September 15, 2007
Gathering of Eagles III
So I spent most of my day on the Mall in Washington D.C. with Aaron. We arrived at 8:30 am and made our way to the area where MoveAmericaForward.org had their platform set up. The day started out a bit cloudy, but brightened up as it progressed. Here, you'll see that the crowd is a bit thin, but it got larger throughout the day.
Some of the groups represented today were Free Republic, Protest Warriors, MoveAmericaForward.org and Families United. Thanks to all of them for making the day possible. Below, Aaron is ready to let us all know what he thinks:
To warm the crowd up just a little, Dwayne Cleveland from Georgia was on hand to sing a patriotic song. Aaron and I moved throughout the crowd, looking at some of the great signs and t-shirts that people were sporting. Below is one of my favorites...I saw them on quite a few people today:
The College Republicans from American University made a small but spirited showing:
Another great sign...yes he is dead, and so is his relativity. Get over it!
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If you had to, er, "wash your hands" (as my stepfather would say), the facilities were plentiful AND clean. Unfortunately, one of the stalls was permanently occupied:
Two others had permanent occupants; Cindy Sheehan and Ramsay Clark.
The proceedings began around 9:30 am, and Kristinn Taylor from Free Republic led the public in a rousing chant of USA, USA!
Kristinn then passed the microphone over to Melanie Morgan. I'm not a great note-taker when people are talking, but I managed to take down some of Melanie's remarks, along with remarks made by other speakers. Melanie was full of pep and energy, praising "the patriotic Americans who stepped forward" to give a message of "love and support for our troops." Something she said was echoed throughout the rest of the rally: "We will win this war...surrender is never an option!"
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After Melanie's opening salvo, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Megan Ortega, the National Anthem was sung a capella by Kit Lange (from Free Republic). The audience joined in. Rev. Hawke then gave the invocation. As part of his invocation, Rev. Hawke prayed to "enlighten those at the other end of this Mall, in that domed building, [that] surrender is not a word in our vocabulary."
Some of the speakers included Larry Bailey and Chris Hill from the Gathering of Eagles. Chris was very impassioned. His remarks included the following: "I would bleed on that flag to keep the stripes red, and I know I'm not alone...I don't care what they [anti-war protestors] have to say anymore...you do not speak for me."
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Peter Hesgeth, president of Vets for Freedom, also spoke. He discussed the "two Americas," but they aren't the ones John Edwards likes to talk about. In addtition to reminding us that since American GIs first soaked the beaches of Normandy in blood up until now, they have "fought and died oppressing all that is evil." He also reminded us that "now is the time to stand by our troops, stand by their commanders, and stand by their mission." Wise words indeed.
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Excerpts from the speech made by Bradley Blakeman of FreedomsWatch.org: "We give voice to real Americans...this is just the beginning...victory is our only option...America will never surrender to our enemies." He compared our current struggle against Islamofascists to the rise of the Nazis: "We will not let this happen again."
Lloyd Marcus sang at the GOE on March 17th. This time, his dad was along for the ride, and joined Lloyd onstage as he sang "Remember 9/11."
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There are so many speakers, I can't do them all justice. Dr. Kimberly Cagin said that "America is in Iraq to defend our homesoil anad our allies against those who would destroy us." Merrilee Carlson, head of Families United, spoke of her son, Sgt. Michael Carlson, who died when the Bradley he was in went into a culvert and into the water. Because he was able to partly pry open the hatch, two out of the seven soldiers survived. Shouts of "hero" resonated through the crowd as Merrilee spoke.
Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson was introduced by Melanie Morgan, who said "he carried the nuclear football for President Bill Clinton...and has regretted it ever since." During his speech, Buzz said, "I've seen firsthand how leftwing politicians hate the military. It's disgusting." He also said that "the Left only wins when America loses."
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Some of the more impassioned speeches, which elicited great responses from the crowd, included those by Blue Star and Gold Star parents, including Deborah Johns (Blue Star) and Debbie Lee (Gold Star). Deborah Johns declared, "No retreat, no surrender, not now, not ever!" Greg Garvey, Gold Star father of Sgt. Justin Garvey, said, "Do you know what time it is? It's AKT -- a** kickin' time."
Joe and Jan Johnson, whose son Justin was friends with Casey Sheehan and died shortly after Casey did, spoke of their son with pride. Their story is told in the book "American Mourning: The Intimate Story of Two Families Joined by War, Torn by Beliefs." Their older son is currently serving in Afghanistan.
A surprise guest was Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), who is also running for president. Hunter's son Duncan Jr. is a Marine who served in Iraq and is currently serving in Afghanistan. In addition to quoting Ronald Reagan's 1981 inaugural speech, Hunter said, "God still loves this country...for the next generation, we are fighting this war against terror."
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Among the final speakers was a Corp. Finelli (sp?). I missed his first name, but he received a great deal of cheering from the crowd. He lost one of his arms in Iraq, and his legs were injured as well, but they are healing and he can walk with the assistance of a cane. He said, "I don't just fight for America, I fight for the world."
