From: Kari
Date: 10/2/01
Time: 11:21:03 PM
I have been trying to reply to Keiths post and finally decided to go this route as either I get freeped into message over or else it says Internet busy.
It is easy to believe that I was referring to in regards to comparing the different wars was the people and their cultures as a whole when in fact it is about the problems American's had during those wars. Yes, Jasper knows more than most on this board about how Vietnam was, and no way would I ever presume to think I know how he felt or what he still deals with it. Just as I stated before, even as bad as my own PTSD is I'd never beging to compare it to the PTSD of those who went to Vietnam ir any war. In regards to remarking about the different lands and peoples is in regards to those people who becomes rogue for what the religion of beliefs really stand for. Just as the pilots believed the Kamakazi flight they were about to take for the Emperor at the end of the program when the pilots were 14 to 16 years of age believed their sacrifice was for the Emporer when in fact the Generals had the Emperor under their complete control as he wanted to end the war and ask for a peace propostion. In Vietnam there were all those people who came down from the North or just joined the North and did things like handing soldiers what appeared to be a baby and it would explode in their face. I cannot begin to understand the horror's all sides in that situation went through but mostly the American forces went through ways of being trapped that caused major feelings of helplessness when they were there to help. I was not minimizing the horribleness in anyway, nor am I making any judgements of any culture. I rejoice in the diversity of the Human Race. Unforutnatly I was raised in a time which in this way has not changed ever. We still have to qualify Race because we are taught to. I fight it always. I don't always succeed. I am human and far from perfect nor have I ever claimed to be perfect. I apologize if you believed I was profiling a culture, I was speaking of behavior during a certain time. If I recall my history well the way we treated our own people during the Civil War is right up there with some atrocities we have heard of in many wars and horrific times. In regards to Afghanistan you have the same problems except the Jungles. Instead of you Terraine that scares the bravest soldiers. Then you have the Freeing cold that is at least as bad as the heat of the areas in Vietnam. I find it difficult to believe that anyone might take what I said with the worse meaning. I would not purposely beging with all of us being human and than turn around and purposely make some kind of racist statement. The context of what I was trying to say doesn't always get put in my message and I doubt anyone can disagree with me about this. I really am sorry you felt so angry by what I wrote. I wouldn't never believe what you though I was saying. I make mistakes sometimes, but all in this group know me. I am not like that. In fact I am hurt anyone read it and believed I meant it the worst possible way. How can any of you think of me that way? After all these years. Sheesh.