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patgundOkay, this is not humour, this is not funny, this is me venting about something.
Let me make something clear here. I don't care if someone is against this war. I don't care if they're in favour of it. I don't care if they think the guy in the white house is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and I don't care if they think he's an unelected idiot.
What I want to remind people of is this.
All of us who live in the US and are citizens thereof, are *AMERICANS* Which means we're all heirs to the legacy of freedom, liberty, (if I can use a word of French origin here), and independence that the founders of this nation gave us. That's *ALL* the founders, the ones that were Christian, the ones that were Agnostics or Freethinkers, the ones that were Atheists, *ALL* off them.
Patriotism does not mean blind obedience to our government. Being a good American doesn't mean there is one true way or path as a citizen. What it does mean is remembering, even in the heat of the moment, that the person you disagree with is *also* an American, also believes in the ideals of this country, (even if they differ from you on those ideals), and has the same right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression that you do.
And just because one may not agree with the reasons behind this war, doesn't mean one doesn't support the troops that are fighting this war. When Clinton sent troops to Kosvico, many of his opponents stated that one could support the troops and not support the president or his policies. This is true no matter *WHAT* the party of the current president is! Just as people could support the troops and not support Clinton or his actions, people can support the troops and not support Bush or his actions. One does not exclude the other.
I have friends that are deadset against this war, and think it's a bad idea fought for the wrong reasons. You want to call them "unpatriotic" or "unamerican", fine. You'll have to wait though - because they're in uniform and over in the Middle East right now, fighting in a war they personally don't believe in. And the reason they are is simple - they swore an oath to do such, even if they don't agree with it.
And I also have friends that are very gung-ho about this war and think it's a wonderful thing, even though they have never worn a uniform in their life. And they to, have a right to their opinions as well.
And you know what? They all are Patriots in their own way. They all are Americans. They all want what they see as right for this country.
The only qualification I could use is those who use their supposed opposition as an excuse to attack people or property, (and by which I mean those that vandalize a military base to show they're against the war, or those who vandalize a dry cleaners with a french name to show their support of the war), are not Patriots, are not Americans, and, quite frankly, are idiots.
No, as Americans, we don't always agree with each other. The War between the States showed that over a century ago. But, never forget, for even a second, that the person that is rallying against the war, or the person who is rallying for the war, are both Americans, both support the troops over there, and both love and support this country as much as you or I.
And that both sides, for whatever reasons, are trying to do what they see as right for this country. You can quarrel on issues, you can quarrel on means, but don't forget you're both Americans.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled LiveJournal
Let me make something clear here. I don't care if someone is against this war. I don't care if they're in favour of it. I don't care if they think the guy in the white house is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and I don't care if they think he's an unelected idiot.
What I want to remind people of is this.
All of us who live in the US and are citizens thereof, are *AMERICANS* Which means we're all heirs to the legacy of freedom, liberty, (if I can use a word of French origin here), and independence that the founders of this nation gave us. That's *ALL* the founders, the ones that were Christian, the ones that were Agnostics or Freethinkers, the ones that were Atheists, *ALL* off them.
Patriotism does not mean blind obedience to our government. Being a good American doesn't mean there is one true way or path as a citizen. What it does mean is remembering, even in the heat of the moment, that the person you disagree with is *also* an American, also believes in the ideals of this country, (even if they differ from you on those ideals), and has the same right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression that you do.
And just because one may not agree with the reasons behind this war, doesn't mean one doesn't support the troops that are fighting this war. When Clinton sent troops to Kosvico, many of his opponents stated that one could support the troops and not support the president or his policies. This is true no matter *WHAT* the party of the current president is! Just as people could support the troops and not support Clinton or his actions, people can support the troops and not support Bush or his actions. One does not exclude the other.
I have friends that are deadset against this war, and think it's a bad idea fought for the wrong reasons. You want to call them "unpatriotic" or "unamerican", fine. You'll have to wait though - because they're in uniform and over in the Middle East right now, fighting in a war they personally don't believe in. And the reason they are is simple - they swore an oath to do such, even if they don't agree with it.
And I also have friends that are very gung-ho about this war and think it's a wonderful thing, even though they have never worn a uniform in their life. And they to, have a right to their opinions as well.
And you know what? They all are Patriots in their own way. They all are Americans. They all want what they see as right for this country.
The only qualification I could use is those who use their supposed opposition as an excuse to attack people or property, (and by which I mean those that vandalize a military base to show they're against the war, or those who vandalize a dry cleaners with a french name to show their support of the war), are not Patriots, are not Americans, and, quite frankly, are idiots.
No, as Americans, we don't always agree with each other. The War between the States showed that over a century ago. But, never forget, for even a second, that the person that is rallying against the war, or the person who is rallying for the war, are both Americans, both support the troops over there, and both love and support this country as much as you or I.
And that both sides, for whatever reasons, are trying to do what they see as right for this country. You can quarrel on issues, you can quarrel on means, but don't forget you're both Americans.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled LiveJournal
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