayfront Medical Center, I was taken on a tour of the flight deck and chopper by a pilot friend. As a former aircraft commander and flight instructor in tactical airlift (Vietnam), I was surprised to learn that the medical helicopter had only one pilot, one set of flight controls and was restricted to visual flight rules, with no navigational ability for flying in inclement weather.
A co-pilot is required on all commercial airlines, all military passenger aircraft-including all helicopters; co-pilots are an extra pair of eyes for scanning the terrain, for other aircraft, towers, etc. as well as a back-up in case the first pilot has any difficulties. (My friend had a fatal heart attack shortly after this guided tour; he was at home.)
Furthermore, every professional flight, no matter how urgent or routine, needs a preflight review of the planned route, including all towers (which are clearly marked on aviation maps) so that these hazards can be avoided.
Was a preflight briefing done? Was a flight plan filed with the local Flight Service Station? The Federal Aviation Administration should require all medical helicopters to have dual flight controls, two pilots, filed flight plans for all trips and adequate instrumentation for marginal visibility. A co-pilot could file the flight plan in-flight, if necessary.
Since almost all trauma helicopters contract with non-profit hospitals and cost is a major concern, subsidies should be provided by federal and local governments for these extra costs. We have the money for military transports, why not civilian trauma choppers? Flight safety should always be the highest concern. Even the best pilots are not perfect and a backup co-pilot should be required by the FAA.
James Willingham, R.N., St. Petersburg
Defense spending deserves a cut April 2001
Retired Navy Adm. Jack Shanahan's column Pentagon's books are in a shambles, should be proof enough that calling for a reduction in defense spending is the patriotic thing to do. We are military-poor. We spend enormous amounts, throwing money at the Pentagon like there's no tomorrow. All the while, our "conservative" Republican friends are decrying big government as a a "liberal" malady. The Democrats are no better; they are less demonstrative about it.
When I think about all the money the government spent training me for military duty, and the pennies I got (on coming home from a war) for my personal advancement in civilian life, I am assuredly frustrated, not only for myself, but also for my country, my fellow veterans and the greater society.
Now we are faced with an incoming barrage of big spenders once again under the cover of "defense." The nominee for secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfield, will be a big-spending operative for the military-industrial complex and will be a prime mover for a new Star Wars system and an even greater military build-up.
As a congressman from Illinois, he voted against food stamps, Medicare and anti-poverty programs. He supports massive increases in an already bloated military budget.
What are we so afraid of? Losing our complete geopolitical domination of the world? Losing some money for pork spending and profiteering?
Adm. Shanahan and the Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, as well as the retired admirals and generals of the Center for Defense Information are advocating defense cuts.
We need a balanced set of priorities. President-elect Bush said that in his acceptance speech. We should help him to practice what he preaches and oppose Donald Rumsfield for secretary of Defense. He would make a better secretary of spending.
James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Antiwar debate is part of democracy December, 2001
Re: War doubters eat their words, by H.D.S. Greenway, Dec. 6.
This column was actually a lot less angry than the title seems to imply. A lot of us were surprised by the turn of events. As soon as the Taliban went on the run, I realized that my worst fears, of massive civilian casualties, were not happening. That was a turning point for me. I have seen a lot of discredit given to the antiwar opinion, but without it we would have no debate and no democracy.
As a veteran, I want the best for my country, of course, so I am continuing to have serious doubts about the idea of an expanded war into Iraq. Personally, I want us to engage in forceful rebuilding of the economic infrastructure in Afghanistan, and I believe that a more progressive political approach to this situation is needed, including diplomacy, financial means and coalition building.
The U.S. military is commanded by a civilian government, for restraint and democracy. Ironically, the politicians in recent history with the least hawkish appetites have been combat military veterans. Maybe we learned that the taste of war without discretion is no victory.
The better part of valor is to have come back later, eating words of dissent while celebrating a great victory. Many of us on the liberal wing are military veterans and want nothing less than the best outcome of events for the country. We may differ in our opinions on priorities, but we have to be impressed by the quality of the troops we have seen in service over there. The morale and the steadiness are gratifying.
James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Re: Lonesome hawk, editorial, Sept. 3. 2002
The editorial stated that the president has no right to command an attack on Iraq without a mandate from Congress and the American people. The president is a constitutional commander in chief of the armed forces, not an absolute commander. If he orders a pre-emptive attack, the military would be in violation if it complied. The armed forces should "stand-down" and cease and desist from any action without legal mandate.
One thing I learned from four years of Air Force ROTC that being excused from civics class could not miss: The military has no right to act without the expressed consent of the civilian government. The War Powers Act is limited to immediate threats and needs a follow- up consensus to continue.
I also learned from my military experience about the tremendous cost of war. Will it become necessary to destroy Baghdad in order to save it?
Saddam Hussein is a petty tyrant, nothing more. He subverts the oil-for-food program as well as an equal amount of income from selling oil on the black market. He feeds the army, nourishes the elite and his power base with products from Jordan and military equipment from Syria.
