I am slow Okay? I’m forty and the kids drive me nuts sometimes and the simple answers evade me easily on most days. Once again we have a “Fuck the Troops” diary up and I can’t blame anybody. I watch some of the stuff that happens and I say Fuck them too on some days. It always seems like there isn’t anything that I can do and sometimes believing that there isn’t anything that I can do but sit at this keyboard and bitch keeps me sitting at this keyboard bitching. I contacted the Benderman’s last year when I read the story about Kevin fighting going back to Iraq and having his Conscientious Objector Status paperwork seeming to take forever meaning that he was going to be getting on that plane and in Iraq before anything would be decided and that is just a little bit too late! I had so much hope. They had press coverage and they were organized, Monica seemed very upbeat and then Kevin went jail just like my husband said that he would.
Here is a website that lists soldiers who are incarcerated or fighting deployment to Iraq that Ductape put up on the To Hell with American Troops diary. A lot of soldiers don’t want to go to Iraq and a lot of them want nothing to do with any of this, but they signed and they don’t want to go to jail. A lot of National Guard want absolutely nothing to do this but they are in the same boat and when they go to jail they go alone and sit there by themselves. The people who have dared to fight this by themselves so far are stronger people than I could be right now. Many other soldiers could be stronger too if there was something to strengthen them, something like public outrage and public protest at their trials and public disobedience and others determined to go to jail with them instead of them being all on their own alone in all of this while people just bitch! So where’s the protest for these people and where are the protesters? How many more soldiers would walk away from the plane and off the tarmac and declare to fight this illegal war right here face to face with those who started it if they knew we would be there with them and fighting like hell with them?
There is a wondrous little thing on http://oznik.com/web_masters.html
that keeps track of Israeli Heroes, and lets even non-nerds, Luddites and generic old people add the counter to their own websites.
Right now Israel has 1662 on their list. The US list is a lot shorter but no less worthy of a wondrous thing.
Maybe there is a nerd reading this who would make such a wondrous thing for this site, to count the people, many of whom are imprisoned or about to be for the crime of defending your freedom, your constitution, and your brothers and sisters in far away lands.
Yet you remain at liberty. These soldiers followed the dictates of their conscience and refused to contribute to an illegal, immoral war.
However, what is your contribution? Have you stopped paying the taxes that support the war? If so, you will go to prison.
Do not demand of others what you will not give yourself. Anything else is hypocrisy.
you pet the following kitten. I am going to watch semi-Vintage Bollywood and eat Iftar pizza.
Of course you are. You are going to run and hide because you can’t answer a simple question.
Perhaps others on BooTrib are amused by you, but I am not. I consider you a thoroughly dangerous person who makes the most outrageous demands for sacrifice from others, yet offers none on your own part. What’s more, you pretend to be this shadowy figure who has enemies lurking ’round every corner, when in fact all you are is some chap who watches bad movies whilst eating pizza.
You may continue to evade, dissemble, and attempt to deflect my attempt to focus on the truth, but rest assured that nothing will dissuade me. There are some on BooTrib who may be fooled by you–but I am not.
For the record, and for the benefit of those following the other thread, I have made no claims nor demands.
I recommend that people – all people – keep personal information private when participating in internet discussions, chats, etc.
This has nothing to do with you, or politics, or world events. It is my personal preference and my personal opinion.
And with all respect, this thread does not really have anything to do with me, despite the title, and maybe you would like to show your respect for the soldiers the thread is intended to honor by posting your opinions of other posters somewhere else.
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks
You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly
Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain
You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud
You’ve thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain’t worth the blood
That runs in your veins
How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I’m young
You might say I’m unlearned
But there’s one thing I know
Though I’m younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do
Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul
And I hope that you die
And your death’ll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand o’er your grave
‘Til I’m sure that you’re dead
Copyright © 1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music
Columbia Records
That’s all I have to say. Bob Dylan is the master.