Its easy to sanitize history, and air brush the truth, is it not? Blame others, negate any collective responsibility for the murderous actions of some.

"A question - you're doing a sweep through a small village in Vietnam, seeking out insurgents. When suddenly a young boy or girl aged 7 or 8 emerges from one of the huts and comes towards you. You point your weapon toward them, warning them not to come any closer. They continue to do so. What would you do, Mr Consciences Objector?"

The answer is obvious, you shoot them DEAD! My question is simple, what were you doing there in the first place?

My Lai Massacre; was the Vietnam War mass murder of unarmed Vietnamese civilians by U.S. troops in South Vietnam on 16 March 1968. Between 347 and 504 unarmed people were massacred by the U.S. Army. Victims included men, women, children, and infants. Some of the women were gang-raped and their bodies mutilated. Lieutenant William Calley Jr., a platoon leader, was the only person convicted. Found guilty of killing 22 villagers, he was originally given a life sentence, but served only three and a half years under house arrest.

During the Vietnam War there was a strong movement in the United States called 'Vietnam Veterans Against the War'. The VVAW at it height numbered around 25,000 members. VVAW was considered to be among the most influential anti-war organizations of the American Vietnam War.
What do you make of this organization and its members?

You know PAUL1405; being a real slug, you 'flop' from one position to another, like someone has trodden on you, oozing this stinking thick slime in your final death throes. In one Post you almost apologise for some of the assertions you've made; the next your gutless nature emerges and says oh no! And once again, your morality has this overpowering stench like a fetid discharge from a sewage works, devoid of any maintenance?

As I said earlier - 'A coward can never be moral'

Your history of the war is good. Most of my friends who were there, including myself, the last thing they wish to remember is the specifics of that war. Neither the heat or humidity, the noise and suddenness of a coming monsoons; or the risk of a contact, when advancing quietly through long grass, or standing your 2 hour piquet, at a MG pit. All of which are usually the last thing Veterans wish to talk of.

The greatest critics of war are always the biggest COWARDS!

You're a 'metastasising' maggot of a thing. No, No, I withdraw that observation entirely. A tumour that metastasises means it grows, it increases and spreads in size towards other life supporting organs. Symbolic of something you'd never get caught in doing, 'advancing' against anything! Least of all an enemy; hiding as you've continued doing, behind this absurd notion of being a C.O.? 'Cowardly Oik' is about all.

Lets slot the real reason squarely where it belongs. You were afraid of what would happen, if you were 'called up'. Afraid of the RTB; afraid of Canungra; afraid of being sent to South Vietnam; afraid of not coming back home.

Every single one of us shared in that fear, certainly to a greater or lessor degree of RTB & Canungra at least. Vietnam was a mystery to most of us in the ARA. And even a bigger mystery to the 'Nasho's', following on behind us. We all (especially the Nasho's) did our duty to the best of our ability.

Hi o sung wu,

As I have previously said I hold no animosity towards you, as a combatant in a despicable war. You, Calley, others like you, the people of My Lai, are all part of the millions of victims of war.

//Most of my friends who were there, including myself, the last thing they wish to remember is the specifics of that war.// Of course, the reality is too horrifying, too painful, that is understandable. How do you react, you sanitize the whole affair, some mask it in glory, others talk of the valour and sacrifice of comrades etc. All hide from the truth.

Remembering you were the one that first broached this subject in a response to a post of mine directed at Is Mise on the 'Dingo' thread. You took the opportunity to unload abuse then at me personally, and have continued it on ever since, knowing my pacifists and political views are not to your liking. It would be easy for me to launch some dumb personal attack on you, question your sexuality, attack your moral fibre, and liken you to some cretinous creature. All so easy, I have not done that as I do not believe you deserve such treatment. I say things that for you are disagreeable, however I will not shy away from such comments, but I am sorry they cause you pain. You post it, I'll respond.

If it's all so easy for you to attack me - well bring it on, your cowardly slug!

Hi o sung wu,

You seem not to comprehend, as I said it would be easy to attack you with similar personal barbs like the ones you are using towards me, anyone can throw insults like "cowardly slug" and the rest of what you have engaged in. I do not intend to do so in your "bring it on" fashion.

You asked me a question, I answered it, I ask you a question, you reply with an unrelated insulting diatribe. This discussion is obviously causing you too much distress, being the sick man that you are. It is only through compassion for a torched soul that I will leave you to your own misery within, as I consider the things we speak of are far to upsetting for you.

Of course you will PAUL1405 - you run whenever challenged - and in doing so, trying to convince others of your compassionate deed by leaving the discussion, ostensibly for the sake of a decrepit, and unwell old man. Well my craven little dipstick, that might deceive others, but in reality you're the laughing stock of all those who know you! Quick at handing out the invective, but expeditious enough to crawl away to safety, whenever it's returned. Like a dog with an itchy arse. And you're the cause of that distressing 'itch' to the unfortunate canine. The residual bowel matter, left remaining on the outside of the anal region. Also known as, 'residual PAUL1405' matter.