One of the reasons I just LOVE this forum is the amazing eclectic members we have. We are truly an International community. Maybe more so than any other forum on the 'net. I'm an American and d@mn proud to be one. I make no apologies for it. Am I proud of my country? Yes. Will I stand up for my country? Yes. Do I support all the decisions my country makes? Hades no! Does that make me a bad person? No. Does that make me an ugly American? Well I ain't going to win a beauty contest, but I'm not ugly! In saying that though there are loads of others in this forum that can write the same things I just did. As I have said here, and other forums I frequent, I did not support the war with Iraq. My reasons were more along the lines of - OK now that we've beaten' ya into submission now what do we do with ya? There was no Marshall Plan and I truly believe no long range plan. However, once the conflict began I have been in complete support of our men & women over there (I have a couple of cousins in Harm's Way now) and our allies. What happened in Iraq at the military prison facility was a BLACK EYE for all of America. I don't give a Rat's @ss if the Geneva accords don't apply we are a CIVILIZED country! My reason for my belief is the spin control that the Pentagon is in right now. That being said though I'm not over in Babylon right now. I have no idea, other than an occasional letter from my cousin that tells us what in Hades is going on over there. I understand the need for information and the value of that information but it doesn't help us at all to alienate the same people we came to "liberate". What happened to Mr. Berg was even worse (I have seen the tape-:sad: ). This one act by savage men has done more to galvanize my resolve that these butchers need to offed in worse way. In my "community" it has shocked everybody and the reaction now is go get 'em.
Some of the other items I would like to address while I'm on a late role (um it has to do with PLS and I can't sleep) are general comments.
I work out in the boonies (y'all just won't believe how far out I actually work) so I haven't seen or heard the hours upon hours of newscast ridiculing folks who are against the war, but our satellite feeds are only from LA (the majority) & Anchorage so I guess it ain't making big TV there. Heck far when I'm home I live in one of the largest military communities in the world and so far I ain't seen or heard of anybody who is against the war being ridiculed, led away in leg irons or placed in seclusion on a small island in Cook Inlet. I will ask my wife if any of our neighbors have disappeared though.
I completely understand Mayet's post and the analogy she is making. What I believe that is not apparent, especially to those outside the US, is there is a loyal opposition and a very active opposition. Just to set Mayet's mind at ease we do not have a Bush Youth, there are no Brown Shirts and we don't look up in awe with our right arm raised in the air. H3ll far most people don't have a clue to what he's saying. Face it he gives Yogi Berra a run for his money. I guess my problem is I understand every word he say's (it's a Southern thing and being married to a most beautiful woman who speaks Appalachian helps a lot). I for one am not a supporter of GWBYA. Nor am I a supporter of the Patriot Act (I hope it's allowed to Sunset and have written to my representative expressing my hope). Do I think my Libertarian Party will make a difference - Yes I do. Do I like the Democratic hopeful? Nope. Do I like the Republican incumbent? Nope. But whoever is elected I will support as my President (um until they do something to completely pi$$ me off ;) ).
Well the pain is subsiding (the drugs are kicking in) and I'm going to hit the rack. Y'all have a good night! :thumbs2:
