An apology and -- it is hoped -- healing on Bainbridge

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Robert L. Jamieson Jr.

Friday, July 16, 2004

An apology and -- it is hoped -- healing on Bainbridge

By ROBERT L. JAMIESON Jr.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST

Bainbridge Island has done the right thing.

BACKGROUND

Read Robert L. Jamieson Jr.'s original column on this topic, Veteran gets rude welcome on Bainbridge.

Finally.

The mayor of the community, six miles west of Seattle, has apologized for the way a U.S. veteran of the Iraq war was treated during a holiday parade there.

"I called him Monday night," Mayor Darlene Kordonowy told me yesterday. "I felt badly about his experience. He was distressed and distraught about what happened when I talked to him."

Jason Gilson, 23, was booed and called names such as "murderer" during the island's recent Fourth of July celebration. Ignoramuses in the crowd took umbrage with Gilson, who was disabled in battle near Nasiriyah. During the parade, Gilson wore his medals and carried a sign: "Veterans for Bush."

What made matters worse was a parade announcer who spoke in a tone that Gilson -- along with his family and friends who marched in a Bush-Cheney contingent at the event -- say was sarcastic. The announcer looked at Gilson, read his sign, and said: "What exactly are you a veteran of?"

In an instant, politics became painfully personal.

The crowd was stirred, and hurtful words landed on Gilson's surprised ears.

After the unconscionable actions of unruly tongues came to my attention, I wrote a column about it. People from all over the country pounced on Bainbridge as if it were a rugby ball in some mad, muddy scrum.

"What a shame it is that these presumably educated people of Bainbridge would respond in such a lowly fashion," wrote Nancy by e-mail. "I suggest they don't bother celebrating the Fourth of July ever again, as they have no concept of what they are celebrating."

"Liberal tolerance?" asked Clark from Wisconsin. "Here we have a lot of that -- in piles on our pasture."

"Your article was a little too lenient on Bainbridge residents and their cascade of hatred," e-mailed Susan from Bellevue. "Their actions were reprehensible and indefensible."

A confession.

I am willing to bet my last shiny penny that if Gilson were marching in a Republican stronghold -- say, Midland, Texas -- and carrying a pro-Kerry sign, he would be barbecued faster than a longhorn steer.

Aside from not being a family value, intolerance is hardly partisan.

It is clear the Bainbridge incident -- from start to aftermath -- extends beyond the island.

The issue speaks to a profound national disagreement over our war on terrorism. It also speaks to the raging public debate over U.S. leaders some people believe used the war against Iraq as a pretext to carry out policies that were conceived before Sept. 11.

That said, I want to endorse a healthy way of thinking advanced by Stephanie, a 1989 graduate of Bainbridge High who now lives out of state.

"Whether you agree or disagree with this current war, it's because of (Gilson) and the rest of our men and women in our armed forces that I can live the way I choose," Stephanie accurately says. "I do believe there is a time and a place to fight for our causes, but where is our unity and mutual respect that we once had in our country as a whole and on the Fourth of July? It seems to be lost. I hope not forever."

The Fourth should be a time when we honor soldiers for following the call of duty.

I would hope a returning soldier could voice support for the commander in chief (as controversial as President Bush may be) in the same way that we, the public, can support soldiers (as controversial as the war they may be fighting).

Most people on Bainbridge Island probably realize this -- or do now that passions have subsided.

At the very least, what the Bainbridge mayor did was significant and healing.

"Even though our community may be perceived as left-leaning," the mayor said during our interview, "it doesn't mean that we don't listen to all points of view."

She pointed out that between 20,000 and 30,000 people were at the parade and that the nabobs who said mean things to Gilson were but a fraction of a crowd sensitized by the war and the coming presidential election.

"But that doesn't excuse what happened," she said.

No, it does not.

Gilson told the mayor he was surprised by the crowd's reaction and frightened for his 8-year-old brother who was walking with him. He wasn't sure he would ever return to Bainbridge even though the mayor invited the young man from Bremerton back.

"I want him to have a different experience," Kordonowy said.

On top of the mayor's apology, the parade announcer wrote a letter to Gilson in which she stated that she didn't mean to offend him. On top of that, veterans on Bainbridge have asked to meet with Gilson.

And the flood of e-mails that I have received from people across America suggests the public wants Gilson to know something.

"I applaud this soldier and the gift he gave us through his service," writes Nancy, echoing many.

"Please pass on my thanks to Jason for his service," adds a reader named Ed.

People can thank Gilson directly by e-mail at this address: patrioticfamily@hotmail.com.

I hope the young man who had the courage to go to war finds it in his heart to give the island a second chance.

P-I columnist Robert L. Jamieson Jr. can be reached at 206-448-8125 or robertjamieson@seattlepi.com

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