As Vietnam veterans who served with conscripted soldiers, we find Secretary Rumsfeld's egregious slur a grave insult to the memory, sacrifice and valor of those who lost their lives, and, further, dismissive of the hundreds and thousands of lives, both in the U.S. and in Vietnam, who were devastatingly shattered by the Vietnam War.
We suggest that the Secretary choose his words much more carefully in the future, and be sensitive as to how they affect those who put their lives on the line for this country, whether drafted or enlisted. This is all the more critical as our country is on the eve of war with Iraq, and thousands of U.S. troops are again mobilized to potentially engage in battle."
-- Bobby Muller, President of Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation [see Rummy's furious backpedaling here] A very sensitive matter, that. The draft was meant to do two things: ensure that the military, literally, had enough bodies; and secondarily, to create a more egalitarian military by forcing the middle and upper classes to participate in a historically working class-dominated sector. Of course, exemptions to students, teachers, family men and the well-connected tended to favor those same middle and upper classes, intensifying rather than mitigating the resentment of the less-privileged.
The grand irony here is that a professional, voluntary military, by disentangling itself from society, has in fact set itself up to be embraced by that very society. There is no longer a threat of compulsion from the military: the military is no longer in a position to DO something to us, it is now strictly in the business of doing things FOR us, and as such we feel unambiguously grateful for its awsome efficiency, skill, courage and POWER.
THAT is why Josh Gracinn got more votes than the clearly musically superior Trenyce and Ruben from the American public this week, which bodes very well for the condition of the American psyche, but is an outrage in a singing competition.
Article comments
1 - M Williams
I want to make a couple of points. First, has anyone noticed that Simon has never said one word about Ruben's weight? Why is it that he can put down the women for their weight, but Ruben's Obeseness is never spoken of???? Also, why is it that Ruben is never told that he sings the same type of songs over and over and over??? He does, but is never told so. Also he is never told to be more animated, to move, to entertain more! In fact, there has never been anything said to Ruben, why is that? I admit that Ruben has a better voice than Josh at the moment, but I would never by a CD of Ruben singing the same old lounge songs over and over, and I would never go see him in concert, how boring!! At least Josh is easy on the eyes, fun to watch and sings many different types of music. America voted for who they liked and I agreed with them.
2 - Phillip Winn
Eric, I was going to disagree with you slightly, but then M Williams posted and underscored your point - those who voted are stupid.
I wasn't surprised to see Trenyce in the bottom two. I was astounded to see Reuben there. So was Josh, who spent the entire rest of the show ashamed to show his face to the camera. I guess now we know what the hicks who voted for Nikki McKibbin last time are up to now.
The sick part is, Josh might even sell records. Not to me, as I require a certain amount of talent to be present somewhere on an album before I'll plunk down my money, but then again, I'm not buying whats-her-face's new album anyway, so I guess I'm not in the target demographic.
3 - Eric Olsen
I should point out that I also think another reason for the weird vote was that Ruben's fans have become complacent, and didn't think they had to vote for him since he was considered to be in thelead. But as they now know, each vote is different, and I don't think they will be caught off guard again.
M, I don't have anything against Josh - he CAN be very good on some songs - I thought he was better on his first song Tuesday than the judges did - but he just isn't in the same class of overall talent as the others, including Trenyce. He will end up being the "singing Marine" or something and could do very well if sticks to country, which is definitely his strength.