A Veterans Day Tribute to the Honorable Senator Max Cleland, a True American
Hero
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BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Bob Gaiek
Dear Buzz,
On this day to honor veterans my president gives speeches selling his lust for war and revenge and new wars yet to be invented. He is a liar and coward and daily deceives the American people. Worst of all he deceives American veterans on their day of honor, issuing false proclamations of support while his minions work quietly in the background to, one more time, defy the will of the Congress by quashing the legislation for concurrent receipt for disabled vets.
The country is being governed by weakness and fear rather than strength and courage. Karl Rove and Ralph Reed play on this fear and the racism still very much alive in Georgia. They love cowardice and fear because it makes people so easy to control. They love Saxby Chambliss and Sonny Perdue. They now own them, body and soul. Reed destroyed John McCain in North Carolina in the 2000 campaign and Max Cleland in 2002. He must take particular delight in destroying heroic, brave men.
Sonny Perdue takes the microphone on election eve and proclaims "Free at last, free at last..." a cynical, mocking parody of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic civil rights speech. He is a very stupid white man. He is a perfect fit for the Bush Cartel and the robots who worship at their feet and wave little flags. He is a bad choice for governor. Hoist that rebel flag.
When I traveled the central highlands in Viet Nam in 1969-1970, I came across a hilltop overlooking the An Khe pass which was dotted with evenly spaced white dots. The pilot informed me that 1500 French soldiers were killed in an ambush. Their commander had them buried upright facing France forever. The graves were filled with limestone so nothing would ever grow there. He knew there would be no one to tend the graves for a very long time. He was right.
I honor those 1500 strangers every veteran's day as I do my 58,229 brothers whose names appear on the black wall. I promised I would go to the Wall one day, but I am seldom able to even leave the house most days. I will never make that pilgrimage, but I will always remember.
I will always remember Max Cleland. Thank you Mr. Senator. We wait for you to return soon. If not, please place a "hold" on every nomination or extreme right wing legislation that comes your way. So many of us are losing hope. We need a hero to speak up, even if it's just to say NO.
Bob Gaiek
Lawrenceville, GA
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