Douche of the Week: The Wall Defacers

10 September 2007

From 1962 to 1976, 58,195 Americans were killed in action in the Vietnam War. Fully another 303,704 were wounded an action, and another 2,338 are still missing in action as of this writing. Those that did return came home expecting to be met as heroes, as America had met all of its previous veterans. Instead, however, they were met with sneers, heckling, spit, and even violence.

Men who had given their all – who had come back without limbs, with burns, with significant psychological trauma, who had lost their best friends in the jungles of Vietnam, were met by spoiled kids and the adult academic elite who had the gall to decry their service. Hollywood, led by “Hanoi” Jane Fonda, spit on them and supported our nation’s enemies. Some of their own, like our good senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry, chose to stab their brothers-in-arms in the back by lying about the behavior of US service members in the name of political expediency. This despicable “counter-culture” was so prevalent that veterans were abandoned for the first time in American history – not treated for their wounds or cared for by their communities – but rather ignored and pushed to the background. After all, the Vietnam War was simply unpalatable to those that detest the evils of “American aggression.”

So Vietnam vets did what a soldier, marine, sailor, or airman does in times of crisis – they turned to each other. They created their own culture – they defined themselves – they made their own rules. Most importantly, they vowed this would never happen again to another veteran as long as they were alive. Their strength, we believe, is the biggest reason why the anti-war movement has not repeated their assault on our nation’s troops.

In 1982, these proud veterans finally were given their due respect – the Vietnam War Memorial, known to vets simply as “The Wall”, was built. On it is inscribed the name of each young man and woman who gave their lives for their country during the Vietnam War. It is beautiful in its simplicity, and I have never seen a more touching tribute to our nation’s heroes.

Two days ago, a new generation of low-lives reared their despicable heads. The wall was defaced with an oily solvent that ate into the marble and faded some of the names on the memorial.

How dare they?

Disagreeing with public policy is a constitutional right.

Holding protests against the war, however detestable these protests tend to get, is a constitutional right.

Desecrating the Wall is reprehensible. It is cowardice. It required the worst of all people.

Like all irrational extremists, these people justify their actions by citing their strong distaste for American policy. They hate the war in Iraq and they think the president is an idiot, so their defacement of an American Shrine to the Best of Men – to our fallen comrades is warranted? I mean, now they can go brag to their friends about their bravery in the face of that evil “fascist” Bush, right?

It was our fault that the Trade Center Attacks occurred too, right guys? Because we made Osama so mad with our imperialist nature (you know the one where we don’t actually use our military dominance to gain possessions, in sharp contrast to every other great nation in the history of the world) that he had no choice but to kill 3000 civilians – I mean he had to do something, right?

As a veteran, I am continuously frustrated by the arbitrary hatred that the extreme leftist “elite” has for the Armed Forces. Newsflash fellas – you’re not smarter. You’re not more experienced. You don’t have great insight that we cannot comprehend. And by the way, the fact that you spent a summer “abroad” in Europe getting shit-canned, reading Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn, listening to Pierre complaining about American oppression, and sleeping with as many people as you can on what really amounted to nothing more than a semester-long spring break, doesn’t give you any great wisdom either.

And another thing – if you’re going to hate the American Fighting Man – have the balls to say it. Please take “I support the troops but not the war” and cram it firmly up your ass. Perhaps the only redeeming quality of the original hippie is that he was open about his disgust for those that actually have sacrificed for their country.

Whether drafted or volunteered, the men who served in Vietnam did not have to go. They could have fled to Canada, Mexico, or anywhere else to evade having to serve. Do you have any idea what it is like to have to walk day-in and day-out, with 100 lbs on your back, with trench foot, as you constantly get rained on? We haven’t even gotten to the getting shot at part yet or the punji sticks or any of the other fun things our vets had to deal with. Can you even fathom this existence? These men lived it. They didn’t “study” it in a sterile environment.

Again, this is not a question of political ideology.

You want to hate Bush? Fine. It’s your right.

You want to protest? Fine. It’s your right.

You want to make absurd comments about the U.S. Military. Fine. It’s your right.

You want to try to take away the memories of men far better than you that gave their lives so that you can be a giant douchebag, and in some way compare your “heroics” to those that actually know what danger and sacrifice is by defacing their most sacred of symbols? I hope the worst that there is in this world befalls you. You’re oxygen thieves, and I hope your deaths come swiftly and with a lot of pain. Better yet, I hope you try your antics again in the presence of some Vietnam Vets.

They were better than you.

They gave everything.

You are faceless fucking cowards.

Copyright of Nick