The Billiken's Bluff

As the Swift Boat controversy has largely dominated news for the past week or so, there may not be a whole lot left to say about the scrutiny John Kerry's service record is now facing that hasn't been said already. Hell, Pericles (as recorded by Thucydides) already adressed this subject back in the day, not long after the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War.

Pericles: "For there is justice in the claim that steadfastness in his country's battles should be as a cloak to cover a man's other imperfections; since the good action has blotted out the bad, and his merit as a citizen more than outweighed his demerits as an individual."

Me: Now any Billikener could tell you I'm no fan of the Kerr-bear. And I do think he's brought all this Swift Boat business on himself with all his salutin' and high-falutin' over what a war hero he is. But I'm inclined to agree with the Pericles (the Per-bear?) on Kerry and what his "demerits" may be, in terms of certain exaggerations/opportunistic moves on his part. Bottom line: the man put himself in a position where he could have got blown to hell for the USA. Yes he came back and said some focked-up shit after, but should we not allow him the benefit of the doubt to some extent? Vietnam was a very long time ago.

Now can we talk about something else??