Just cancelled my VFW membership

[maxrandb]

How about you??

Here's what I wrote on their website:

I served 30 years as a Navy Mustang Officer, retiring in 2012. I have been a member of the VFW since 2013.

To say I was disappointed by that rediculous display of Trump speaking today in Missouri would be an understatement. You allowed a complete moron to use veterans as his scrotum polishers.

I never thought I would be ashamed of veterans, but that display today finally did it.

I am contacting EVERY veteran in my circle and am urging them to drop their VFW membership, or not join if not a current member.

Your national leadership should resign immediately.

Please remove me from your mailing list and follow the advice of Donald Trump and go eff yourselves

[Tipperary]

1. You lost me at "scrotum polishers."

Good luck with that.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. The only problem I have with that term is

that it presumes Trump has one to polish, whereas in fact he just gave it to Putin as a trophy.

[Hekate]

10. And as a trophy I am sure it will get the occasional polish

Yeesh, what an image

[TheCowsCameHome]

26. His nose is mounted on it.

[Honeycombe8]

61. Bwahahahaha.

[maxrandb]

5. Yes, I never heard such language in the Navy

I think I know who I'm writing to and what may resonate with them, but thanks for the editing suggestions.

[RhodeIslandOne]

8. +1

LOL

[maxrandb]

12. To really get under their skin I was going to write

"Donald Trump speaking at the VFW???...What, was Jane Fonda all booked up"??

BTW - I have great respect for Ms Fonda

[LisaM]

15. Oh, snap!

I, too, like Jane Fonda, and she certainly pulled back on what she said about Vietnam, but if you could somehow equate her and Trump in the eyes of the military, it would be fantastic.

[calimary]

99. So do I. She's tried to do good, most of her life.

Even when she went over to Vietnam, she was still trying to do good - at least as she saw it. A LOT of us couldn't stomach that war.

If you think you can, then if you're ever in Washington DC, go seek out the Vietnam War Memorial. And start at one end, and walk down the path along the front face. Where all those names are engraved in dark-colored marble. Names of the 58-some-odd THOUSAND American dead from that war. It starts with a single line of names. As you continue walking, there are more lines, and more lines and more lines of names. Getting taller and taller as you walk farther along, and deeper down into a lower level of ground. Pretty soon you can't see the top ones anymore - they're that high up over your head. When you get to the bottom and start back up, the stacks of names start tapering back down.

And as you walk, you'll undoubtedly pass other pilgrims who've come to walk that walk. You'll see families and friends making rubbings of "that" name they found. You'll see little flags stuck in the ground below someone's name, by someone who misses him. You'll sometimes see a card, a handmade paper heart, a single flower or a little bouquet of flowers, and others trying to reach up and touch "that" name that's still special to them.

I challenge anyone who does this to walk the whole length, from one end to the other, looking at all those names of those lost souls, and not be crying by the time you reach the far end. I've teared up again just writing this and thinking back. It has THAT big an impact.

I was sobbing by then. The tears just came and I couldn't help it. It gives you an idea of just the magnitude of the loss. How MANY deaths. How many tears, spouses heartbroken, children left behind with no daddy (or in some cases, mommy) who will never know that lost parent. It's one of the heaviest experiences I've ever had, and I don't even know anybody who went over there and was killed. I know of no one to mourn personally or directly. Nevertheless, it still affected me PROFOUNDLY. I wasn't prepared, and didn't expect the impact of it. Bearing silent witness - in honor of all those voices that are forever silenced. It grabs you by the gut and won't let go, even hours - or days - later.

One of the most stunning and impactful monuments I have EVER seen. Maybe THE most EVER.

[LisaM]

100. I have seen that memorial, and I think it's very moving.

People who don't like it have never seen it, IMO.

[calimary]

107. Yeah. It's powerful as all-get-out. And it sneaks up on you.

I’d barely reached the halfway point at the lowest depth below ground level when it dawned on me that tears were streaming down my face.

