Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Trick or Treat: Kerry's Trick

Okay, so it's after Halloween... but that doesn't mean there are a few extra tricks in store.

Specifically, Senator John Kerry's little "joke" about those who get an education and those who do not. This is certainly under the "trick" category, although no doubt Darth Rove and the Bush-brownnosers are calling this a "treat".

First let me make this clear... Kerry's gaffe WAS uncalled for. There are PLENTY of people with varying degrees of intelligence and education that are serving in the military, leaving open spaces in our homes and in our hearts as well as in the workforce. Instead of saying they "serve in Iraq", Kerry should have said that the undereducated can work in the White House.

But there is something that you need to understand: from John Kerry's generation - the one that fought in Vietnam - IT WAS about education!

Remember, unlike our current wars (both real and phony political), the young male generation of the 60's had to worry about being DRAFTED. Unless they had a college exemption (Bill Clinton), or got some sort of cushy reassignment (Ted Kennedy and Bush Junior), they had to worry about being DRAFTED and sent over to Vietnam to fight and possibly die.

Is this sinking in yet? In the 1960's, if you male and you went to college, you stayed alive. If you couldn't afford college, then you went to Vietnam!

THAT is why Kerry made the joke. It was still a bad one, and it was still uncalled for, but I wanted you to know the history behind it.

And even in bad taste, the joke would have made more sense if there was a draft in place.

No comments: