‘68 Democratic Convention

* Re Tom Hayden’s “Change Is Possible in the Bitterest of Times,” and Robert K. Dornan’s “World Is Watching the Protesters of 1968,” Commentary, Aug. 23:

As one of millions of ordinary Americans who marched in protest against the Vietnam War in 1968, among other years, I resent Dornan’s characterization of us as expressing “loathing for our military, our veterans and the principles of freedom.”

We loathed a terrible war that was killing our young men and women and the young men and women and children of Vietnam. To want to stop such killing did not and does not make us unpatriotic or uncaring for the Americans who were sent to fight in that war. And our expression of the grandest of American freedoms, our right to free speech, is one which Dornan ought to be glad to see memorialized at every opportunity.

SANDRA LINDOERFER

Pasadena

* Someone tell Dornan to fast forward, we’re not living in the ‘60s anymore. Dornan is as out of touch as the Republican convention was in San Diego. Those protesting the Vietnam War didn’t “fail to understand the difference between those making policy in the White House, those in the Pentagon executing presidential orders and those in uniform who were ordered into battle.” Those who made policy in the White House failed to recognize the power of the people to protest the nefarious motives of government. Those in the Pentagon executing presidential orders failed by underestimating the Vietnamese. Those in uniform did not fail; rather, their government failed them by using them as canon fodder for its nefarious motives.

Both the Republicans and the Democrats need to stop dwelling on the past, they need to stop pining away for “the good old days.” This just distracts attention from the issues, or is that the plan? Pay attention to the people! Bring the people together instead of trying to divide them!

REUBEN M. QUESADA

Santa Ana

* I get tired of the likes of Hayden defending their actions of 1968. The protesters were not protesting the war, they were protesting the draft. When the draft was ended, the protesting stopped. History shows that the majority of names listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington were those who volunteered to serve, and according to news reports a week after the 1968 Democratic convention, the majority of Americans supported the Chicago police and their action toward Hayden and the other protesters.

The draft dodgers and protesters of 1968 should stop trying to rewrite history and learn to live with their shame. Unlike the over 58,000 who gave their lives when their nation called, Hayden and his type are still losers.

JOHN E. PAGEL II

Glendora

* Hayden’s main claims to fame seem to be recalling the anarchy of his misguided youth and living off the system he used to despise. He is always looking for lessons learned in 1968. Here are a couple: When you get in a war you better be prepared to win and don’t make messiahs out of anarchists. I am only thankful that he never mentions that he attended the University of Michigan.

D.F. REEVES

Rancho Palos Verdes

* Has it ever occurred to Dornan that if it wasn’t for the Vietnam-era war protesters we may be looking back at over 100,000 American deaths for that peculiar egocentric exercise of attempting to manipulate indigenous people halfway around the world?

JIM HARRIGAN

Manhattan Beach

* Re Dornan: Big government is evil (abortion). Big government is flawed (welfare).

Big government has made horrendous mistakes (see above).

Now when it comes to the Vietnam War, big government was absolutely morally and geopolitically correct.

Which Dornan are we supposed to believe?

MIKE MADRID

Lomita