Thanks for that Don. There seems to be a near tyranny among some here, wishing to silence any and all criticism of war, or discussions of fighting for peace this Veteran's Day, when we are once again on the brink of what will be a polarizing, unpopular war.

Lest we forget--not everyone who went to Vietnam volunteered, nor does every Vietnam vet want to be thanked for what they did while there. Divine forgiveness, something none of us can give, seems to be what many seem to be seeking. For others, the rhetoric of "thanks" rings hollow--those who when they needed medical care after the war, had it denied them by the government who sent them to war, and turned their backs on them when they came home. The government who denied the effects of agent orange, post-traumatic stress, etc. The government who arrested the VVAW for trying to march in Veteran's Day parades, that sort of thing.

After living with the traumas and effects of so many wars in my lifetime, I'm with you. I too honor and respect veterans, but not just one day a year, and not more than I honor and respect peace warriors who sacrificed a great deal to stand by the courage of their convictions too. I think we need a much larger army of the latter, rather than a build up of the former.