What I was wondering - is this guy really a Vietnam Veteran?
I am not “Pitting” Jane Fonda nor Vietnam Veterans.
What I really dislike are the phony Vietnam Vets who claim how their lives were destroyed due to the horror they witnessed and the lack of respect they received on their return home. Trouble is, these so-called Vietnam Vets did not even serve one day in the military. (AND a lot of these phonies exploit their fabricated military service for their per$onal gain through fraudulent charities they have set up).
Anyway, my basic question is - did this guy even serve in Vietnam? The best I could find in the news stories is “Michael Smith who claims he is a Vietnam Veteran…”
If you’re not pitting anyone, why is this in the Pit? I don’t care who the guy is, he’s done something that in my opinion makes him a giant asshole. I didn’t agree with all that Ms. Fonda did, but chalked it up to just another Hollywood persona with too much time and money on her hands. Retribution accomplishes nothing, and I think she has handled it well.
Can we just assume that any thread about Jane Fonda, Vietnam vets (real or fake), and spitting in people’s faces as an act of protest, probably wouldn’t stay GQ-acceptable for more than 5 minutes?
What bugs me about the Fonda-hating vets and coservatives is that millions of people opposed the war in Vietnam just as vigorously as she did. But the big ol’ nasty Vets don’t have the balls to face the fact that the war was so unpopular with so many Americans, so they pick on skinny little Jane Fonda. It’s a form of cowardice, really.
Jane Fonda has apologized for many of her actions during this period of her life. Sometimes when you fuck up, that’s all you can really do, be contrite and ask for forgiveness.
Without taking a stand on anything (beyond ‘spitting in people’s faces = bad’), I’ll confess this is the first time I’ve heard of this. Do you have any link to reports about this?
There are jerks out there who will take on any cause and turn it into a con game to make money by preying on people’s sympathies. It doesn’t surprise me, then, that someone might be working the ‘Vietnam Vet’ angle this way. I’m just wondering how much of it is going on.
ChefGuy
I put this in the Pit because I thought the debate might get a little heated.
Maybe I’m pitting this guy (Michael Smith) because I have a feeling he is NOT a Vietnam Veteran.
Even if he is, 1) spitting in Jane Fonda’s face and then 2) running away (or making an attempt thereof) does not seem a very courageous thing to do.
Wow, this would be something if a question gets moved from the Pit and to General Questions.
It’s kind of an interesting phenominon. I saw a really good site about it a while back but now I can’t find it. My sense is that some of the guys pursueing the fake vets are the ones who think the Swift Boat Veterans for Lies were preaching the gospel, but some of them are good-hearted.
That big Korean War scandal from a few years back came from a fake 7th Cav soldier who claimed that US jets had bombed a bridge under which numerous refugees had been hiding. Can’t remember if he got prosecuted for it or not.
I detrest Jane Fonda as much as the next guy but the time for any “statement” against her action during the VietNam war was probably before she apologized for such. Such a statement definately shouldn’t include spitting in anyone’s face. That’s just unbelievably cheap. And then to run away?
I don’t blame veteran’s groups for denouncing this guy. His methods are shameful.
Sorry, I have to disagree. I know quite a few people who opposed that war, including my parents. None of them actually travelled to North Vietnam and provided aid and comfort to people shooting at our soldiers.
And in her latest round of apologies, Fonda defended the trip yet again, saying she only regretted being photographed at the antiaircraft gun.
Maybe you don’t have the balls to face the fact that what she did went way beyond normal, legal political protest. I can certainly understand why some people, including those directly involved, are still angry.
Personally, I can’t defend assault, of course. And I regard Fonda as an essentially unserious and self-centered cypher. Her actions at the time displayed a breathtaking stupidity only compounded by her conduct since. It is so stupid as to be ineffective.
She did her side no favors in the early 1970s, in my opinion. Handing your political opponents ammunition isn’t ever smart.
Just speaking of the cuff, there was a college history professor that used to lecture students on his gallant service in Vietnam and what it was like. He was NEVER there. He got dismissed. - good for him).
You know that famous photo of the guy crying at the Vietnam War Memorial saying he lost his buddies in 'Nam? None of it was true.
So, when I heard about a guy spitting at Jane Fonda I immediately thought - bet that guy never went either.
I have been working with veterans for years and years including a lot of homeless vets. I have access to verifying information that shows whether or not a person really is a vet, when he served, and in most cases, where.
There have been more than a few times that a human interest story in the news or a homeless disabled “vet” begging on a street corner has turned out to be nothing more than fraud. I’ve had clients who although they really are veterans are full of shit about their service. I hear horror stories about war only to find out they served as a clerk typist in Texas.
Disgusting, but unfortunately it happens all the time.
There’s a difference between those who opposed the war and those who became busom buddies with the enemy. I do agree that people need to let this one go though.
I could only say that yes, he is telling the truth or no, I couldn’t find anything.
The first hurdle would be to obtain enough information to do a search. Our database goes all the way back to the Civil War so a name search only, especially with a common name, would probably not be enough. Actually, the VA or military has probably got someone researching already to verify his vet status.
- good for him).