Don't Insult Forest Gump

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

Karl Rove Hands Bush a New Script: Now War on Terror Can Be Won. Remember When One Day He was the War President and the Next Day the Peace President. Forrest Gump is Running America! 9/1

Dear BuzzFlash,

Above is a headline that you posted today, and much as I admire BuzzFlash.com and support you in your efforts calling for a regime change in this country, I must take exception to this headline.

Yes, Forest Gump is a fictional character. And yes, he was mentally challenged. But, he did serve his country in Vietnam, winning not only a Purple Heart, but also the Medal of Honor. And he went on to become a hugely successful businessman. None of these things can be said of our current president.

Therefore, to compare George W. Bush to Forest Gump is to give W. a huge compliment that he certainly doesn't deserve, and it also denigrates all of us who did serve in combat in Vietnam, when you favorably compare W. to Forest Gump.

I hope you will issue a retraction of this headline and a apology to Forest, and to the rest of us Vietnam veterans who volunteered to serve our country in combat while W. was boozing and carousing safely at home.

To paraphrase Lloyd Bentson, distinguished former Senator from Texas, "I know Forest Gump, and George W. Bush is no Forest Gump."

Tom Striegler

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION