Mar 19 2003
Sad Day.
Feeling extremely sad today.
Sad, and actually rather scared.
Idle thoughts:
- I don’t like war. I don’t know of anyone who does. It makes me particularly uneasy that we go to war without U.N. approval.
- I do not understand the argument that war will lessen the chances of terrorist attacks against this country; to my mind, it increases the chances. Are suicide bombers and the like really going to be dissuaded?
- I’m dismayed that a mere 18 months after the horror of September 11 solicited foriegn sympathies and united several countries in our War Against Terrorism, our government seems to have taken much of the solidarity expressed and managed to turn it around by 180°.
- Freedom Fries? Freedom Toast?? My mind boggles that Congress actually ordered the House cafeterias to rename these foods (which actually have nothing at all to do with France). And the proposition by Florida congresswoman to help pay for American soldiers to be exhumed from French graveyards? I find it frightening that Congress would spend even a few thought cycles on “issues” like these when there are far greater, legitimate, issues to be discussed.
- It’s a pity that there seems to be so much confusion around the fact that one can fully support our military troops, yet at the same time can also question the need for the troops to be deployed at this time; the two are not mutually exclusive. Why is this not clear?
-
I wonder what our future holds when people who voice dissent, particularly celebrities and others who find themselves often in the public eye, are labeled as “anti-American” in a country that has prided itself on free speech and the right to publically air our opinions. And I cringe to hear that some citizens are actually ashamed of those who do stand up to challenge the opinions of our government & those who represent us and need to be held accountable for their actions and decisions. It’s fine to disagree with the views of those who vocalize them, but for crying out loud, be proud that we’re allowed this freedom!
And as Fazia says:What the hell is so Anti-American about arguing that we use our skills at diplomacy? After-all, our diplomats have won Nobel Peace Prizes - it’s not like we can’t do it. What the hell is so Anti-American about wishing our President had the gift of TACT and had approached the problem of Saddam Hussein with more deftness that would fuel cooperation with the world? What the hell is so Anti-American about wishing that Bush had approached this so differently so that we’d be seen as going into Iraq at the behest and pleas of Iraqis to help them rather than as invaders of a sovereign nation?
Bah. That’s all I have to say about that.
Many others have expounded on similar topics far more eloquently than I could ever hope to. Surf around these for starters:
Medley
Marshmallows and Bile
Fusion Reaction
Scalzi.com’s Whatever Column
