(originallly posted on my AFF blog)
Someone commented on an earlier post, that they did not protest this war because it would undermine the efforts of our troops in Iraq. I understand why people have been led to believe that, but it makes me crazy that this line has been fed to the American people. I was just going to post a reply in that thread, but it got rather long, so I figured my head was telling me this needed to be said louder.
You see, this was one of the first subjects that I knew the answer to from nearly the beginning. When this ridiculous debate began in this country, over whether it was appropriate to speak out against the government in the time of war, I had no doubts or qualms. I knew, from the first, there was only one right answer. I understand the view on the other side, but I will never buy it.
For the record, original commenter, this isn’t directed at you specifically, but at the overall concept that I believe the media and administration has persisted in breeding. You see, this fallacy that some people want you to believe, is all a lie. Protesting a war does not, and never has, undermined or diminished the troops. I’ll wager they told the Vietnam protesters that too, and it’s dead wrong.
Those morons who threw things at the Vietnam vets, and spit at them, they weren’t protesters. They were bullies, throwing their voice at troops coming home, because they couldn’t get close enough to the powers that be. Because they felt ineffective and impotent, amidst the world changing around them. Those people were jackasses, and people who really understand inciting change (and they existed then and now) should’ve slapped them silly.
Protesting a war is not about shouting at those who are fighting it. It’s about fighting those who are running it. Protesting the war means telling the morons on the hill that our men and women need to come home, and that they need to own up to why they sent them there in the first place, and the mistakes they made before and after.
The American people, and that includes every single person in the armed forces, have a right to speak up and tell the government that we want it to be over. It’s no more true now, than it was in the beginning (when they lied to EVERYONE about why we were going to war), but it’s far more pressing now, that we tell them we will not allow them to continue using their citizens to fight a battle that has been proven full of deceit.
And so, what was the war about now? I mean, if we’ve proven that they had no evidence of WMD’s, no evidence of terrorist plans or ties to Al Quaeda… what’s left? I mean, political commentators have been saying, since it began, it’s not about oil. What’s left? A balance of power issue in that region we aren’t aware of? A political dodge. Is anyone asking this question now? Why did this have to happen? If we know that the administration had nothing to justify it, what else don’t we know about this?
The Senate Intelligence Committee reports make it officially the governments position that we were lied to. No one has any business arguing that point anymore. Even if anyone believed there was a reason to avoid protesting before, no one should now. We were duped into sending them there, and that is the only thing that could undermine their efforts. Are they giving us a new reason yet, a new reason why they started this? Because until they do, they are making the sacrifice of American lives absolutely pointless. And they haven’t the right.
The disregard this administration has shown to our armed services is exactly why it is our obligation to protest. If we don’t shout for the powers that be to look at the troops, and what they are enduring needlessly, who will?
Finally, I have a couple of other favorite political fiction quotes. And regardless of what you think of either film, I defy anyone to argue their points are wrong, either independently or within their context in each film.
I’m a citizen, this is my president, and in this country it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it is our responsibility. -Louis Rothschild “An American President”
So if we don’t, I mean if I don’t know what you’re up to, and if I don’t holler and scream when I think you’re doing it wrong, and if I just mind my own business and don’t vote or care, then I just get what I deserve. – Sunny Davis “Protocol”
- Stop and Stare
- Self Examination Is A Silly Way To Play Doctor
- Ok, I'm so ticked off right now
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