Patterico's Pontifications

1/4/2015

Self-Centered Protesters To 100-Year Old Vet: We Are So Much More Important Than You And Any Sacrifice You Made In WWII

Filed under: General — Dana @ 10:54 am



[guest post by Dana]

What U.S. Navy veteran Dario Raschio did:

Raschio joined the Navy at the age of 27. He piloted observational planes, and was based on the USS Chester. He participated in five campaigns in the Pacific Theatre.

One harrowing incident took place on Easter Sunday in 1944. He had been on a mission and took gunfire. When returning to the ship, his plane went down in the ocean and he figured that he and his passenger were likely to die in the water. A Navy destroyer came along a few hours later and rescued the pair, just as sharks were beginning to circle.

He then revealed the location of an ammo dump they had viewed from the sky on a South Pacific island. The dump was destroyed.

What happened: On Saturday, Oregon senator Sen. Ron Wyden (D) was scheduled to award 100-year old U.S. Navy veteran Dario Raschio a plaque full of medals, including U.S. Naval Aviator Badge, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the “Ruptured Duck” award and the U.S. Navy Honorable discharge pin.

Unfortunately, things at the town hall did not go as well as one would hope. Due to Don’t Shoot Portland protesters, the ceremony was rudely interrupted and delayed:

Shortly after Wyden began speaking, though, protesters erupted in the back of the room, shouting “hands-up, don’t shoot!” More than 100 pushed through the doors, banged on the windows from outside and hoisted signs.

Raschio and his daughter, Pam Brown of Portland, had a front-row seat to the spectacle. Raschio’s smile faded.

It took 15 minutes for Wyden to persuade protesters to be quiet and allow him to continue with the medal presentation.

When Raschio himself had an opportunity to speak at the mic, there were shouts demanding that the U.S. leave Iraq. Raschio commented:

“Give me a chance” which brought chuckles from the audience. He further chastised the shouters, saying “Let’s show a little respect for this occasion,” to which the crowd applauded.

He accepted the medals on behalf of those who died in WWII and ended his short speech by saying, “God bless America. And you people that are here for a cause, whatever it might be—show respect to Sen. Wyden.”

For his part, Wyden justified the protesters behavior:

“I think that the symbolism of having a veteran 100 years old, who fought so gallantly so that those who disagree with government policies and want to exercise their First Amendment rights could be heard, that’s what made today so poignant.”

Poignant? Not so much. When the honoring of a man who sacrificed so much for his country is delayed because the beneficiaries of his sacrifice believe their cause (and themselves) to infinitely outweigh anything he may have done for them – including further assuring their freedom to protest government actions – I think bitter irony is a far more accurate assessment. And if one hoped that protesters later came to see that their ill-timed, rude behavior and disregard for one so noble shames them individually and as a whole, and that pervasive ignorance does not help their cause, don’t hold your breath waiting, because you really won’t be able to breathe: Took over town hall in a positive way!

–Dana

59 Responses to “Self-Centered Protesters To 100-Year Old Vet: We Are So Much More Important Than You And Any Sacrifice You Made In WWII”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (8e74ce)

  2. The purpose of all this is so that the version of events of the protesters is not getting challenged.

    Sammy Finkelman (6ee5be)

  3. Hands up don’t shoot is a pernicious lie, a lie aided and abetted by the likes of Pearce in the MFM.

    JD (86a5eb)

  4. Wyden and the “protestors” demonstrate the invertebrate nature of the American left and Oregon, in general.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  5. #AssesUpDon’tPoot

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  6. As for Wyden: Mug him again.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  7. OTOH, this is Portland, city of slackers.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  8. this wyden person, he doesn’t understand poignancy

    he doesn’t understand symbolism

    US senators are a very very special kind of trash, but this one is even dumber than average

    happyfeet (831175)

  9. a55hats…

    the protestors AND the politician both.

    redc1c4 (589173)

  10. speaking of stupid senate trash John Thune wants to raise taxes

    voting for Republicans is another thing what does not mean what people seem to think it means

    happyfeet (831175)

  11. At least the protestors did not interrupt brunch, which everybody knows is the most important meal of the day.

    daleyrocks (bf33e9)

  12. you know who loves brunch?

    hobbits!

    especially if you get those colorful lil potatoes

    happyfeet (831175)

  13. They sacrificed so much for 1st amendment rights would exist, not that rude behavior from people not worthy to untie his shoes could be rewarded.

    I think I might have gotten arrested for a little disturbing the peace myself had I been there…

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  14. It’s hard to imagine how these creeps think their actions win the hearts and minds of anyone. Perhaps that’s not what their objectyive is? #OregonDucksSquirrels

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  15. Well, their objective could be to intimidate anyone who would challenge the narrative – they should be satisfed if nobody gets hurt, and nothing gets damaged.

