Protesting War

I think those generals who want to wage war should just get out there in a muddy field and do hand to hand combat, naked, with their enemies and leave the rest of us out of it. Then whoever "wins" should be heavily medicated.

I spent a few years of my childhood with war raging around us. I saw the devastation in my home town from Hitlers bombing of it. I was taken by my Grandfather to look at the town center and I smelled the smoke of the bombed out buildings - some that still had people in them. For those of you who protest against war - I would suggest you live with it first. Our troops go over seas to fight to keep our country free. Saddam Hussein wanted to rule the world, he wanted to be and pretty much was a modern day Hitler. Who stopped this arrogant Dictator - US troops. If it takes war elsewhere to keep America free - then so be it. Support our troops - they don't want to be in a war but they are doing it for our well being. Fly the flag for them don't burn it against them.

I have written letters and stuff like that but I have never stood in a line to protest, never been that kind of activist.

Hi raydene! I do agree with you that it is time that your people shouldn't be sent to war. Here in our country we are protesting a different war and that is war against graft and corruption. There are a lot of protests in our country at present since our present administration is full of graft and corruption. Take care and blessings to you. lovelots..faith

I went to DC to protest the Gulf War in 1991 and to march for gay/lesbian rights in 1993. I've also been to a few protests of the current war in my hometown. I don't think protesting helps much, but it's fun to at least be around some like-minded people for a few hours.

Living close to Washington, D.C. I had many opportunities to attend protest marches in opposition to the war in Vietnam...all of which were peaceful. I was arrested once, though, for participating in a sit-in at my school on the first anniversary of the killing of the students at Kent State University. A group of seniors had planned an assembly...had arranged for speakers to come in...had jumped through every hoop the school's administration put in front of them including the distribution of tickets based on signed parental permission slips. Late in the day prior to the event the school called the speakers and told them it had been cancelled. So, that morning the seniors arrived at school with signs in their cars and when the announcement was made that the assembly had been cancelled, a lot of students walked out of the buildings...including me. Someone lowered the flag to half mast, the signs were distributed and we sat peacefully in front of the building...until the Superintendent of Schools showed up and tried to raise the flag. That's when there was an altercation and the police were called. Someone had called the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post so reporters were there snapping pictures when 20+ of us were hauled off to jail. The following day my 80 year old grandmother, with poor eyesight, was able to pick me out of a photo that appeared on the frong page of the Sun. Since she recognized the name of my school she just knew I was involved!

The nearest I've ever got to protesting was when I led a campaign against our one remaining, local pub, being closed and changed to a house, with a block of flats, or starter homes where the garden and car park used to be. I called a meeting of villagers, formed a committee and we took it from there. We were in all the local newspapers and had meetings with the builder who was buying the pub, and the local council. In the end, we won through. The pub was upgraded a bit and left as a pub, but two houses were built beside it, in keeping with the general design of the village. So that was a worthy exercise. I do like to stand up for my rights and those of my friends and the villagers, but I don't like conflict. This was all done in a fairly friendly manner and calmly. Brightest Blessings, my friend. xx

No, never have, never intend to. Once our troops are committed to battle, I am committed to their efforts. Although we are of course free to express our selves as we choose, we should remember the war protests do have ripple effects, in the people we are fighting, and among our own troops. Now, for the big $64,000, the one that has been on my mind since january. Where are all the war protesters? they all suddenly seemed to evaporate after the inauguration. Code Pink is now protesting the aig bonuses. Last I checked, the Iraq war was still going on, though there was an agreament reached to withdraw some troops, we are still going to be leaving 50,000 for a long time to come, we are sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan as well. So where is Cindy Sheehan? Why has Code Pink decided the wars in Afhghanistan and Iraq are no longer things to protest? Why have all the war protests dried up all together?

raydene, I have never participated in an anti-war protest before. However, I just want to add my view here on this discussion. As much as war is horrific and wrong on the aspect of starting it, I think we should all agree that the present Middle East situation is not what any country would have wanted it especially those that are sending troops there. In the first place, they were sent for a purpose and that was to quell the terrorism which had been brought into our own neighborhood doorsteps where many innocent lives had been lost as a result of these heinous terror individuals. Have they (protesters) forgotten the Oklahoma bombing, 911, US Embassy incidents Tehran, Beirut, Assassinations of country leaders, TWA, Pan Am, kidnappings and beheading of American citizens and many more. So, are we so absent minded and naive that the soldiers are being sent to do a lost cause. I just beg to disagree and someone just have to do the job and it is just not fair to protest like that. It just makes the villains have a good laugh at how a country can be so divided for a just cause. Shouldn't all of us be united on this? Are we condoning and inviting more terrorism acts by preventing our own government from carrying out counter measures? Leonardo Da Vinci once said: " He who does not punish evil commands it to be done." Cheers.

I have never protested war. I've had both grandfathers fight in WWII, one friend got deployed to Iraq, and another is over there right now. I have friends that are more than willing to fight for our country and I support them. War is unfortunately a part of human nature and it's highly unlikely that this fact will change anytime soon. However, I'd rather have the war fought overseas than on our own turf.

My way of protesting is by non participation, I refuse to take part in anything as stupid as war, and through my lack of ation my voice will be seen rather than heard.

I use to be part of several civial rights while I was in high school. I have been to the marches. I bought disney when disney was being banned for giving equal rights to the homosexuals. Disney will also hire someone with a dishonorable discharge. The one thing that I learned in that time is that there is always another cause. I am planning on getting behind a few myself as I finish college. What cause has set you to protest? There are alot of people that do not believe in this war. I was hoping that our troops would be coming back as soon as Obama had his way. Well any way hope to see you at a march one day.