The Absurdity of the Anti-War Movement
“Are you pro-war or pro-peace?” was the first question that came out of the mouth of one of the war protesters as I explained that I was there to talk to them about their presence on a major intersection here in Huntsville, AL. I explained that I’m a Soldier, I hate war and love peace. But, I also recognize that peace comes at a price. It went downhill from there.
Today, I went to corner of Airport Rd. and Whitesburg Dr. to interview the small gathering of three determined ladies in their quest to oppose the Iraq War. What initially drew my attention was the bright yellow sign held up by one of the protesters proclaiming, “Impeach Bush and Cheney”. The flip side read “Out of Iraq Now”. Naturally, I had to know what motivated a trio of women to sit on a street corner with a large white sign that read “PEACE” in large blue letters. The sign required two people to hold it and rose taller than me at about five and half feet high.
I approached the group and introduced myself as an active duty Soldier and military blogger. I explained that I wasn’t there as a representative of the Army, but that I was there for ASP. And I asked them why they were there and kind of let them steer the discussion. The first individual I spoke to is Jennifer. For her privacy, I won’t give her last name, but here’s how that interview played out.
A couple of things I found absolutely amazing were her reasons for being over there. I get a little fed up with the ignorance of people who say that this is a war for oil. Now, I’m not an idiot. There’s are reasons we’re in Iraq that we aren’t in Sudan and one of them is oil, I’m sure. After all, our energy policy depends on an affordable and dependable supply of oil. All the tension in the Middle East and the fact that ruthless dictators and murderers control that oil probably played a huge role. But, it’s definitely not an overriding or singular reason for the invasion as this group would have you believe.
Then there’s the further ignorance about permanent bases. There are a lot of permanent bases in Iraq and many, if not most, will be turned over for use by the Iraqi military. If we indeed maintain a longterm presence in Iraq, our bases will few and far between, but we’ll stay for the same reasons we are in Japan, Germany, Italy and other locations throughout the world. I won’t go into the rest here. You’ll have to listen to the audio.
While speaking with Jennifer, one of the other ladies in the group sitting down with two 1ftx2ft signs reading “Peace” nestled on each leg and an umbrella shielding her from the steamy Alabama morning beckoned to speak with me. She asked if I was interested in her opinion. As you’ll find out, I kind of found it odd that Jennifer actually said this lady, Reese, knew more than she did about the topic. In all honesty, there are fewer people I’ve met more ignorant and just outright stupid than Reese. I hate saying that because Reese seems like a nice, wonderful old lady. But, her opinions sure got my blood boiling.
I don’t take kindly to being called a murderer. I don’t appreciate her assumptions that Soldiers are “indiscriminately killing civilians” in Iraq (sound familiar John Kerry and John Murtha?) as a part of US policy. Reese is one of those straight up whackos that thinks we don’t need a military. “If all you honorable young men could join something like a Peace Corps and know that you were not necessarily going to be made to have to kill people,” she told me, “or get killed yourself..then you’d be going somewhere to help people.” I asked her if she really thinks that Soldiers are in Iraq killing civilians indiscriminately and she replied, “I know they were.” She even acknowledged that not only were we doing it, it is actually our policy to do so. You have to listen to this entire interview HERE.
Donna
July 19th, 2008 at 7:43 pmI can’t believe the stupidty or ignorance of some people thinking that we don’t need a military. Are they living in a bubble? We don’t just desire to have troops protecting us but we NEED your protection. Reese indeed is a whacko if she truly believes that we don’t need a military.
Also I can’t believe how these people believe that soldiers are indiscriminately killing civilians. That is the most stupid idea of all ! I don’t know where these people get their ideas, maybe from the Congress and Senate Ha!
God Bless you CJ and all of our troops and a big “Thank You” for protecting us so well!
David M
July 20th, 2008 at 5:27 amThe Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post – From the Front: 07/20/2008 – News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
Flag Gazer
July 20th, 2008 at 9:38 amI have rarely heard such ignorance in my life. What is scary is that they drive cars and vote too. You have more self-restraint than anyone I know.
Space
July 20th, 2008 at 2:28 pmWhat I find sad is not so much the unadulterated ignorance of these ladies, but the fact that none of what they had to say surprised me one bit.
Good on you, CJ, for keeping your military bearing and remaining respectful and professional through that discussion, and from someone whose brother has served in Afghanistan once and Iraq twice in the last six years, thanks for doing what you do.
Ymarsakar
July 21st, 2008 at 12:01 amResponse blog post about this at my place.
Link
yankeemom
July 21st, 2008 at 4:52 amWhew! CJ ~ you handled that better than I ever would and I’ve had alot of practice…
Ignorance is certainly bliss and ain’t it a wonderful world we all would be living in if y’all had just joined the peace corps. Darn you! you dishonorable, indiscriminate murdering, robotic slaves!! (That’s my kid she’s talking about too – grrrr)
It’s when I hear things like this from Americans (who say the word “patriotic” as if it is a dirty word) that I so wish we could get a few of those poor poor people we are treating sooo badly and send them to these protesters’ houses and let them “talk” to them. Or better yet, send the protesters to the poor poor people’s houses.
This is the best example of the mindset so prevalent in the anti-cause-of-the-day.
There is no way you can reason anyone out of their preferred ignorance. Facts mean nothing and their little black and white world just can’t handle even a hint of gray.
Ymarsakar
July 21st, 2008 at 11:18 amThere is no way you can reason anyone out of their preferred ignorance. Facts mean nothing and their little black and white world just can’t handle even a hint of gray.
The interesting thing is that that isn’t entirely true. The MSM propaganda is also to reinforce such views with “facts”, as people see it. So it should be possible for counter-propaganda, like counter-insurgencies, to be able to push back people’s certainty on these issues.
It won’t automatically convince, just like Al Anbar wasn’t automatically convinced until they wanted to be. But it will help. People are not immune to propaganda, even if they are immune to your ‘facts’ because they came from you, rather than their trusted sources.
Propaganda uses reasons and facts, just not in the conventional fashion.
Mjolnir
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pmWow….I’m practically speechless…
You handled yourself very professionally CJ. I commend you for that. I don’t even know if I could have stuck around after the ignorant ramblings of Reese…damn.
God Bless and thanks for your service!
DougS
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm“There is no way you can reason anyone out of their preferred ignorance. Facts mean nothing and their little black and white world just can’t handle even a hint of gray.”
Yeah, like those people who say “you’re either with us or against us”.
jkc@NTC
August 1st, 2008 at 9:31 amWOW! CJ…I wonder if that was my professor from France that I got into it with last year. (remember that one?) She sounded just as ignorant! Maybe it was her mom or sister…How sad…even the educated can be as dumb as a box of rocks (Actually, at least a box of rocks remains silent which would be ideal in such cases)! How do you remain sooooooo calm…it must be all that training that this damn military gave you on how to kill indiscriminately! ….if there were ever a time to want to!!!! I suppose the Coast Guard could invest in some hovercrafts to protect the borders since we don’t need the Army…oh yeah, she said “MILTARY”….things that make you say HMMMMMMM! Didn’t she say she was a professor! As always, thanks for all you do, MUCH LOVE! Joyce
jeidviga
August 12th, 2008 at 2:25 pmKudos to you….
I found Reese so ignorant and happy to be so that I could not listen to her complete interview.
My son once told me “I fight for these freedoms – I don’t choose who gets them” and this trio is a perfect example. He is currently at the tail end of his 3rd deployment to Iraq.