Going Upriver

Do we really know who John Forbes Kerry is? We know some things about him. But probably few of us know everything we should know, especially since he will be our next president come January 2005. This afternoon I went to see the film "Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" which was released just yesterday. This feature length documentary about Kerry's character and moral leadership during a time of national crisis examines the story of John Kerry and the key events that made him a national figure and the man he is today. The film places particular emphasis on his bravery during the Vietnam War and his courageous opposition to the war upon his return.

These are just words: bravery, courage, moral leadership, character. Kerry embodied these attributes. Seeing this film stirred up emotions in me that I didn't really think were still there after having lived through the sixties. Sure enough, they were still there for me, and I suspect they are there for many of us. And I never came even close to losing a friend or to combat itself. Can we imagine what the emotions must be for those who did?

John Kerry didn't have to do anything. He didn't have to go to Vietnam. He didn't have to volunteer to lead a swift boat crew in the Mekong Delta. Did you know that those who served on those boats faced a 95% casualty rate? Did you realize that? And Kerry didn't have to be concerned with the vets that came back from that war. He could have blended in and gone on to pursue his career. In fact, he apparently did have political aspirations early in his life. Doing what he did as part of Vietnam Veterans Against the War could have cost him his entire political career. Some advised him against it, but he did it anyway. I believe he truly cared about his fellow vets and wanted to help them and himself heal from the life-changing experience they all shared. When they got back from Vietnam, as we all recall, they were not honored for their service. They became the brunt of public opinion and were in effect blamed for the war. John Kerry slowly but surely emerged as a leader and did what he could to help the vets and to convince congress of the lessons that we must learn as a nation. He showed his true character. In some ways, the bravery he showed after he got home from Vietnam matched his bravery in Vietnam. What young man would knowingly jeopardize a promising career like he did?

The film powerfully shows footage from that time in our history and the events that took place. President Johnson is shown declaring that the U.S. would do what it took to come to the rescue of the little countries of Southeast Asia, lest they be overtaken by the Communists. One could not escape the parallels of our involvement in Iraq today. And there were the brave women, Bella Abzug and Shirley Chisolm, who spoke in support of the veterans and against the war. We have forgotten the feelings of the vets. We have forgotten the message that they brought to us. There was nothing self-serving about them. They had been to hell and back, and they wanted to be recognized for that. And they wanted their comrades who did not come back alive to be remembered. They saw life in a new way. Those of us back home were very slow to understand them. Seeing the film brought it back for me and even showed things I had not been aware of at the time.

I admire and respect John Kerry even more than before. It is clear that his years during and after the war had a profound impact on him and shaped him. He emerged a stronger human being and then chose to serve his country in public office. He will make a superb president. I am full of hope.

Encourage anyone who is undecided about the election to see this film and then ask: Which man has the qualifications and the character to serve as our 44th president?