Re: > WIFE'S REQUEST

On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:49:58 -0700 (PDT), Sylv <Sylv772003@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Alex;

<snip>

As to the content of the original post, while I'm not *completely*
discounting it, to me, it had the smell of a typical internet 'chain
letter' type thing, reminiscent of the warnings about people with
knives, waiting under your car in a mall parking lot, to cut you.

While it was a good story, and *could*, possibly, be a true account, so
I won't discount it *entirely*, my gut feeling, based on my numerous
years on the 'net, is that it has the ring of your typical urban legend.
 I have *plenty* of experience with those, as certain members of my
family seem to feel compelled to forward just about *anything* that hits
their Inbox!  ;-)

Yes, it smelled like an urban legend to me, too. The table of
servicemen who just happened to be there capped it for me.

Hmm, after a bit of checking, it seems that I'm not the only one who
questions it.

According to Snopes, it was originally published in the Washington
Dispatch (now out of business), on April 14, 2003.  They list its status
as 'Undetermined' because they were unable to verify the story, as the
author did not respond to their queries.

Duh! I should have checked Snopes! The fact that the author of the
piece did not respond to their questions makes me think that the
author should be writig fiction.

Here's what they have to say about it, in part:http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/speakup.asp

"We note that in 2004 the publishers removed the article from the
Washington Dispatch's web site because they, too, had been unable to
verify its truthfulness and had been unable to obtain more information
from its author:

        This article as been removed from the archives as questions have
arisen regarding its validity. The author has been contacted on        
numerous occasions but has refused to provide any material that                 could
resolve the issue"

So, who knows?

Is it possible, that it occurred, as written?  Sure.

Its possible, even probable, that there are some people out there, who,
with regards to the 'professional baby killers' statement, do feel that
way about our military.  Although I do believe that, taken as a whole,
they would probably amount to a very small, and in my opinion,
insignificant, minority.

Is it a good sounding story, one that rallies support for our troops?
Absolutely.

I don't think so. When people start telling lies, they are not
helping our troops.

Tell the real stories about what is going on over there, not some
recycled Vietnam stories.

In that respect, although the facts should, perhaps, be taken with a
grain of salt, the story serves its purpose well.

Personally, after re-reading it, and pondering a bit, I think the
author's motive may be revealed in the last sentence:

"Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base
where I live, I will proudly stand across the street with a sign of my
own. A sign that says "Thank you!" "

What she has cleverly, and subtly, done, at least, in my opinion, is to
attempt to paint all war protesters with the same broad brush.  The
*implied* message being that *all* war protesters regard the military as
'professional baby killers' and have no respect for our troops.


Exactly. *All* war protestors are not calling our troops names. As
you said, nobody except the Phelps nutjobs is saying anything against
the people fighting the war this time.

IMO, the author of that story took an old Vietnam story, dressed it up
with some contemporary details, and said it was a recent event.

Thanx for the legwork!

Sylvia

Sorry to disappoint anyone in regard to the origins of this
story, but it started when man began engaging in wars.

Next think you know, some of you will want me to disbelieve
in Hansel and Gretal, Red Riding Hood, The Three little Pigs.

Stories that evoke human emotions, love, care, compassion,
insight, etc., can not be all that bad.

Donn
.

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