    Sammy Finkelman (6ee5be)

  16. I don’t think their tactics are intended to win any hearts and minds,
    but to intimidate any who oppose them.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  17. Imagine the angst on the part of the 100 year old vet when he thinks that this generation is why he risked his life.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  18. Treat them like the blue states treat the Tea Party folks, i.e., subject to required permits, city ordinances, state laws and personal animus.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  19. True, Mike K
    but in another way he didn’t risk his life for them
    he didn’t risk his life so that people could be jack*sses
    and someone should tell them that.

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  20. God bless Dario Raschio.

    I imagine that in his 100 years he’s encountered a few a55holes in his time. Some of them were shooting at him.

    These pissants? Nobodies.

    Pious Agnostic (4e1a81)

  21. Probably a good thing for me that I wasn’t there. Congratulations on your century, Mr. Raschio, and thank you for your service in maintaining the rights and freedoms for all of us, even those who abuse those rights.

    P.S. Protestors, there is much that can be done to you that doesn’t involve shooting. Just saying.

    htom (4ca1fa)

  22. I read that Wyden and entourage actually eventually fled the hall. I guess he thought Dems were exempt? Ha, ha. And it has nothing to do with Mike Brown, it’s just a collection of faux grievances designed to intimidate a democratic nation. I’m sure International Answer and the Occupy crowd is behind it all.

    And the “protestors” did more than interrupt brunch in Manhattan. They poured into a cafe and yelled and screamed in customers’ faces, reducing at least one woman to tears. But hey, they didn’t hurt anyone or kill anyone! Yet. (See gatewaypundit.)

    Patricia (5fc097)

  23. with Itzhak Perlman
    and Cannonball Adderly
    sax and violins

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  24. Apparently, protesters got an audience with Wyden after the meeting, according to a FB comment:

    “The meeting actually didn’t get cancelled, despite Wyden’s attempts to cancel it. The meeting went on until 4pm as scheduled. Over 100 people stayed and discussed issues of economic justice, police accountability, Wyden’s unwavering support of Israeli apartheid, the Trans Pacific Partnership and the role of trade agreements in destroying economies for corporate profit, the role of police unions in our community, and the role of the United States in the current Mexican uprising. It was a great community town hall. It is disappointing that Wyden ditched out the moment it became clear that he wasn’t going to be able to control the dialogue and the agenda. He knew he was going to have to answer so real questions, hard questions, so he went and had his little private meetings behind a wall of cops instead. The whole thing would have run much more smoothly in the first place if they wouldn’t have tried to lock over 100 people out of a public meeting with a public official and at public college. After locking so many out Wyden tried to pontificate on how he fights for public access to the halls of government, meanwhile people are trying to get in and being held back by security guards. Wyden really failed today. He had an opportunity to really engage a community on the term of the community and he utterly failed. He failed and ran away and hid behind closed doors and a wall of cops. Pretty shameful.”

    Dana (8e74ce)

  25. that’s very poignant Dana, how he didn’t get to set the agenda

    happyfeet (b93c9b)

  26. A Reminder:

    Despite his obtuseness, Wyden is one of the more practical members of the Dem caucus in the Senate.
    Oh, how far that body has fallen.

    askeptic (efcf22)

  27. I got to talk to my daughter, today. I asked her, “You’re walking down the street, there’s nobody else in sight, and you hear footsteps behind you. Who do you want it to be? Michael Brown’s brother or [her best friend’s father the cop].” She said, “[My best friend’s] father”. Common sense, super-simple stuff.

    nk (dbc370)

  28. MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/4/2015 @ 12:33 pm

    Doc, you aren’t thinking of playing a little ‘smash-mouth’, are you?

    askeptic (efcf22)

  29. nk (dbc370) — 1/4/2015 @ 2:43 pm

    Didn’t Jesse Jackson, in effect, say the same thing (the Racist)?

    askeptic (efcf22)

  30. Armed private security would have prevented the adolescent behavior.

    mg (31009b)

  31. That was then this is now. If you look at japan and germany now they didn’t do to bad by loosing world war 2! By the way the 100 year old veteran didn’t stop lynching and shootings of minorities. Ask medger evers or rosa parks what this veteran protected!

    shooter (e279c9)

  32. True. Hitler would have put Medgar Evers and Rosa Parks in the White House. Medgar Evers as lampshades and Rosa Parks as soap.

    nk (dbc370)

  33. askeptic,
    harassing a 100 yo man of any kind, let alone a vet, likely would have led me to get right back in their faces,
    then we would see what happened next

    MD in Philly (f9371b)

  34. Q: What do you call someone whose behavior would be considered assholish if only it weren’t motivated by the justice and urgency of his cause?

