Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge I'm scared, really scared

Jethro,

By "elite and noble warriors", I'm assuming you mean the youth of 19 to 24 year olds, who are, as I watch the names of these kids scroll down the televison set each week, seem to be the main casualties among the our troups in Iraq. These young men and women who sign up to DEFEND our country AND OUR VALUES are indeed a useful and much needed front in America's continued efforts to do just that...defend our nation's interests. ANYBODY who performs their jobs to the upmost degree, especially those who we rely on "keep the peace" are a most valuable asset to us.

Now....I've heard more than once from those who have decided that our Iraq venture is "working and is a noble cause and all you have to do is ask our troups over there and they'll tell you that this fight is worth the costs".(A recently conducted poll of our men and women in uniform reported that over 80 percent of them "believed" Saddam Hussein was responsible for 911, and that out Iraqi incursion was retaliation for that attack.(a falsehood that even President Bush has admitted to, but seems to want to subconsciously push to the public)

Well, I don't know about you, BUT, I've NEVER meet a 20 year old who knew his a$$ from his elbow about how the world REALLY IS or how it REALLY works. I surely didn't at that age, and I'd venture to guess that you didn't either. Not to say that I've got a complete handle on it now at 54 years of age, but those extra 34 years have opened my eyes a little more to reality.

So to me, asking these brave men and women over there the Geo-Political rambifications of our presences there is somewhat akin to asking their contemporaries who for whatever reason are now in college, how they feel about the over-consumption of alcohol during Spring Break in Cancun.

This is NOT to say that those kids fighting over there are clueless, but THAT oft-used argument just seems a ridiculous exercise in logic.

NOW...I LOVE this country. I have the upmost respect for it's basic tenents, which in my view stress that, the individual when given a chance to better himself has more opportunities to do JUST THAT HERE without the overt restrictions and repression that many citizens in many other parts of the world must contend with.

And with this INDIVIDUALITY often comes the added benefit that the inherent commerce of thought and deed that ensues, because of this diversity of thought...(to use a "Reaganesque" phrase)..."lifts all boats".

But what have you got when this INDIVIDUALITY is stifled by actions and words that suppose ANYONE who may disagree with the decisions of our leaders is automatically "DISLOYAL" and not to be trusted, and in many cases, to be despised?

Look....I for a multitude of reasons, which I have in the past stated, think this war in Iraq was and is counterproductive in our efforts to secure SECURITY for AMERICANS here and worldwide. BUT, what I think is EVEN MORE unconscionable than accusing them of being "extremists"(Communists, Socialists, Fascists, what-have-you), is THE attempt to deny the RIGHT TO VOICE an opposing opinion that may differ from the "Powers That Be" i.e. our elected officials or your own as UNAMERICAN, or to suggest to those that hold those differing opinions to "get lost" or "then move", when in actuality it's the UPMOST expression of AMERICANISM when one does indeed DISSENT!

Dwight
(now....I think I've had enough of this thread....It's been "fun")