Silent Forgiveness
We honored and attempted
to fulfill our treaty and moral obligation: preserve the rights and freedoms of the Vietnamese
people. We came home to harsh condemnation and disapproval
by war protestors.
Even then, I forgave them for their baseless hate.
Even then, I forgave them for substituting their souls with a mob mentality.
Even then, I forgave them the hypocrisy of their violent street riots, hate, vandalism, terrorism, and campus violence.
Even then, I forgave them for seeing only my uniform, not the inner man.
Even then, I forgave them for calling me “babykiller” and spitting on me.
Even then, I forgave them for failing to see the man of peace, tolerance, and compassion within.
Even then, I understood the sources of naïve, misguided, and uninformed views among some, and valid outrage among others.
Even then, I respected their dissent, their personal opposition to war, or their dread of combat.
Even now, I remain proud to have assisted the Vietnamese people.
Even now, I would defend to my death humanity’s most-cherished ideals: human rights, freedoms, and liberty.
Even then, I forgave them for their baseless hate.
Even then, I forgave them for substituting their souls with a mob mentality.
Even then, I forgave them the hypocrisy of their violent street riots, hate, vandalism, terrorism, and campus violence.
Even then, I forgave them for seeing only my uniform, not the inner man.
Even then, I forgave them for calling me “babykiller” and spitting on me.
Even then, I forgave them for failing to see the man of peace, tolerance, and compassion within.
Even then, I understood the sources of naïve, misguided, and uninformed views among some, and valid outrage among others.
Even then, I respected their dissent, their personal opposition to war, or their dread of combat.
Even now, I remain proud to have assisted the Vietnamese people.
Even now, I would defend to my death humanity’s most-cherished ideals: human rights, freedoms, and liberty.
Will Walsh