Last night the icy winds howled as they swept through everything in their path at 20 to 25 miles per hour. Even some of the people in their cars were bundled up for warmth.
But as usual, John Fortier and I were on the street corner conducting a vigil in memory of all who have been killed or severely wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for their families who bear such pain, often in silence, forgotten by the politicians who sent these young soldiers off to fight. Those politicians are now on vacation enjoying the joys of the season and the warmth of their families.
Even the U.S. news media sees little purpose in covering these wars or asking tough questions of those politicians, such as why these wars are being fought and how they will be paid for by a nation rapidly sinking in red ink. They rarely cover the families bearing their losses, whether American, Iraqi or Afghan or those who supported the U.S. in these tragedies.
But with the winds blasting us, it took us both to hold up the sign, the vigil and those it represents captured the consciences of many motorists who honked and waved their support. Most notable was a woman in a midnight blue heavy duty truck who during a red light angled her vehicle and read the sign and then waved and honked her support, as did her 11 year old son beside her wave with all his energy.
Those few of us holding vigils or protests are a testament to the freedom our nation still affords as we do so in opposition to our government. It is a government that just before Christmas in the deep snows outside the White House arrested those brave peaceful anti-war demonstrators who held up their signs in near blizzard conditions. There were 100 - 200 of them, many of them former soldiers and they were bussed off to jail. In silence, most U.S. media chose not to report the story.
But because of the courage of those protesters an intelligent President was forced in silence to confront his conscience and what it is he stands for.
Dick
1 comment:
At one time, Dick, I thought our president was an intelligent man. Now, however, I am forced to reassess him. He is either dumb or a liar or both since he did not do what he promised, and he continues to drown our economy with his outrageous expenditures and blunders in judgement.
Obama is now gearing up and posturing for reelection, and not a bit concerned with our troops. That is the "CHANGE" he brought to the table. It sounds obsurd, but Obama is worse than Bush in every aspect that is important to us: war-economy-healthcare-spending.
You know, Dick, when I think of our troops, I visualize them freezing cold sitting on some mountain in the middle east, fighting a war that is stupid, feeling scared in a foreign land with death only a bullet or IED away, and so sad to be away from home at this time of year. And no one gives a shit, Dick, other than people like you, John, and those other demonstrators that got arrested.
One more thing, Dick, Obama does not have a conscience.
Keep up the good work, amigo... and happy new year. Ben
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