From: drk@cs.uiuc.edu (David Kohr)
Subject: Re: Falsity of "live MIA/POW evidence" (was Re: FOREVER GONE)
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept of Comp Sci, Urbana, IL
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 22:58:23 GMT


In article <BzIG1z.D5s@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu
(Larry Jewell) writes:
> After thinking about Dave's postings for a while, I've come to the
> conclusion that he thinks the situation is over-publicized because he
> sees enough of it in the news that he can't forget about it.

I have said why I think it is over-publicized many times now, but you seem
unable to comprehend or unwilling to listen:

This issue should not be the factor which determines US-Vietnamese
relations, because the chances that there are still live GI's being held in
Vietnam are so ridiculously remote that they are completely outweighed by
the harm done by maintaining a hostile stance toward Vietnam: harm to
Vietnamese-Americans, US businesses, US veterans who wish to return to
Vietnam, and especially harm to Vietnam and its people.

> People like Dave would like to forget about the whole thing and just HOPE
> that there are no men life alive.

Rather than just slinging mud at me, why don't you explain why I or anyone
else should think that there are any?  Seems to me you've done a pretty
poor job rebutting all the arguments I've posted in the past.  All you ever
do is change the subject, hurl insults at me, or give a half-assed answer
to one point out of five.

> Easy to forget us if noone mentions us, isn't it Dave?

"Us"?  Which "us" is this?  Seems to me that *you* are very much alive and
well in the USA.

And it seems to me that, despite being treated very badly in the past,
Vietnam Vets have been getting at least getting *some* level of recognition
over the past decade (the Vietnam War Memorial is one example).  Maybe you
could argue about whether it's a reasonable amount of recognition, but you
certainly aren't just being "forgotten".

> As for courtesy, how courteous is it hold back remains for years, and
> bury men in some unmarked spot in the jungle when they become a nuisance?
> Charlie was never courteous to me, and I tried with all my might to
> return the discourtesy.

What does this have to do with Monte's or your discourtesy on this
newsgroup?  Are you completely changing the subject?  This seems totally
irrelevant to what we were talking about (USENET etiquette and avoiding
pointless flame-wars).

Or are you saying that just because a Vet fought in Vietnam twenty or more
years ago, he automatically has a right to do as he pleases on USENET?  I'd
say that's just plain ridiculous.

> I fought the men you're so eager to establish ties with and I've seen the
> way they treated their own people.  I sleep well at night knowing I
> killed great numbers of them.
>
> Larry J

I have great respect for US and Vietnamese veterans, especially former
POW's, who don't harbor any hatred toward their enemy.  I can see now that
this respect shouldn't apply to all US veterans.
-- 
Dave Kohr     CS Graduate Student     Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Work: 3244 DCL, (217)333-6561  Home: (217)359-9350  E-mail: drk@cs.uiuc.edu
                   "One either has none or not enough."
Newsgroups: alt.war.vietnam,soc.veterans