A quote from Ms. Sheehan that was in the CJ page A2 on Wed. May 30, 2007. It is not available online.

 

Good-bye America-you are not the country that I love and I finally realized no matter how much I sacrifice, I can't make you be that country unless you want it.

 

I have the deepest amount of sympathy for this woman on the loss of her son (who's memory I believe she has embarrassed) BUT I personally hope that she moves to Venezuela with her buddy Hugo. She's upset about criticism she has received but as I recall hearing in the news recently Hugo is taking care of that nasty old dissent in Venezuela.

I have deep sympathy for her loss, But I think she was saying the loss of her son was fot nothing and I would never want to say my son died for nothing . Fighting for your country is an honor even if you don't like the conflict. I assume he knew he could go to war when he signed up, one cannot pick and choose a war.

How very blessed we all are that we live in a country that affords us the opportunity to voice our opinions without fear of being jailed, or worse.

 

I have not a clue what she has gone through with the loss of her son and I pray that no one on BGP ever knows that feeling.

 

The sad thing about this whole situation is that she was being used and IMO, wasn't smart enough to know it or perhaps she was and she got out of it what she wanted. She should never have went overseas, IMO and had her picture taken while hugging Chavez and saying the things that she said about this country. Perhaps she just handled her grief differently than I hope I would handle mind if this ever happened to me.

 

That being said, I could easily be one of those people who protest this war. Note - I said protest this war - not the soliders fighting it. I have never believed in the war and there is nothing that will ever convince me otherwise but I would never say anything that would reflect badly on any person giving their lives for it.

That being said, I could easily be one of those people who protest this war. Note - I said protest this war - not the soliders fighting it.

No offense intended, but I'm having a harder and harder time stomaching this, especially coming from the politicians. From the troops point of view, if you're not supporting the war effort, you're not supporting them.

Sorry to say I am one on BGP that has lost a son and I would never disgrace his name and the way he died. I too haope that no one has to endure this pain.:cry:

No offense intended, but I'm having a harder and harder time stomaching this, especially coming from the politicians. From the troops point of view, if you're not supporting the war effort, you're not supporting them.

I agree. No offense either RK, you know I luv ya like a sister.

My opinion on war protesting is it only emboldens the enemy. It sure did in the Viet Nam war.

Sorry to say I am one on BGP that has lost a son and I would never disgrace his name and the way he died. I too haope that no one has to endure this pain.:cry:

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Did you lose him in this war?

I agree. No offense either RK, you know I luv ya like a sister.

My opinion on war protesting is it only emboldens the enemy. It sure did in the Viet Nam war.

No offense taken - I can have my opinion and you all can have your opinions....that's the GREAT thing about being an american. We shouldn't have been in Viet Nam and we shouldn't be fighting this war.

Ok so if one can't protest war in America, are we still living in a democracy?

 

What should those who are opposed to this war, (with good reason, I might add) to do?

 

We should shut up and let those who "know what they're doing" run amok?

 

One step away from communisim....

No offense intended, but I'm having a harder and harder time stomaching this, especially coming from the politicians. From the troops point of view, if you're not supporting the war effort, you're not supporting them.

What I am NOT supporting is all these kids being killed and/or coming home with no limbs fighting a war that should not have happened.

Ok so if one can't protest war in America, are we still living in a democracy?

 

What should those who are opposed to this war, (with good reason, I might add) to do?

 

We should shut up and let those who "know what they're doing" run amok?

 

One step away from communisim....

:thumb: For some reason I feel dirty this morning just by voicing my opinion. I will stand by my feelings against this war and I disregard anyone's opinion that I don't have the right to voice those opinions.

Ok so if one can't protest war in America, are we still living in a democracy?

 

What should those who are opposed to this war, (with good reason, I might add) to do?

 

We should shut up and let those who "know what they're doing" run amok?

 

One step away from communisim....

:thumb: For some reason I feel dirty this morning just by voicing my opinion. I will stand by my feelings against this war and I disregard anyone's opinion that I don't have the right to voice those opinions.

 

 

The sad thing is, that's what people to want people who are not for this war to feel like. IMO, it's bullying. I'm firmly convinced, and believe deeply, that this war in Iraq was, is and will continue to be wrong.

Ok so if one can't protest war in America, are we still living in a democracy?

 

What should those who are opposed to this war, (with good reason, I might add) to do?

 

We should shut up and let those who "know what they're doing" run amok?

 

One step away from communisim....

 

But likewise, can't those people who disagree with those who protest against the war also voice our sentiments? Or are we no longer living in a democracy?

 

The points people have made about the anti war protesters are valid ones: the protesting emboldens and encourages the insurgents to keep at it; the protesting causes the Iraqi citizens to question whether they should support our efforts because we may pull out soon as a result of the lack of support and thus the Iraqis don't fully help and cooperate with us; and it hurts the morale of our troops. While you obviously have the right to oppose the war, with that right comes a responsibility to exercise that right prudently. If more anti's (particularly the Democratic leadership) took the position that they oppose the war, but state that we are in it to win it and will not and cannot quit until we have stabilized Iraq, they would be registering their opposition but at the same time not encouraging the insurgents, not cause the Iraqi people to question if we will be there to finish the job, and not negatively affect our troops morale. In other words they could express their opposition in a more responsible manner.

 

The insurgents have studied our history and know it well. Americans as of late have lost their will to fight prolonged wars and its not because of cowardice, rather I believe its because Americans value life very highly and it truly pains us to see our young men and women coming home in body bags. As a result we start re-examining the reasons why that is happening. Add to that the fact that even prior to the war, Bush had at best the support of only 50% of the people in this country, which made it even easier for people to start second guessing his decision to invade Iraq. If people don't think the insurgents understand that and will take advantage of it, they are sadly mistaken.

 

And if you think I am trying to bully you, then I am somewhat offended and surprised that you have that opinion of me.

Ok so if one can't protest war in America, are we still living in a democracy?

 

What should those who are opposed to this war, (with good reason, I might add) to do?

 

We should shut up and let those who "know what they're doing" run amok?

 

One step away from communisim....

I don't think anyone has tried to deny anyone the right to protest the war if they choose to BUT if you become the very public face of that protest then you have to expect some backlash. Couple that with Sheehan's visits to Venezuela where she praised Hugo Chavez (who just shut down a newspaper because they opposed him, that's real suppression of freedom) and then her final statement that she didn't like America any more and IMVHO she has become a legitimate target for all of the criticism she has received. As I have said many many time the freedom of speech does not mean speech with no bad consequences.

Before I ask this question, let me explain that I am not seeking an argument or trying to force my point of view on anyone, although if I get the answer I expect my follow up questions may seem that way.

 

What does it mean when one says "I am against the war but support the troops?" Taking this statement at face value, it seems to me as a reference to the shamefull way our soldiers were treated upon returning from Vietnam, i.e. being called baby killers and spit upon. If the statement means you are opposed to that sort of attitude toward our troops then I don't really give much credit for that. To me, that is just human decency and should be the norm regardless of one's opinion of the war.

 

This is something I've considered since the saying became popular soon after the war started. Someone please set me straight on this. RK, please don't think I'm picking on you, I've read enough of your posts to be of the opinion that you are one of the nicest people on this site. You just happened to be the last one to make the statement.