This entry was posted on 5/29/2007 12:01 AM and is filed under uncategorized.
Today we honour our servicemen and women from the past to today. We remember those who lived and died defending our way of life and our freedoms. From World War I, which caused the United States to become an international power to the present day Iraq War. Your author expresses a genuine and generous token of appreciation, which is probably not even enough for what has been given.
Your author has had the good fortune to have many of his relatives serve in various battles, from a great great uncle who was a private first class and WWI MIA to World War II and Vietnam. Several friends of your author are serving or have served, with some even returning to Iraq. It is indeed a good fortune because it makes these events much more personal. These events bring it home to your author as it does for many Americans.
In this day and age of what has become confusion for many, your author needs no explanation. It does sadden your author that many use this moment in our time to exploit the troops and the need for a strong military force. In the past our country has always had objectors to military conflicts. During World War I Eugene Debs, American Socialist Party presidential candidate was a vocal critic. When World War II occurred such anti war sentiment was expressed in the literary classic of the day as with Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. The Vietnam War presented a legendary anti war protest movement that allowed pop culture, particular in music, to profit. We have seen the Iraq War produce a long list of anti war protestors.
Your author certainly agrees with their right to protest or express their thoughts. That is a tenant of our country that makes us unique and rich. Sadly, at least with this most recent round of anti war expression, if one does not agree with them then they must be ‘pro war’, which is ludicrous. Additionally consider that supporting the troops and the military as a whole, standing firm against the very real threat of radical Islam, is not for profit. However can the same be said for the other side of the coin when one considers the likes of DailyKos.com, Michael Moore, moveon.org, Cindy Sheehan and others? Right now Democrat Presidential nominee John Edwards is reinventing his campaign to include support your troops, end the war movement. Former Senator Edwards stands to win the White House.
Many from this profitable anti war movement, often referring to themselves as patriots, have already concluded that the Iraq War is lost. What does this do to troop morale? What does this say about some of our fellow citizens? Will we ever be able to win a war as long as these figures can be heard so loudly? With that kind of grim spinning, why have a military? Why even have a country? Why not shred The Constitution and call it a day? Maybe find some other place to set up camp and start over? This is what the profitable anti war movement would cause in the end.
The misuse of words is common with the profitable anti war movement. Two that stand out for your author are patriot and hero. We first must define these two words before we can critique what is being said.
From Merrian Webster Dictionary:
Hero-one that shows great courage.
Patriot-one who loves their country and supports its authority and interests.
US National Guard Staff Sargent Camilo Mejia is described by the profitable anti war group as being a hero. Mejia decided he did not want go to Iraq. Instead he opted to become AWOL. In 2004 Mejia was sentenced to a military prison for six months.
US Army Specialist Jeremy Hinzman fought in Afghanistan and upon hearing he would be shipped to Iraq fled to Canada with his wife and daughter. He is currently living in Vancouver and attempting to obtain refugee status. His contention with the Iraq War-it would be benefit Haliburton.
What is so heroic about these individuals? Nothing. Six months in a military prison would pale in comparison to risking your life in a war. And despite Hinzman’s claims, Haliburton has not profited from the Iraq War.
Unlike Mejia and Hinzman, Casey Sheehan was a patriot. In May 2000 Sheehan, following graduating from a community college, enrolled in the US Army. Originally desiring to be a chaplain’s assistant, Sheehan became a light wheeled mechanic. Nearing the end of his tour, the Allied Forces invaded Iraq and this drove Sheehan to reenlist. He knew full well his First Calvary Division would be shipped to Iraq. Despite the obvious dangers, Sheehan believed in the cause. Sheehan became a hero when he volunteered to be a member of the Quick Action Response Force to rescue troops and was killed on April 4, 2004.
Sheehan’s mother Cindy Sheehan would become an important figure in the profitable anti war movement. She would author a book, engage in numerous anti war demonstrations and profit from speaking tours. Her book entitled Peace Mom was about her son and plenty on her anti war stance. In the past several years she embraced both Socialist leader Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Communist leader Fidel Castro of Cuba. Her son was a brave and heroic patriot. Cindy Sheehan, obviously struck with grief that your author can only imagine, became a member and ultimately a tool for the profitable anti war movement crowd. It has concluded, she has been spent and today she threw in the towel.
It is because of soldiers such as Sheehan and thousands of others that the profitable anti war movement can even exist. It is because of these brave men and women, those who gave their time and the ones who sacrifice their lives that allows your author to express such support for them. We remember you-the true patriots and heros.
