Saturday, June 11, 2011

Barbara Walters & Jane Fonda

In connection with an honorarium paid to Jane Fonda as one of ABC's "100 Women of the Century," on or around September 14, 2,009, Barbara Walters stated on The View, "I hope that we have all forgiven Jane Fonda for what she did during the Vietnam War and specifically when she visited the Hanoi Hilton."

Regarding this, many readers left comments. I downloaded eleven. Of the eleven, one defended Ms. Fonda because "she was a kid" at the time. Another asked, why was the issue being talked about again now? Nine wrote in the vein that Ms. Fonda committed treason and cannot be forgiven, despite her apology many years after the Vietnam War ended.

I am in agreement in principle with those nine.

We all know what Ms. Fonda did: Her disgraceful words to our soldiers, her shameful conduct toward their captors, her servile allegiance to values and ideals that our Founding Fathers rejected when they wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

Is there any excuse we might consider in Ms. Fonda defense? Can those who take the side of the enemy in time of war be defended or excused?

Given the Leftist influence on our government-run education system, given the Leftist influence in the media, it's certain that Ms. Fonda was as much a victim of collectivism as she was a perpetuator of it. Yet I and countless other Americans, were subjected to the same Leftist influences in government-run public education, and Left-leaning media. We did not accept the view that Communism was superior to individualism. We did not like the idea of our men fighting a war that was not in our interests. We did not like them dying so that politicians could pose as "against communism."

Some point out that Ms. Fonda was "only 18" at the time, too young to know differently. Too young, or too thoughtless? If too young, the fact is that many of us were as young as Ms. Fonda was at that time. But they did not take the side of the enemy. Neither did we burn our flag, although we were opposed to the draft. Nor did we spit at our policeman and call them "pigs." We did not interrupt speakers or yell indecent epithets at them, or refuse to allow them to speak at all. We, too, were not happy that our men were sent to foreign lands to die and/or linger in heinous conditions. But we did not turn on our soldiers, chastising them for fighting a disagreeable war.

Neither education nor age is the deciding factor here. What, then, was the difference between Ms. Fonda and us?

Ideas. The ideas Ms. Fonda acted upon. The ideals, principles and values that Ms. Fonda accepted and which guided her actions.

The consequences of Ms. Fonda's ideas was to denounce American soldiers and POWs, to call them liars because they reported being tortured and beaten, to spitefully chide suffering American POWs with questions such as "are you proud to have killed babies?"

Consider what this nation's ideals are: No man is above the law. Freedom and justice for all under the law. Habeas corpus. Innocent until proven guilty. A jury of one's peers. The sentence of guilt to fit the crime. Debtor's prison outlawed. A division of powers. A limit on presidential terms. The Constitutional freedom of speech, assembly, worship and press.

Consider this nation's basic principles: individual rights, limited government and free markets. Consider this nation's fundamental ruling values: Reason. Purpose. Self-reliance. Self-confidence. Individualism. Lifting oneself up by the bootstraps. The work ethic of "a better mouse trap"---i.e. think of a better way to do something and work like the dickens to achieve it---and putting your "nose to the grindstone."

What are the Communists ideas Ms. Fonda extolled? Man must live for the state. The state knows best. No one may descent from government decree. All rulers are above the law, exempt from the laws all citizens must follow. All citizens are without rights. The government has total control over everyone and everything: how many babies one may have, where one may work, what one may study, where one may live, what meetings one must attend, the able must support the indigent, how many acres of land may be farmed, how many cars may be produced, and so forth. All this Ms. Fonda accepted and fought for against a government that stood for the opposite.

Ms. Fonda acted in exact accordance with the ideas she accepted. She damned those who fought against totalitarianism. She condemned those who did not accept the rule of brute force. She insulted the loyalty and bravery of free men who chose to protect the innocent against the savagery of dictatorship.

We are asked to forgive Jane Fonda. I do not. Moreover, I consider Barbara Walters' "hope" as abysmally lacking in thought as Ms. Fonda's actions during the Vietnam War.

Another joins these two: the individual who left the comment: "Why the heck was this year old post bumped?" This is the same sort of question savages ask about the Holocaust: "Why bring up that old stuff?"

One reason alone: Lest we forget and forgive those who err beyond reason.

Yes, Ms. Walters comment took place about 2 years ago. Yes, Ms. Fonda's actions took place almost 50 years ago. But like the Holocaust, one does not forgive those who acted upon the ideas that made possible such grievous evils.

There is a postscript to this exposition: Why was this two-year old Barbara Walters statement revived? My opinion is that the boiling anger many of us feel against Mr. Obama's actions to change this nation into a collectivist welfare state reminded someone of what such a state means in practice. It means the ideas of Hanoi Jane in charge of us while our best and bravest and most productive are imprisoned, regulated, controlled and ultimately destroyed. We must not allow this to happen.

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10 Comments:

At June 26, 2011 at 8:07 AM , Blogger Corey said...

In the name of the best within us, thank you for drawing this correlation and not letting the memory and honor due those that fight for our American ideals go unnoticed and unaddressed in these most critical economic and dangerous of political climates.