Designed by a young woman named Maya Lin. She was 21 when her idea for the monument was chosen, in 1981.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Lin

[maddiemom]

23. I, for one, am not offended, but it is a stomach-turning image.

[lapfog_1]

42. in my very brief time as a guest of the Navy

I don't think I every heard anything so.... tame.

[Corvo Bianco]

50. I'm with you

=)

[Stinky The Clown]

65. Heh!

[SusanaMontana41]

72. RESPECT.

[Docreed2003]

101. Lol...thanks for that laugh shipmate

My language and metaphors took a salty nosedive after my Navy service....when I got back from Afghanistan, my wife had this big welcome home party with all of our family and I remember vividly saying something to my father in law in a story that had a string of expletives and the party coming to a screeching halt like a needle being drug across a record. He, a retired police officer, was laughing his ass off and my wife looks at me and says "I think you need to check your filter". Lmao

[tenderfoot]

16. Not "Just cancelled my VFW membership"?

eom

[Kingofalldems]

19. That's exactly what Trump is doing.

Are you saying he isn't? I don't get it.

[RhodeIslandOne]

34. They are concerned

Aaaaaaalways concerned.

[heaven05]

84. oh please!!!!!!! Bravo to this complete OP

everyone who voted for trump in the VFW, American Legion are just that, "scrotum polishers". I have a few of my own I would like to add, but I wouldn't want to offend the delicate sensibilities here...

[spanone]

2. K&R...

[Siwsan]

4. Thank you

[pansypoo53219]

79. ditto.

[Leghorn21]

6. Fwiw, max, the VFW National HQ tweeted this a bit ago:

Today, we were disappointed to hear some of
our members boo the press during President Trump's
remarks. We rely on the media to spread the VFW
message, and @CNN, @NBCNews, @ABC, @FoxNews,
@CBSNews, & others on site today, were our invited guests.

We were happy to have them there.
4:00 PM - Jul 24, 2018

Link to tweet

[Hekate]

11. That's actually a good statement from the VFW. nt

[maxrandb]

13. Yes, but how many times are we going to allow organizations

to feign surprise at who this asspickle is???

[Mariana]

37. Also to feign surprise at what his supporters are like.

It's ridiculous for them to pretend they had no idea that Trump fans would behave like that.

[former9thward]

39. They said "our members" not Trump.

[irisblue]

41. Asspickle, may I steal? Navy term?

[maxrandb]

46. Yes. First time I heard it was as a potential

call sign for a newbie F18 pilot.

I love the term.

[yardwork]

63. Exactly! They knew who he was when they invited him.

btw, love the scrotum polisher comment.

[uponit7771]

85. +1

[renate]

22. good for them!

They had to walk a narrow line between their Trump-supporting members and their Constitution-supporting members.

[RGinNJ]

7. I have never been able to join any of those after service organizations

They are either run by biker assholes or redneck repukes.

[maxrandb]

14. There is the occasional older bleached blonde lady

smoking cigarettes through a hole in her neck and hitting on the newest members.

[Stinky The Clown]

66. I'm with you. No desire to join, and for the reason you cite.

That said, I know more than a few decent people who are members of the VFW or American Legion. My WWII Dad was a VFW member. I went to a few meetings with him when I first got out and moved to the Reserves. Even back then it was mostly people with whom I had no desire to spend time.

[True Blue American]

78. Felt sad

When I saw so many elderly people drinking and smoking every day. A family member insisted I go every time I visited finally I refused. The air was so think with smoke it as hard to breath. I had o wash all my clothes to get the smell out.

I am sure the organization did good things. I just did not see it.

[PearliePoo2]

9. Yes, that was pathetic! Good for you!

Please keep us updated as to responses you get from your veteran friends and if you get a reply from the VFW!

[The River]

17. No, Not Dropping Out

The VFW is fighting for veterans in D.C.
All the service organizations are fighting for us.
The one exception is "Concerned" Veterans of America (CVA)
They are supported by the Koch Bro's.

The VFW has to play nice when it comes to politics.
It's hardly worth getting upset about.

