Larry Scott (former E-5) served four-plus years in the U.S. Army with overseas tours as a Broadcast Journalist at AFKN HQ, Seoul, Korea and AFN, Lajes Field, The Azores, Portugal and a stateside tour as a Broadcast Journalism Instructor at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). Larry was decorated four times including the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was awarded DOD's First Place Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Journalism. After the Army, Larry was a news anchor on WNBC Radio in New York City. He receives VA compensation for a service-connected disability. Today, Larry resides in Southwest Washington and operates the website VA Watchdog dot Org.
To contact Larry Scott email larry@vawatchdog.org
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It's not worth the trouble
August 1, 2005
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Right at the top of my “to-do” list for today is this entry: Ignore Jane Fonda.
But, some of my fellow veterans are making that difficult. Ollie North writes a column that, though unintended I'm sure, actually promotes Fonda's upcoming “vegetable oil bus -- anti-war -- I'm coming out” nation-wide tour. Golly Ollie! And, John Shields does the same thing, calling on veterans to organize to counter this tour. Come on John!
Is Jane Fonda really worth all this? No! She's not worth the time or energy. Fonda has lowered herself to the point where she feels compelled to chronicle her perverse sexual activities in an attempt to exorcise the demons that plague her miserable life. And, her “grope and tell” book didn't even sell that well.
The world is ignoring Jane Fonda, and she's angry about that. So she has to turn the clock back 30-plus years and try to pull the “anti-war” stunt again. This is pitiful. And to give credence to the pitiful only puts us on their plane.
I was talking with an American Legion Auxiliary volunteer the other day at my VA hospital. Jane Fonda came into the discussion, and this 70-something woman put it all in perspective. She said, “I'm too busy to worry about that b----.”
Exactly the point! If we let Jane Fonda hold our time and energy captive, then we get caught playing The Jane Game. The Jane Game isn't worth it because only Jane wins. By paying attention to Jane we let her exploit us as veterans. By protesting her tour we allow her to use us once again.
Imagine Jane's “vegetable oil” bus pulling into a city and NOT ONE SINGLE VETERAN IS THERE to protest. What louder message could we send? What a fitting reception for someone who's just trying to sell books and revitalize a long-decayed acting career.
Not me Jane! I won't be there! You can't fool me. I'm not going to come out and lend an air of respectability to your nonsense. I'm not going to play “The Jane Game.” You used us once before. Not this time!
The distraction offered by The Jane Game is alluring. It appears to be a chance to stand up and be counted. But is it? And, is it worth it? Does it make sense? And, most importantly, does it really accomplish anything?
The American Legion Auxiliary lady had it right. It's time for us to be “too busy to worry about that b----.” For every hour we could waste playing The Jane Game we could be working with our fellow veterans. Just like the Auxiliary lady. We could be volunteering at our local VA hospital; making coffee, giving directions, handing out books or taking a few minutes to share a little of our time with another veteran who just wants to talk. I can think of no higher calling.
Sorry, Jane. It didn't work. I'm ignoring you. I have better things to do.
© 2005 Larry Scott. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.
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