Iraq Vet Booed in 4th Parade

[muggedliberal]

Friday, July 9, 2004

Veteran gets rude welcome on Bainbridge

By ROBERT L. JAMIESON Jr.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST

Think about the Seattle area -- Bainbridge Island to be exact -- and you think scenic views and liberal-minded tolerance.

At least the killer views are still there.

The bucolic island's deep reputation for civility got a gut check this week during the annual Grand Old Fourth of July celebration.

That's when Jason Gilson, a 23-year-old military veteran who served in Iraq, marched in the local event. He wore his medals with pride and carried a sign that said "Veterans for Bush."

Walking the parade route with his mom, younger siblings and politically conservative friends, Jason heard words from the crowd that felt like a thousand daggers to the heart.

"Baby killer!"

"Murderer!"

"Boooo!"

To understand why the reaction of strangers hurt so much, you must read what the young man had written in a letter from Iraq before he was disabled in an ambush:

"I really miss being in the states. Some of the American public have no idea how much freedom costs and who the people are that pay that awful price. I think sometimes people just see us as nameless and faceless and not really as humans. ... A good portion of us are actually scared that when we come home, for those of us who make it back, that there will be protesters waiting for us and that is scary."

On the Fourth, Jason faced his worst fear.

It was such a public humiliation -- home front insult after battlefield injury.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.c om/jamieso....hdiff=1 (http://seattlepi.nwsource.c om/jamieson/181422_robert09.html ?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=1)


Read the rest of it. *I wouldn't dare take my blood pressure right now.

After this war started, the Democrats started up almost instantly with dour predictions it would turn into "another Vietnam". *Then they set about to make it just that. *All of this rhetoric, all of this condemnation of the war and our Administration; people like Al Gore, Ted Kennedy.. fueling the public with b*lls*it.. and for what? FOR WHAT? Anything to win. *They 'CARE' about our troops??? They only care about regaining power in the United States, and will lead their people into the mindset of this idiots in Washington to accomplish their goals.

John Kerry was responsible for whipping up this kind of destructive discontent when he returned from Vietnam.
My friends, the turncoat is doing it again.

[flowerpower]

I should have been marching behind this guy....I would have took them on! The stoopids of this world....have not learned how much damage they did to the vietnam vets by this sort of thing. These boys and girls deserve all the respect and honor we can show them.
It is a shame that there are people in this United States who act in such a way. I hope maybe someone in the crowd...told them just how bad it was. Possibly a good remedy for them would be to send them to iraq...and then maybe their mind might be changed a bit.

[XNavyGunner]

I wish I would have been in the crowd. I might be in jail, but some of the leftist thugs would be in PAIN.

[Nancy521]

mugged, I saw this story too last night and nearly ate my mouse in my fury. This is SO infuriating to me.

Quote[/b] ]John Kerry was responsible for whipping up this kind of destructive discontent when he returned from Vietnam.


John Kerry and Co. are still working on this destructive discontent!

They started this "another Vietnam" garbage way back before we went into Afghanistan. Remember- we were going to get ourselves in a quagmire there, because no modern army had managed to come out with a victory? We were supposed to see thousands of body bags come home from Afghanistan. The Pushtans were gonna get us.

Prior to the War in Iraq, we were going to see tens of thousands of body bags come home, and we were going to stir the masses in the Middle East into such a frenzy, we'd never see the end of it. They started playing the Vietnam card once again.

They've been angling for "another Vietnam" every time we've ventured into any conflict when a Dimocrat is not in office. However, they tend to conveniently forget the war in Bosnia was officially over in 1995, yet we still have troops stationed there, and that region remains a hot spot. But that doesn't count, because that was Bubba Clinton's war. Silly me, I forgot.

The quiescent hippies on the left would sickenly love to pin another Vietnam on conservatives. Witness Chuck Rangel who continues to spew fiction that we should have another draft, or the endless news bites about no WMD, therefore, our men and women have fought and died for nothing. These idiots can't count, because as I recall there were FIVE objectives to this war, and WMD was only one of the five. But I digress, these are people who are products of their leftist designed public schools, so it's no wonder they can't do the math, chew gum, and walk at the same time.

Then they attempted the ultimate pseudo re-run of Vietnam. Paint the Abu Ghraib prison abuse as if it parallels My Lai. This was quite a stretch, but can any of us really be surprised?

Just yesterday Jay Rockefeller spoke between the lines and made it abundantly clear that he thinks our men and women have been fighting a needless war. He shames our country with his blatant attempts to nullify the deeper meaning of this war AND their service to country.

So what's next for their vision of retro Vietnam? Well, if George Bush gets elected, the next thing they can try is to pull the funding on Iraq completely. Then they will have come full circle indeed. Kerry has already made this attempt once. Do not be surprised should we see an Iraq war veteran at the DNC convention either, speaking out against Bush. Brace yourselves, this kind of thing would be right up their alley.

