Why can't I find "one" hippy who spit on Vietnam Veteran?

Question

I ask many people (Hippies) who were in the anti war movement "Did you spit on returning Veterans"? They all said "NO". They said they would never spit on returning veterans. They said Vietnam Veterans made that up to get sympathy from the everyday American.

Answer 1

I suspect that in large part the whole notion of hippies, and other war protesters, degrading our soldiers during the Vietnam Era, was nothing more than propaganda peddled by pro war parties. These parties probably acquired a few soldiers to mouth this lie, but I sincerely doubt this to be true, or I at least am suspicious of how pervasive this phenomenon was, if it existed at all.

If one examines history, all the way back to ancient Rome, one will always see how the parties that are for war, will always try to vilify those who call from more temperance, and one of the primary ways they will demonize the dissenters to war, is by propounding the myth that they are against the troops. By creating this artificial line of demarcation that pits soldiers against peace activists, you effectively marginalize the peace movement.

You still see deception going on till this day. Those who seek to cut funding for the Iraqi occupation, or question what we are doing at Guantanamo or Abu Graib, are immediately labeled as anti-American, troop haters, or demoralizers.

Again, our impoverished sense of history is our greatest downfall. Only in a country, where people are so ignorant of how historically, such techniques have been used by every dictator to subdue moral efforts to end unjustified aggression, can such lies be sustained.

Answer 2

I'll concede that not all Hippies spat on servicemen...any more than they all burned government buildings and destroyed property. But I'm willing that you either haven't talked to many Hippies, or that those to whom you spoke were not "Hippies." It was cool, if you were back in the 60's to be a "Hippie." Some wannabes still exist.

Oddly, people change... even Hippies.

The Hippies in San Francisco... the long-haired, unwashed, drugged out bums who bashed the military, the war, the establishment... have become the establishment they hated. I can only presume the same is true for Hippies everywhere.

Back then it was ok for them to break the law, to get stoned, to be public nuisances, to destroy property, to be blemishes on the face of the planet. Today they're old and decrepit like the returning soldiers they abused. I doubt any of them would admit to any of the things they did as kids.

For the record: I was never spat upon. But I know those who were.

For the record: Even today, Vietnam service is not looked at as "good" a service as other duty. People look at you as if to say, "Oh... Vietnam... I'm sorry. I thought you said you were a Veteran."

Vietnam Vets DO NOT WANT SYMPATHY. They just want a little respect... at least an acknowledgment that they served their country honorably and well. But, if we don't get it... I guess that's ok too. We've lived without it for almost 40 years... and we probably won't care for too much longer.

Answer 3

Have you checked any rehabilitation hospitals?
I doubt that after serving a year in that hell hole that any returning veteran would have been inclined to merely turn the other cheek if some hippy spit on him.
For what it's worth, when I personally returned, I didn't want "sympathy" or anything else from the "everyday American" - I just wanted to get on with my life.
Any "hippy" that thinks returning veterans made this up are suffering from a drug induced, delusional fantasy.

Answer 4

No one spit on a vietnam veteran, but when they returned they were not treated with respect, partly because of the traitorous actions of the likes of Hanoi Jane Fonda, the attitude was "ok so what" and why would you ask someone such a question. Hippies wern't bad people, they were just fed up with the conventional life style and the government of Nixon and Johnson, and with good reason. and where are these hippies you are refering to, they pretty much faded into obscurity in the mid seventies. So what other questions did you ask these hippies, yea right, you are just full of baloney paloney. Vets are our real heros.

Answer 5

A Harris Poll in 1971 showed that only 1% of the veterans encountered hostile reactions when they came home, and they did not think the antiwar movement was hostile to them.

A Harris poll reported to Congress in 1972 that indicates 93% of returning veterans FOUND THEIR HOMECOMING FRIENDLY, while only 3% found it unfriendly. The poll also reported that over 75% of returning vets WERE OPPOSED TO THE WAR.

The first reported instance of spitting occurs during an International Day of Protest featuring "Veterans for Peace in Vietnam." Here it is the WAR SUPPORTERS who are spitting on the pro-peace veterans. In 1965, World War II veterans who were taking part in an antiwar demonstration were reviled as "cowards" and "traitors."

The reports of veterans being spit upon were debunked on closer scrutiny.

One lie told centered around a "homecoming" of a troop transport at San Francisco Int'l Airport....when in fact no homecoming ever occurred...they took place at nearby military bases.

Answer 6

As the Vietnam Veterans grow old they are receiving more and more recognition, and enjoy a "Welcome Home" every year. While WW II, and Korea and Vietnam Era military men and women are pleased that they are being celebrated (and you deserve it) we Korean War Veterans would ask that our childrens generation listen to WAR REPORTS and know that when Korea is left out we feel the pain. Welcome Home Kids! I salute you!

Answer 7

I have included the links to many sites that list the content of their "Newsreel" clips concerning the Vietnam War and returning GI's.
My Father was stationed in San Francisco prior to shipping out to Vietnam. He said that although people would direct rude comments towards him about the war, he had never been spat upon. That didn't happen until he was returning "HOME" to the East Coast. The episode happened in NY.

Answer 8

There is videos of it, and its not like every single hippy met where the US soldiers were being dropped off and all spat on them. Vietnam vets didnt even get a big televised parade right when they got back.

Answer 9

Because You Are Not Really Interested In Finding One, Oh Elder Lemon Troll.

With your Views It Suits You To Think Its A Myth.

( despite being captured on Newsreels of the Day.)

I suppose next you will deny your friend Hanoi Jane offered Aid & Comfort to the enemy by posing for Propaganda pictures and making statements In North Vietnam as well.

Answer 10

Okay, so what I'm hearing is that you actually expect a hippie to remember something that happened at least 35 years ago.

Come on, those flakes were on so many drugs back then, they couldn't remember something that happened 35 SECONDS ago.