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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 01/20/2003 5:42:53 AM PST by Master Zinja
A Simple Question
By James Benton
I have been watching and reading about the peace protests all weekend, and am honestly impressed. No matter what the beliefs of the protesters (and counter-protesters) are, I am glad there are people who stand up for what they believe in. Right or wrong, I am a firm believer in the old saying, "I may not agree with your opinion, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
However, I feel the need to ask a question of the peace protesters, one I wish I could ask at these rallies and get an honest answer in return.
How many will it take?
It's a simple question, and I think I have a right to an answer.
How many people have to choose between burning alive or jumping from a hundred-story building after it's been hit for you to change your chant from "Peace now" to "Justice now"?
How many children must be killed or orphaned before you want those who ordered the deaths of their parents to be dealt with in the only language they understand?
How many heroes must give their lives in burning buildings or throw themselves at hijackers and attackers before you say "Enough is enough"?
Will it take a mushroom cloud over Washington or New York before you finally admit to yourself and those around you that, while the pursuit of peace is a noble cause, peace is not always the way?
Will it take the deaths of tens of thousands of innocents in a chemical or biological attack before you stop wanting to turn the other cheek?
It is said every person has a price. What's yours? A thousand more innocent Americans? Ten thousand? A million? Or will it take one death, the death of someone close to you at the hands of these madmen, for you to see that peace sometimes cannot be achieved in reality without war?
How many deaths will it take before you finally realize without justice - not revenge, but a reckoning - there will be no peace? In the past, many African-Americans marched for civil rights, chanting the same slogan. They threatened disorder without affirmation of their right of equality; in doing so, they also displayed a basic truth of humanity: without justice, there cannot be peace.
The pursuit of peace is the pursuit of all mankind. No sane person lusts for war. However, there comes a time when we have no choice but to say, "Enough."
We have turned the other cheek since 1979, with few exceptions: the bombing of Libya, Gulf War I, and possibly other operations known to only a select, courageous few. We have spent the rest of time talking diplomacy or ignoring the problem. The result was September 11, which has now emboldened those few in the Arab world who wield power and wish to destroy us. They will strike again, whether we turn the other cheek, talk or fight back. Their ability to strike us may very well depend on our response now to those who would supply weapons and funds, like we suspect Saddam is doing, among other things.
We do not want a war. We do not want harm to come to our men and women serving in the armed forces. We do not want innocent civilians in Iraq to perish in defense of a dictator. We would be perfectly happy if Saddam were to step down into exile and disappear, allowing another, friendlier government to come to power in Iraq, one which recognizes the rights of the people it serves. But as time passes and the clock ticks closer to the deadlines, our options become fewer.
Despite what the protesters may think, we are at war now. Thursday will mark the 500th day since the beginning of the war on September 11, 2001. Just because great armies are not clashing or invading other countries - yet - doesn't mean we aren't in the middle of a major conflict.
And the enemy can strike at any time, as we learned during that first, terrible day of the war.
One last question to the protesters: while I heard of rallies for peace around the globe, with large crowds and small gatherings in both great cities and humble towns, there was one city notably absent from the list of where peace rallies were held.
New York.
Maybe those who have served on the front line of this war realize something the rest don't.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Zinja
Pres Bush should take this as the extreme compliment then. These protestors, if you asked them, would oppose ANYTHING done or said by GW. Therefor, GW could be said to be the epitome of strengthening America.
There is an answer to why these people didn't oppose X42's bombing in Kosovo. That action did not further any of America's interests, therefor, it was OK. Bringing stability to the Middle East serves America and capitalism, so it must be opposed at all turns.
My seven year old grandson asked me why we all can't get along. I asked him if he knew any bullys at his school. I told him it takes two people wanting to get along, and some just want their way with no compromise.
You agree with them or else suffer the consequences - or make them suffer the consequences because 'they wont' try to get along.'
Even then most of these so called peace protestors would be on the side of those who destroy America. Absolutely everyone who took part in this travesty over the weekend was at heart a traitor to the United States of America even if they have not yet done an overt act that could be witnessed by two or more people. It is lonmg past the time for us to realize we are in a war and those who are chanting no blood for oil are the one's who are willing to shed every drop of American blood to establish their version of atotalitarian regime here. They not only want your blood and mine they want the blood of every child to be born in the future.
It is about power it always has been. These scum want power and will lie, cheat, kill, maim, torture, and wage war against the USA to get their way
Are you talking about war with Iraq? or war with Saudi Arabia?
2 different questions.
You make several references to the death and violence that the Saudi's did in America on 9-11, and then you seem to say that making war on Iraq will bring justice for the evil that the Saudis did.
I am confused, I dont understand your connection with the murderous terrorists from Saudi Arabia and making war on Iraq?
Most of the hijackers who caused all those deaths(15 out of 19) were from Saudi Arabia, and none of them were from Iraq. It also has been alleged that those hijackers were financed from Saudi Arabia.
I was not aware of any war protestors who are protesting bringing justice with Saudi Arabia.
However, having seen the anti-war protestors this past week on CSPAN, I find it most embarrassing to be in their company on this issue.
She didn't discuss her purpose for being there too much. She almost sounded like she goes just for the parade atmosphere. So wrapped up in themselves, they can't see the targets painted on their own foreheads.
The author would do better to demonstrate that war with Iraq will prevent the deaths spoken of in his above passage, as opposed to injecting emotional appeals where fact should be.
Excellent point. I invite all those who want a war with Iraq to explain to the rest of us just how it will prevent the deaths spoken of in the article. I am not a pacifist. I fully support using our armed forces to ensure safety and security in America. Please explain to us.
If she was as honest as a kid on spring break, she would have said, "I'm here to smoke weed and get laid."
Huh???
Are you trying to say that we should have instead sufficiently beat up on Australia in response to Pearl Harbor in 1941, to teach a lesson to Japan?
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