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The rally wrapped up around noon with a musical tribute to our fallen troops. You couldn't hear a thing except the song playing, and tears were seen in many eyes (including my own). The Gold Star families who arrived with the caravan stood with Melanie Morgan and the other MoveAmericaForward.org people in unity, holding their hands.
The highlight of my day? Meeting Melanie Morgan, who I've had some e-mail communication with this past year (she's the better looking one):
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After the rally ended, we headed over to Pennsylvania Avenue to line the street for the big ol' anti-war march planned for 1:30. We stood around until 3:00 before the march began. We lined both sides of four avenue blocks. How many of us were there? Not sure. There were a lot of anti-war marchers, but as Aaron pointed out, many of them were probably local college students who didn't have much to do on a Saturday afternoon.
What struck me most about the anti-war people was their penchant for profanity. I heard lots of "F*** you a**holes" and there were plenty of middle fingers on display. One young girl, probably around the age of 15 or so, walked by shouting "Suck it" and giving us a visual f*** you with her arm and fist. Her mother was right there encouraging her.
Another thing that bothered me as I watched the marchers were the parents who dragged their young kids along. I'm talking YOUNG, under 10. One girl was in a line where the marchers were "tied" together, and she looked terrified. And who wouldn't be? With all the shouting and angry people left and right, I'd be frightened too. Below are some shots (courtesy of Aaron, as my camera was out of commission at this point) of the march itself:
Above, Code Pink gets into a scrap with pro-troop ralliers and the cops are sorting it out. Below, check out the "press truck." The press was there in full force when the troop haters arrived, but fairly ignored those of us there supporting our military. Aaron shouted continually, "Biased media!" Biased indeed. Thanks a lot for nothing, guys.
No need to post any more of the actual march; you'll see plenty of those in the mainstream media. Were there more troop haters than troop lovers? Maybe. But our hearts were in the right place. We stand for victory, they stand for defeat. They claim to support the troops, but what they are really doing is bringing down morale and encouraging our enemies.
Michelle Malkin was there...here's her account in progress.
UPDATE: MM has more.
OTHERS BLOGGING: This Ain't Hell, Gateway Pundit, PC Free Zone, Age of Hooper, Atlas Shrugs, Cao's Blog, Crawfish's Swamp
Show Comments »
Thanks for sharing from the "other" side, Aaron was correct, the reports I am reading are quite biased but what else was expected?
Have a safe trip home!
Posted by: Jeanette at September 15, 2007 07:16 PMThis post is amoung the best I've seen. Thanks.
Posted by: THIRDWAVEDAVE at September 15, 2007 08:56 PMKit Lange is the webmaster *and a lot more* for the Gathering of Eagles Website, and also writes at Euphoric Reality, fyi. She has a show also on blogtalk radio.
Posted by: Cao at September 16, 2007 09:44 AMThanks for being there.
Posted by: Van Helsing at September 16, 2007 11:27 AMYou mention how many young children were there at the protest marching with the ANSWER crowd. At the end of the march, I went to the capital with a lot of the other GoE folks to see what I could do next. Since it was late and I was tired, I plopped my chair under a shady tree to eat a snack and grab a drink of water. A mother and her 7 year old daughter came by, both wearing the peace sign mardi gras beads a lot of them had been given. The child asked what my sign said, and if I was a "good person or a bad person". My sign read "Support the troops the right way- Supplies to finish the job; decent pay, housing and medical care; Prayers to keep them safe! Bring them home- when the job is DONE."
I don't know what her mother told her. I wish I had gone over there though, and said "I am not bad or good. I am a mother with a son who is a soldier. I am an aunt with a nephew in Baghdad today, and another who is going next month. I am a wife whose husband has been to Baghdad twice so far. I am a former soldier. I am an American, and I want to live in freedom- and I know that freedom is never free."
JoAnn in VA
Posted by: JoAnn in VA at September 16, 2007 12:13 PMJoAnn, you should have replied GOOD.
Pam dear, I'd be tickled if you'd call in tomorrow and give my listeners some feed back on what REALLY went on there!
Posted by: Jenn at September 16, 2007 08:23 PMI love your post it is awesome. Thank you for all you did on this. Excellent. And thank you for the link too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 16, 2007 11:57 PMI did the GOE III, too, and wrote it all up with pix here:
http://conprotantor.blogspot.com/2007/09/gathering-of-eagles-iii-part-1.html
Posted by: Tantor at September 17, 2007 10:52 AMThanks for being there for all of the folks that can't, but would like to.
Posted by: joe-6-pack at September 17, 2007 12:09 PMI was there! I was the guy sitting in the back of the crowd with my two Eaglets. They were the patriotic and well behaved (if quite vocal) children in DC that day, as opposed to all the misbehaving children marching down Pennsylvania Ave.
I'm writing a multi-part story on our experiences at my blog. Part one is done. The rest will get done this week.
http://constitutionalcrawfish.townhall.com
Hm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:58 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 06:59 PMHm.....so many things you are wrong about, so little time.
I participated in the war protest on the 'troop-hater' side. But you are so wrong about this label. I do not hate the troops; I admire them. I think they are doing something amazing that requires courage I could never muster. It is the ADMINISTRATION I have a problem with. It's unbelievable how comfortable the 'pro-troop/pro-war' people are to pass judgment.