 
At November 23, 2011 at 11:12 AM , Blogger kawsar said...

Love these!!! I was wondering about the drying time with doing so many layers. How long do you usually wait between coats as to not smear the lovely nail polish you applied (maybe not for this tutorial, but just in general)? And before you apply the top coat?? Mine usually smears when my top coat goes on :( salvia

 
At January 23, 2012 at 6:05 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

US was at war with Vietnam at this time 1966. This person Jane Honda is the most despicable human that ever lived. I was in the service at that time and I remember this sister of satin on the Marine camp TV. Kissing and hugging a north Vietnam Officer next to a Vietcong Tank. Then climbing up to the Turret of the Tank for an interview. Waving and laughing to the Vietcong Troops. When interviewed on the tank.This Traitor said how bad the US is and then said she hopes every American troop that puts there foot on Vietcong soil should Die. With Vietcong troops screaming and waving there hands in the air. This thing is a sister of Satin and a Traitors Bitch and should have been shot for Treason. Robert Manning: Marine Corp Reserve VMA 133-142 Fighter Air Attack Squadrun - 1966 to 1972. Bob M.nne

 
At January 23, 2012 at 6:06 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

US was at war with Vietnam at this time 1966. This person Jane Honda is the most despicable human that ever lived. I was in the service at that time and I remember this sister of satin on the Marine camp TV. Kissing and hugging a north Vietnam Officer next to a Vietcong Tank. Then climbing up to the Turret of the Tank for an interview. Waving and laughing to the Vietcong Troops. When interviewed on the tank.This Traitor said how bad the US is and then said she hopes every American troop that puts there foot on Vietcong soil should Die. With Vietcong troops screaming and waving there hands in the air. This thing is a sister of Satin and a Traitors Bitch and should have been shot for Treason. Robert Manning: Marine Corp Reserve VMA 133-142 Fighter Air Attack Squadrun - 1966 to 1972

 
At March 27, 2012 at 11:52 PM , Blogger ivy said...

How long do you usually wait between coats as to not smear the lovely nail polish you applied (maybe not for this tutorial, but just in general)?

 
At March 31, 2012 at 2:16 PM , Blogger RedWhite&Blue said...

I would agree that Fonda's actions during the Quagmire, unwinnable war in Vietnam were despicable. In the exact same light, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, et al. are ALSO traitors to the citizens and service men and women in this country for lying us into the war in Iraq. So, let's hope you are all willing to condemn and convict all of these people with the same vigilance and diligence.

 
At June 7, 2012 at 10:40 AM , Blogger Phil Sevilla said...

Sylvia,
I have to ask this question...
whoever, whatever Jane Fonda was the time when she performed that treacherous act which caused untold suffering for American POWs and their families - she may have been young and stupid - it was an act of treachery and sedition without a doubt. How do we remember Benedict Arnold? He was a great general but his name is forever linked with a terrible act of treachery. Ms. Fonda should issue a public apology for her crimes against our nation and the suffering she caused. It would be good for her soul and perhaps then we can consider forgiveness.

 
At July 29, 2013 at 6:34 PM , Blogger rowdy said...

Did you know that we have had close to 70 DECLARED WARS since 1776? Its true. Most people can only recall about 10... Look them up. Remember these two words: Declared Wars.

I don't like to admit it but the facts and stats are all there... our nation is ran by war mongers.
Would it be asking too much that we can glide by maybe 15 yrs without a war? Apparently war is easy. Peace is more difficult.

Why are we questioning the forgiveness of Jane Fonda in her 20's when we seem to forgive or forget those in control (congress/military advisors) who duped us in this unwinnable war?
Does this seem logical to you ?
Two years ago I had a long deep conversation with a Vietnam veteran who had served 5 tours. He
talked about the ludicrousness of this war--never once mentioning Fonda.

In her 20something mind, she FOUGHT for America but did so wrongly. Fonda knew this war was wrong. The rest of us fell in line and supported this war, not realizing it was unwinnable. And when you learn what some of our commanders had done over there...it wasn't even honorable.

If you cant forgive Fonda, then you surely cant forgive those responsible for this LONG war.

 
At November 2, 2015 at 8:45 PM , Blogger Nimir_Raj said...

https://www.blogger.com/profile/17488340812011565384 In case you missed it, there were WMDS still in Iraq. Bush didn't lie. The first time we went into Iraq 600 troops were exposed to chemical weapons and it was covered up. The second time troops were exposed again. This is from the very far left New York times. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/14/world/middleeast/us-casualties-of-iraq-chemical-weapons.html So get your facts straight before you call people traitors.

 
At November 2, 2015 at 8:51 PM , Blogger Nimir_Raj said...

https://www.blogger.com/profile/09592073823847801160 Unwinnable doesn't mean it was wrong. America was trying to do the right thing and failed. The only thing evil needs to succeed is for men of good conscience to sit and do nothing. America fought a cold war so that the whole world did not suffer from regimes with the worst civil rights records since Hitler's Nazis. It was a fight worth all the way to the end. At least it was until Obama let Putin start rebuilding the U.S.S.R. Hopefully, Obama will get out of office before entire nations fall to Russia.

 

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