OPINION - Guest writer

It's up to the kids

Students’ passion to spur change

During the presidencies of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, the most vexing problem they faced was the Vietnam war. How to end it, when to end it, how to keep from looking like the first American president to ever preside over a losing war.

Johnson's solution was to hand off to Nixon by choosing to decline to run for re-election in 1968. Nixon's solution was to order his secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, to negotiate a treaty ensuring American withdrawal so we could declare victory. Two years after our withdrawal, North Vietnam overran South Vietnam and consolidated the nation. The domino fell. Both nations became a "communist paradise."

In hindsight we now know that the Vietnam war was a total political disaster, a waste of American lives, Vietnamese lives and trillions of dollars of our national resources. We are now doing what we should have been doing all along with the Republic of Vietnam--trading with them.

But how did we get to the point where we could quit the Vietnam war back in 1973 after three presidents told us the war was necessary? It wasn't the leadership of Congress--it passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution authorizing the use of military force there. It wasn't the White House or the Department of Defense.

No, it was the youth of America who took to the streets and told us this must end. It was the baby boomers who decided they didn't want to die in a rice paddy in a foreign land over nothing. To become a name etched on a black granite wall in a Washington park.

Why am I reminded of the turbulent times of the 1960s all over again? Is it because we get to see body counts on our nightly news programs every few weeks as repeated acts of senseless violence take place in our schools and churches and government buildings? Is it because students have taken to the streets and capitols to demand action? Is it because the only action they get is a lot of hand-wringing and thoughts and prayers and political speech?

Yes, and yes, and yes.

I am so impressed with the Florida students who are fighting back now on the gun issue, angry and articulate, speaking directly to Congress and the president and state legislatures demanding action. They have a long row to hoe because the people who need to hear them don't listen. But I have a feeling that America is listening now.

If you're thinking I'm comparing the Vietnam war with deranged shooters randomly killing people, you would be right. People are dying, aren't they? For no good reason, right? Our elected leaders are doing nothing about it, correct? People are having to take to the streets to be heard by politicians who don't want to listen, aren't they?

I admit to being conflicted about both issues. I was opposed to the Vietnam war, didn't want to go, thought it was a waste, but rather than run to Canada or plead bone spurs in my feet, I signed up and got myself sent to Vietnam not once, but twice. A few night carrier landings cured me of wanting to go for three.

And while participating in the occasional duck hunt, or shooting squirrels as a kid, I am no hunter or target shooter. I keep two guns in my home, but find myself in that group of people who think it's past time we did more to address gun violence in this country. My 16-gauge shotgun and pistol provide me with all of the Second Amendment protections I need, and I do not need any assault weaponry, nor does anyone else but the police and our military forces.

It is abundantly clear that there will be no action from any member of the Arkansas congressional delegation, or the governor, or the General Assembly, to address student safety at our schools. In fact, our representatives want guns on all of our college campuses even though no college administrator in the state wants that to happen. Have they forgotten about our junior high schools? Don't we need guns there too?

In the latest national polls, 66 percent of Americans want to see some sort of gun regulation put into place. In the same poll, 50 percent of gun owners also want to see stricter regulations. If you think that would tell our congressmen something, you would be wrong.

I hold out no hope that the Arkansas congressional delegation will be moved by any of this. They are all smart enough to know what they should do but they are not smart enough to sell it to their voters. As John Brummett told a group of gray hairs recently, it's less about the money the NRA contributes and more about the fear congressmen have when the NRA gives them a B rating and floods their offices with letters from their constituents. Keeping that paying job that provides them with a $174,000 annual salary and free parking at Reagan National Airport is more important to them than anything else.

You go, kids. I'm for you, and I think you are going to win. Passion wins elections, and sometimes passion and right are on the same side.

Carmie Henry lives in Little Rock.

Editorial on 03/15/2018

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