I couldn't help forwarding this....my brother is Air Force (chopper
mechanic) and gets lots of these stories, this one is the best so far :)
>
>
>"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and
>degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing
>is
>worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing
>to
>fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a
>
>miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept
>so
>by the exertions of better men than himself." -- John Stuart Mill, 19th
>century British Philosopher, 20May1806-08May1873
>
>------------------
> > >
> > > I arrived in Moscow, Idaho (Home of Idaho University
> > > -one block from Best Western) and
> > > went to dinner at Best Western. About 85-100 people
> > > were in the Restaurant. I'm at a table for about 5 minutes when this
> > > "Group" comes in (20 people). They have Anti-War Picket Signs with
>them.
> > > It appears that two of these demonstrators are Professor's. They all
>sit
> > > at a large round table behind me and begin to talk very loudly about
>US
> > > atrocities in Afghanistan. One of the "Professors" stands up and
>gives a
> > > brief talk about how the "US is famous for atrocities and Afghanistan
>
> > > will be no different. One of the students asked a question about Viet
>
>Nam
> > > POW's. The "Professor" make a comment about how that was only US
> > > propaganda about poor treatment of POW's.
> > > OK - I'm really mad now and I jump up and go over to
> > > their table.
> > > (In retrospect - Over the entrance to the Restaurant
> > > is a Huge American Flag. On each table is an American Flag and a
>small
> > > hand painted sign "United We Stand")
> > > I excuse myself and ask the Professor If I can ask
> > > him a question. He says yes so I ask him that he appears to be of age
>to
> > > have served in Viet Nam. Did he serve. His answer was "NO - I
>defended
> > > this Campus and told the truth to the Students:. I then asked if he
> > > remembered what he was doing on February 16, 1969. When he answered
>"Of
> > > Course Not - that was too long ago". I responded, "That's funny, I
> > > remember what I was doing. that was the second day of my capture and
>I
> > had
> > > been standing in a bamboo cage for 24 hours with water up to my
>chest".
>I
> > > then said "Sir, your comments about how POW's in Nam were treated are
>a
> > > lie and I personally say to you, you are a FU***** Liar as you never
>were
> > > there. I was a POW and they did not treat our POW's humanly. The only
>
> > > other person I have ever heard make the statements like you have is,
>Jane
> > > Fonda. Is she telling the truth and not me.?
> > > He stood up and after about 10 seconds said" Jane
> > > is a great Patriot and I cannot visualize her lying".
> > > With that, I reached over and grabbed the small
> > > American Flag and United We Stand Sign and said, "I'm taking this
>back
>to
> > > my table where it can be appreciated".
> > > No one said a word to me as I started to walk back.
> > > However after a few seconds, people started standing up and
>applauding
> > all
> > > around the restaurant. Two men got up from a table across the room
>and
> > > walked over to me. The first identified himself as former US Marine
> > > Lieutenant Flynn and the other man was former Gunnery Sergeant
>Graboski.
> > > In a loud voice after introducing themselves, Lt. Flynn said they
>were
> > > former Marine Guards at a US Embassy. He then said " WE are over at
>this
> > > table to defend the US Flag from all Foes both foreign and domestic".
>
> > They
> > > then sat down and asked their Waitress to bring their meals over to
>my
> > > table. A few more minutes went by with loud comments from the
>"Anti-War"
> > > table and all of a sudden, "Gunny" Sergeant Graboski stood up and in
>a
> > > loud voice said "All of you heard what the President said the other
> > night.
> > > You are either with the United Stated or you are with the
>Terrorists".
>He
> > > then said "Please stand and join me in God Bless America". As he
>started
> > > singing, people all around the restaurant, stood up and joined in.
> > Several
> > > of the students at the "Anti-War" table also stood up half way
>through
> > the
> > > song and joined in. Both Professors and the majority of the students
> > > remained seated and refused to sing. At the end there was a great
> > ovation.
> > > The Manager came up to my table (He and his staff came out from the
> > > kitchen and sang).
> > > He thanked me for what I started and then went over
> > > to the Anti-War table and asked them to leave. "I will pay for what
>you
> > > have had so far but I cannot in good conscience serve you - get out
> > > now!!). One of the Professors then made a remark "Well, we are not
>going
> > > to pay one dime for how shabbily we have been treated". As they were
> > > leaving, one customer stood up and said "Manager, here is $5 towards
>
> > > their bill, anyone else willing to chip in to get this scum out of
>here"
> > > All over the restaurant, people stood up reaching for their wallet
>and
> > > saying "I'll chip in". The Manager in tears said "My family is from
> > > Poland, I am now a citizen and am so proud of what I see tonight." He
>
> > > started crying and a couple of the waitresses helped him into the
> > kitchen.
> > > The two Marine and I were there for about another 20
> > > minutes and finished our meal. The Hostess came up to us and showed
>over
> > a
> > > $100 dollars that all the other tables had told their Waitresses to
>give
> > > towards our bill. I thanked her but said I could not take the money.
>Lt
> > > Flynn said how abut about donating it in the Restaurant's name to the
>
>New
> > > York Relief Fund. so I guess that's what will happen. I just can't
> > > believe how Americans are coming together now.
> > > Just thought you would like to hear how the rest of
> > > the country is reacting to what happened!!!
> > >
>
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