Joan Baez Diffuses Right-Wing Protest At Idaho Concert (2009)

[Hissyspit]

Daily Kos Diary by waydownsouth:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/08/12/765667/-Joan-Baez-diffuses-right-wing-protest-at-Idaho-concert?detail=hide

WED AUG 12, 2009 AT 06:18 PM PDT
Joan Baez diffuses right wing protest at Idaho concert

by waydownsouth

- snip -

Last night, four Vietnam veterans protested Joan's concert in Idaho Falls with signs reading: "JOAN BAEZ - SOLDIERS DON'T KILL BABIES, LIBERALS DO" and "JOAN BAEZ GAVE COMFORT & AID TO OUR ENEMY IN VIETNAM & ENCOURAGED THEM TO KILL AMERICANS!"

Joan was informed that the men were protesting her concert about an hour before it was due to begin and she immediately walked out onto the street to talk to them. When she approached, one of the first things they said was "We appreciate the work you did on civil rights and women's rights." They wanted to make that point clear.

She listened closely as they discussed their views. Primarily, they wanted to express the way they felt betrayed by anti-war protesters when they returned from combat. Joan assured them that she stood by them then and now. They had mixed reactions as she explained her actual positions and her support for all veterans, across the board.

At this point, Joan's merchandise salesman, Jim Stewart, who was a Captain in the US Army during Vietnam, approached the group. Jim is one of the most kind-hearted people you could ever meet. He is not one to speak lightly of what he went through in Vietnam. He took Joan's arm and said to these four men, "I stand by this lady 100%. She did the right thing then, and she stood by us when we got home. She even recorded a song at that time from which 100% of the proceeds went to us vets."

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[spanone]

1. k&r...

[Snoutport]

2. we could use a little more Joan Baez :0)

[Dappleganger]

3. What a heart of compassion!

I have always loved her and she definitely walks the walk.

[proud patriot]

4. god love Joan Biaz

[TacticalPeek]

5. By the numbers.

[struggle4progress]

6. We discussed it here at DU back when it happened. I think it really showed Baez's sympathy

towards people, whether or not she thinks they're on the right side. I think that's why she's willing to sing a song like this, that doesn't really reflect her political sympathies:

Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RkDwKb9hcw

[provis99]

7. I wonder: how many Vietnamese babies were killed by Americans?

I wonder how many children John McCain killed when he dropped that bomb on a Hanoi school?

The reality is that in fact Vietnamese babies were killed by Americans. Joan Baez never killed any babies.

[msongs]

12. and our "leaders" are still killing babies every month....it's not Joan that's ordering that nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Joan came to Camp Casey

and sat with Cindy in the Texas heat. And played her guitar.

She's a wonderful woman.

[Beaverhausen]

9. I remember when this happened- 2 years ago

you did see the date, right?

[Hissyspit]

10. Ack, no.

Still good story, though.

[KT2000]

11. Class all the way

Love her.

[Vadem]

13. I have adored Joan Baez since 1960 and I still do!!!! Love her!