Jane Fonda apologizes for "Hanoi Jane" visit to Vietnam in '72

[WI_DEM]

In an interview to be aired Sunday on Sixty Minutes, Jane Fonda says her July '72 visit to Hanoi was a "betrayal of U.S. Soldiers...and the county that gave me privilege."

She goes on to say, "The image of Jane Fonda...Barbarella...Henry Fonda's daughter sitting on an enemy aircraft gun...was the largest lapse of judgement that I can even imagine."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7349099/

[ck4829]

1. Why do the RW'ers call her a traitor

They were even calling John Kerry, John 'Fonda' or something like that. What's up with that?

I think she just wants to ease out of the spotlight, but the RW'ers won't let her do that.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Because of

her protesting the war. That's why. Rightwingers call anybody who's not on their side a traitor. Doy.

[Montauk6]

44. It's not too hard to understand...

For disgruntled anti-Jane Vietnam vets, it's much easier to focus all the hatred/frustration etc on one woman who could not have POSSIBLY screwed them the way Uncle Sam ultimately did. And I have to wonder how many of the most hardened Janebashers were actually in uniform; the way it's oft portrayed, only evil commie dope-smoking hippies are the Pavlovian stereotypes of the VW protesters. We're programmed to ignore the folks who faithfully served but saw behind the curtain and realized that the real battle was that in which to stop the insanity that is war.

[ohio_liberal]

2. I thought she already apologized once

Some people just aren't going to forgive her, sorry to say :(

[justice4all_1]

3. Fonda already apologized in 1988

Interview with Barbara Walters on 2020


Can't find transcript

[UdoKier]

5. She was never a traitor, just a naive youg lady

who failed to consider the implications of posing that way.

The only traitors were those who concocted that war, and insisted on continuing it when it was so clearly unjust and destined to fail, why, exactly like our present-day Iraq occupation!

[newyawker99]

33. Hi justice4all_1!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LaPera]

4. GET IT RIGHT!!!“Our government was lying to us and men were dying

because of it, and I felt I had to do anything that I could to expose the lies and help end the war,” said, Jane Fonda.

Jane Fonda was outspoken and critical of this government, that was lying to it's people about the Vietnam war. While tens of thousands of it poor & young were dying for the profits of the few, and the huge corporations, steel companies, weapons makers, oil companies, etc. etc.,that were making billions off of our tax dollars.

Some things never change!!

Jane Fonda, was a true patriot. She did NOT have to stand up against the lying US government and its lies about the war. Ms. Fonda indeed had privilege, however, she chose to fight anyway, against this powerful greedy, conservative corporate machine, that creates wars for profits.

I admire her for it and always will.

[WI_DEM]

7. Hey I agree with you

she is the one apologizing.

[funkybutt]

6. I never knew about that visit to the N Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun site

I saw the video lastnight and it was a bit disturbing to me. She was all giggly sitting in the gunners seat and it just didn't seem right. I'm glad she's apologized.

[K-W]

11. I dont see where she did anytthing to apologize about.

How many people were killed by Jane Fonda's giggling?

Does that fact that she was right about the war not make this a moot point?

[seabeyond]

18. didnt think it such a deal at 15. as an adult, i see it wasnt right

it looks like an eaasy one. but then, she wasnt much older than 15 either. more innocent times.

it was stupid. as an adult she sees it was stupid. it is past. she has apologized

adn some will never forgive her. i dont need to forgive her, i understand. a mere piece of her journey

[funkybutt]

30. I think she made a mistake...and was right to admit it

That'd be like one of use going to a suicide bomb making facility for the insurgents and giving them all high fives.

She was right about the war...but was wrong in that one action. It takes a big person to admit your mistakes and I respect that.

[Wilber_Stool]

8. The only movies I have ever seen

by her are Barbarella and Spirits of the Dead. I'm still pissed. Yes, I am a vet.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. So are

you pissed because of her protesting or that specific action? Just me wondering. And are you pissed at John Kerry too? Just me wondering.

[Wilber_Stool]

21. It was the act of a traitor.

I'll never forget that picture of her sitting on an anti-aircraft gun and smiling. That is not a protest. That is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

[Itsthetruth]

28. Fonda 's Antics Helped The Pro-war Forces

Fonda did not give "aide and comfort to the enemy". The Vietnamese people were not my enemy. Her idiotic photo-op in North Vietnam gave aid and comfort to the enemies of the anti-war movement. They used her grandstanding to tar the anti-war movement as somehow wishing death on American soldiers. In truth, the anti-war movement fought long and hard to end the needless deaths of GI's and Vietnamese by demanding the troops be brought home.

[LSK]

32. an enemy who never attacked the US 1st

But what else is new....

[Zinfandel]

12. Jane Fonda was/is a patriot just like you...and I (who refused to serve)

and fight in the governments lying fucking war for profit!

[Itsthetruth]

13. Jane Fonda Was Not An Activivist In The Anti-Vietnam War Movement

Jane Fonda was never considered a leader nor even an activist in the anti-Vietnam war movement.

