Every other Sunday, a group of peace advocates meets in downtown Walla Walla. They wave signs saying, “Peace Now,” “Wage Peace,” and “Honk for Peace.” They flash the peace sign to passing motorists for half an hour or so, then they gather in a small circle to read and honor the names of American military personnel who have died in the war during those past two weeks.
Last Sunday that list totaled 45 names. A Vietnam veteran reads the names from his wheelchair with his hand to his heart and tears in his eyes.
During the reading of names this past Sunday, a man approached and walked directly into the center of the group during the reading of the names. Then he said with a voice of disdain, “I’m a veteran and I fought to protect the rights of losers like you.”
At that same time, a woman walking outside the circle chimed in, “Yeah, see how you like it in Iraq.”
They walked on. The reading of names continued.
But I had to ask myself, in what way is the American presence in Iraq protecting our rights of expression? Is our goal to turn Iraq into a little America? What is our goal in Iraq? What are we fighting for? How will we know if we’ve accomplished it?
In many ways, I think the man interrupting that peaceful demonstration and Vietnam veteran reading those names want many of the same things. We want to live free from the threat of terror. We want to protect each individual’s right of self-expression and self-determination. We want to support the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.
But how is fighting in Iraq doing anything but breeding future generations of terrorists? How is the surge doing anything but providing more targets of opportunity? Is it not supporting our troops to provide them with clear military objectives and then bring them home rather than placing them in an indefinite role as an army of occupation?
No—I wouldn’t like to live in Iraq, thank you—especially the Iraq we have created.
June 20, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Just found your blog…refreshing and desperately needed in Spokane. I posted your link on my blog. There’s a mayor debate coming soon. I can give you the name of the organizer if you’d like to submit a question.