Do you remember the My Lai Massacre? Persons of a certain age can’t, and all shouldn’t, forget. This massacre occurred on March 16, 1968 during the Vietnam War. It was a mass murder of over 500 unarmed men, women, children and babies living in the Quang Ngaii Province of South Vietnam by American troops. Only three or four of the dead were later confirmed as Viet Cong. “My Lai was one of the largest single massacres of civilians by U.S. forces in the 20th century.”

Lieutenant William Calley, Jr., C Company platoon leader, was convicted of criminal offenses, given a life sentence in prison, and released after 3 1/2 years of house arrest. “Initially three U.S. servicemen who had tried to halt the massacre and rescue the hiding civilians were shunned, and even denounced as traitors by several U.S. Congressmen.” Only after 30 years were they honored by the U.S. Army for shielding non-combatants from harm in a war zone.

Later, a 21-year old soldier, Tom Glen, wrote “It would indeed be terrible to find it necessary to believe that an American soldier that harbors such racial intolerance and disregard for justice and human feeling is a prototype of all American national character.”

During his court martial, Lt. Calley claimed he was just following orders from his commanding officer, Captain Ernest Medina. Yet standards set during the Tokyo and Nuremburg War Crime Tribunes ruled that following orders was not a defense for committing war crimes.

What’s my point? What brought My Lai back to mind after all these years? I was watching MSNBC coverage of newly released video of children in the internment camps on the southern border. I saw a young boy with the shell-shocked eyes of a young soldier coming back from traumatic battle.

I worry, and am outraged, when the government says No…you can’t come in, whether it is to American congressmen, newsmen and women, and experienced relief workers. I have a basic distrust when the government does not allow us to verify what is going on, does not allow our photographers to take pictures, and instead wants us to rely on government-issued photographs, some of which were taken a couple years ago.

We need to be brave and just say NO to President Trump when he wants something illegal and immoral to occur. NO to his racist vision of American. NO to his non-stop lying. NO to his attacks on the courts and FBI. NO to his refusal to participate in the daily briefings or listen to experienced advisors and career governmental staff. NO to gutting the diplomats. NO to disrespecting the other monarchs of the world, except the dictators that he apparently believes are good role models. It is our responsibility as Americans to say NO to this man, even though he may be our employer and our president. He does not represent what American represents. He does not reflect American values and interests. He is playing a game and we are all losers … especially the legal refugees on the southern border.

FYI, the source of the My Lai Massacre came from an excellent article on Wikipedia.

And yes, we are in a war … a war for a better, sane and civil American.

Teresa Mullins

Marietta