Araine, Thanks for your concern, but I happen to be one of the happiest guys I know.
And I don't mean to single out the thread starter, his attitude is endemic. And it does make me pissed. This whole arguing on the internet thing might be getting out of hand, in the real world I choose my battles more discriminately, but I would not back down from this argument at any time.
"Our job is to protect these people's right to assemble, but I have utter contempt for them excercising that right" is bull*****. This should be taught to the slower students in basic training: you can't have it both ways. You are either for the freedoms that you are all supposedly fighting for, or you aren't. Standing on the corner w/ a protest sign is what you might call Freedom #1 in this country, if you don't believe in it 100%, get your ass out of the military, please. Don't do us any favors, go out and earn a living in the real world.
My Dad fought in Korea, my best friend in Viet Nam, and they agree w/ me all the way. Spitting on soldiers because you don't agree w/ foreign policy is a whole 'nother matter, and I would be the first one to throw fists on the side of the soldier if I ever see this happen, but if you are talking about my mother holding a sign outside of the military base, (which you are), you need some basic lessons. Of course the reactionaries try to lump Mothers together w/ people assaulting/spitting on soldiers, kiss my ass on that one.
We have an administration that wears little flag pins while cutting vets benefits, doesn't give a rat's ass about the lives of anyone, and hides behind the red herring of "supporting the troops". I don't support the way that our military is being used at the moment, and I know for a fact that many in uniform share my view. Also, the military culture contains the best as well as the worst in human nature, as we've seen this week, if you want to really do something positive try to educate thise around you about what "rights and freedoms" really means, and stop worrying about the Mother's Day protesters. Some of them have dead sons from this and other wars, they are as American as Apple Pie.
