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| Think at your own risk. |
| Tuesday, July 26, 2005 |
| A 'Dear Jane' letter |
Dear Ms. Fonda (can I call you Jane?)
I'm writing to express my heartfelt feelings about your impending bus ride back to the anti-war stage. My understanding is that you intend to board a bus, and tour the United States rekindling your Vietnam-era anti-war activism (powered, apparently by a vat of vegetable oil). If I may comment on your plans in the most concise, and hopefully impactful way that I can muster -- let's see ... how do you spell "AAAAAAAAAARRRRGH!!!!"?
Those of us who opposed the invasion of Iraq, not because of a general sentiment against war or the uniformed military (and it's "industrial complex") but because we believed it was a strategic mistake, based on a non-existent threat, a poorly made case on WMD, and suspicious agendas that at best, seemed tangential to the security of the United States, don't need you.
That may sound harsh, but we don't need for you to single-handedly re-wave the bloody shirt of Vietnam in this battle over how to fix the mess we've made in Mesopotamia. Iraq may have a great deal in common with Vietnam (right down to "Iraqification" and an insurgency out of control,) but it is not Vietnam. We can't just load the last man onto a chopper and fly out of there like the last episode of M.A.S.H. (yes, I know that show was about the Korean war...)
There is a legitimate debate to be had over whether we should start to withdraw our troops sooner rather than later, in order to take the wind out of the sails of the insurgency, or whether we need to add more troops and stay longer, in order to set that country right. Why risk tainting the debate with an anti-war sideshow that can only rekindle memories of your controversial stunts back in the bad old days of Vietnam? Can't we just say we buried the nastiness of the Vietnam era with the 2004 presidential election, the savaging of John Kerry and the "Swifties?" After living through last year's virtual reenactment of the bile and rancor of that time, I found myself thanking God that I was too young to remember the genuine article. The Vietnam experience has reared its ugly head too many times in recent memory to be dragged out of the closet again. The reaction to your trip on the right will be predictable, and like it or not, the other side will try and use it to tar everyone who opposes or doubts the Iraq campaign. (Do you hear that sound? It's the sound of Democrats running away from you...)
Unfortunately, despite your mea culpas for sitting on that Vietcong gunship, your participation in the anti-Iraq war cause is of a peace with ANSWER and other groups whose mere appearance turns off even those Americans who have genuine doubts about the war (which at this point is most Americans), but no doubts about the worth and bravery of American troops. I'm not saying you don't respect the men and women fighting in Iraq, but no matter what you say on your tour this time, there will always be the nagging matter of what you did during the last war you publicly opposed:
During a 1972 trip to North Vietnam, Jane Fonda propagandized on behalf of the North Vietnamese government, declared that American POWs were being treated humanely and condemned U.S. soldiers as "war criminals" and later denounced them as liars for claiming they had been tortured. [Snopes.com] Are you sure you want to dredge all of that back up? To what purpose? Why hand the administration and its defenders -- most of whom have never served in the military, nor would they (or their sons and daughters) such an easy punchline?
For me, the most effective critics of the war have been the former soldiers, Marines and others who have served in Iraq. Let's let them, their families and the military strategists who see through the administration and its media allies' "good news" pabulum -- carry the load on educating the public about the war (or calling for our forces to be withdrawn).
Of course, you are entitled to share your opinion with whoever is willing to listen, and to pump monounsaturated fats into the moving vehicle of your choice. But you can't think that you are the the most effective spokeswoman for your cause. To take on such a public role is, I believe, irresponsible grandstanding at the expense of your ideas. You're going to get a lot of face time during Jay Leno's monologues, and probably make Letterman's top ten. The "Daily Show" segments on your trip will surely be priceless, and I'll likely need to be mildly sedated before I read what the conservative bloggers , the Milbloggers and the Freepers are going to do to you. (Here's a hint: there's already a T-shirt...)
And in the end, what will you have gained? Another chapter in your book? Another round of negatie publicity? One thing you won't do is change the admnistration's policy in Iraq.
So please stay home, Ms.Fonda. Make a movie. Make a great movie. Write another book, or even start blogging. Call up Arianna, I'm sure she'd be glad to post you in. Do whatever makes you feel happy and fulfilled and useful. ... except that bus trip. Don't do that. You're a great actress, and you've lived a fascinating life. But as an anti-war activist, to quote a recent book title, we're just not that into you.
Thanks for your time and attention. |
posted by JReid @ 1:40 AM   |
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