*Stand Up For America Rally*

[babolaypo65]

For me there is a correlation.
My own PERSONAL decision to refrain from protesting now that the war has begun has to do with my wish to make things easier on the families of those who are there, and easier on the soldiers who may have to go. I believe these people have a lot of stress right now, and I choose to not do something that I think adds to their stress. I remember during the 1991 gulf war it was hard on my friends and family who were military members (some there) to hear people protesting about something that wasn't really their choice any more. A friend's son was there and it upset her a lot to see people protesting while her son was there.

I am not "threatened" by the protesters during the war, I have just chosen for myself to stop. Each of these decisions along the way is, or rather should be, personal.


[QUOTE]Originally posted by Soledad
[B]I don't see how people continuing to voice their preference for peace has anything to do with if they respect the armed forces. There is just no correlation.

[mugsy]

You know it's funny, I don't remember a lot of protesting during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Odd, isn't it, what you remember and what you don't.

[babolaypo65]

You're right. I was not very precise with my post. There weren't "a lot" of protesters. There were some. Especially relative to this time, one couldn't say there were a lot.

[mugsy]

I would definitely say that this war is A LOT more controversial than Desert Storm. I just hope that the veterans don't get treated like so many did after Vietnam....that really sucked. I actually dug out a pin that I had during Desert Shield/Storm that has a yellow ribbon on it and says "Unitil they all come home."

[Twisterdog]

... they are so blatantly anti-American, when they live in America

I agree with this. These actors and actesses have their jobs and their millions of dollars because the live in the USA. There is probably no other country, or very few, in the world today where they could have acheived that fame and wealth ... and have the freedom of speech and freedom of press they do here.

I am a single parent. I went to college, I own my own business. I own my own home, and several vehicles. There are very few other countries in the world where I could have achieved this degree of success, being a single woman. In many, many countries I would have been killed long ago for some of these actions. Make no mistake about it, people .... the freedoms you have today in the USA are precious indeed. Do not take them for granted.

If you live in America, or you live in a country that gladly snaps up millions of dollars of foreign aid from America ... IMO, you should stand behind our troops, and be supportive so this can be over as quickly and painlessly as possible for all.

And, I believe that if one hates the USA and it's policies soooo much ... then perhaps one should move to another country, eh?

[Soledad]

Oh, so if someone believes that their government is wrong, they are unpatriotic and should move somewhere else? They shouldn't bother to state their opinion or create change or anything. No, that would be anti-American.

[Twisterdog]

Oh, so if someone believes that their government is wrong, they are unpatriotic and should move somewhere else? They shouldn't bother to state their opinion

I never said that. I said that is someone HATES the USA and it's policies, then yes ... perhaps they need a new homeland. Why would you want to live somewhere where you are miserable, where you hate the country and where you disagree with the very principals it stands for?

I did not say one should not state their opinions .... but I do feel that anti-war protesters should take the high road at this time and give it a rest. People's husbands, sons, brothers, friends are on the front lines right now. I think the last thing these family members need to see is someone belittling our troops and screaming "No war!"

NO ONE likes war. NO ONE wants to die in a battle. NO ONE wants to drape a flag over a loved-one's coffin. It is not a matter of people being pro-war or anti-war, period, the end. It's not that simple, and anyone who thinks it is is very naive. EVERYone has a line, that when crossed, means war to them. There IS something that EVERY war-protester WOULD fight and die for. It's just that different people have different thresholds. NO ONE is a total warmonger or a total pasifist. Nothing is all black, or all white. Whether or not someone happens to think that this cause and this time was right or wrong for this war .... nevertheless, the war is here upon us, and I believe we need to support our troops and save our complaints for when this is over, and everyone is safely home.

[Soledad]

I guess I'm having a hard time seeing where you differentiate America-haters from people who disagree with the war.

I don't believe Susan Sarandon hates America and everything it stands for. She just wants certain things to change. How is that anti-American??