(As an aside, I'm not a hippie. I don't encourage drug use and I don't even smell like pachouli, so don't pull the tree-hugging pot-smoking stinks like incense line.)
As a young, educated American, I take pride in our country and that I have the abilities and freedoms that many other women in other countries aren't lucky enough to have. I consider myself very blessed to live in America, and I have a lot of respect for those who have served in the armed forces.
But I believe our current administration lied about the pretenses of the war. If Iraq's biggest export were kittens, we wouldn't care nearly as much about them. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction? Don't we have more nuclear bombs than any other country in the entire world, yet we are somehow obligated to police the world's weapons?
Furthermore, you have to admit that if another country came to America and tried to switch our democracy to a dictatorship, for example, we would be PISSED. Whether the Iraq people are thankful for U.S.'s presence there or not, we should not be over there. A lot of other countries could have criticized how our government handled the hurricane Katrina event and come to our country demanding that we treat our citizens in a more humane way, but they didn't because it's none of their business and if we needed help we would've asked. Shouldn't we treat other countries the same way? Let's give other countries as much help as they ask for instead of completely squandering all of our resources trying to help a country that should've been strong enough to get themselves out of that mess on their own.
Additionally, I saw many young children with the Gathering of Eagles folks, and MANY, MANY curse words coming the mouths of some leather-clad Eagle-ites. They mimicked people who were just standing around innocently, chased people, pointed fingers, and shouted that we were all "mother fuckers" more than any of the protesters on my side.
Please, email me back and show me that you are capable of having a conversation about this instead of calling me a hippie and ignoring me because you are too lazy to think about the possibility of something other than your own narrow mind frame.
itsmaretime@gmail.com
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 07:01 PMAnd wow, I have no idea why this posted 57 million times.
Posted by: Ashley Rae at September 17, 2007 07:02 PMI was saddened by the incredible levels of anger coming from both sides as well. It is so easy to speak in generalities- that all the people on one side of the fence or the other are good or bad. I was on the GoE side, and did succumb to a few temptations to yell back at someone who was yelling at me, until I realized that it was silly, and just started singing "God bless America" over and over. My sign did not say anything insulting about those protesting, it was a simple "God Bless Our Troops". And for every ten or twenty who screamed at me, cursed at me, used a variety of hand gestures at me- there would be one who would smile back when I smiled at them, or who would shake my hand. "Are you a Christian?" many asked. "Then you should be over here on this side with us!" They entreated- "I believe everything that your sign says too!" For those who were talking, not screaming, I would stop singing for a moment to reply "But I am here because I want to >stay
Not everyone walking down the street was a left-over hippie or a moonbat. Not everyone standing along the sides behind the barrier was a perfect gentleman or lady on their best behavior. Everyone was passionate about thier beliefs though, and willing to speak up.
And in the end, that right is probably the most important that we all have. For which I thank both God- and the men and women willing to stand between me and those who would strip us all of that right.
"Stay a Chrstian" must have been cut off because I used prompts in place of an underline, sorry about that!
Posted by: JoAnn in VA at September 17, 2007 11:49 PMFor both sides, this was not a place for children.
Posted by: Jeanette at September 18, 2007 11:41 AMThanks for being there Pam. I had to cancel out due to family matters. I was at the GOE last March.We have to keep fighting the good fight!
Great post and photos .These 'people' hate their country,hate the troops and continue THEIR lies about this President. In 1998 every single democrat from Clinton on down made the case for war in Iraq,to remove Sadaam and feared his WMD's. In 2002-2003,the Democrates praised Bush ,voted for the war and stood by him until they realized this was good for Republicans and bad for them.And so their propagnada machine began. They are Stalinists who claim to be educated but only in what they believe is true not facts. I hear that these anti American marchers gave the middle finger to the GOLD STAR FAMLIES and told them to 'F..K off".They stand in front of a place of healing, Walter Reed Army Medical Center protesting the troops and the war. Very compassionate. My questions to these left wing America haters who aim to destroy our Defenders..."How does this war effect you? Are you still in school,getting your nails done,eating at resturants,vacationing? Do you drive your car to the mall spend hours chichatting on your cell ? What scarifices have you made to fight terrorists ,to support our troops, to support the families who have members serving and fighting for YOUR security and freedom?...what have YOU done to make this country safer?' I bet the answer is NOTHING except whine about Pres. Bush. Yep, I'm sure they support the troops!! Thanks Pam Keep up the great work! ( and they ARE hippies,communists and sympathizers of terrorists)
This is a GREAT piece of independent reporting on what is happening in Ramadi, please read it and spread the word about it.
Anbar Awakens Part II: Hell is Over
This is the second in a two-part series. Read Part One, The Battle of Ramadi, here.
http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001517.html
Just an excerpt:
"I was greeted by friendly Iraqis in the streets of Baghdad every day, but the atmosphere in Ramadi was different. I am not exaggerating in the least when I describe their attitude toward Americans as euphoric. "
Posted by: awilson at September 18, 2007 09:04 PM