[maxrandb]

49. Playing Nice by inviting this baffoon???

Don't want their help. It's not worth it, no matter how hard they try to polish that turd they crapped today.

[The River]

70. They Won't Miss You

neither will I.

[elmac]

18. 2/3rds of vets voted for the fascist pigs

don't know why they would vote for anti-American traitorous tRump unless they are planning on joining the red army.

[Chicagogrl1]

20. Nice work

Kudos to you!

[AllyCat]

74. Welcome to DU!

[benld74]

21. Remember this was Misery

The hole I’ve lived for
Most of my life.
Dems on east
Dems on West
Blithering blitherers in the center

You KNOW that if tRump was speaking
HIS people set up the audience
HIS people didn’t allow the outside larger crowd from entering
Everything is staged

[erronis]

32. Good points. While there are islands of intelligence in the midwest, it's a sea of know-nothings.

I spent 10+ years in KS and traveled around quite a bit. When you meet real people in real situations, it's wonderful.

When you get a crowd of bar/beer/bikers giving their loud opinions, it's hell's hole. Of course hell's holes are all around this country and good people vastly outweigh the negatives.

[jalan48]

24. Well said!

[oldtime dfl_er]

25. I think it's great

Civility is, at least temporarily, dead. This kind of language is necessary to make sure the point is taken seriously. Good on you.

[TheCowsCameHome]

27. I salute you, sir.

Well done on all counts.

[Paladin]

28. Nicely done. Thank you. (nt)

[Wounded Bear]

29. Never joined...

technically, I'm not eligible, but I had a recruiter once who kind gave me the wink, nudge treatment.

I blew him off.

[magicarpet]

30. I thought Commander Bone Spur was hyper patriotic....

Weren't his sons both in the Marine Corps ?
Just like their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather before them.

[magicarpet]

31. trDump has a Purple 💓.

[oasis]

33. I ponied up for Life Membership back in the early '90s. Years later

I wrote them a scathing letter for endorsing a Rep. candidate in Illinois with no military service over Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee, war wounded veteran. She lost to the guy but was elected to the congressional seat in 2013. She's now an awesome senator from that state.

Since my membership was paid up I figured I could have at times, a tiny voice in their decision making process.

Btw, thank you for your service to this fabulous country of ours.

[3catwoman3]

47. They supported that loudmouth...

...Joe Walsh? Dealbreaker there, for sure. He is a complete ass.

[oasis]

52. I don't remember the name of her GOP opponent. I was just

incensed the VFW would take a non military guy against Tammy, a hero. I guess misogyny was even more rampant back 25 years ago.

But, rejecting a wounded war veteran?

[3catwoman3]

56. I live in Illinois, and his...

...district is adjacent to mine, so I remember him well. A one term wonder who took a lot of well-deserved crap for being a deadbeat dad.

[oasis]

58. Walsh had his 15 min. of fame for some dumb stuff. Can't

remember. It was such a blip, it ain't worth googling.

[atreides1]

95. Peter Roskam

He was an Illinois State Senator! I remember that one...the VFW failed to endorse her and then made some BS excuse as to why they endorsed Roskam!!!

But, to be fair he was also endorsed by the Teamsters labor union and The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150!!!

[oasis]

96. Thanks for the clarification. Fortunately, Tammy stayed focused

on her goals and got elected into congress. She's a truly inspirational American hero.

[mickmten]

105. me too

I wrote them a letter after the Duckworth incident - really upset me. Sent them my membership card (one year membership) and told them where to put it. Now, I keep getting a membership card every year - they gave me a lifetime membership.

[pwb]

35. Try to remember trump plants people at his events that start this shit.

The division comes from many sources including paid disrupters .

[uponit7771]

86. +1

[erlewyne]

36. I was drafted in 1967.

I am American and my family immigrated over soon after the Mayflower.
I served with other races and many of them volunteered (regular army).
Brave soldiers and dedicated.
When I got out in '69 I hustled down to the American Legion to sign
up and join the old WWII and Korean veterans. I was a veteran. I had to
sign a paper that said I was not an atheist (in so many words).
I just could not do it. I really tried to, but nope, I was an American first
and I served. I wear my Veterans of Foreign War's cap when I spend a lot
of money because I often get 10% back. But that's it. I do not participate
in any clubs.

