I got an email in my inbox today that made me think I needed to write one for the peace movement as well. In response to my comment that I didn't believe in class war, and talking about how I didn't believe soldiers were interested in it either, I received:
What you have before you, Selena, is a typical GI Resistance publication, Vietnam-era style. Many such publications were the work of civilians who were working alongside GIs, which is the case of GI Special. Tom Barton works with members of VFP, IVAW, VVAW, etc and they reprint articles from papers like the Army Times, and from web sites such as our very own.
Your opinion of this publication is a reflection of just how out of touch you are with the organization you're in. Have you ever checked out Vets For Freedom? They loooove the constitution, they're flag waving patriots, and they want troops to reenlist. I bet they would have a similar opinion to yours about GI Special.
I'm not going to waste too much on this, Selena, but I really think you should explore other organizations that would better meet your desire to be a hard core patriot. IVAW is really not that place.
Yours truly,
cm.
If you believe in supporting IVAW, in supporting the soldiers of conscience, those who want to organize against the war, then you need to support me, too.
I love America. I love my brothers-in-arms, even if it is in a dysfunctional way. I love the Constitution, and the founding fathers. I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Alexander Hamilton. I believe in a system of democracy. I believe in our freedoms. I may think some things in our country aren't working perfectly, but I do not believe in changing them with any particular 'ism' of the moment. If you have an agenda? I'm against it. If you are attempting to use what I believe in for your own purposes? Feel free to consider me your implacable enemy. I am not your soldier. I swore an oath, and I meant it.
Some of those in the peace movement like to call me names because of these beliefs. They like to call me "jingoistic" or "nationalist". A "reformist apologetic". One prominent activist tells me that because I don't believe in "class war" I need to get out of "their" movement.
Well, here's a newsflash for anyone who may not have been paying attention at home. I don't believe in socialism, and never will. What I feel about it is best summed up in the following quote:
"I am opposed to Socialism because of its inhumanity; because it saps the vitality of the human race which has no vitality to spare; because it lulls to indolence those who must struggle to survive; because the theories of good men who are enthralled by its delusions are made the excuse of the wicked who would rather plunder than work; because it stops enterprise, promotes laziness, exalts inefficiency, inspires hatred, checks production, assures waste and instills into the souls of the unfortunate and the weak hopes impossible of fruition whose inevitable blasting will add to the bitterness of their lot." -Edward Adams
You'd better get used to that, folks. If you want to organize with me? Be aware. I will not support your hidden agendas. Your hidden agendas are poison to me. Have the courage of your own convictions, and keep to your own organization for it.
And if what I say here means that you won't organize with me against the war? If what I say here means that you're going to actually waste everyone's time by organizing against me instead? By putting me on some hidden blacklist because I have a little too much patriotism for you to be comfortable with?
Then I'm sorry for you, but you need to recognize you're just as much of a hypocrite as the people you claim to be organizing against.
10 comments:
You are like a ship without a port at times, not entirely in either world. I feel for you bud.
I hope the socialist wing takes over IVAW so you will have to leave, and I will have 10x the amount of shit to blog about with them.
AS, this is why I am so adamantly against your organization. IVAW is not just an anti-war organization. I've seen them in action and spoken -err, argued with -- with the national leadership about these things. They disgraced our troops in DC and supported all these other radical ideals.
Speaking with you, I've mentioned that you have a good head on your shoulders. It's just a shame that you waste that talent on such a subversive organization. I think you would be taken far more seriously by actively opposing the war WITHOUT that organization.
Great piece and I'm glad that you stand up to those on "your" side of the issues. It's a breath of fresh air to read.
Ditto what TSO said as well.
Well said. I have been on both sides of the fence. As a conscientious objector, I do not believe that any war is justified; however, when I am acting with IVAW, I stay focused on Iraq and now Afghanistan. I have VFP for the CO side of things. As another person who dislikes socialism, I have run into situations with CAN or the ISO and their "sponsership" While I am fortunate to have a very good chapter, I am glad that someone on the board is coming out and making a stand.
Some thoughts from the Parrot's perch (my moniker is our parrot's name):
On one hand, I cannot seek membership in an organization that seeks to disrupt the discipline of the military & has marxist ties...
