tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930103.post108050324282304690..comments2024-03-28T08:08:05.102+00:00Comments on No Rock And Roll Fun: Simon Hayes Budgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07084524317888577404noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930103.post-22947873006341182732008-08-09T22:25:00.000+00:002008-08-09T22:25:00.000+00:00Well... if he was going to ride a deferment to avo...Well... if he was going to ride a deferment to avoid service, he *STILL* comes off as a 'chicken hawk'-- if he really was going to serve as a physician after completing medical school, I suppose he wasn't a 'chicken hawk'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1930103.post-47908111891896160102008-01-24T19:51:00.000+00:002008-01-24T19:51:00.000+00:00I realize that this reply is a little late but I w...I realize that this reply is a little late but I wanted to set the record straight about Jan's eligibility for the draft, and his single "Universal Coward" - as I attended Uni High in the late 50's and knew Jan and his family fairly well.<BR/> "Universal Coward" was Jan's response to a song called "Universal Soldier" - a song which laid the blame for all of history's warfare not on the Hitlers or Ghengis Khans of the world, but on young men who answer their countries call of duty for military service. Considering the number of families who were grieving for loved ones killed in Vietnam at the time, "Universal Soldier" was an incredibly hateful, callous, despicable song. As most of us had friends fighting in Nam at time, Jan was enraged by the lyrics of this song. In response he hastily wrote and produced "Universal Coward", which I'll grant you is not the best piece of music he ever did. But - I give him credit for standing up for what he believed in even though it was not "cool" at the time and probably hurt his popularity as well s cost him money.<BR/> As for Jan being drafted, he was a 3rd yead medical student at CCM at the time. This certainly qualified him for a deferment. Jan was eager to serve his country - but with a 2 year deferment he could have completed Med School as well as 1 year of residnency which would have allowed him to enter the service as a Physician. He was INCORRECTLY told at his draft board meeting that he would likely be drafted. We believe he almost certainly knew that his draft board was giving wrong info and he would get a deferment - and I don't believe that Jan actaully "stormed out in a rage and went speeding off" as legend now seems to have it. The Jan I know would have smirked, perhaps been incredulous, perhaps made snide comment and strolled back to his Vett. I DO believe he DID go speeding off because that's the way he normally drove whether he was pissed off or not. <BR/> This is just my POV, but I wanted the counter the opinions of others (various articles I've read) who suggested that Jan may have been a bit of a hypocrite, or a "chicken hawk" - because that is certainly not my impression of him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com