More killing of wounded Iraqis by US forces

Also the unnecessary war in Iraq, and the many misdirected provocations of the "War on Terror" are compromising the freedom and safety of all Americans.

 

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Stokes wrote:

My opinion is special because I'm an American. For as long as I can remember I've been taught that the American people are the government. I not only have the right to voice my opinion; it's my duty as a citizen to pay attention to what my government is doing; It's my duty to think about what's going on and to speak my mind. A democracy fails when its citizens either cease caring or feel too intimidated to speak out. This democracy, I'm afraid, is in trouble precisely because the voices of the people are being diminished by those with big money.

I have the right to pass a moral judgement on anyone I chose. Where do you think moral judgements come from, if not from people? I say that whoever was in the decision-loop to grease that wounded Iraqi ought to be held responsible. What's more, I needn't have been in that helicopter cockpit in order to say so. I didn't have to be a member of the Tiger Force in Vietnam to pass a moral judgement against the American soldier who forced a 13 year-old girl to give him a blow job before he cut her throat. No one can tell me that I don't have the right to second-guess his decision because I'm sitting here nice and safe while he's out in the field.

And you can't pull-rank on me, Stokes. I was born and raised on US military bases. After 17 years of service my father returned from Vietnam an invalid, and remained so until his early death. I had an uncle in Korea and another at the invasion of Anzio. My grandfather chased Pancho Villa with the calvary (meaning horses) and then headed to France with the Rainbow Division where he was wounded. My family tree includes combatants on both sides of the Civil War. I joined the Coast Guard when I was nineteen. And despite the fact that I never saw combat while cruising the coast of New England I'll be damned if anyone is going to tell me that I haven't the right to speak my mind.

Stokes, you've got a good argument, just the wrong country. This is America.

Michael

 

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