We need to change the oil-for-food administration with a peacekeeping force from the United Nations and weapons inspectors. American citizens are in Iraq now: Vets for Peace has a water- purification project; Voices in the Wilderness is bringing medical supplies to hospitals; and a Christian Witness protection service is in place from the Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren to act as human shields in hospitals, schools, etc. These patriots are real.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. president and general said, "I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of their way and let them have it."
James Willingham, St. Petersburg
Re: Bridge may get $50-million relief, Nov. 26. (2003)
Spending $50-million on a bridge? That is ridiculous. The Republicans are talking fiscal conservatism yet our pork-loving congressman, Bill Young, wants to appropriate $50-million to buy a new bridge over to Treasure Island! Without a toll-booth, no less!
My wife is tearing her hair out. I already have. But we have to have fish broils to raise money for my step-grandson's elementary school. And my interest rate continues to extend my student loan payments. And putting that money into Midtown would be "socialism." But spending it in an affluent neighborhood where many support the status quo is okay because these folks will vote to re-elect the Republican pork-barrel congressman.
So we need a Democratic challenger next year. And please, folks, help register somebody to vote. As a veteran of Vietnam, I want to thank all those who talk war but never serve, and all those who talk conservatism but put money where it makes the wealthy even more comfortable at the expense of the rest of us.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
Swift boat ads are shallow sept 26, 2004
John Kerry's statement on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971 was a historic document that revealed the hypocrisy of continuing the Vietnam War for President Nixon's honor, so that he wouldn't be, and these are his words, "the first president to lose a war."
I am offended by the shallowness of the swift boat ads. They do state correctly the testimony from some Vietnam Veterans about free fire zone actions. That was Kerry's duty and his courage in testifying. His truth helped to end the war and bring home the POWs and stop the dying.
As a Vietnam veteran who witnessed a large amount of destruction to the landscape of South Vietnam and eastern Cambodia, my life was altered completely by my own witnessing testimony on coming home. Some veterans are never going to forgive us for our antiwar testimony, but our conviction then was that our duty as returning veterans was to speak the truth and to end the war.
The shallowness of the swift boat ads is evident to anyone with an ability to look deeply. They say nothing about the deep character of the man and the men whose testimony he shared.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
A right to disagree with the war 2005
Re: War leaves us torn between pain, pride.
Philip Gailey's Aug. 14 column was clearly written and went further than the editorial of the previous Sunday, The military's enlistment problem. That editorial had left me with an empty feeling as so much hand-wringing without really emphasizing that the problem is the Iraq war.
Gailey's column tells about Cindy Sheehan's petitioning outside the president's ranch in Texas and also quotes a mother of a Marine from Lima Company in Ohio as stating that no one should have the right to call the war wrong, because it discredits the Marines serving there.
This dilemma illustrated the divide, emotional more than logical. I do believe that I have the right to disagree with the Iraq war. I spent a year in Vietnam flying a hearse. And if I have that right, then so does everyone else.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
The curtain closes on Plamegate July 5, David Brooks column 2007
A case of character assassination
In David Brooks' column, I read an unabashed attempt at character assassination of Joe Wilson, the former acting ambassador to Iraq during the buildup to Desert Storm in 1990. Brooks calls him "a strutting little peacock" and "the charming P.T. Barnum of the national security set."
Joe Wilson was labeled a "true American hero" by President George H.W. Bush for his actions in protecting a large number of Americans who were inside Iraq during the buildup to the Persian Gulf War. As spokesman for the president, he directly confronted Saddam Hussein in Baghdad after the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
This type of character assassination by Brooks and others confuses the salient issue here. The CIA did, in fact, dispatch Ambassador Wilson to Niger, Africa, to discern independently President George W. Bush's false assertion that Iraq was importing uranium from there to support a bogus nuclear weapons program. That this is not of concern to David Brooks and to the St. Petersburg Times is shocking and disappointing.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
Rereading Vietnam - Sept. 16, story 2007
Warriors' questions
I read Robert Kaplan's eloquent salute to America's centurion warrior class with mixed emotions. He illustrates the hard core of character that empowers courage and devotion to duty. But as the warrior-philosopher James Stockdale uttered during his vice presidential debate, "Who am I? Why am I here?", I wonder why he and his compatriots were not able to ask themselves those same questions about the various missions they were assigned to.
I asked myself these things one day in Vietnam when I was talking with an Army chaplain. Maybe it was the Star of David he was wearing, or maybe it was the elemental question he asked me: "Hi, what's your name?" I began to consider my role in that particular war, and after finishing my tour of duty in a dedicated manner, came home to join my brothers in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
Morality and ethics as a duty belong to citizen-soldiers, not just to liberal-minded professional officers, to whom these essential qualifications should be germane. The missions to which we assign our courageous and brave young men and women demand prescience and scrutiny from the executive and Congress. We are better than Roman imperialists. The label "centurion" should not qualify for the warrior-elite in a healthy democracy.
Jim Willingham, St. Petersburg
(another cut in th old umbilical cord0
