This is exactly the same ignorant hatred and mob mentality I witnessed in the South in 1965.
Veteran gets rude welcome on BainbridgeThink about the Seattle area -- Bainbridge Island to be exact -- and you think scenic views and liberal-minded tolerance.
At least the killer views are still there.
The bucolic island's deep reputation for civility got a gut check this week during the annual Grand Old Fourth of July celebration.
That's when Jason Gilson, a 23-year-old military veteran who served in Iraq, marched in the local event. He wore his medals with pride and carried a sign that said "Veterans for Bush."
Walking the parade route with his mom, younger siblings and politically conservative friends, Jason heard words from the crowd that felt like a thousand daggers to the heart.
"Baby killer!"
"Murderer!"
"Boooo!"
Read a little further in the article...it gets worse.
To understand why the reaction of strangers hurt so much, you must read what the young man had written in a letter from Iraq before he was disabled in an ambush:
"I really miss being in the states. Some of the American public have no idea how much freedom costs and who the people are that pay that awful price. I think sometimes people just see us as nameless and faceless and not really as humans. ... A good portion of us are actually scared that when we come home, for those of us who make it back, that there will be protesters waiting for us and that is scary."On the Fourth, Jason faced his worst fear.
It was such a public humiliation -- home front insult after battlefield injury.
But wait there's more...
The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce, which put on the community celebration, permits freedom of expression at the event but asks that parade announcers not act in a manner that is partisan or prejudicial.Jason's mother, Tamar, says a female parade announcer locked eyes on her son who was walking behind a pro-Republican group called Women in Red, White and Blue. The group supports President Bush and the troops in the fight against terrorism.
According to Tamar, the female announcer sarcastically asked Jason: "And what exactly are you a veteran of?"
The perceived mocking, the mother adds, set off some people in the crowd, loosing a flood of negative comments, "like a wave... a mob-style degrading."
(Thanks to Misha for getting me really pissed off. Again.)
Posted by Zozo at July 13, 2004 04:52 PM | TrackBackThe article does not report that anyone actually called the soldier a baby-killer but that he "heard" these things. We are never told they are directed at him.
Later, in a part you don't quote, it surfaces that the opinion of some there was that the mother may have over-reacted and thought comments were directed towards her son which actually weren't. The writer buries this information.
And we never hear a statement from the soldier himself.
I have no idea what happened at the parade. But what is more clear is that this is bad journalism, written in a way that is calculated to inspire rage. I bet that the reality of the situation was much less outrageous than this account of it.
Posted by: paul at July 15, 2004 01:22 PM