[Elwood P Dowd]

40. I joined the American Legion after getting out of the Army (Vietnam Era draftee).

Lasted less than a year. Place was nothing but redneck drunk racists telling lies about their WWII war experience and complaining about us "Peaceniks". The only positive I could think of was they served beer on Sunday. It wasn't until the 1980s when the bars were allowed to sell the stuff on Sunday.

[erlewyne]

62. Yes, I remember that!

Probably my main motivation was beer on Sunday!
I grew a modest beard and allowed the hair to grow over my ears.
My redneck neighbors called me a hippie. But I served and most of
them (about all) did not. While I was in the good jobs were filled.
I am pleased now and comfortable (not rich ... drank it all up!).


LOL

we must be neighbors!!!

[keithbvadu2]

38. Bullshit protector worn at a VFW speech by Dubya

Bullshit protector worn at a VFW speech by Dubya

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ear-flap/

?resize=400,333

[FakeNoose]

45. Great! I like this idea

Hopefully more VFW vets have a sense of humor like this guy!

[lpbk2713]

43. I just did a Google image search for 'VFW Members'

A large margin were paunchy old white guys. I served 1965 - 69.
I never had the slightest interest to be one of them.

[FakeNoose]

48. I believe most are Vietnam vets

Nothing wrong with that!

[keithbvadu2]

57. "Vietnam vets" - Now...

Back in the 60s, 70s, a lot of VN vets were put off by the veterans orgs because the old guard from WWll and Korea felt they were not veterans of a 'real ' war.

They had to adjust their attitudes because the old guard was dying off and they needed new members.

Many towns either had vets organizations close or at least merge into the same building such as VFW and American Legion.

[peggysue2]

44. Whoosh!

Tell us how you really feel

But good on you. There are all kinds of resistance/protest. Not all of it happens in the streets.

[maxrandb]

60. I'm no Churchill

But we have to fight them on the beaches, in the air, on the water, in the streets.

Everywhere 2 or 3 of these MAGAts gather, they need to be resisted.

Your local Hate Radio station.

Your local Faux News affiliate.

Businesses that contribute or give aid and comfort to them.

Businesses, restaurants, bars, dentist offices and car repair shops that have Faux News on their TVs.

Heating and air conditioning companies whose workers show up with MAGAts hats or bumper stickers.

Universities that broadcast their sports on stations that also foist Limbaugh, Hannity, or the rest of the Retrumplican propagandist on your community.

Stand up!!! Verbalize!!! Politely tell them to change the channel from Faux News or take your business elsewhere.

Confront! Don't be a wallflower!!

We have been silent and put up with their shit for too fucking long!!!

Silence is complicity.

The least we can do is make them uncomfortable....the least we can do is let them know that there are a lot more folks that DON'T get their marching orders from Faux News and Hate Radio.

You'll be surprised how speaking up can make some in their group think clan start to question whether they are in the wrong group.

When people see me...a white, past middle age, 30 year veteran speak up, it let's them know that not all white, middle age veterans share their political beliefs. You'll actually see some lights come on.

Stand up, or roll over. That's the choice we've got.

[peggysue2]

64. Stand up, or roll over. That's the choice we've got.

x1000!

[3catwoman3]

51. No ambiguity in your letter.

I guess there is a reason the phase is, "Swear like a sailor."

I think the Scots, who have a real talent for colorful phraseology, would enjoy your 'scrotum polisher' term. I certainly did.

[trof]

53. This veteran says "Hell yes!" and thank you.

[unitedwethrive]

54. Good for you! We all need to stand up for what is right.

[NewJeffCT]

55. Statement from the VFW

Link to tweet

[Major Nikon]

69. At times the national VFW tries to be apolitical

The local membership is almost all rabid wingnuts, at least here in Texas. I gave up on them quite some time ago.

