Birmingham Post-Herald

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Birmingham Post-Herald

Last updated: August 27, 1999

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Clinton and VFW not good match

President Bill Clinton (impeached) was the keynote speaker at the Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 16. No, this is not a sick joke. To the dismay of many veterans, the VFW actually invited the guy to speak, and to add insult to injury, he showed up.

I can hear his voice now and I can visualize his demeanor, the eloquent words delivered as coming from a "best buddy," the mannerisms exuding the epitome of compassion, the Oscar-winning twinkle and tear in his eye, and yes, the lip, ever so slowly bitten, in quiet reverence to his heart-felt sincerity in discussing matters of patriotism and devotion to country.

I've heard this speech before. I heard it delivered at the Berlin Wall and to the "Wag-The-Dog" loved ones at Norfolk. The words change, but to a veteran, the message is the same.

As the vet watches and listens while the president excretes his charm, a vision of Bill, "the man" begins to engulf his thoughts. The president's presence at the podium amid the lavish and patriotic bunting begins to fade and the sound of his voice becomes a drone — "I'm here with you today to seduce you again, your gullibility so inviting. As you know, I successfully dodged the draft during the Vietnam conflict. I visited and sympathized with comrades in Moscow and led anti-American demonstrations in England during this period. I just recently had sexual relations with an intern as I directed, over the telephone, the fate of your brothers in arms. And yes, I'm on record as 'loathing' your military kind. But, remember these words.

"I am willing to lay down your life for my country."

Suddenly the vet is jolted back to reality. By the loud boos? By a massive walkout? By the deafening forlorn silence? Nope. By the resounding cheers of war veterans who, sadly, were our last hope in denouncing the likes of this pitiful coward.

Go figure!

Armond "Si" Simmons
104 Wadsworth Lane
Pell City

LOOK BACK

From the files of the Birmingham Post- Herald:

50 years ago, Aug. 27, 1949

U.S. Navy submarine Cochino explodes and sinks on training maneuvers in Arctic waters off Norway. One crew member is killed and six men from rescue ship are lost overboard in stormy sea.

More than 600 government-hired dock workers unload cargo from ships in Hawaiian ports as longshoremen continue four-month strike.

25 years ago, Aug. 27, 1974

Japan's first atomic-powered ship is blockaded in home port by 250 fishing boats protesting nuclear pollution, canceling first test run in Pacific.

Charles A. Lindbergh, who became first person to fly across Atlantic solo in 1927, dies in Hawaii at 72.

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