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If there was no other issue in this election, I'd go with Kerry because he served two tours in Vietnam. My father also served two tours in Vietnam. I got married when Vietnam was still going on and my then husband and I had many a discussion about what he should do in regard to the military and the draft. Finally, he said to me, "This is my country and I'm not going to desert it by going to Canada, but I cannot fight in a war which I feel is unjust and immoral. The only ehtical option left to me is to refuse military service and go to jail. Will you stand by me?" He wasn't speaking hypothetically. He had drawn a very low number in the draft lottery which all but guaranteed his being called up for military service upon his graduation from college. I told him that I would be on his side, whatever happened. Lucky for him, the war ended a few months after he got his degree.
I think of these two brave men - my father who fought, and the young man who had been my husband who refused to leave his country and was willing to accept incarceration for his belief. Then I think of George Jr. who refused to even show up for his physical at the National Guard, who wouldn't fight for his country or stand up for his reasons for not serving and speak out against Vietnam. I have nothing but the deepest contempt for Bush. As far as I'm concerned he is a coward, plain and simple.
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