[Honeycombe8]

59. Good for you! We all have to start being bolder, more proactive, and sending the message. nt

[gtar100]

67. As a non-military person looking in from the outside, I've never understood why

people in the military are overwhelmingly republican. Republicans are two-faced, hypocritical liars about their support of "the troops". It's always the same shit with veterans who require medical care as a result of their service. They get shafted every fucking time. Republicans are assholes... why can't they (vets and people in the Service now) see that and see that Democrats and the Democratic party are far more willing to do the right thing by them. Highly trained with a glaring blind spot about who actually cares and puts our money where our mouths are.

[bdjhawk]

75. I feel the same way

Among the many issues the Repugs twist the truth around to make themselves look good, defense spending is front and center. They consistently push for increased defense spending while the Dems see the overpriced bloat and try to control that. I think many of those in the military blindly look at the Repug's higher defense spending as support for the rank and file when in reality, the increases go to the pockets of the execs at the private defense contractors. I have always felt the Dems could do a much better job of communicating their desire to trim the excesses so that real capabilities and benefits can get into the hands of those who are putting their lives on the line rather than have the dollars go to those sitting in the corporate ivory tower.

[maxrandb]

83. If you ever want to see how the Soviet Union is run...join the military

We don't give up all our rights when we join, but let's just say we put some on hold.

A couple of things

- The Navy I served in was a microcosm of the United States, with a bit of a larger representation of minorities.

- The enlisted and NCO ranks (E7-E9 for the Navy) are extremely diverse, and in a lot of cases trend to be more progressive or liberal in their political beliefs.

- The Officer ranks tend to skew to the "wingnutty" right side.

That being said; one thing that anyone who has spent anytime in the military knows that it is an Authoritarian Construct. Think Jack Nicholas' famous "we follow orders or we die" line from A Few Good Men.

The other thing that the "Reich" has done a good job of is framing ALL liberals and progressives as "hippies who spit on Vietnam Veterans" despite pretty strong empirical evidence that didn't happen (see below link)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/opinion/myth-spitting-vietnam-protester.html

So, you have folks who are indoctrinated into an authoritarian way of life, are told that "liberals spit on them", and are prone to engage in "group-think". It's the perfect petri dish to grow folks who "love" a bully figure.

Also, the right-wingers in the military have always been the noisiest...drowning out and suppressing liberal and progressive military members from speaking out.

I found that when I voiced my opinion as loudly and consistently as the wingnuts did, my points got through.

That's why I am so aghast at the ignorance or dismissal of Hate Radios impact on our government. Especially when it would be so easy to combat it. Imagine if during the women's march, 10,000 people would have protested outside of the WNIS 790 Norfolk radio studio instead of at the Chrysler Museum?? That's where action needs to take place against Hate Radio...AT THE LOCAL LEVEL..IN THEIR FACE...EVERYDAY!

Examples abound of how good Hate Radio is in forming opinion. They were able to convince veterans that a guy who spent the Vietnam War in a "cushy", hard to get National Guard billet defending the "Flori-Bama Bar", was more "patriotic" than a guy who volunteered to do "back-to-back" tours with a Riverine Squadron in Vietnam and had the wounds and Purple Hearts to prove it.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

98. Those who control the media, control the society.--

Allen Ginsberg


I’m with you, Democrats should have our own Think Tanks, and address the toxic reich wing propaganda spewed over the airwaves.

[Permanut]

68. Navy veteran here..

The national leadership of the VFW exactly mirrors the intent of the membership. This is the organization Trump and Clinton spoke to in Charlotte in 2016, and whose members shouted "lock her up" as Trump pumped up the crowd about "crooked Hillary".

The VFW is infested with members of the Trump cult. Changing leadership wouldn't have any effect.

[link:https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article91811257.html|

[ooky]

71. Another Navy vet here

I didn't watch that shit. I've always hated watching him using us as props. I don't plan to join VFW either but I wish I could find a good vets against Trump movement to join.

