A Reader Question
May 24, 2008
I read all of your comments, and appreciate them. One reader asked the following question regarding my recent post about Code Pink protesting in front of Marine recruiting stations:
Are the protestors you referred to against the US or are they against the war? From what I have seen some very patriotic people are against the war. It was not clear from your article how patriotism and support for war, especially the Iraq war, are related.
I don't know anyone in Code Pink personally, but their website shows that they are vehemently against the manner in which the U.S. is prosecuting the war on terror.
It's not constructive to project what I think they think, but it's possible to explore the question - can one be patriotic but against the war - without prognosticating about what the Pinkies believe.
The definition of Patriotism is "the love of one's country and willingness to sacrifice for it."
Conversely, then, it would be unpatriotic to do anything that might bring harm to your country or your countrymen.
Code Pink calls itself a "grassroots organization working for peace and justice" to "end the war in Iraq." Their definition of "working" includes regularly insulting and opposing our troops and their mission. In a laughable irony, the mission our troops pursue every day is to work for peace and justice to end the war in Iraq. So Code pink is really working against the very mission they claim as their raison d'etre.
What's worse is that every protest makes radical extremists feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It comforts the terrorists to know that the Marines face opposition from their own countrymen. There was a time when providing comfort to the enemy was called treason. I won't go that far, but it's hard not to point out that Code pink could not hold it's silly protests if it were not for the sacrifices of fine Americans like those they are protesting.
If Code Pink's purpose is to assert that war is bad, well, they'll get no argument from anyone who's been to war. But are their methods constructive? If they dishearten our troops and comfort our enemies, then their version of "patriotism" is at best misguided.
Code Pink wants us to "declare peace" and "pull out now." Would that life was that easy. But I'd rather defer to more expert voices on such weighty decisions, like general David Petraeus or even the troops themselves. In my two trips to Iraq I've yet to meet a soldier, sailor, airmen, Marine or guardsman who thinks leaving immediately is a good idea. Not to mention the Iraqis themselves, most of whom are very concerned (in large part due to news of antiwar protests) that America will pull out before their fledgling government can stand on its own. And since American servicemen are re-enlisting at record rates, it's pretty clear they want to stick around and "finish the job."
Crime is bad in the same way that war is. But you don't make your neighborhood safer by picketing police headquarters. In a sense, this is how Code Pink hopes to impact the world for peace. Good luck with that. In the meantime, our brave men and women will continue about the business of protecting Muslim women, improving the quality of life for millions of Iraqi and Afghan citizens, and safeguarding American interests. They do it because they believe that theinalienable rights referred to in the declaration of independence apply to Iraqis and Muslims just like they do to Americans and Christians.
For that they should be honored. And with placards like this, our troops are not honored.
Chuck Holton
www.livefire.us
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