Viet Nam Vet Spits Chewing tobacco On Jane Fonda
A Viet Nam veteran stood patiently in line at a Jane Fonda book signing in Kansas City, Missouri, this morning. When he reached the front of the line he spat his mouthful of tobacco juice in her face.
"She's a traitor," the 54-year old man said. "I consider it a debt of honor. She spit in our faces for 37 years," he said.
I will not dignify the man by mentioning his name. Although he might be genuinely angry at Ms. Fonda that does not give him any right to spit in her face. Nor should anyone who shares his feelings express any sympathy or solidarity with this man or what he did.
I see little difference between spitting tobacco juice in Jane Fonda's face and throwing a pie in Bill Kristol's face or dumping salad dressing on Pat Buchanan's head (see my thoughts on these matters here). Such attacks, although non-lethal, push us over the line from civility to barbarism.
Although the Kristol, Buchanan, and other, similar, attacks brought big outcries from conservative bloggers, I find it interesting that they are all silent concerning today's attack on Ms. Fonda. These same people demand that Muslims denounce Muslim terrorists lest their silence be interpreted as assent, but fail to see that they must do the same with conservatives who "cross the line" of either civility or the law. Their silence today clearly sends an unfortunate message out into cyberspace.
Personally, I wish that each of these people targeted would press charges against their attackers to the full extent of the law. Then, I would like them to file civil charges against them as well, squeezing them out of every dime that they might possess and then turning it all over to a non-partisan charity. Letting these social embarrassments off the hook only encourages them. Such behavior must not be tolerated. The law exists, in part, to restrain such people. When the law is not prosecuted its power to restrain is forfeited.
Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This is not to be interpreted as Jesus' contribution to national security policy, but it must certainly be understood to apply to tobacco spitters, pie throwers and salad dressing squeezers.
It is also worth noting that, in Romans 12:20 the Apostle Paul quoted a similar thought from Proverbs 25:21-22, which concludes, "and you will heap burning coals upon their heads."
I encourage Bill Frist, Tom DeLay, and every other conservative to love their enemies and not throw stuff at them. Simply looking their "enemies" in the eye and "speaking the truth to them in love" will (if it is indeed the truth that they speak) serve to scorch every God-numbered hair on their heads.
It is a far, far better thing to stand for civility than to fall as a barbarian.
"She's a traitor," the 54-year old man said. "I consider it a debt of honor. She spit in our faces for 37 years," he said.
I will not dignify the man by mentioning his name. Although he might be genuinely angry at Ms. Fonda that does not give him any right to spit in her face. Nor should anyone who shares his feelings express any sympathy or solidarity with this man or what he did.
I see little difference between spitting tobacco juice in Jane Fonda's face and throwing a pie in Bill Kristol's face or dumping salad dressing on Pat Buchanan's head (see my thoughts on these matters here). Such attacks, although non-lethal, push us over the line from civility to barbarism.
Although the Kristol, Buchanan, and other, similar, attacks brought big outcries from conservative bloggers, I find it interesting that they are all silent concerning today's attack on Ms. Fonda. These same people demand that Muslims denounce Muslim terrorists lest their silence be interpreted as assent, but fail to see that they must do the same with conservatives who "cross the line" of either civility or the law. Their silence today clearly sends an unfortunate message out into cyberspace.
Personally, I wish that each of these people targeted would press charges against their attackers to the full extent of the law. Then, I would like them to file civil charges against them as well, squeezing them out of every dime that they might possess and then turning it all over to a non-partisan charity. Letting these social embarrassments off the hook only encourages them. Such behavior must not be tolerated. The law exists, in part, to restrain such people. When the law is not prosecuted its power to restrain is forfeited.
Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This is not to be interpreted as Jesus' contribution to national security policy, but it must certainly be understood to apply to tobacco spitters, pie throwers and salad dressing squeezers.
It is also worth noting that, in Romans 12:20 the Apostle Paul quoted a similar thought from Proverbs 25:21-22, which concludes, "and you will heap burning coals upon their heads."
I encourage Bill Frist, Tom DeLay, and every other conservative to love their enemies and not throw stuff at them. Simply looking their "enemies" in the eye and "speaking the truth to them in love" will (if it is indeed the truth that they speak) serve to scorch every God-numbered hair on their heads.
It is a far, far better thing to stand for civility than to fall as a barbarian.
posted by Bird of Paradise at 7:04 PM
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