Well, for starters, the fact that the MSM feels that this is news today:
Poll: Many Back Right to Protest Iraq WarLet me just say this - do you have the right to protest the war? Absolutely. People have died to give you that right. But having the right to protest doesn't absolve you of the responsibility to do that where it is appropriate to do that. If the gathering outside Walter Reed was truly a "vigil" of support, no problem. But holding up signs outside Walter Reed saying "enlist here and die for Haliburton" isn't a vigil of support. It's vile. If you want to do that by the Capitol, so be it. Doing that at Walter Reed is completely out of line.
WASHINGTON - An overwhelming number of people say critics of the
Iraq war should be free to voice their objections — a rare example of widespread agreement about a conflict that has divided the nation along partisan lines. Read More - from the AP via Yahoo! News
I have the right to hang Cindy Sheehan in effigy, too. I just also happen to have the sense to know that it isn't an appropriate thing to do - especially if, say, I were to be doing that outside the hospital her mother were in.
Why is it that we are so quick in this country to defend the right to protest the war, but not the right to support it? If you argue that "most people" are now against the war, then your efforts should be devoted to protecting the right to support the war - by the liberal argument, isn't freedom of speech all about protecting "unpopular" speech?
Why is it that a DJ who supports the war and our troops is fired for expressing a "controversial" opinion, but someone who hangs troops in effigy is protected? It's not about whether or not you agree with what that DJ said - or whether or not you agree with what the artist did. It's about freedom of speech being talked about as if it only protects the liberals, or as if it means that it's OK to say and do whatever you want, no matter who it hurts.
It's about the responsibilities that come with rights, and a basic expectation of respect and things like common decency and common sense (which apparently aren't all that common at all).
If I lend my car to a friend, they have the right to use it. They also have the responsibility to use it wisely.
And that's just a car.
Don't we have an even greater obligation to use our rights, paid for by the blood and sweat of heroes, responsibly as well?
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