- Bobby Muller
Robert O. "Bobby" Muller (b.
Long Island ,New York ,United States , 1946) is an American peace advocate.He grew up in
Great Neck, New York and attendedHofstra University . He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967, during theVietnam War . His commission with the Marines began the same day he received his bachelor's degree inbusiness administration from Hofstra University in 1968, and by September of that year he was a combat lieutenant leading a Marine infantry platoon. In April 1969, while leading an assault inVietnam , a bullet severed hisspinal cord , leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.After returning from Vietnam, Muller became a staunch advocate for veterans' rights and
Peace activist . In 1974 he earned a second degree from Hofstra, this one in law. In the same year, he appeared in the anti-war documentary film "Hearts and Minds", speaking about his life before, during, and after the Vietnam War. He foundedVietnam Veterans of America (VVA) in 1978 andVietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) in 1980. The VVAF co-founded theInternational Campaign to Ban Landmines , which won a 1997Nobel Peace Prize .In 2004, Muller founded
Alliance for Security . He is currently serving as an advisory board member for a new group called Operation Truth.Muller is president of
Veterans for America (formerly known as the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation). Veterans for America is uniting the new generation of veterans with those from past wars to address the needs of veterans, service members and their families and their larger concerns about the impact of war. It is an advocacy and humanitarian organization. Veterans for America is committed to advancing policy and elevating public discourse on the causes, conduct and consequences of war.Muller is a friend of Bill Wieman, Mark Clevinger, and
Ron Kovic . He has lectured about his experiences on over 100 college campuses.Television appearances
In a 1997
MSNBC "NewsChat" segment Muller debatedAnn Coulter . Muller attempted to explain to Ann that "In 90 percent of cases that U.S. soldiers got blown up—Ann, are you listening?—they were our own mines." She interrupted Muller's point about the role that landmines played in the Vietnam War with the statement "No wonder you guys lost." Muller responded to Coulter's remark with an incredulous "Say that again," while moderatorFelicia Taylor sharply rebuked the in-house pundit: "OK, we're not going to get into that conversation. Ann, that was unnecessary! Mr. Muller, please continue...." [http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1124]Time Magazine reported the incident differently:
Muller was misquoting a 1969 Pentagon report that found that 90 percent of the components used in enemy mines came from U.S. duds and refuse. Coulter, who found Muller's statement laughable, averted her eyes and responded sarcastically: "No wonder you guys lost." It became an infamous—and oft-misreported—Coulter moment. The Washington Post and others turned the line into a more personal attack: "People like you caused us to lose that war."Time; 4/25/2005, Vol. 165 Issue 17, p32-42. Retrieved on May 24, 2008.]
Films
*1974 - "Hearts and Minds". Directed by Peter Davis.
*2007 - "Body of War ". Directed by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue.ee also
References
External links
* [http://www.allianceforsecurity.org/muller Bobby Muller page] from Alliance for Security site
* [http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/AuthorBiography.aspx?AuthorId=426 Bobby Muller biography]
* [http://www.virginia.edu/nobel/laureates/bios/muller_bio.html Bobby Muller biography]
* [http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs824a,0,7616452.story Article from Newsday.com]
* [http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/ Vietnam Veterans Against the War]
* [http://www.veteransforamerica.org/ Veterans for America]
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