Joe, you were at least proud enough about your grabbing that flag away
from its would-be burners that you felt the list should know about it.
Frankly, what those folks wanted to do with it was really not your
business. And please don't use as a justification for your action,
Native Americans, whose ancestors' genocide was carried out under that
flag, and who due to the destruction of their nations' cultures and
economies that followed, ironically, found service in the US military
their only survival solution.
Please do not place my opinion of your mother with that of Horowitz for
you insult her memory and the respect that I had for her by doing so.
You may say that you have known all that I have been talking about since
you were 10, and I would have believed that during the period of your
anti-war work, which was a key part of that movement, but this and other
posts that I have read on this list convince me that somewhere along the
way, you've lost it. I mean, tying a yellow ribbon a tree when the US
went off to annihilate Iraq, is not something, I think, your mother
would have either done or condoned.
With respect,
Jeff Blankfort
> Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 19:46:31 -0700
> From: Joe McDonald <joe@countryjoe.com>
> Subject: Re: [sixties-l] Re: sixties-l-Re Vietnam Memorial
>
> well golly Jeffrey Blankfort you sure got a slow fuse. i never said i "proudly
> defend"ed anything. Remember i said IT DON'T MEAN SHIT!
> But i reacted instinctually not rationally with not wanting to see a flag burned out or
> respect for those who died for or as native american warriors say "behind" the flag.
>
> It seems not only David Horowitiz but you too are an expert on my momma and what she
> believed. i don't think so. i know all of what yer talking about since i was 10 years
> old.
>
> Some good old boys tolerate me but you are mixing things up a bit. "honor the warrior
> not the war" puts me right in with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War group, you
> betcha! Honor the flag,well i donno about that. i did tie a yellow ribbon on the tree
> in front of my house when my nephew went off with the airborne to the Persian Gulf and
> kept it there until, thank god, he came back home. But we dont hang flags or burn
> flags at my house.
>
> As far as trying to be "holy" i got nothing to prove and "holy" is a strange word to
> use to someone who is not religious at all. Remember i was raised by Communist
> Atheists and unlike Mr Hororwitz have yet to "denounce" my parents and their beliefs.
>
> Things are often not what they seem. i just happen to believe in "respect" and civility
> how bout you?
>
> As far as holes are concerned we are all in the same hole, make a lttle room eh, its
> crowded in here.
>
> cheers, country joe mcdonald
>
> Jeffrey Blankfort wrote:
>
> > I preface my response to Joe McDonald's defense of the
> > US flag and flags, in general, because it is the US flag that he so
> > proudly defends from the fire of legitimate protest that symbolizes the
> > genocidal sanctions that have been carried out under a UN Security
> > Council that is virtually in the pocket of whatever administration is in
> > place in Washington.
> >
> > Frankly, Joe, I think you have to take some time out and study the same
> > history that informed and inspired your mother
> >
> > Yeah, honor the warrior and honor the flag. That puts you right there
> > with "the god old boys."
> >
> > When you tried to be the holiest of the holiest, Joe, you end up digging
> > yourself into a hole.
> >
> > Jeff Blankfort
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