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By Cliff Buchan
It may have just been ironic that community members, veterans and students came together on Saturday at the new Forest Lake branch library for the state’s first observance of the newly created Vietnam Veterans Day.
It may have just been coincidence that members of the Forest Lake Lions and American Legion Post 225 partnered last Thursday for the club’s annual Liberty Day education program for students, this time at Columbus Elementary School.
In reality, however, the two events mentioned here are far from ironic and far from coincidence. They are the type of events that take place on a regular basis in our community and in our schools, year in and year out.
It’s one of the reasons that we conclude that our school system and the Forest Lake community as a whole has been handed a bum rap in the wake of the March 25 appearance here by Vets for Freedom, which was slated to bring its National Heroes Tour to the high school. That event was called off by the school because of legitimate concerns for protests and a likely disruption of the school day.
The organization made its stop here with a last-minute move to the American Legion. Several hundred attended, including some of the social studies students originally slated to meet with the veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As it turned out, the relocation allowed Vets for Freedom to argue its case that the current war strategy in Iraq is winning and that the U.S. should not cave in to those who would end the conflict. That would not have been the case at the school under an agreement between Principal Steve Massey and Pete Hegseth, the Forest Lake graduate who served in Iraq and today is executive director of the national organization.
What Vets for Freedom may not have counted on is the severity of the backlash that has pounded the school and the community. It is a backlash that is misdirected.
Read letters to the editor in any of the daily newspaper, and in this paper today, and you will get the sense. Look at any number of Internet opinion blogs and you’ll find an even more mean-spirited and ugly portrayals of Massey, the school and the community.
Many of those commenting seem to have the belief that the cancelation prevented vets from having the chance to speak, and in this case, justify the war. That would not have happened at the high school, under the agreement. Those who say the school district is anti-veteran don’t know the whole story or they choose to ignore the facts that have been established over many years of close partnership.
The sad aspect is the level of personal attacks generated over the Vets for Freedom flap. Massey in particular has been vilified and demonized by letters and Internet attacks. Would the anonymous bloggers who use the terms hypocrite, crapweasel and hippie peacenick have the stomach to make the cheap shots to his face?
The bright spot, however, is the willingness of school and community members to explore a future dialogue on the topic. Hegseth has indicated his organization would return for a community discussion. The same sentiment comes from District 52A Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, who believes more discussion would be helpful. It is the type of discussion that should be taking place in communities throughout the country.
Our note of concern, however, is that this should not be a one-sided discussion. The format, if it is to be received as legitimate by the public, should include those viewpoints pro and con of this nation’s involvement in Iraq.
And it should be more than a discussion of strategy involved in the war today and the question of should we get out or should we stay. It should be a comprehensive discussion, one that looks at the history of the U.S. involvement and how we wound up in this war in the first place.
Some might argue that there is little value in looking at the past because it is the present we face, but if the true scope of this conflict is to be resolved and understood, a complete study is necessary.
Community by community, this discussion should take place. It is needed here.
What is not needed are the cruel and misguided personal attacks and condemnations of a school system and a community that has proven itself time and again as a friend of the veteran, not an enemy.
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