She rarely, if ever, participated in any of the major national anti-demonstrations.

She never participated in any of the big national anti-war conferences or national anti-war organizations.

Jane Fonda did know how to get newspaper coverage with her antics in Vietnam. However, when she spoke in Vietnam it was not as a representative of the American anti-war movement or any significant anti-war organization.

When Fonda when to Vietnam most anti-war activists thought her antics were at best stupid and at worse gave ammunition to those who tried to falsely portray the anti-war movement as hostile to the GI's.

Anti-war activists haven't "lost" anything with Fonda's "flip" on Vietnam.

[Zinfandel]

14. Right,, Jane Fonda spoke from her heart!!! Not part of any organization

However so many who point the finger, have NEVER made any mistakes in their lives, but love to point out mistakes in others!!!

Jane Fonda was known, vocal, loud in her opposition to the war in the lying unjust killing and dying all for profit in Vietnam.

If she didn't fit yours or others description exactly what group she should or should not belong to...

The point is she spoke out and still gets the wrath of finger pointers...who offered nothing of themselves.

[Itsthetruth]

17. Jane Fonda Didn't Help The Anti-War Movement

She did not speak out as a representative of ANY anti-war or peace organization in 1972. She spoke and acted on her own without any apparent concern for how her comments and actions would impact the anti-Vietnam war movement.

She did not help the anti-war movement in the slightest. But, her antics did help those who sought to marginalize and slander the anti-war movement. And most importantly, she got a lot of news converage which she seemed to enjoy.

[Zinfandel]

19. Fonda was right. The war was unjust lie for profits.It was a civil war and

we had no right to be there. The US was by no means threatened. Soldiers were the dying for corporations.

Jane Fonda pointed this out over and over again.

You seem so hung up on her not belonging to some group or club, isn't that cute.

Fact is she was asked to speak at many of the anti-war protest I belonged to and attended. and she took a lot of shit from a lot of right-wing assholes but she kept on...and because at the time one doesn't see something as a mistake, there's always enough people who live in glass houses to gladly & loudly point the finger in retrospect!!!

[PassingFair]

39. I was too little to have an opinion of Fonda's Vietnam visit...

but I think she is one of the WORST actresses to ever have smelled up a screen (the ONE exception being her turn as a clueless heroine in Cat Ballou). If she hadn't been the daughter of Henry Fonda, well....I don't think she would ever have gotten past an audition.
I also think that this recent mea culpa (she already apologized some time ago) is just a plea for attention. Anorexia, bulimia, 3-ways with Roger Vadim! Oh my! But it's cool, she's born-again!
I feel sorry for Ted Turner, but he's well rid of her.

[TahitiNut]

15. Indeed, it was a 'betrayal' ...

... and instead of being a positive example of anti-war/peace activism, it became emblematic of America's betrayal of the troops - and fodder for the jingoistic right's (and left's) dismissal of legitimate and conscientious anti-war activism. As a returned Vietnam veteran who was dealing with a mountain of betrayal, her behavior embodied the animosity and alienation I felt. I was not alone. I believe her behavior robbed VVAW and the anti-war movement of the participation and support of thousands like me, and probably drove many politically immature veterans to the right. (Much of politics is reactive.)


While it may be difficult to recall (especially for those who are so embedded in today's political alignment), there were as many "anti-war" people on the (so-called) right as there were on the left. Remember, the "anti-war" people were originally protesting the policies of the Johnson administration. Birchers and isolationists were quite active in protesting our involvement in Vietnam.

[Zinfandel]

16. Would it be the same if one sat behind enemy lines in Iraq protesting

this hideous illegal war and invasion, that the US government has perpetuated on the Iraqi people for profit?

Vietnam was a civil war and we had no right to be there either, it was a war for profit not to protect our country...

Just as in Iraq! We have the same finger pointers who hate people who protest against their profits from death.

[TahitiNut]

20. It'd be difficult to formulate a parallel for Iraq.

Let's say she visited an IED 'factory' and applauded the efforts of Iraqi 'patriots' who were blowing up U.S. troops. That might be close. Even closer, perhaps, let's say she visited Osama bin Laden and was televised applauding the 'dedication' of suicide-bombers-in-training. That might be close.

I'm so glad you have a nice, neat one-sentence encapsulation of the Vietnam era. It must be comforting to have a final answer that makes further inquiry unnecessary. :eyes:

[Itsthetruth]

22. Fonda Of No Help At All

The anti-Vietnam war movements main and central demand became after a few years: "Support Our GI's, Bring The Troops Home Now".

It was the right thing to demand at that time and "Bring Our Troops Home Now" is the right demand today.

Jane Fonda did little or nothing to help build that "Bring Them Home" movement. In fact, her actions made building that movement more difficult.

Again, Fonda was not a leader nor representative of the anti-war movement. She was more of a sideshow.

