No, I don't believe in circumstance, no more

[wombat_socho]

Apropos of a discussion qob and I were having, LT Smash and the lads talk to some Code Pink folks.

On a related topic, Jonah Goldberg discusses conspiracy theories and their advocates.

Via Rachel, with hot Elsa Lanchester stylin' in between the above posts.

Possibly related: Keith Ellison wins the DFL congressional primary in the 5th District. He ought to fit right in with Maxine Waters, Major Owens and the rest of the crackhead members of the CBC. (Mitch)

Comments

[qob.livejournal.com]

you know, he temporized, I am glad I don't have to run this country, GWB has my continual prayers. I read this stuff from Smash and sincerely don't want to engage them like he is (good on him!)

I am having an interesting discussion on another list where I mentioned that anxiousness over overpopulation was "vaguely racist" and I was accused of being brain-damaged!

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

"No reasonable person could disagree with us; therefore people who disagree with us are insane."

[433.livejournal.com]

Code Pink folks are (for the most part) jabbering loonies. The exception being my mom, I'd say, who doesn't support the Iraq war, but gets pissed off when anyone makes any sort of thinly-veiled jab at the soldiers themselves (of course, having an Army husband, Air Force brother-in-law, Navy father and three brothers might have something to do with that).

Frankly, if you oppose the war but support the troops (as I do), you should have the guts to talk to them. They'll probably even call you "sir" or "ma'am", even if they disagree with you.

I have a pair of friends, a couple, one of whom has been over there three separate times already. They don't agree with Iraq, but he serves as he signed up to do, and she organizes drives to send books, games, snacks, etc., to his fellow troops. THAT'S how you oppose the war but support the troops.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

...and she organizes drives to send books, games, snacks, etc., to his fellow troops. THAT'S how you oppose the war but support the troops.

That's pretty much the only way, as I see it. The folks who go on about "Support the troops, bring them home!" are playing word games.

[433.livejournal.com]

Well, she has one of those signs, too! :)

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

If it's the person I think it is, I can't say I'm too surprised. On the few occasions I've talked to her, she struck me as enthusiastic but not the sharpest pencil in the box.

[433.livejournal.com]

Um, then I don't think it is who you think it is. Does your person live in Hudson?

And I fail to see how that would make her unintelligent. The sign is in his yard, too.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I don't think she does, but I could be wrong.

Also, maybe I used the wrong metaphor here. I'm not saying she/they're stupid, just that they really haven't thought the implications of that cute little slogan out.

[433.livejournal.com]

How so? They obviously support the troops, yet want them home.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Because (and this isn't just my take, but that of a lot of milbloggers, many of whom have done time in the Sandbox and/or Afghanistan) if you don't support the mission, then you're saying what the troops are doing is wrong, and this undercuts morale. It's like giving with one hand and taking away with the other, yahmeen?

[433.livejournal.com]

I understand that, but in his words, there are a lot of troops in Iraq that don't agree with the mission. They're outnumbered by quite a bit, to be certain, but if troops themselves are against (at least the Iraq) the mission, how do people on the homefront do more to undermine morale?

The soldiers and guardsmen I know that DO support the Iraq mission are pretty fervent, they don't seem to be harmed.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

I understand that, but in his words, there are a lot of troops in Iraq that don't agree with the mission. They're outnumbered by quite a bit, to be certain, but if troops themselves are against (at least the Iraq) the mission, how do people on the homefront do more to undermine morale?
I don't think it's a matter of doing more, I think it's a matter of adding to the existing burden. All wars have had some people on the home front who didn't think it was a good idea, but Vietnam and Iraq II were the first wars since the Civil War that have seen this much virulent opposition, and it's not good for the troops.

[433.livejournal.com]

(I really dig that icon, by the way)

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I found it on the Traveller RPG community and decided it fit military topics better than the Master Chief icon.