People of Peace, Stand Proudly as Patriots

[TheReligiousLeft]

This is my article on Buzzflash.com, check it out.

<http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/07/07_patriots.html>

It seems we have lost. I've seen America’s government deciding to be an invader for the first time in history and, after initial doubts, the American people supported it. I’ve seen those of us who marched against war relegated to “focus groups.” Like a scene out of the Third Reich, people who would seem to be sane individuals, burn Dixie Chicks’ CDs in the streets; “Freedom fries” reign supreme....
Each fireworks retort was also the retort of an Iraqi rifle, a miss-lobbed grenade, the crash of a helicopter. Bam Frederick E. Pokorney Jr dead. It was the light of Robert M. Rodriguez’s life, acceding through existence, then fizzling out, descending to the dead... This is why I marched. I didn’t march for the United Nations. I didn’t march for a certain political ideology. I marched for peace. I marched for the life of Brendon C. Reiss....We protesters may not wrap ourselves in the American flag, but rest assured we did not protest as traitors to our country, but as a people standing against needless death.

[acmavm]

1. Great article, and it couldn't have been said better than you did.

Thank you.

[TheReligiousLeft]

2. I'm glad someone liked it

I'm glad someone liked it. I kind of wished it had gotten published somewhere other than Buzzflash simply because I'm preaching to the chorus, which while it feels good doesn't change people's minds. Not that I'm complaing, I love my Buzzflash...
I guess when writing this thing I got to thinking about how people don't really seem to care that Iraqis are dying, so protesters must be in league with the "evil Iraqis". But when they realize we protesters were looking out for "our boys" as well it paints us in a whole new light.
Next time Bush does something protestable I think I'm going to convince some people to carry "We protest for X" then the name of a dead soldier. We need to do something to bring home the fact that prancing around the globe does in fact harm Americans.
Well, that's my bit of wisdom for the day.

[ninedwarfs]

8. Test

Test

[TheReligiousLeft]

3. Published in Wyoming!

Hey, I got this thing published in a Casper paper as well. Maybe people will eventually get it, and the midwest will become a blue region. Or at least I can dream....

[IrateCitizen]

4. Direct, succinct and to the point. Good show!

I am left wondering why the "patriots" who held the "pro-troop" rallies before the invasion are now silent as VA benefits are cut, hazard pay is cut, and people are still dying in the aftermath of an invasion predicated on the flimsiest of evidence.

[TheReligiousLeft]

5. Silent

It is so sad. They are silent because either
A. They don't know
B. They don't care
C. They won't act unless Clear Channel Radio tells them to
I think it has something to do with a mob mentality. People need to think they won't be a voice in the wilderness, but instead part of something bigger. They need someone to rally them to a cause, usually someone with a talk show.
Also, they need to be responding to something. If the left were to hold anti-VA rallies (which would be stupid) then there would be pro-VA rallies, but since it is just "the government" who is harming our troops it is fine, since Republicans control the government.
I actually have discussed this with one of my friends. He argued that the budget hadn't actually been cut, "the funds were just moved to another account or something." Oh, also the VA is just a bureaucracy, so it was the right thing...
Yeah, misinformation messes everything up. Maybe we have to start up pro-VA marchs across the nation. Shame Bush into submission.

[KoKo]

6. Many thanks for this Chris...those of us on DU who marched appreciate your

wonderfully written commentary......

One day, maybe our efforts will be recognized and appreciated for what they meant.

:-)'s

[batman]

7. Thanks!

Great piece

[TheReligiousLeft]

9. History?

How do you think history will judge our actions? Will we be great Americans who stood up against a hyperpowered president or will we be idiotic traitors? Or has history progressed beyond black and white to the point where we can be concidered both?
I guess I would hope we are validated by hindsight. Maybe the history books will read something like
"Of course the unrealistic neo-conservitives were resisted by a vocal minority of peace loving men and women who eventually retook America and lead it, and the world, into our current golden age." (Herodotus' History of the 21st century, 3rd edition.