J. D. Pendry

“This is Jane Fonda.  During my two-week visit in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, I’ve had the opportunity to visit a great many places and speak to a large number of people from all walks of life - workers, peasants, students, artists and dancers, historians, journalists, film actresses, soldiers, militia girls, members of the women’s union, writers.
 

I visited the (Dam Xuac) agricultural coop, where the silk worms are also raised and thread is made.  I visited a textile factory, a kindergarten in Hanoi.  The beautiful Temple of Literature was where I saw traditional dances and heard songs of resistance.  I also saw unforgettable ballet about the guerrillas training bees in the south to attack enemy [American] soldiers.  The bees were danced by women, and they did their job well.
 

In the shadow of the Temple of Literature I saw Vietnamese actors and actresses perform the second act of Arthur Miller’s play All My Sons, and this was very moving to me- the fact that artists here are translating and performing American plays while US imperialists are bombing their country.
 

I cherish the memory of the blushing militia girls on the roof of their factory, encouraging one of their sisters as she sang a song praising the blue sky of Vietnam - these women, who are so gentle and poetic, whose voices are so beautiful, but who, when American planes are bombing their city, become such good fighters.
 

I cherish the way a farmer evacuated from Hanoi, without hesitation, offered me, an American, their best individual bomb shelter while US bombs fell near by.  The daughter and I, in fact, shared the shelter wrapped in each other’s arms, cheek against cheek.  It was on the road back from Nam Dinh, where I had witnessed the systematic destruction of civilian targets - schools, hospitals, pagodas, the factories, houses, and the dike system.
 

As I left the United States two weeks ago, Nixon was again telling the American people that he was winding down the war, but in the rubble - strewn streets of Nam Dinh, his words echoed with sinister (words indistinct) of a true killer.  And like the young Vietnamese woman I held in my arms clinging to me tightly - and I pressed my cheek against hers - I thought, this is a war against Vietnam perhaps, but the tragedy is America’s.
 

One thing that I have learned beyond a shadow of a doubt since I’ve been in this country is that Nixon will never be able to break the spirit of these people; he’ll never be able to turn Vietnam, North and South, into a neo - colony of the United States by bombing, by invading, by attacking in any way.  One has only to go into the countryside and listen to the peasants describe the lives they led before the revolution to understand why every bomb that is dropped only strengthens their determination to resist.  I’ve spoken to many peasants who talked about the days when their parents had to sell themselves to landlords as virtually slaves, when there were very few schools and much illiteracy, inadequate medical care, when they were not masters of their own lives.
 

But now, despite the bombs, despite the crimes being created - being committed against them by Richard Nixon, these people own their own land, build their own schools - the children learning, literacy - illiteracy is being wiped out, there is no more prostitution as there was during the time when this was a French colony.  In other words, the people have taken power into their own hands, and they are controlling their own lives.
And after 4,000 years of struggling against nature and foreign invaders - and the last 25 years, prior to the revolution, of struggling against French colonialism - I don’t think that the people of Vietnam are about to compromise in any way, shape or form about the freedom and independence of their country, and I think Richard Nixon would do well to read Vietnamese history, particularly their poetry, and particularly the poetry written by Ho Chi Minh.”

While sipping hot beer and longing for the day when he boarded the freedom bird, he was blessed with the voice of a cultural elitist.  A privileged, rich, American glorifying his enemy while characterizing him and his brothers in arms as murdering tools of an American Imperialist country .  Never mind that he knew what the Viet Cong were capable of doing and often did to the people of a village that might befriend Americans.  ….” read Vietnamese history, particularly their poetry, and particularly the poetry written by Ho Chi Minh.”

To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay.
Looking forward to well wouldn’t do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much, as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt – Gilbert O’Sullivan, Alone Again (Naturally)

Yes Jane, the poetry of Uncle Ho - that’s what our Soldier needed.  When he arrived home, a disillusioned war scarred teenager, you welcomed him with chants of baby killer.  Instead of helping him recover from the scars of war, thanking him for his service and welcoming him back home, you plied him with guilt.  Too often, he turned toward drugs and alcohol seeking the comfort he didn’t get from you.  He often didn’t come back from his self-doubt.  You stole his youth; you stole his glory; you stole his service to his country.  For that, you’re proud.  For a picture, you’re sorry.

Talk about God and His mercy
Or if He really does exist
Why did He desert me in my hour of need
I truly am indeed Alone again, naturally

Just to make sure you really know who Jihad Jane is:

On Nov. 21, 1970 she told a University of Michigan audience of some 2,000 students, ”If you understood what communism was, you would hope, you would pray on your knees that we would some day become communist”.  At Duke University in North Carolina, she repeated what she had said in Michigan, adding “I, a socialist, think that we should strive toward a socialist society, all the way to communism.”  – The Washington Times - By Bruce Herschensohn, July 8, 2000

Jihad Jane had plenty of allies in those days.  The Vietnam Veterans against the War, a group of which many were complete frauds, received funding from her.  I’m sure you’ve heard of their well-known spokesman, John Kerry.  Who by the way is a protégé of Ted Kennedy’s from then until now.  It’s important to know that the people who would be running our country are close allies in action and ideology to Jihad Jane.  Johnny, who met with the Communists in Paris, while still a Naval Reserve Officer, has now met with the Syrian terrorist enabler and has proclaimed in the presence of the former Iranian President that the United States is an international pariah.  People like Jane, John and Ted don’t change.

JJ was quite apologetic recently about her photo opportunities in Vietnam.  That was preceding the release of her book and movie [2005] - another Hollywood socialist benefactor of capitalism.  Now that both the book and movie have fizzled, she’s reverting to her old reliable, Soldier hating, America hating and treasonous self.

Girl, you’re gettin’ that look in your eyes
And it’s startin’ to worry me- Mac Davis, Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me

In a veggie oil powered bus, Hanoi Jane plans to become Jihad Jane – an Al-Jazzeera cover girl.  [2005]  “I’m coming out”, she says, and bringing with her a “lot of baggage” from her Hanoi Jane days.  JJ, please give some thought to the route you’ll take, and who accompanies you on your trip.  Let me offer some suggestions that’ll make the tour a hit with Soldiers and Veterans:

This time, instead of posing with the enemy on a gun emplacement, I suggest that you find yourself some black hooded beheading Jihadis and a nice Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) on which to sit.  I’d select a tour that takes you to Washington DC, Hollywood, New York city and San Francisco.  In those places, you’ll draw sympathetic crowds and media.  Avoid my neck of the woods; although we have plenty we’d like to share with you, most of it is in the form of rotten produce.  You’ll need an entourage.  Why not have Terezza mother the group.  She’s a fine role model.  Of course, you’ll have to include Teddy.  Make sure to stock the liquor cabinet and bring the life preservers and snorkeling gear.  Just for kicks, I’d add Michael Moore.  He can document the trip for you.  He’s as good with the truth as you are.  If you bring him and Teddy, you’ll need to make sure the veggie bus has heavy-duty suspension.  On the bright side, if the bus runs out of fuel, I’m certain you can squeeze a few gallons of French fry grease out of Mike.  Bring along Commando Kerry, he connects so well with veterans and just for kicks, toss in a washed up old hippie band and a bale of pot.  It’ll be like old times. 

Some potential good may come from your anti-America tour.  The manufacturers of Hanoi Jane Urinal Targets will likely see an upsurge in demand for their product.  I think I’ll invest some of my military retirement check with one of them.

“I can’t go into any detail except to say that it’s going to be pretty exciting,” she said.

Yep, Jane, I’m thinking it just might be.

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night – Three Dog Night, Black and White

Copyright © J. D. Pendry 2005