When my Dad was flying combat in Viet Nam, I once confronted him about it.
This is a story I can't forget.
I was a young teen and against the Viet Nam war.
Even though I was living on an USAF base in Southeast Asia where all the men
were flying back and forth to Viet Nam. And gone most of the time.
Their lives were in danger and we knew it.
But I was against the war and killing the Vietnamese people.
So one Day I gathered my courage and told my dad I was against the war
and that the US should pull out and go home. MY father had a temper so I
was pretty sure this would not go over well. He was putting his life on the line
all the time in Viet Nam. But that was part of my point, he was risking his life
for something that was wrong.
Anyway I say my say to my father and expecting to get some loud worlds back.
Instead he looks shocked at what I said, he opens his mouth to say something.
Then to my surprise closes his mouth and walks away. He said not one world to me.
The subject was never brought up again.
This was uncharacteristic of my Dad and I was quite puzzled. It finally dawned on me
the explanation. My father was the son of Irish immigrants who had been an oppressed
and starved people for hundreds of years.
My father was fierce in his love of the United States, the land of freedom and opportunity.
He was supremely proud to fight for the constitution, rule of law, democracy, bill of rights, etc.
His children thought he was a bit over the top in his love and loyalty to freedom and the US.
He always said the USAF signed his paycheck but he worked for the American people,
So when I said my say to him it occurred to him that I was one of the American people.
He was risking his life every single day and had done so in WWII, Korea, now Viet Nam so
his children had freedom to run their mouths and stand up for what they think is right.
That is why he said nothing and just walked away.