Comments for BurnPit

Comment on The WASP… who were they? by Jane

Jane — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:53:39 +0000

As I mentioned in the post, the WASP were granted veteran status in 1977 by the VA.

Further, this is nothing like “gender reassignment surgery.” I feel that you are way off base. These women served – they performed the job of military men, even as they were denied the benefits that military men enjoyed because technically, the military couldn’t recognize them as soldiers at the time. This isn’t about making them into something they’re not, or “trumpeting the exploits of anyone based on their gender.” On the contrary, we are celebrating equality – that these women who were treated with inequity at the time they sacrificed for their country are finally being recognized for their service as their male counterparts were so many years ago.

So yes, I suppose you *are* missing the point. Never the less… you are entitled to your own opinion.

Comment on Will Hollywood Ever Really Pay Attention by Roland

Roland — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:54:52 +0000

I believe I have watched every movie and documentary on World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. I did so because my father was in the infantry and fought against the Japanese, my brother is a two tour combat veteran of Nam and I did my time as well. War has a way of changing the people involved, civilians as well as combatants. We quickly learn when you’re being shot at that war is not about the Constitution, God, or the Nation nor is it about defending the rights and freedom of people. At that very moment to the soldier it’s about survival, death, dismemberment, horror, and the very disbelief of what a civilized people can do to one another. We can say the enemy did this and that. However, can we honestly say we did not? No side is ever truly innocent or guilty nor can they be held responsible for all of the actions of those who dealt in the insane pleasure of harming and killing of those that have surrendered. War has and will forever change how we see one another and more importantly how we reconcile with one another. The nuclear bombing of Japan ended the war and is credited with the saving of hundreds of thousands of lives but at the expense of millions of others. War is never a complete solution to the end of tranny, or attacks to ones homeland. It is however in our time, the reason why others seek to hold and control the very nuclear power that the United States and her allies seek to limit and terminate. Hollywood will never completely capture the true essence of war unless it shows it from all sides, to include civilians, politicians, family, the global community and from the perspective of those on the front line, who experience the life and death of war. When there is an open callaboration, between the scholars of war, those who experienced it and those who sought to avoid it, then and only then can the whole story be told, not as entertainment but as a recording of the human events that exposes the goodness of man, his weaknesses and the need of some to dominate others.

Comment on Your hotel room awaits by united

united — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:45:21 +0000

If people don´t want illegals, a good idea would be to stop hiring them. Illegal immigrants don’t cross the border because they love US, they cross because they get better paid jobs than in their countries. We don´t like illegals but we hire them. We don´t like the war against the drugs but we are the number one consuming drug country of the world…i need a nap.

Comment on Will Hollywood Ever Really Pay Attention by Philip L

Philip L — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:35:09 +0000

The war in the Pacific was the politically incorrect war. The Americans did not fight racist, white people there. The enemy was non-white. Thus the White Americans were the bad guys not liberating Jews from Nazis but oppressing Asians. That fits in perfectly with the Hollywood world view.
“Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers” was a feel-good, western dressed up in World War 2 uniforms. The “Pacific” will be the same but with the Americans occasionally wearing the black hats.
You will never find true history in Hollywood.

Comment on Will Hollywood Ever Really Pay Attention by ferklesdad

ferklesdad — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:27:27 +0000

“…that insults and ridicules the American military and/or criticizes and portrays the United States as stupid and arrogant….” This is a quote
by Seventh Son at the beginning of this Blog when describing how some movies present us.

Unfortunately this portrayal of Americans is held by the man now serving as our President. When he was campaigning he gave a speech in Germany where he, in a messianic way, and I am sure most of us remember this, apologized for Americans’ arrogance. It ticked me off and everyone I know was disgusted by this guy who never served in the military and has ridiculed this country on numerous occasions and hangs around with people who would destroy this country in a heart beat.

To call us arrogant because we have fought and protected not only our Freedoms and liberty but that of millions of others around the world
is to focus only on the bad things that may have occurred or had only occurred in rarely and should not be condoned. But to portray all of us in this manner is totally wrong, especially by the alleged leader of our great country.

Comment on The WASP… who were they? by Seventh Son

Seventh Son — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:37:02 +0000

The American Legion has ruled that WASPs with service between Sept. 10, 1942 and Dec. 20, 1944 are eligible for membership. Since we are an orgianization of war-time veterans, anyone eligible for membership carries veteran status.

I don’t wish to argue the point of whether or not they all deserve the Congressional Gold Medal and I don’t know if the US Government considers them eligible for veterans benefits but I will stand by the Legion’s eligibility ruling. I believe that the war-time service of the WASPS confers all the honor due them as war-time veterans.

Comment on The WASP… who were they? by K.J. Hinton

K.J. Hinton — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:20:07 +0000

I guess I’m missing the point.

Were they in the military? Were they civilians? Did they do more then men ferrying aircraft? Was their sacrifice greater then other civilians who performed similar services? Is this a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease?

If they were not in the military, then they were not in the military. It’s kind of like “gender reassignment surgery.” No amount of hacking can turn someone into something they’re not. My understanding is they were civilians in the civil service.

I do not understand the concept of gender-based awards. I’m reminded of PFC Jessica Lynch getting the Bronze Star for getting into what amounted to a car wreck.

Did these women serve? In a way. Did what they do deserve this kind of recognition?

No more (or less) then the recognition civilian men who did the same thing recieved.

And if we ever hope for true equality in or out of the military, trumpeting the exploits of anyone based on their gender or race must come to an end.

Comment on Stolen Valor & Phony Vets: Is there a silver lining? by Old Trooper

Old Trooper — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:18:59 +0000

Jane, I have reread your post and have to say that we are in agreement, after all. My apologies if mine came across as not agreeing with you.

Comment on The WASP… who were they? by Old Trooper

Old Trooper — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:15:15 +0000

I have had the honor of meeting one of these wonderful women. I have talked with her several times, in fact, and she is amazing. These women earned and deserve the military recognition that has alluded them.

Good post and good read, Jane.

Comment on Historical Revisionism by Old Trooper

Old Trooper — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:35:03 +0000

I think the green light for historical revisionism started in real time during Vietnam. The famous quote by Walter Cronkite after Tet that “the war is lost” even though everyone within the military sphere on both sides knew that we did, in fact, win the Tet Offensive, since none of the military objectives were achieved by the North.

There was a program on the History Channel, I believe, where they had several big name actors sputtering revisionist history by a certain “historian” that is famous for exactly that; revisionist history. People like this Lorence see that crap and then turn around and repeat what they just heard as though they have now become learned “experts” on history. I know several people that are more “expert” about our war history than I will ever know, yet I know much more than Lorence does. So, who is ignorant of the facts, Lorence?

BTW I bet Lorence doesn’t know that we also had Italian Americans in detention camps, too.