Sminklemeyer has a good post about what it's like for a soldier coming home from Iraq and hearing people say that we shouldn't be there. I don't think Sminky is saying that because these people weren't in Iraq that they are not allowed to have an opinion on the subject, but rather until you have seen it first hand, you should at the very least hold your opinions to such distinctions. I think the last thing a soldier wants to hear is that what he or she is doing is a waste.
His post got me to thinking about are people who oppose the current situation in Iraq really anti-war and/or anti-Bush. I don't think they all are. I have written on this site numerous times that Iraq is not what Bush promised. However, I think our troops have performed splendidly and we couldn't ask for anything better. I just think that those in charge of this war have done a poor job of everything since the toppling of Saddam. I think it's obvious that we weren't ready for what happened after April 2003.
Since it's Father's Day I also remember my dad's words about Vietnam. My dad was 18 when he left for Vietnam. He volunteered for the Army on his birthday. I have only heard my dad talk about Vietnam on three occasions. One occasion was when I heard him say to someone else, because he rarely said anything to his kids about the war, was that usually the people who talked the most about Vietnam and their heroism were the ones who saw the least. Another time was when I was about 10 years old and we were watching something on TV about the war, which he rarely did, and he got up and said "we never should have been there, never."
My dad was a combat vet who opposed how the politicians handled the war and the strategic decisions that complicated everything.
My dad was also a big supporter of George W. Bush. That is until the Swift Boat Veterans ads began to run. The next time that I heard my dad say anything about Vietnam was during this last presidential campaign. He told me that he could no longer vote for Bush because anyone who stepped foot on those swift boats was a hero. It didn't matter if they ever saw actual combat or not, if they took one ride on those boats they "deserved a medal." My dad didn't care about the combat stories, but thought attacking someone's service, whether it was only four months or not, was completely wrong, especially the people who served on the swift boats.
I don't know how my dad voted because he absolutely didn't like Kerry either, but I do know he didn't vote for Bush.
Also, I'm sure everyone has seen Bush's latest poll numbers. Bush has always said that he doesn't follow the polls and doesn't care what the numbers are, which is a total lie because every politician follows the polls and Bush is no different. I'm not going to comment on the numbers because they could all change tomorrow. The Cook Political Report, which is just an excellent source for non-partisan political information, has a very interesting essay about the recent numbers and how they compare to past presidential numbers, and what it all means for the future. I think the title of the essay probably gives it away, "Bush's Cloud Has Silver Lining."
Finally, I found an interesting little article on CNN about the atomic bombings of Japan, and some censored first-hand stories being published in Japan. If anyone has any interest in the subject I recommend checking it out.
Happy Father's Day to all the dad's in Iraq and Afghanistan.
6.19.2005
Father's Day and Some Links
Posted by Chris at 3:19 PM
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6 comments:
I just need to rant. I hate it when I mention here in Germany that my boyfriend is an American soldier, that people roll their eyes and act like he is a part of the problem. Burns my toast. It's like thinking that crime would disappear if there were no police. Okay...done with my rant.
I read Smink's post and would have to say that everyone is informed and uninformed to a certain extent. For example, I tend to inform myself more about positive things happening in Iraq, not completely ignoring the negative but paying less attention those aspets, and I think some people tend to inform themselves about mostly negative aspects. The truth lies somewhere in the middle. However, I would listen to anyone who has been to Iraq, no matter what the context of their "visit" was. And I am glad that those other convention attendees afforded Sminks that respect, and didn't make themselves into asses by trying to discredit his view, just because it didn't jive with theirs.
MJ,
That was quite a surprise. I am greatful. Your writing has really shaped a lot of my ideals and helped me handle those situations like I encountered in Seattle. I am not joking, either. Time was, I would have thrown beer in their faces and cussed 'em out. But like I've said before, I've become a lot more open minded and taken some anger management courses. :)
It's okay to rant CVG, I'll let ya. But just this once though :)
I too would have to take any first-hand account of Iraq over my comfy broadband internet connection.
I think people will get out of it whatever it is that they want. I'm not out to change anyone's mind. I'm just trying to make up mine.
Thanks for reading.
It's okay to rant CVG, I'll let ya. But just this once though :)
I too would have to take any first-hand account of Iraq over my comfy broadband internet connection.
I think people will get out of it whatever it is that they want. I'm not out to change anyone's mind. I'm just trying to make up mine.
Thanks for reading.
Hey Sminky, thanks for the kind words.
You too have impacted my thinking quite a bit. I have learned to be much more sensitive when talking about Iraq.
I could only imagine what it's like for you when you hear people disagreeing with our troops being in Iraq. You have a right to your first instinct, which is to keep defending what you have defended so well all along, but I assure you that not everyone who opposes what this war has turned into is anti-war.
Yes I oppose Bush on most things, but I have many reasons for that. His handling of Iraq is but one of them.
It's not easy for civilians to watch the nightly news and hear 4 more American soldiers have died in Iraq either, and I know it must be even harder for a soldier to witness it all too.
Thank you for reading. One day we will have to grab a beer together.
Oh Sminky and MJ, all the man-love here is so...heartwarming...;-)
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