John Kerry and his pathetic followers should turn on their black lights and play some Peter, Paul & Mary somewhere else. As a baby boomer, with my kids now fighting a war, I won't put up with their demoralizing tactics on our military, and I'll scream from the mountain tops that they are a sack of liars.

I hope anyone who is outraged by this type of behavior will e-mail the columnist and have him forward a letter of thanks to this young soldier. Turn this negative into a positive for this young man.

Nancy http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag17.gif

[brandalizer]

Quote[/b] (XNavyGunner @ July 10, 2004 -- 4:41 pm)]I wish I would have been in the crowd. I might be in jail, but some of the leftist thugs would be in PAIN.
I'm with you gunner. I have a son in service to the country and i would not have responded well to this kind of crap. I'm not averse to violence when it becomes warranted either. Just this 4th my wife and i were told during the fireworks display by a liberal yellowdog that if the draft is activated she would send her son to Canada. That works for me as long as they have no amnesty this go round. These people really pi--me off!

[XNavyGunner]

Quote[/b] ]Just this 4th my wife and i were told during the fireworks display by a liberal yellowdog that if the draft is activated she would send her son to Canada.

Good for her. She'd be cleaning up America and sending her trash away for us. Now if only a few more would follow and the collective IQ of America would increase.

[Terri]

Thank God it's not that way everywhere.

I feel so fortunate to live in Colorado Springs. (http://www.gopusa.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.pl?act=ST; f=17;t=12254)

We know how to throw a party for out guys and gals! http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag17.gif

[NavyCryppie]

I live right next to Bainbridge Island and this does not surprise me one bit. The thing that really got the lefties going was when the "Grand Marshal" of the parade specifically pointed out Mr. Gilson and said "And which war are you a veteran of?", sarcastically if I might add. Duh, could it be Iraqi Freedom ya stupid Lib.

[XNavyGunner]

Hey Cryppie were you a CTI, CTM, or CTT?

[Tar Heel Zoomie]

Mr. Gilsen needs to march in a 4th parade out here in rural North Carolina. If anyone in the crowd had started that kind of stuff, they wouldn't be so public about it the next time!!! God Bless you, Mr. Gilsen. Iim sorry you had to put up with the same crap those of us back from Vietnam did-and from the same people namely, the Democrock nominee Kerry's wackos!

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rwbelephant.gif
http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif

[Mary-Lou]

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif This is the direct result of Kerry's "Winter Soldier Campaign" of 1971.

[Josh]

Quote[/b] (Mary-Lou Kirshon @ July 23, 2004 -- 1:14 pm)]This is the direct result of Kerry's "Winter Soldier Campaign" of 1971.
Yeah, well, 'Monkey see, monkey do,' right? Kerry is such a moron.

I'd like to share a story, if everyone doesn't mind. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif After reading that link I remembered a teacher I had my Junior year, in High School, for chemistry. He was jovial, he had a heart like no other and was very humorous. He also fought in Vietnam. Needless to say, I will not say his name..

He was taking a trip to visit some family north from where he was and he wanted to take the train. They had a deal going on that, if you were to wear your outfit, you would get a half off deal. Great, huh? Well thats exactly what my teacher did. If I remember correctly, the war had been finished for some time. He took his seat and throughout the trip there would be people screaming, "Murderer," and, "Baby Killer," and, for the love of me, I don't know why. And, yes, I do know what happened during the war for people to respond like this.

While he was telling our class this, he began to cry. The only thing the class could do was sit silent and I wish I hadn't. It's safe for me to say that I was beginning to swell up as well. It really wrenched at my heart that free minded people would do this - it's sickening and ill-mannered. It's appauling. Why does someone, even as low as Kerry, support this atrocious act of inhumanity?

[Danny]

Quote[/b] ]It really wrenched at my heart that free minded people would do this - it's sickening and ill-mannered. It's appauling. Why does someone, even as low as Kerry, support this atrocious act of inhumanity?

Well Josh, that's the newly formed Democratic Party!
Your story is one that is told all too often from Vietnam Veterans!These ungrateful little tree-hugging acid dropping parasites are trying to relive a time when the liberal wing of the democratic party was forming into what is known now as the new base of the democratic party! They'll never admit it, but it's 100% accurate. Why won't they admit it? Because they know that liberals represent weakness, and weakness is the last thing Americans want particularly in the midst of such a dangerous time in our nations history. But yet, behind the silky curtain you'll find nothing but desperate cowards shivering in fear of knowing they are facing the possibility of being eliminated as a National party and this is their last gasp for hope (Disturbing, but this is their man)! When a group of desperate people or even one person is this scared of knowing they may never ever recover from all of the lying, cheating and taking advantage of the very people that have supported them for so many years, they will do whatever is necessary to look supportive to them, but yet will have to turn on their loyal leftwingnuts~and cater to the more conservative crowds and try to hide the past of who they really are,(Although We Already Know) and it's already too late, he dug his whole! In reference to what Mary Lou wrote "This is the direct result of Kerry's "Winter Soldier Campaign" of 1971.", that is true in both cases of what she's saying and what I'm saying!Turning on the REAL WAR HEROES (as Kerry did) by accusing them of war crimes won't save his a$$ this time and the direct result of what Mary Lou wrote will one day come back and haunt both Kerry and those little commies that call themselves "Protesters" against war will have their day! Only God can help them from here.

