VENT: when did protesting become anti-american

[caitycaity]

I'm sorry but the more I read posts here about the war the more I just can't believe what some people have posted. Protesters, whether you like them, or their actions, or what they are protesting about or not are HUMAN BEINGS. you may disagree with them, but they are still HUMAN BEINGS.

*stepping off my soapbox*

 

[kdibattista]

This is the only comment I have ......

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=341160

I believe that thread says it all - these human beings are despicable

 

[mhopset]

People have the right to protest whatever they want. I also have the right as an American to say they are stupid!

 

[mhopset]

Sorry, I gotta add some more!

No, I did not read the whole article, but what I saw in that picture really pisses me off!

If that ***** wants to burn the flag then send her to Iraq and let her live there!

 

[caitycaity]

i totally agree with people's right to call them stupid, dispicable, etc. but when people say they wish they would be killed, or they wish they would be sent over to iraq to be gassed, imho that crosses a line.

 

[trayletha]

People have the right to protest anything they want to protest - and according to the laws of our country also have the right to (in my opinion) desecrate our nations Flag by burning it. What they should not do as human beings is destroy something that was created with love and sorrow. To my mind those particular actions are they same as if they had gone into a graveyard and put graffiti all over a tombstone.

 

[Jenzebelle]

You cannot tar all anti-war protestors with the same brush.
And like it or not, being against something doesn't make that person any less of a human being.

It makes me sick to see people write/say that protestors should be the first ones to die in any Iraq retaliation.

 

[JAP]

From that thread, I think saffron said it best and I applaud what she had to say:

"Unfortunately there are extremists on each side of the war issue that are given more publicity than the majority of the people who are protesting or championing the war efforts.

That's a shame that a group of people had to destroy something so meaningful to so many people just to draw attention to themselves. It gives antiwar protesters a bad name. Their stupid and demeaning actions will be remembered more than those with good intentions and peaceful means of voicing their opinions. That's very sad indeed.

I hate what they did. Their actions were horrible. It makes no sense. "

Thank you saffron you really summed up how I feel about this issue.

 

[jamsmom]

Protesting may not be anti-American, but I put burning the American Flag in that category.

 

[caitycaity]

If that ***** wants to burn the flag then send her to Iraq and let her live there!

see now what is implicit in that statement? that you want her to go to iraq to suffer the human rights abuses that others there suffer.

NO human being should be subjected to that kind of treatment.

and trayletha, believe me, i do not agree with what those particular people chose to do.

 

[trayletha]

caitycaity - I never thought you did and I agree with you

NO human being should be subjected to that kind of treatment

And mhopset I think that picture was of the woman who had set up the 9/11 memorial cleaning up the destruction.

 

[Saffron]

Thank you JAP.

I often wonder why people are so appalled by anti-war protestors. Just because I may be anti-war (there's no war now, so I have no stand), doesn't mean I'm anti-American, anti-military or anti-soldier. People assume that though and I never understood why, nor will I ever. As do many people who are
pro-war, I come from a military family. My family would be the first to stand up for my right to be heard.

Neither perspective, the one that protestors are anti-Americans or the perspective that those who champion the war are true Americans, make sense to me. People are who they are and to brand them with any sort of label is just wrong.

The actions of that one group towards the 9/11 memorial are just disgusting. Had they peacefully marched or demonstrated, you never would have heard a word about them.

Last week a group of protesters shut down Philadelphia during rush hour because they joined hands and made a huge peace sign in Center City Philly, right on Broad Street. Hundreds from the surrounding executive buildings joined them. Did you hear about it? Nope, because it wasn't sensational enough. The story about the disgracing of the 9/11 memorial will live on, as will the story of the naked protesters making peace signs in the grass, because they are sensational. I don't mind the stories of the naked protestors. I will hate that the defacing of the 9/11 memorial will be associated with any sort of peace protest though.

 

[Rajah]

IMHO, the generic act of protesting is not anti-american.

The specific act of protesting by burning / destroying / defacing the American flag (or similar American symbols) *is* anti-American.

Protest all you want to, it's *because* of what that flag represents that you (generic you, not you specifically caity) are allowed to protest.

IMHO, anyone who does not show respect to the flag should be kicked out of the country to fend for themselves.

 

[kdibattista]

Protest all you want to, it's *because* of what that flag represents that you (generic you, not you specifically caity) are allowed to protest.

Well said!!!

IMHO, anyone who does not show respect to the flag should be kicked out of the country to fend for themselves.

I agree 1,000%

 

[Disney Doll]

Ya know, I am getting really tired of this baloney about protestors' rights. Under our Constitution, they have the right to protest, and I am glad for them. But you know what, I have the right to not like it, I have the right to not agree with it, I have the right to wish they'd move to another country, maybe the one their protests are in essence fueling the fire for.

Those people destroyed a monument to the largest ATTACK ever on American soil. The people who were KILLED in that attack didn't do anything. I wonder how the families of the people KILLED in that ATTACK feel.

I know, I know...Saddam Hussein didn't attack us. And I am sure that Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, and all the other terrorist sympathizing countries have NO connections, right? Please



MHO is that if they disagree that vehemently with the policies of a country that they have to destroy a monument erected for innocent people, then they should move to a country whose politics more closely mirror their own beliefe. They are certainly serving no useful purpose in this country.

Flame away!

 

[grinningghost]

The American flag is a symbol of our country and our freedom. To disrespect it, in any way, is very anti-American. Protestors are free to speak their mind, that's what's so great about this country. I just wish that some of them could do so in a less radical way. I think they would be more effective at having people see their side of things.

 

[Michelle]

Caity, I agree with you 100%.

I may not LIKE what war protestors do or what they are protesting, but I also don't like KKK marches or neo-Nazi groups that protest either.

But GUESS WHAT folks, this is AMERICA. Our forefathers DIED for people's rights to express themselves in this country with peaceful protests. Our men and women in the military NOW are going to fight for those same freedoms. You certainly don't have to AGREE with them -- but again, that's a freedom YOU have because you live in this country.

 

[caitycaity]

disney doll are you even reading what people are posting?

But you know what, I have the right to not like it, I have the right to not agree with it, I have the right to wish they'd move to another country, maybe the one their protests are in essence fueling the fire for.

of course you do. who is saying you don't?

Those people destroyed a monument to the largest ATTACK ever on American soil. The people who were KILLED in that attack didn't do anything. I wonder how the families of the people KILLED in that ATTACK feel.

well, i had a friend killed on 9/11, and you know how i feel. no one here (that i have seen) is agreeing with the destruction of the monument.

 

[Jenzebelle]

Not all protestors are destructive. Not even a sizeable percentage are.
All you see is what the media wants you to see. And what they want you to see is what sells the most papers. Saffron said it very eloquently.

To believe all people are just like how the media protrays them is not only naive, but closed-minded as well.

 

[Geoff_M]

VENT: when did protesting become anti-american(?)

It mainly became "anti-American" when those against the war want to use the subject as an attempt to shield themselves from criticism of their viewpoint. I've heard a lot more anti-war folk complaining about being labelled as "un-American" then people actually leveling the charge against them.

Anti-war protesters in the US in general aren't "un-American", they're just "wrong". Peacefully protest all you like!!!