Well then, one Vietnam combat veteran to another, if it is a "vain attempt at an institutional apology", then clearly:
1. A proper apology has not been made (the attempt was in vain). and 2. There is no memorial! (just a "vain attempt at an institutional apology") So, Mr.. (what the hell is your last name so that I don't have to say your first) where can I go to find the memorial for my friends? What would meet with your approval? And about that proper apology: The wall was designed and erected by folks who had nothing to do with sending anyone to that war (the culprits having left the political scene). The folks who put up the wall have nothing to apologize for. They didn't do it. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was founded by Jan Scruggs, who served in Vietnam (in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade) from 1969-1970 as a infantry corporal. He wanted the memorial to acknowledge and recognize the service and sacrifice of all who served in Vietnam. NOT POLITICIANS. Does Jan Scruggs need to apologize to you? The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF) raised nearly $9,000,000 entirely through private contributions from corporations, foundations, unions, veterans and civic organizations and more than 275,000 individual Americans. No Federal funds were used. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), a nonprofit charitable organization, was incorporated on April 27, 1979, by a group of Vietnam veterans (John Wheeler, Chairman of the Board for VVMF, served in Vietnam as a captain at U.S. Army headquarters from 1969-1970; Robert Doubek, VVMF project director, then executive director, served in Vietnam from 1968-1969 as an Air Force intelligence officer) in Washington, D.C. Do any of these people need to apologize to you? On July 1, 1980, in the Rose Garden, President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation (P.L. 96-297) to provide a site in Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln Memorial. Does Jimmy Carter need to apologize to you? During the war he was governor Georgia and had no say in war legislation. The official name of the Memorial is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is sometimes referred to as VVM or "the Wall". The figures are called "The Three Servicemen". This is not a war Memorial but a Memorial to those who served in the war, both living and dead.Is this ok with you? The Gilbane Building Company acted as the general contractor, and the architectural firm of Cooper-Lecky Partnership supervised the construction. Does either of these firms need to apologize to you? The Memorial (wall) was designed by an undergraduate at Yale University, Maya Ying Lin, born in Athens, Ohio in 1959. Her parents fled from China in 1949 when Mao-Tse-tung took control of China, and she is a native-born American citizen. She acted as a consultant with the architectural firm of Cooper- Lecky Partnership on the construction of the Memorial. Does Maya Ying Lin need to apologize to you? In July 1982, VVMF selected Washington sculptor Frederic Hart, born in 1943, Atlanta, Georgia. He was the highest ranking sculptor in the design competition. His sculpture depicts "Three Servicemen" (also referred to as "Three Fighting Men" or "Three Infantrymen"). Does the VVMF or Frederic Hart need to apologize to you for this? You may have guessed that I think that you're spitting on my friends. You are. That you may not have intended this is irrelevant. Your uninformed, based on emotion, not facts, political sh*t offends me. Regards, Bob... From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > During the 60's and 70's I was both a Vietnam combat veteran and a > protesting college student. > I consider the "Wall of Names" as a vain attempt at an institutional > apology for a period of national insanity. Wheras Pink Floyd's "The > Wall" is the first, longest, and most depressing music video ever > made. I have watched "The Wall" several times. I have no interest in > seeing the "Wall of Names". - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
