Reply #7: Yeah, but it's still psycho-babble

[TayTay]

Writing biographical information on someone else is the single scariest thing I can think of. It's so easy to over emphasize one thing to the detrement of something else. I like the conclusions in that article, that the national media wanted Kerry to stick to the script, that he was a 'Brahmin', though that is unsupported by the evidence. He is undoubtedly a serious and thoughtful man. He sometimes takes a few sentences to explain a thought or position. The national (and local) press took this and ran with it past reserved, past aloof and into coldness. Ahhhmmmm, I beg to differ.

I think the High School stuff is interesting in what it seems to have NOT fostered in Kerry; greed, indifference and an adherence to cliquishness. Perhaps some of that ability to stand alone on an issue comes from here. But I also think that the whole Yale experience, wherein he was taken seriously in an academic environment and encouraged to indulge his interests was also formative.

But, in my own mind, for what it's worth, I think the Vietnam experience was the biggest influence on the guy we see today. Privilege, background and education allowed him to enlist as an officer, what happened after that is completely fascinating. The 'Best and the Brightest' were the ones who dreamed up that war and were people who travelled in those Harvard/Yale circles. And they were the ones who lied to the country and to him. (Actually to his face, if I remember correctly.) When he got back from the war, he identified with the common serviceman in a sort of 'people's revolt.' Was that an 'in your face' to the country's Ruling Class (as well as a stand on principle?) I always thought that it was and appreciated it as an egalitarian position. Hmmm, completely captivating thoughts.

The national press is lazy and is always looking for the Cliff Notes version of a person. Aha, we found this bio fact, well, that's it, the guy is 'solved.' Write the script and move on. I have always found Kerry to be much more interesting than this, a complicated and fascinating guy. So many contradictions, so many interesting stands. So much to have 'grown up' from and into. A real bio would be a wondrous thing. (I think my favorite things in 'Tour of Duty' are the personality glimpses, Kerry taking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on board the boat, the sleepwalking and talking, hanging out with the crew. That is just catnip to me.)