What would our attitude be today if some self-proclaimed "anti-war leader" when to Iraq for a photo-op in which they were depicted as planting a road-side bomb with a silly grin or smile on their face?

We'd be horrified!

Well, that was the attitude of most anti-war activists when Fonda went for her photo-op in North Vietnam.

[Zinfandel]

23. Jane Fonda shined a spotlight on herself and the war. To many who thought

the war was right or who until that time paid no attention to the dying, but only to their own lives...

She took an amazing amount ot hate from the right-wing and everyone who supported the lying war for profit.

And still is by the neocons and the blind.

[TahitiNut]

24. Agreed. It was narcissistic self-promotion.

She never, ttbomk, volunteered time at VA hospitals or went to the assistance of Vietnames boat people (refugees). Her claims of sympathy for human beings harmed during that conflict were never demonstrated by charitable behavior. Joan Baez extended a great deal of assistance to the refugees. Joan Baez was iconic of the 'anti-war movement' far more than Jane.

[Zinfandel]

26. North Vietnam ended up fighting against American imperialism.

It was a civil war. America was there simply for profit and didn't care what so ever of the many who were dying on both sides.

[TahitiNut]

31. As a Vietnam veteran, I'm ever so grateful for ....

... your vast enlightenment. By golly gee, I just don't know what I'd do without it. :sarcasm:

[dbeach]

34. The protected will NEVER know the soldiers suffering...

VN remains the MOST controversial war in US History and the enemies of fredom like the busheviks and neo-cons will keep using it to divide and conquer..

TahitiNut..your patience with this hot topic is perfect...

I forgive all VN issues..even the chikenhawks who I rant about.
no one but Jane fonda and maybe her huby heyden knew her motives..
how did she get the papers to get into war zone..
who benefitted???

I point out one thing..North viet nam was not a stunning example of a benign socialist state..4/30 /05 will be 30 yrs..

ever see the PANIC on the South Vietnamese as they fled ??
ever talked to boat people who escaped..??

[TahitiNut]

35. Yes, I helped out a refugee Vietnamese family for a while.

(I've also known several others.) Despite the insane Hell-on-earth that was Vietnam, I still remember the incredible beauty of the country and of the people. War in the context of that beauty just made it more insane.

Somehow, when a nation loses 25% of its people who're willing to sacrifice absolutely everything they own to go to sea with a dim chance of surviving, it says something about the conditions there.

[ArkDem]

25. So your girlfriend rolls a Honda

Playin' workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda

[ohio_liberal]

27. Baby got back!!

:D

[ArkDem]

29. Give me a sista I can't resist her

Red beans and rice didn't miss her
:evilgrin:

[Dees]

36. When I got back

in June of 1966 I hated everything to do with Vietnam. I hated the fact that I even thought about it any longer or was stuck with such horrible memories. I hated the NVAs, Victor Charles, ARVNs, civilians, the US Army, New Zealand, Australia, ROKs, Air America, Johnson. I avoided any discussion or answering any questions about Vietnam especially the hideous and the improper..did you get any? how many did you get? what was it like?

My buddies and I would ask each other in Vietnam..why are we here..why are we doing this...is this worth dying for? Everyone in my squad would have walked away from it in a second. Us grunties were hardly pro war. I saw enough waste of human life to last me 50 lifetimes.

The only difference between Jane and myself was when I said something that was anti-war I was not called a traitor because I had been there in the thick of the shit and back. Jane's stunt was stupid and grandstanding..no more no less.

[Itsthetruth]

37. Exactly!

" Jane's stunt was stupid and grandstanding..no more no less."

[dbeach]

42. Welcome Home Brother!

"When I die I am goin to heaven..I spent my time in hell"
VN 69 101st

"I ain't no senators son..I ain't no fortunate one"

More VN vets need to speak out about this current war..
Fonda had her agenda..no excuses for her.. but no persecutions either..
I like many VN Vets pay the price for VN so does Fonda..

The other forum says she may have been used by Intell..I dunno..I do know that ALL these wars including WW II make $ for big boys.

"WAR is a racket.Always has been!" Smedley Darlington Butler USMC Maj. Gen. {deceased}

Ask Col. David Hckworth..most combat Vets that he knows and that is thousands are against Iraq war..

[TahitiNut]

43. Ubetcha. Same here. I've not worn green once since then.

Every item of clothing with any green in it that I had I discarded. My locker was shipped home and NEVER opened. It was discarded years later without my ever touching it. I kept nothing except some photographs I didn't look at until twenty years later.

[RBHam]

38. My opinion is embedded in another thread

Operation Mockingbird...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3409167

[MisterP]

40. Clenis is now the national and universal scapegoat: I hope she's not

trying to get the firepower of the brainless turned on her again whenever the Chimp's imperial directives and prerogatives blow up in his ape face.

[Drewskie]

41. ...

Just out of curiosity, are any of you going to listen to the Jane Fonda interview with Ed Schultz next tuesday? Could be interesting.