[Transplanted Yankee]

Our guys get treated like the enemy by out-of-touch idiots that probably have nothing better to do than to kick back in their Lay-Z-Boy and watch the liberal media everynight force feed them their left du jour.

Too bad that others in the crowd, and later, the Chamber of Commerce, did not properly stand up to correct and diffuse the situation. The comments by the Chamber are pathetic....we asked her if she was nice, she said yes, good enough for me!!!

At least they are on an island. Maybe we could cut off all means of flow out of it and have them talk amongst themselves.

[Danny]

Quote[/b] (Transplanted Yankee @ July 24, 2004 -- 4:09 am)]At least they are on an island. *Maybe we could cut off all means of flow out of it and have them talk amongst themselves.
That's one h*ll of an idea! Misery loves company, let them dwell!

[Josh]

Quote[/b] (Danny D @ July 24, 2004 -- 12:50 am)]Quote[/b] ]Only God can help them from here.
has it ever occured to anyone that God is conservative? LOL.

I mean, we're religious they're not.
We love people like our neighbor, they don't.
They support oppresion of people/rights, we don't....


lol http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Now given, im sure there have been republican scandals and deeds that shouldn't have been done - but still!

[Trooper]

Quote[/b] (Josh @ July 23, 2004 -- 2:36 pm)]Quote[/b] (Mary-Lou Kirshon @ July 23, 2004 -- 1:14 pm)]This is the direct result of Kerry's "Winter Soldier Campaign" of 1971.
I'd like to share a story, if everyone doesn't mind. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif After reading that link I remembered a teacher I had my Junior year, in High School, for chemistry. He was jovial, he had a heart like no other and was very humorous. He also fought in Vietnam. Needless to say, I will not say his name..

He took his seat and throughout the trip there would be people screaming, "Murderer," and, "Baby Killer,"

Why does someone, even as low as Kerry, support this atrocious act of inhumanity?
Kerry supports these things because he is a Dem, or he is a Dem because ... Which is it? At the Dem convention in 2000, the delegates booed the American Flag as it was presented in their own opening ceremonies, because it was being presented by eight Eagle Scouts. Apparently, they don't like the Flag, mom, apple pie, war heros, and freedom for anyone but them.

[righton]

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
This is not only disgusting, but sad and pathetic.
How many of these "protesters" would run and hide if a draft was to be initiated? They are so liberally brainwashed, they don't have a clue and then when push comes to shove, it's going to be everyone else's fault.

XNavyGunner - you hold 'em, I'll hit 'em. Don't care what gender. Don't care where!

Years ago, I used to try and avoid confrontation with jackasses such as this. Now - it's in your face, baby! You mess with MY military, and it's going to be through broken teeth and split/swollen lips. Maybe this is one of the reasons my kids won't accompany me to any parades/celebrations - tired of the possibility of putting up bail money.

L & L

[Merika]

I was going to send the Chamber of Commerce of Bainbridge a nasty-gram.....but it looks like they've offered up an apology on their web page.


http://www.bainbridgechambe r.com/
Chamber Apologizes for Fourth of July Incident.

We want to apologize for any unfortunate comments that might have been directed towards an Iraqi war veteran along the parade route during last week’s Grand Old Fourth of July celebration on Bainbridge Island. The event is presented and promoted by the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce.

We have been holding this community event - including our famous mile-long parade - for more than 37 years. It is not the policy of the Chamber or its representatives to act in a partisan manner during the parade or any other aspects of this day-long celebration.

During the parade, we make a special point to try and recognize each and every entrant, and we are especially considerate of Veterans of Foreign Wars. These soldiers and former soldiers from all wars, including the Iraqi conflict, were applauded enthusiastically when their organization's names and affiliations were announced during the parade.

The Fourth of July is a celebration of American independence, and the civil rights we all hold near and dear - freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to express ourselves openly.

It is unfortunate that our volunteer announcer's comments may have encouraged anti-Bush observers to vocalize their sentiments in a manner that were insensitive to the young veteran.

We would never encourage or condone such disrespectful behavior, and see it, as others have, as uncivil and disrespectful. Everyone should know that the Chamber and its Board of Directors will endeavor to prevent another occurrence like this.

Our primary objective is to sponsor an event that builds community spirit and is fun for everyone involved. Our goal is to make Bainbridge Island a better place and hope others understand that this was an unfortunate event that no one wants repeated.


Even with the apology...it still shows the mentality of people who are full of spewing venom which is refilled daily by the Looney Leftie Liberals....