Protests in wartime

From: dne44 <dne_at_dslextreme.com_at_hypermail.org>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 08:52:45 -0000

Have to disagree with your post #676 Mike, re: stopping protests once
a war is on.

It is a democracy and it is important that voices of dissent be
heard. I do not think it is contradictory to admire, respect and
support our troops, while at the same time letting the government
know that we don't like its actions -- and to keep pressure on it to
make things as transparent as possible.

If we fall into line behind our government simply because we are at
war, it becomes more likely that a government (assuming it is
inclined to do so, and this one certainly seems to be) will seek to
maintain a war footing to obfuscate, restrict civil liberties as they
wish, and stifle dissent. The government has in various ways
maintained that we are at war since 9/11, in ways at which any self-
respecting civil libertarian should cringe (but hey, they're only
detaining and deprving the rights of people with funny last names, so
why shoud we care?).

Are some of the protests over-the-top, paranoid and ridiculous? Yes,
but that doesn't mean they shouldn't happen (though they should be
peaceful). I also question where there is evidence of
dissent "lengthening a conflict". There have been significant
protests against pretty much every war we've been in except WWII, and
in most of those cases, excepting Vietnam, these protests had little
effect on the battlefield, and usually not much effect on government
policy. The Vietnam experience has made us hyper-sensitive to the
effect of protests on our troops -- but I think most protesters have
learned that lesson, and support the troops (or at least respect
their sacrifices and wish them no ill), but want the government to
alter its actions in one way or the other.

Personally, now that the war has started, I just want it over as soon
as possible with as few people killed on either side as possible. But
I don't think it's unAmerican to go out and protest the war (although
some protesters are virulently anti-American). I don't think it's
unAmerican to call protesters idiots, etc. I do think it's anti-
American to prevent protests or to say that protesters are unAmerican
because they are protesting.

- David


--- In OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com, "Mikal" <mikalm_at_i...>
wrote:
> (snip of Dean's stuff)
>
> Well put, O Ectomorphic One.
>
> My own position on the war? I was against it until 1700 hours PST
last
> Thursday. PEACEFUL protests, letter-writing, lobbying, etc. are
fine until
> an actual war begins. Once the shooting starts, dissent tends to
lengthen a
> conflict, demoralize one's troops, encourage the enemy, and create
trouble
> on the home front. If standing behind the legitimately elected,
> Constitutional government of my country during a huge military
commitment
> makes me a reactionary, I'll happily accept that label.
>
> And if I was excessive and callous re Rachel Corrie, so be it. I
am sick
> and tired of spoiled brats with absolutely no common sense, personal
> responsibility, or awareness of consequences, using their juvenile
idealism
> as an excuse to empower murderers and create chaos. I just hope
that
> incident discourages similarly inclined morons from supporting
> homicide-bombing lunatics, or trying to become human speedbumps.
>
> --Mr. Right-Wing, Who WILL Get What He Deserves
Received on 2003-03-31 00:52:47