Unlikely Hero

Lane: If you are reading this please consider the following: Of the thousands of people who were held up that day, it's more than likely that some of them were more than simply inconvenienced. What about those with doctors appointments or other appointments that they scheduled perhaps months in advance? What about those who perhaps a few hours earlier got a call telling them a family member was dying and wanted to say goodbye? Think on these things. I ask you this: What was this man saying that other anti-war protesters were not? The issue is not what to do with Van Tassel, who incidentally, chose to join the armed services, but the issue is that by approving of what he did, you are not considering how his actions affected others. So what was the message he had that justified this action that has not been articulated by others in the anti-war movement?

Lane.
I'm NOT sorry that Mr. Tassel, will be Prosecuted for his protest on the 101. I was late for a Business breakfast meeting, my client was held-up in the traffic, my little girl was late for school, my wife had to wait for the traffic to be re-routed and missed her hair appointment.
YOU! Military people think you should be rewarded for your so-called service in the Armed Forces. You chose to be a soldier and NOT a contributing American. We, Joe 6-pack, pays you people alot of LIP-service but dying in a WAR is YOUR job, NOT mine.
The WAR is NOT here in America, it's over there!
If you can't handle the job, don't sign-up. NO one ever asked you to protect us. Since that government farce terrorist attack in New York, where the Government blew-up the Twin-Towers so they could interupt our busy lives, to invade a little poor Country just to boost morale in the military, doesn't mean we sure be there now. There are more inportant things to worry about.
My wifes hair and nails need care, my DOG is deficating on the flower garden, my boss wants the order fulfilled by tomorrow or I might not get my 3.9% raise. I HAVE to get that raise or I won't be able to buy that new Mercedes 5000, with GPS thingy. My little girl is having a play at school and wants me and the busy wife to take time off from OUR busy lifestyle to see this play. So you can see why I DON'T have time to listen or give a rat's behind if Mr. Tassel lost friends in some faraway Country. I am way TOO busy and important to care or feel anything for you or Mr. Tassel.
Anyway, enjoy your NOT so important life.

Mr. Anderson, as a citizen of this nation, I thank you and Mr. Van Tassel for your service in the U.S. military, and I support your offering of a separate viewpoint, of Mr. Van Tassel's "protest".

It is often assumed that those who are (ex-)military, are all drum-beating, lockstep followers of the "conservative"/Republican/GOP way, especially because those are the kind so often encountered. However, those who serve but aren't as radically-right are seldom given credit for their opinions, and usually swept under the rug. Furthermore, I personally find it far more relevant, when such a minority group is given voice.

Unfortunately, in today's world, we are artificially kept busy, working ourselves to a meager retirement, so that we cannot really understand what it means to stand up for ourselves, let alone others. Sadder than that, I doubt that many of those jammed up on the freeway by Mr. Van Tassel's actions got any message out of it, other than thinking he was a nutter.

Again, I thank your for your contribution, and hope that your letter fosters a little more compassion in readers, than merely reactionary contrariness.

Here is another point that no one is raising: People went to Vietnam, some by choice, some who were drafted, and came back to be treated badly. The whole thing was a nightmare and of course we know that many homeless are Vietnam vets. Why do people think anything has changed? In other words, haven't people learned anything from the past?

I would think that the anti-war movement, of which I believe Lane Anderson is a part, would call into question the judgement of those who continually sign up for the military knowing they may end up serving in a war without just cause.

Van Tassel made a choice based upon what was known of U.S. foreign policy and military procedures. For him to do what he did (tying up traffic) is like someone who gets married to a person who has been divorced a number a times and who has a history of adultery and abuse and then cries because they find themselves being abused and cheated on.

We know that the government does things that are unethical, just as we know people in everyday life do things that are unethical, but when do we focus on educating people into not being "had" by such enethical entities, instead of crying over one's naivity?

I've met Lane Anderson and overall I think highly of him, but I think he's on the wrong track on this one.

I wouldn't know the percentage, but also consider how many military people join up because they come from economically challenged areas of the states. These are people who did not choose service because it was the best option out there for them, but because there was/is no better option.

And don't underestimate the blinders of youth, which allows 17 to 20-somethings to live with the idea that, "it'll never happen to ME". That's something of active denial, but I would bet that most just don't look that far into the future. So, when reality hits them upside the head, they react like the emotionally inexperienced that they probably are.

When it comes down to it, however, I would take a hundred "whiney" veterans who have been through the proverbial sh!t, rather than a single, armchair warlord.

Make that a thousand.