--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Kerry was a thorn in our flesh. He…" description: "\"John Kerry was a thorn in our flesh. He was very articulate, a credible leader of the opposition. He forced us to create a counterfoil. We found a vet ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/anonymous-1_john-kerry_john-kerry-was-a-thorn-in-our-flesh-he-w_1313513.jpg" --- # John Kerry was a thorn in our flesh. He was very… ![“John Kerry was a thorn in our flesh. He was very articulate, a credible leader of the opposition. He forced us to create a counterfoil. We found a vet named John ONeill and formed a group called Vietnam Veterans for a Just Peace. We had ONeill meet the President, and we did everything we could do…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/anonymous-1_john-kerry_john-kerry-was-a-thorn-in-our-flesh-he-w_1313513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/anonymous-1_john-kerry_john-kerry-was-a-thorn-in-our-flesh-he-w_1313513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/anonymous-1_john-kerry_john-kerry-was-a-thorn-in-our-flesh-he-w_1313513.jpg) > “John Kerry was a thorn in our flesh. He was very articulate, a credible leader of the opposition. He forced us to create a counterfoil. We found a vet named John ONeill and formed a group called Vietnam Veterans for a Just Peace. We had ONeill meet the President, and we did everything we could do to boost his group” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critic can push a government to create alternative groups and policies. **In simple terms:** Critics can inspire new movements. Key Takeaway Listen to dissenting voices. Themes politics activism leadership Mood reflective critical Type political commentary When to use this quote - policy debate - grassroots organizing - civil advocacy Key Concepts social influence countermovement Questions to Reflect On - How can criticism be turned into constructive change? - What role does credibility play in opposition? A Different Perspective Opposition may be dismissed as personal attack. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Vietnam veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam-veteran/) [Vietnam veterans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vietnam-veterans/) ## Related quotes > [Thank you for the sacrifices you and your families are making. Our Vietnam Veterans have taught us that no matter what are positions may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-you-for-the-sacrifices-you-and-your-families-are-making-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would like to say something, not just to Vietnam veterans in New England, but to men who were in Vietnam, who I hurt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-would-like-to-say-something-not-just-to-vietnam-veterans-in-new/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [Emmy Lou Harris introduced me to the work of the Vietnam Veterans of America foundation and the Campaign for a Land Mine Free World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/emmy-lou-harris-introduced-me-to-the-work-of-the-vietnam-veterans-of/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [Oh yea, I was a conservative. I was probably hard-line, preoccupied with how much money I would make and how far I would go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-schultz/oh-yea-i-was-a-conservative-i-was-probably-hard-line-preoccupied-with/) [Ed Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-schultz/) > [I learned a lot from Vietnam veterans, especially as some of them turned against their own war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jay-lifton/i-learned-a-lot-from-vietnam-veterans-especially-as-some-of-them/) [Robert Jay Lifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jay-lifton/) > [“In the 1980s, research on post traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans was regarded as important, noble, and useful. When the same researchers looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-carnes/in-the-1980s-research-on-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-in-vietnam/) [Patrick J. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-carnes/) > [“There are two types of memory frequently experienced by individuals who have had overwhelming trauma that has been suppressed psychologically or chemically. The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-hersha/there-are-two-types-of-memory-frequently-experienced-by-individuals/) [Cheryl Hersha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-hersha/) > [Everybody respects the Vietnam Veterans of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-lee-ermey/everybody-respects-the-vietnam-veterans-of-america/) [R. Lee Ermey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-lee-ermey/) > [One of the good things about the way the Gulf War ended in 1991 is, you'd see the Vietnam veterans marching with the Gulf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/one-of-the-good-things-about-the-way-the-gulf-war-ended-in-1991-is/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial not as an object placed into the earth but as a cut in the earth that has then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-saw-the-vietnam-veterans-memorial-not-as-an-object-placed-into-the-2/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [I saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial not as an object placed into the earth but as a cut in the earth that has then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-lin/i-saw-the-vietnam-veterans-memorial-not-as-an-object-placed-into-the/) [Maya Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-lin/) > [Edelman diversified into public affairs in the late '60s with important programs for the Concorde SST, gaining landing rights at JFK Airport in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-edelman/edelman-diversified-into-public-affairs-in-the-late-60s-with/) [Richard Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-edelman/) > [I took every chance I could to meet with U.S. soldiers. I talked with them and read the books they gave me about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-took-every-chance-i-could-to-meet-with-u-s-soldiers-i-talked-with/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [But despite their heroic acts, the Vietnam Veterans of America continued to struggle to establish a combat badge in honor of these brave pilots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-holden/but-despite-their-heroic-acts-the-vietnam-veterans-of-america/) [Tim Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-holden/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More John kerry quotes > [“Nevertheless, four years later, at the end of August 2004, a Zogby poll discovered the critical fact that 57 percent of the undecided voters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-p-pierce/nevertheless-four-years-later-at-the-end-of-august-2004-a-zogby-poll/) [Charles P. Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-p-pierce/) > [Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/senator-kerry-says-he-sees-two-americas-it-makes-the-whole-thing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I'm worried about John Kerry, he's so confident now that he's already planning his White House sex scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-m-worried-about-john-kerry-he-s-so-confident-now-that-he-s-already/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [According to a new study, Botox injections can help back pain. So you see, that's why John Kerry had all that Botox - his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/according-to-a-new-study-botox-injections-can-help-back-pain-so-you/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [The White House begun airing their TV commercials to re-elect the president, and the John Kerry campaign is condemning his use of 9/11 in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-begun-airing-their-tv-commercials-to-re-elect-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [John Kerry described his Republican critics as 'the most crooked, lying group I've ever seen.' Now, that's saying something, because Kerry's both a lawyer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-described-his-republican-critics-as-the-most-crooked-lying/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [John Kerry and Ralph Nader met face-to-face, it was a historic meeting. Astronomers said today their meeting actually created what is called a 'charisma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-and-ralph-nader-met-face-to-face-it-was-a-historic-meeting/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [During the Democratic presidential debate Howard Dean started off by apologizing to the crowd for having a cold. Then John Kerry apologized for once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/during-the-democratic-presidential-debate-howard-dean-started-off-by/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Ted Kennedy is endorsing John Kerry and I'm wondering, do you really want the endorsement of a guy with a Bloody Mary mustache?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/ted-kennedy-is-endorsing-john-kerry-and-i-m-wondering-do-you-really/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [He spent more time on the road to Damascus than a Syrian camel driver. And we thought nobody could fill John Kerry's flip-flops! ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/he-spent-more-time-on-the-road-to-damascus-than-a-syrian-camel-driver/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [Bill Clinton pandered by telling you what you wanted to hear. John Kerry panders by never telling you what you don't want to hear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/bill-clinton-pandered-by-telling-you-what-you-wanted-to-hear-john/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If we do the work that we can do in this country, the work that we will do when John Kerry is President, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edwards/if-we-do-the-work-that-we-can-do-in-this-country-the-work-that-we/) [John Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edwards/) > [An Internet rumor claims that John Kerry had an affair with a young woman. When asked if this was similar to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/an-internet-rumor-claims-that-john-kerry-had-an-affair-with-a-young/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) Browse all 223 John kerry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "John Kerry was a thorn in our flesh. He was very articulate, a credible leader of the opposition. He forced us to create a counterfoil. We found a vet named John ONeill and formed a group called Vietnam Veterans for a Just Peace. 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