Dr. Annabel Beerel, founder of the summit wrote,
"In recent days, we have heard voices in our community expressing moving objections to the selection of our main keynote speaker. While the summit encourages public discourse and diverse opinions, we do not wish to cause pain to our veterans. In addition to the many outstanding presenters and panels scheduled, we are working on engaging a new keynote (speaker) for the conference."
Air Force Veteran Roland Petersen, 72 and one of the Veterans who opposed the invitation said,
"I'm delighted. We accomplished our goal. I wanted the publicity because I don't want anybody in the country considering honoring her."
Fonda, who traveled to North Vietnam in 1972, while were still engaged with them, spoke against the US effort in assisting South Vietnam, had her photograph taken where she gleefully smiled sitting on an anti-aircraft gun used to shoot down American aircraft and was well known for her setting up "coffee-shops" outside of U.S. Military installations to encourage to desert the Military.
Although she claims to have apologized, she has never apologized to the hundreds of thousands of Veterans she offended and demoralized. She has offered only hollow words of "regret" for the photo having been taken.
As a Vietnam Veteran myself, I too am pleased that the Nashua Community College saw fit to place America's Veteran's over this traitor's invitation. Fonda has never regretted her complicity in prolonging the conflict and costing many more lives to be lost, American and Vietnamese both.
Although many who never served do not share our views and feel she should be forgiven, one cannot be forgiven until they express regret for such actions as she took. Many Americans say they hold no grudge and don't see what the big deal is.
The big deal is, it isn't up to America to forgive her actions, it's up to Vietnam Veterans, the ones she besmirched and she hasn't asked us yet.
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2 comments:
I’m a Vietnam Veteran and a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
I met Jane Fonda at the Detroit Winter Soldier Investigation in 1971.
Regardless of her sins of omission or commission, there are four things for which all Americans and especially all Vietnam Veterans should be grateful to her.
Jane funded the first studies of Post Vietnam Syndrome, now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This was back when the Veterans Administration was saying real American men couldn’t suffer from it, only wimps. It wasn’t enough to save David Funchess, the first Vietnam Veteran to be judicially murdered from dying in Old Smokey. PTSD didn’t officially exist at the time of his trial, so it couldn’t be brought up on his appeal. David said prison was their only place he felt safe after he came back from Vietnam. David Funchess, RIP
Jane funded the first studies of Agent Orange / Dioxin on Vietnam Veterans, when Dow/Monsanto said it was almost an essential foodstuff.
Jane funded the first walk-in peer counseling centers for us back when there were less than a handful of VA clinics in Florida instead of the scores there are today.
Jane helped bring an end to the war, for which all should be thankful.
Vietnamese children are maimed, mutilated and murdered by the dozens every year because of Agent Orange, explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance [ERW/UXO] with which we polluted their land. The results of this war based on lies will be maiming and mutilating Vietnamese children when my grandchildren are buried by their grandchildren.
Tom, you are more than welcome to support her or thank her all you wish, we fought for that right for all of us.
I can't share your view due to how many of the efforts of her and others prolonged the war there after Tet of '68.
I have several Vietnamese friends and Vietnamese son-in-law who also don't share many of your views.
And, don't forget, there are those on your side of this who claim PTSD is a false claim dreamed up to discredit you that joined VVAW.
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