"POLARIZATION"
Posted 05/09/03 Updated 07/20/04
Prior to the war on Iraq I sensed the beginning of something that was all to familiar to me and it made me uncomfortable as hell. I remember during the Viet Nam war, I was among those who was opposed to that military action. I remember the hostility of those who favored the war directed upon those of us who opposed it. I remember the incident at Kent State University in Ohio. I remember how divided this country was over that war, and I remember how close we came to civil war within our own borders because of that division.
This Nation came united after 9/11 in a way that thrilled me. I had never seen such unity in purpose as I saw in those months following the attacks. And I was supportive of retaliation. I've long been angry with the apathy our government seemed to have regarding the many terrorist attacks on the U.S. that seemed to become routine. I believed then and I believe now that it was such apathy and inaction which invited the attacks of 9/11/2001. I believe those attacks brought us all together in a very healthy way, making us stronger rather than weaker, and showing the terrorists of this world that we are a people who cannot be broken.
Now I'm afraid. Before and during our action against Saddam in Iraq, and even now that we believe we've been victorious in that endeavor, those who were vocal in their opposition to war have been demonized by the media and right-wing politicians. I'm appalled at the persecution I've seen perpetrated on the Dixie Chicks, Linda Ronstadt and others who have spoken their minds on the issue. I was also appalled at Jane Fonda during the Viet Nam conflict. As much as I so vehemently opposed the Viet Nam war, I was ashamed of Jane and her self-serving politics. I knew the effect of her stupidity would only endanger the lives of those POWs who she pretended to have gone to visit for their benefit. But the Dixie Chicks and Linda Ronstadt are not Jane Fonda. They exercised their right to speak freely whatever political persuasion they adopted at the time. Isn't that what we think we're defending when we make war? Our liberty? Our freedom of speech?
George W. Bush did more harm to this nation in his "yer-with-us-er-yer-agin-us" speech than Jane Fonda did to the POWs in North Viet Nam. He declared free speech and differing opinion to be un-American. If anyone disagrees with him, they can be counted among the enemy ranks. He divided this nation between those 'fer', and those 'agin'.
I'm FOR America. I'm FOR liberty. I'm FOR defending ourselves from terrorists and every other group or nation which would attack us or otherwise threaten our freedoms and way of life. And I'm FOR the Dixie Chicks and Linda Ronstadt and their right to say in public that they're embarrassed by George W. Bush or liked Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911". Bush embarrassed me too, every time I watched him and Tony Blair in their appearances before the news cameras. Compared to Blair's eloquence, his careful and analytical explanations, and his dignified demeanor, George W. Bush looked like a babbling idiot. And, while I haven't yet seen "Fahrenheit 911", when I do see it, agree or disagree, I honor Michael Moore's right to his opinion and Linda Ronstadt's right to agree with it.
It seems to me that the Dixie Chicks, Linda Ronstadt, and Michael Moore are not the problem. The problem is people like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hanity, G. Gordon Liddy, Oliver North, etc., who are on the air daily, demonizing liberals and anyone else who dare to disagree with them or the Bush Administration's policies. The problem is also President Bush's 'with-us-or-agin-us' attitude. If George W. Bush really cares about this nation, he'll do something positive and proactive to bring us back together. And he'll stop his ridiculous, counter-productive, 'with-us-er-agin-us' rhetoric which only divides us as a people and alienates our friends and allies abroad.
Gavas 050903 updated 072004
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