The subject of cowardice came up in the draft diary that can be currently found on the recommended list. It was the third time today that this topic had flashed before my eyes and I want to share the other two with you.
First, I discovered today that John Wayne, America's poster boy of military heroism, never served in WWII. In contemplating his reasons for not going, it should be remembered that many fellow actors left very lucrative careers and established families to do their duty. Also, it seems John Wayne never let his own behavior instill him with any empathy for the plight of young men faced with leaving this country or going to Vietnam.
The IMDB citation:
Wayne did not serve during World War II, unlike many of his peers including William Holden, James Stewart, Clark Gable, Tyrone Power, and Henry Fonda. This has long been controversial, especially in light of his right-wing views and support for the Vietnam War, and has led to accusations that he was a draft dodger. Wayne was throughout his career a very vocal supporter of the military, anti-communism and the Republican Party. During the Vietnam War he criticized young men who went to Canda and Europe to dodge the draft, calling them cowards, and strongly criticized Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland for their anti-war activism. Wayne was 34 years old when the United States entered World War II, and requested a deferment as a married father of four children. It is notable that numerous other married celebrities with children, like the 37-year-old activist liberal Democrat Henry Fonda, did serve with distinction throughout the conflict.
I found the next point fascinating because it really goes to the heart of what makes a chicken hawk so ferociously pro-war:
Many believe Wayne's embarrassment over this issue caused him to assume the position of a super hawk in later life. He directed and starred in The Green Berets (1968), the only movie ever made to support the Vietnam War. He later financed a documentary using his own money, No Substitute for Victory (1970), which alleged the United States was losing the Cold War due to a lack of willingness to fight.
The second thing I happened across was a recent Scarborough clip on MSNBC. WOW, is all I can say! Talk about an uncomfortable moment. Lawrence O'Donnell just lit into the neo-con war cheerleader, repeatedly calling him a coward. Great alley cat fight. A must see, so go to the main website,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
get to the video selection part (click on any video option), look for the MSNBC TV tag, find Scarborough, then look for "Iraq Unwinnable War?"
Now, to answer my question, "Where are the John Waynes?" Well, it's simple, they are in our government, on talk radio, and on TV. That's where you will find men who never had the courage to face the horrors of war. Whether you disagree with the idea of a draft or not, it is hard to dispute O'Donnell's point that it forces those who advocate for war to face the consequences of their illusions of bravery.