    A: An asshole.

    Paul Zrimsek (e4a7fe)

  35. “The meeting actually didn’t get cancelled, despite Wyden’s attempts to cancel it.”

    I looked at that Facebook site, too. They were talking to each other and apparently occupying the hall. I didn’t see that Wyden stayed.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  36. Mike K,

    Could be they went on to discuss all the problems of the world without him. He wasn’t necessary to solving the ills of their world.

    Dana (8e74ce)

  37. Q: What do you call someone whose behavior would be considered assholish if only it weren’t motivated by the justice and urgency of his cause?

    A: “shooter”

    😎

    redc1c4 (589173)

  38. redc1c4 #37 – shooter #31 is just doing his best … he cannot help that those who taught and trained him in logic and discourse failed him so abysmally …

    Plus, I suspect your answer is too subtle for him ! (grin )

    Alastor (2e7f9f)

  39. Way to go, Lefty retards! Take a serious issue (Police over dependence on violent tactics), pick a bad example of it (it’s possible that Brown didn’t charge the cop who shot him. There isn’t a lot of evidence of that, though), and harp on a divisive point in inappropriate circumstances until everyone who might be on your side, other than your fellow twits, is sick of the sight of you.

    Next; direct potentially lethal, but Symbolic (™), force at the armed and irritated police, and then act surprised when some of you get shot.

    When that happens, I’m nominating the lunkhead lot of you for Darwin Awards.

    C. S. P. Schofield (848299)

  40. Narcissism and ignorance are a horrific combination, aren’t they?

    Simon Jester (68feed)

  41. Perry’s seething hatred and obsessive nature is kinda creepy

    JD (86a5eb)

  42. 31- have rev.racist al fix chicago’s black on black shooting attack.

    mg (31009b)

  43. #31… Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the bad grammar, non-sequiturs and just plain idiocy of shooter…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  44. Rosa Parks, shooter?

    http://youtu.be/7U-et8qOXLs

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  45. I understand the saw-bones’ point @13…. Never known for suffering fools well, my tolerance for them has dwindled as the years pile up. Fortunately I have withdrawn to rural America and don’t have the opportunities to encounter these folk I once did.

    Gramps, the original (9e1415)

  46. In re: the “protesters” aka a55hats — There is no known cure for stupidity and ignorance.

    Bill M (906260)

  47. Leftists are scum.

    They prove it at every opportunity.

    Estragon (ada867)

  48. How about a post on Cry baby Speaker Boehner and his ilk.
    Or a post on the great Louis Gohmert, or Steve King or something.
    I stole the or something from elephant stone.

    mg (31009b)

  49. The idiot party is stepping up the stupidity, DNF.
    I would venture to say that if Cry Baby Traitor Boenher is speaker again, the republican turnout in 2016 will be remarkably low. And will lose to Webb, who happens to be more conservative than team RINO.

    mg (31009b)

  50. Did anyone see Chris Christie in the Cowboys owners box? It looked as though The Jersey Pumpkin was breastfeeding Jerry Jones.

    mg (31009b)

  51. Yeah, mg, I saw The Jersey Pumpkin’s idiot grin, like a fat lapdog humping Jerry’s ankle.

    ropelight (d138e4)

  52. Greetings:

    I recently read Erik Larson’s “In the Garden of Beasts” so the word “Stormtroopers” keep popping into my mind each time these folks pop into the oh-so-nonjudgemental news. As the twig is bent, etc. etc. etc.

    11B40 (6abb5c)

  53. Try this stunt in a red state. East and West Coast liberals deserve what they get from their so-called allies.

    Horatio (877ea0)

  54. Weaselzippers is down–allegedly by hackers unhappy with coverage of the “black brunch”. Conservative Treehouse blog also reported to be down.

    http://www.youngcons.com/major-conservative-website-just-shut-liberal-hackers/

    elissa (ec09be)

  55. No, actually, I don’t think that anyone fought in WWII so that subhuman genetic and behavioral trash that would go extinct without welfare checks could disrupt public business. Mr. Raschio was a lot more gracious than I would have been.

    Anonymous (6f5839)

  56. For Wyden to meekly and cravenly attempt to turn the protestors’ abject rudeness, lack of respect and absence of tact into some sort of civics lesson in free speech rights, instead of having the backbone to unabashedly criticize them for their inappropriate behavior, says a lot about his character and lack of perspective.

    Guy Jones (173efd)


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