[Ananda62]

89. USAF vet - Gulf War

Hi, I’ve lurked on DU for years and - when I retired recently- I finally registered. There are vets like myself who are anti-Trump. On Nov 10 - the same day as Trump’s military parade- a group of vets will be marching against Trump in the #1MillionVeteransMarch in DC. I plan to fly to DC to participate. (i heard about the march on Twitter. )

[ooky]

90. Welcome

[backtoblue]

103. Welcome to DU!

And thank you for your service!

[Recursion]

73. (Side note) if you're not a Legionnaire, do please consider joining

There's no need to check out of veterans' organizations entirely, and the Legion would love to have you.

[ooky]

92. What has been the Legion's position on Trump, and on Republicans?

I keep getting mail to join the Legion but I have been hesitant, because I am absolutely not going to join an organization that supports Trump, and I wasn't sure. It seems like so many vets have flocked to his nonsensical flag waving.

[Recursion]

93. The only political positions the Legion takes are Veterans' advocacy

There's a lot less of the Lee Greenwood stuff than at VFW posts I've visited. The Legion was against firing Shulkin, for whatever that's worth

[ooky]

94. Okay, thanks.

[Brother Buzz]

106. This dumb draftee has issues with American Legion, too

My local chapter of the American Legion has been overrun with wackadoodle nuts while the VFW tends to be a little more pragmatic.

Go figure.

[bdjhawk]

76. The VFW used to rate or endorse members of Congress

based on their votes relating to veterans issues. It wasn't something that could be bought but rather a black and white rating based on votes on specific issues. I remember a few years ago, Pelosi (among other Dems) was on the list of those who were endorsed or got the highest rating and the right wing members of VFW were HYSTERICAL about Nancy Pelosi being on the VFW's "good" list. They raised such a stink that the organization came out and said they were ending the fact based ratings they offered as information to their members. Cause we all know.....facts don't matter!!!!

[Cha]

77. What makes them such brainwashed followers..

trump isn't doing shite for VETS is he?

Thank you for your service, maxrandb, and your patriotism

[MFM008]

80. Cant believe

They allowed a traitor such a forum.

[DFW]

81. They keep sending me requests for money

Presumably because my dad served in France and Germany in WW2. I just don't respond. They try to pass themselves off as some kind of patriotic organization, and I consider that to be an unprosecuted violation of Truth In Advertising laws.

[Squinch]

82. Your letter us great and I salute you, but I am so sad they have so polluted

an organization that should be a support to you.

[ck4829]

87. K&R

[Mc Mike]

88. tRump repugs did the same thing to the Boy Scouts.

It's downright Un American, what they're doing to our patriotic institutions.

They claim they own them, then get their stink all over them. That video of him hugging the flag was truly a dry-heave inducer.

From russia with love.

[Victor_c3]

91. Until now, it never occurred to me to drop my VFW membership

I’ve been a lifetime member since about 2005. I will have to write a very pointed letter stating my extreme dissatisfaction with the organization.

[bluescribbler]

97. I never joined.

US Navy, 1969-1972. 2 Westpac cruises. Maybe exposed to Agent Orange. Fuck the VFW.

[wasupaloopa]

102. This Vietnam get never joined. They always seem right wing to me.

Also I don’t want to hear other people’s war stories.

[mickmten]

104. Lifetime membership

So I was a member of the VFW until they really, really ticked me off. Tammy Duckworth was just getting into politics and was running for the House from her home district near/in Chicago. She addressed a local gathering of VFW members and asked for their support - keep in mind that she was a disabled Army officer, helicopter pilot, shot down in combat and lost both of her legs in the shoot-down.

She was a member of the VFW and her opponent (incumbent Republican) was not because he never served in the military.

So the VFW threw their support to the non-member Republican. I was livid. I wrote a scathing letter to VFW head office and included my membership card - told them to stick it. Damnedest thing happened after that - turns out that I get a new membership card every year; they gave me a lifetime membership. As soon as that crap comes in the mail it gets tossed ASAP. Bastards are so stupid they don't even know when they've been insulted.