...OTOH, have serious reservations about how the "GWOT" or "Overseas Contingency Operations" are being managed instead of waged, and how American economic/foreign policy is conducted, so I find solace here: http://rangeragainstwar.blogspot.com/
And here:http://www.mises.org/
I do believe you are acquainted with Lt. Nixon, you'll see him at Ranger's site, too.
Awesome quote there AS. I don't like your politics, but I respect your ethics and courage. You got a big brass pair on ya. I would serve with you any day as you appear to be conscientious.
when was Camilo bestowed with the powers of telling people where their place is? i am in IVAW and that email that he sent you could have been sent to me as well.
i always assumed that IVAW was an antiwar organization, not a political one.
perhaps i will take his advice and leave IVAW as i do not want my name attached to people that i find a disgrace to the movement and the uniform.
AS, i may not agree with you all of the time, but i am with you on this one.
S,
Don't leave IVAW. The purpose of posting the email was to bring it to the light-to show what's going on behind closed doors. Now that it's been brought to light, people can talk about what they feel about that kind of discrimination, talk to the board, talk to individuals, talk to other members.
A lot of other people feel the same way. I've received a lot of email and instant messages of support on this one. This is not a prevalent attitude in IVAW, and I think once the few loud voices who think so realize it, they will cease.
IVAW is an antiwar organization and not a political one-it's just that sometimes some people get too caught up in their personal politics to realize that.
I think you might need to go seize the leadership of the IVAW by the (IMO non-existant) ka-hunna's and get rid of the political freaks.
Considering the shear numbers of fakes, and whack jobs that frown on real patriotic soldiers of Peace like yourself (whom I respect, but greatly disagree with, but respect), I don't think IVAW really represents real veterans any more.
I've been reading TAH's updates on the 'Rick Duncan' and Kris Goldmith and got the link back here. I've got a friend of mine, a real Iraq vet, who joined and is of the same mindset you are. Patriot, champion of Democracy, and virtually a Constitutional purist; I warned him about the fakes and suggested he find other real vets and go take over. Obviously, he hasn't yet... Maybe within the IVAW you and the others like you, and real vets, should seek to take the organization back for the real veterans.
Or maybe you should start your own, and do the right thing with background checks and such to keep the freaks out, and not advocate criminal behavior (AWOL, sabotage, etc...). I only hate IVAW because of the freaks, and fakes; not vets like you and my friend who joined. I'll disagree, but if it was an organization of veterans who actually served IN Iraq as the majority I might actually come to respect them.
As of the Jesse MacBeth Case, I've had no respect for the organization as a whole, just the individuals I've met and known to be genuine.
Well, here's a newsflash for anyone who may not have been paying attention at home. I don't believe in capitalism, and never will. What I feel about it is best summed up in the following quote:
"I am opposed to capitalism because of its inhumanity; because it saps the vitality of the human race which has no vitality to spare; because it lulls to indolence those who must struggle to survive; because the theories of good men who are enthralled by its delusions are made the excuse of the wicked who would rather plunder than work; because it stops enterprise, promotes laziness, exalts inefficiency, inspires hatred, checks production, assures waste and instills into the souls of the unfortunate and the weak hopes impossible of fruition whose inevitable blasting will add to the bitterness of their lot."
You'd better get used to that, folks. If you want to organize with me? Be aware. I will not support your hidden neo-conservative capitalist agendas. Your hidden agendas are poison to me. Have the courage of your own convictions, and keep to your own organization for it.
And if what I say here means that you won't organize with me against the war? If what I say here means that you're going to actually waste everyone's time by organizing against me instead? By putting me on some hidden blacklist because I'm a little too anti-capitlist for you to be comfortable with?
Then I'm sorry for you, but you need to recognize you're going to loose.
Looks like the line in the sand is drawn by the anti-Capitalists Marxist's (IMO an enemy of the Constitution of the Untied States as Marxism is the anti-thesis of the Founders vision...).
While I might disagree with you on opposing Iraq, in this debate I have the most utmost respect for you and your comrades who oppose the war out of RESPECT for the Constitution of the United States.
I believe its time you, and my friend in IVAW, separate yourselves and form your own organization. I'd do everything I can from where I am to support you as I see a common enemy in the Marxists who are trying to trash our Constitution.
In these times, its critical for those of us who believe in the Constitution to set aside differences over Iraq and stand together against a much larger threat to the Constitution present by Marxist/Progressive opponents who are subverting our Rights in an incremental manner... Time to change target priority.
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