quarterly-report.com Political Commentary by James R. Audet

May 5, 2001
Cinco de Mayo

At the U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile Alabama, there is a monument to the veterans of the Vietnam War. On a black granite wall, the following words are engraved (emphasis added):

VIETNAM - WAR/PAIN/SORROW/MYSTERY/JUNGLE/SWAMP/MOUNTAINS/HOT
VIETNAM MEANS SOMETHING - DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME - TO ALL OF US
VIETNAM HAS A LASTING EFFECT OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER ON ALL AMERICANS
VIETNAM CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD BY THOSE OF US WHO WERE THERE --

                                                                   -- AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT

                                                                                           A VIETNAM VET

The television and print media are predisposed to crucify human beings for the deplorable pleasure of achieving a ratings smash hit.  This time, they have found a delectable target in the Vietnam War record of  Medal of Honor recipient, Bob Kerrey.  To those who have yet to grasp the pathos of Senator Kerrey's ordeal, the following thoughts are offered.

Now, the story's been told of Presidents and days of old, but there's no US now.

All the wars that were won and lost,

somehow don't seem to matter very much anymore.

All the lies we were told,

all the lives of the people running round, their castles a burn. 

Now, I see change, but inside, we're the same as we ever were.

Living on a thin line,

tell me now, "What are we supposed to do?"

Living on a thin line.  Living this way, each day's a dream.

"What am I, what are we, supposed to do? "

Now another century has gone.

What are we gonna leave for the young?

What we couldn't do, or what we wouldn't do.

Does it matter?

Does it matter much?

Does it matter much to you?

Does it ever really matter?  Yes, it really, really matters!

Then, another leader says, "Break their hearts and break some heads."

Is there nothing we can say or do?

Blame the future on the past, always lost in bloody guts.

When they're gone, it's me and you.

Living on a thin line.

Tell me now, "What are we supposed to do?"

Adapted from "Living on a Thin Line." Copyright © Dave Davies

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