[Twisterdog]

P.S. Soledad ... I can see that you and I are going to have a lot of fun and good debates on this new board. Now we just need to get Lalania back here, too.

[Twisterdog]

I guess I'm having a hard time seeing where you differentiate America-haters from people who disagree with the war.

Oh, you know what I mean ... you know the kind of people I mean. The people that have nothing good to say about the USA, ever, no matter what. (My sister is a prime example of this, BTW.) They don't like the president ... ever, no matter who he is. They don't like congress, they don't like the taxes, they don't like the political decisions ... no matter what they are. They are quick to say that America does this wrong, and that wrong, that the USA is a big bully, etc. etc. etc. Everyone knows someone like this ... after a while you just want to say, "Then why are you here?"

And .... just as a little food for thought ... have you ever seen me say anywhere that I necessarily ageed with the premise or timing of this war? Hmmmmmmm.........

And I wasn't speaking specifically of Susan S. Actually, I have no idea what she even said. I was just speaking of the genre of "We-Hate-The-USA-But-Won't-Leave-Because-We've-Got-It-Better-Here" whiners in general.

[Soledad]

I know you're trying to be nice, but I don't find it fun to see so many Americans with such un-American ideals. It makes me very sad.

[Soledad]

I guess I'm just not seeing the same Americans you are.

The Americans I know who are against the war are all smart, active people who love their country and want it to live up to the ideals and values that it professes to possess. They are active in their communities, churches, schools and local governments. They are just normal people who want to see how they can make this place better.

[Twisterdog]

The Americans I know who are against the war are all smart, active people .....

And I repeat ... I'm not necessarily talking about everyong who is opposed to the war. I'm talking about people who seem to be opposed to every thing, every decision, every move the USA makes, ever.

And I repeat ... have you ever seen me say anywhere that I necessarily agreed with the premise or timing of this war? Hmmmmmmm.........

All I'm saying is that the war is here, right now. Protesting it now is only going to make people that are already hurting and worried feel worse ... people with loved-ones in Iraq. Why? I'm just saying that, IMO, no matter what your initial feelings were about this war, just give it a rest now until it's over. Then voice your opinion where it REALLY counts ... at the voting polls.

[mugsy]

Soledad, my problem with S.S. is that she blatantly made statements that were aimed at attacking the American government. In my opinion, it went beyond questioning, but, you know what they say about opinions!

I also have a problem with Natalie from the Dixie Chicks standing in front of an audience in London saying she was ashamed to be from Texas because that's where Bush is from. Sorry, but she should have kept her mouth shut, at least for right now. I know she has the freedom of speech, but there is something to be said for time and place.

In all honesty, who in their right mind, would say that they LIKE war. I think that Bush did what he felt that he needed to do and that's to take out of control an evil dictator. Do I think oil (aka the almighty dollar) had something to do with it? Yes I do, but, do I think it was the driving force in this decision? No, I don't.

[RICHARD]

the whole thing boils down to having a freedom to speak and the responsibility that goes along with it.

protestors have the right idea, but don't have the brains to execute their plan, lying down in the streets and engaging the
cops are real intelligent ways of letting your thoughts be known.
also tying up the judicial system is another bright idea.

one thing that makes me laugh is the constants in their
"parrotry" (another pet reference...)..

war is not the answer.
no blood for oil (funnier yet as the 'stars' arrive in stretch limos to the oscars!)
we want peace, we want it now!!! like DUH.....
who doesn't want peace now???
invade washington! (on hollywood blvd some rocket scientist spray painted this on a building being remodeled.)

puke for peace......NOW there is a truly original idea!!!!
eat broccoli and tomatoes and beets before you go....next someone will try to take pics, make a book out of it and sell it under the pretense that its 'war art'...

peace protest that erupt into violence......oxymorons perpetrated by morons..

i love the USA, i just have problems with the people who THINK
it's o.k. to use their freedom of speech so irresponsibly.


think fast, hippy!