Veterans Protest Jane Fonda In Maryland
Published on January 19, 2015.Perhaps it’s time to let this one go.
Vietnam veterans, as well as many other veterans of the American military, are still frustrated with “Hanoi Jane.”
It has been 42 years since Jane Fonda visited Hanoi, and was photographed sitting atop a North Vietnamese Army anti-aircraft gun. It was a photo that she herself considers an unforgivable act, but has apologized profusely for decades. Still, there are those who consider what she did to be treasonous, and the ultimately undermining of the entire war effort.
But let’s call it like it is, shall we?
The Vietnam War was a farce. The Gulf of Tonkin/USS Maddox Incident event never even happened. The entity veterans should be angry at to this day? Their federal government. But let’s leave that issue right there.
It’s sad that veterans continue to protest Jane Fonda all of these years later. Sure, anyone coming home from Vietnam, being dishonored and shamed publicly, when they should have heard “Welcome home!” and been lauded for following orders and directives–these individuals needed some place to direct their ire. And Jane became quite the scapegoat. A very convenient scapegoat.
Sadly, for years, it has forced veterans into a pattern of “If she hadn’t…” instead of asking harder questions, leading to harder questions, eventually leading to the precipice of the rabbit hole. But, I’m getting off-topic. Back to Jane.
Jane has apologized profusely. As you can see from her interview below, she has stated repeatedly that she was an adult, and took complete responsibility for her actions. Deep down, you can bet she felt set up. Maybe she and the veterans might find some common ground on that foundation. Perhaps the question to ask of Jane is the same question to ask of the Vietnam veterans: Why did the government send you there in the first place?
To see more on this, as well as short interviews with Jane and an American veteran, check out the video below.
