NEOGNOSTIKOS

Friday, 17 June 2005

Something I Said to Charlie Kelly
Now Playing: "Oh Death" by Charlie Patton, King of the Delta Blues
Over at Steve Soto's place, a man named Charlie Kelly provided me a link to a webpage featuring his honorable discharge from the United States Army, circa 1972. This link was attached to an invitation to kiss his tattooed ass, which, of course, must be declined in these days of the hepatitis. But I did write him the following:

I thank you for serving our country, Charlie.

But your idea that no one who hasn't served can make a moral case for war is wrong. I advocate interplanetary space exploration, even though I will never take the risks that astronauts do. I advocate unfettered stem cell research, even though I do not have the knowledge or skills to perform it. I can say that a musician sucks, even though I don't play an instrument. I support a woman's reproductive rights, even though I can never exercise them myself.

This is a civil society. One that you defended as a young man and, I am sure, still defend today. But it is for that reason that we do not bar the opinions or resist the actions of those we disagree with or whom we are demonstrably better experienced than.

The only demand that may be placed upon me as I advocate this War for Iraq is that I be knowledgeable about and sensitive to what is being done in my behalf. I believe I meet that standard and I do not take lightly what is required of those who fight for us.

Posted by Toby Petzold at 8:56 PM CDT | Post Comment | View Comments (2) | Permalink
Updated: Friday, 17 June 2005 9:03 PM CDT

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Monday, 20 June 2005 - 1:08 AM CDT

Name: Charlie Kelly
Home Page: http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/

The invitation still stands, because you talk a big war story, for a fat, lazy fucking coward.

Tell me about the most important sacrifice you have made for your country. I'll extend the invitation to your reader, who probably drops by every couple of weeks. If you think the invasion of Iraq, based on lies, is a good idea, why haven't you signed up to fight it, or encouraged your kids to sign up?

Why doesn't this site feature posts encouraging young Republicans to enlist? What, exactly, are you doing to solve the recruiting crisis your kind caused?

Is war fun as long as somebody else has to suffer to indulge your fantasies?

I eat chickenhawk three times a day.

Charles Kelly, US Army vet, E-5

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Monday, 20 June 2005 - 8:19 PM CDT

Name: Toby Petzold

Well, I'll give you fat and lazy, but I'm no coward.

One reason I don't encourage young Republicans, per se, to enlist is because it wouldn't occur to me to only solicit the supporters of one party to do so. That it occurs to you tells me that you are more a partisan than an American. Got that? Your concern that not enough young Republicans are signing up for duty is really just a poorly-disguised wish that people you don't like would die. Because, if you weren't a hateful old man, you'd say that you encourage young Americans of all stripes to sign up. After all, it's an honorable calling to defend your country ---and presumably some Democrats still support the larger War against the Terrorists. Right? Maybe if more Democrats volunteered for the military, we might find Osama even sooner. I mean, that's still of some interest to you, too, right? You still want American soldiers and Marines to fight and kill for their country ---rather than go and die, as you see it, because it would satisfy your desire that they be punished.

I don't really have much respect for you, Kelly. You disrespect your own service when your first thought of military service is as a means of punishing your political foes. And that's what it is because you would be a liar if you claimed there was any other reason for your so-called suggestion.

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