NOW, AS THE TROOPS FIGHT, THEY MOST NEED YOU TO PROTEST THE WAR

As an Ex-US Army Paratrooper and Infantryman, I urge you to help save the lives of the troops and innocent civilians by speaking out and protesting the war. Contrary to some radio talk-show fruitcakes who utter their filth by proclaiming that all protest and criticism must end once the troops in the field have begun fighting, let me say that nothing could be further from the truth.

NOW, AS COMBAT RAGES, THE TROOPS MOST NEED AMERICAN CITIZENS TO PROTEST THE WAR; PROTESTING THE WAR IS THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS.

A few days ago, I an read article somewhere that quoted a Marine in Iraq. When the young Marine was asked about his feelings he replied, “They are shooting at as from all directions, I just want to get out of here and go home.” Well, Marine, we in the anti-war movement also want you to come home. We want you come home alive and come home now.

AS A MILITARY VETERAN MYSELF, I SAY THAT THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS IS BY PROTESTING AGAINST THE WAR!

Sadly, there are those amongst us who claim that once the troops are in the field fighting a war, then it is no longer acceptable for citizens to protest against the war:

LET US BE CLEAR:

THOSE WHO MAKE THIS CLAIM ACTUALLY UNDERMINE SUPPORT FOR THE TROOPS, THEY UNDERMINE SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM, AND THEY ARE WITHOUT QUESTION SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TRAITORS TO OUR COUNTRY DURING THIS TIME OF WAR.

As troops are engaged in combat they are not privy to much information that is available to us in America. They have not the luxury of 24-hour news coverage because while we sit around and watch TV, they are fighting to stay alive and gripping to their every ounce of remaining sanity despite the blood, gore, horror and tragedy that brings them fresh daily overdoses of mental agony and emotional trauma. I know many of the troops that are serving in Iraq and I also know that many of them wish not to be there at all. They wish to come home and come home alive. So know this folks: when you support war, you support the continued infliction of harm and horror upon the daily lives of good men and women in uniform. Your act of simply waving flag and supporting war may make you feel better and less responsible for the tragedy of war but it does great disservice to those who endure its daily tragedies. You may be able fool yourself by claiming that your support for the war is also support for the troops, but we see through your hollow patriotism that only helps more troops get killed. If you truly care more for the lives of the troops than for your own inner feelings of pride and conscience, then support the troops by protesting the war.

IF YOU REALLY CARE FOR THE TROOPS AND YOU WISH THEM COME HOME ALIVE AND UNHARMED, THEN I URGE YOU TO:

SUPPORT THE TROOPS BEST BY PROTESTING THE WAR!!!


Let us remember that the war on Vietnam tragically cut short the lives of nearly 60,000 American troops, mentally warped hundreds of thousands more, and killed nearly 2 million Vietnamese. In fact many more troops would have been tragically lost were not for the rise of the anti-war movement in the United States. Fortunately for the troops, the anti-war movement against Vietnam helped shorten the war. And despite a few isolated, remote and extremely rare occurrences in which a tiny number of misguided protestors mistreated returning servicemen, the vast majority of anti-war protestors sympathized with the plight of the troops. By protesting the war and bringing it to an end, the anti-war movement against Vietnam likely saved thousands upon thousands of American troops from dying or being wounded in a prolonged, needless war. We will never know who would have died and who would not have died had the war gone on, but we do know that thousands of Americans today owe their lives and their freedom to the anti-war movement against the Vietnam War.

Those who support war often also say that they support the troops but often this is not true at all. What they actually support is their own selfish feelings of pride by justifying a war clearly devoid of reasonable justification. Their support for war will only help send more troops to an early grave. It is by their blind obedience and unwillingness to question dubious claims by corrupt American leadership that will cost many more troops’ lives. A true patriot questions their government so that the government is held accountable for their actions and so that government policy best reflects our highest American principles. To avoid such questions or to make no criticisms even when policy is flawed is but silent betrayal to one’s country. Patriots criticize their country because they love their country and they want policy to reflect our highest ideals. Much like you love a child and counsel them not to do immoral actions, do you also love your country by criticizing and protesting policies you find in conflict with sound moral American values.

There are unfortunately those on TV and radio who try to deliver patriotism wrapped up in a neat little package of their own making that basically equates support for troops with support for war. These same irresponsible mouthpieces of betrayal then assert that any divergence from their narrow pre-packaged definition of patriotism is treasonous, unpatriotic and an affront to the troops in combat. But it is precisely these people who by their narrow, single-minded definitions of patriotism are in fact the greatest threat to U.S. troops, the greatest threat to our freedom at home and the greatest threat to American Democracy. If anyone deserves being rounded up as traitors, it is this precisely these types of cowards who resort to fear tactics in an effort to silence dissent. Using fear to silence dissent in a free country is cowardly and pointedly anti-American. Such traitors are unfit to define the meaning of patriotism.

Principled criticism of your country’s policies based upon your judgment that those policies reflect poorly upon the image of your country is, above all, an act of loving your country deeply and courageously and a great way to demonstrate the authenticity of your patriotism to America. To those who say: If you criticize your country then maybe you should leave it, I ADVISE YOU TO RESPOND IN THIS MANNER: If voicing patriotic criticism of my country’s policies and voicing my dissent is so utterly offensive to you, then perhaps you should consider leaving America since you would likely feel more comfortable in a country that tolerates no dissent, say Iraq for example.

True patriots love their country by pointing out its flaws and working to correct them. Our country is not and never has been perfect but in order to make it more perfect, one must first identify its flaws, criticize those flaws and then work hard to change them into something better. What could be more patriotic than that? Criticism is an act of love. Dissent is a good way to show your love for your country. By remaining passively silent, you dishonor the men and women who are now and have before given their lives so that you may exercise your rights as an American. To honor their sacrifice best, you should speak out and protest against policies lacking in just, fair and moral principles.

To help better America or to ensure that policy best reflects our highest values, it is our obligation as citizens and patriots to criticize policy that fails to meet the high standard of American principles. True patriots are those who speak out, not those who betray their country through their fearful, timid silence. To never launch any criticism of your country is nearly as treasonous as those who wage unjust wars. True patriots are smart enough to measure the policy of their government against the principles of justice, fairness, and liberty and then decide to oppose or support U.S. policy. But those who blindly support any and all policy and discourage any criticism are but the real traitors to the principles that gave birth to our American nation.

Based upon my principles, I will continue to speak out and actively oppose this illegal, unjust, and immoral war. I hope you will follow me; together we can best support the troops by protesting the war and bringing it to a quicker end. Together we can chart a patriotic course to peace that will save many troops’ lives and civilians lives. Together we can stop plans for wider murderous, unjustified wars on Iran, Syria or North Korea. If you have enough true courage and bold character to become a principled patriot, then stand up for what you believe and be heard. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.

Conformity, unity and silence requires only cowards to perpetuate blind obedience and betrayal to America. Keeping your mouth shut is the most serious act of treason. While any coward can remain silent; brave, courageous and patriotic American speak out, speak loud and speak often.


SUPPORT THE TROOPS BY OPPOSING THE WAR!!
SAVE THEIR LIVES FROM THOSE WHO WAVE FLAGS BUT WHO FAIL TO THINK,
SAVE THEIR LIVES FROM THOSE WHO DEMAND CONFORMITY AND BLIND OBEDIENCE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES OR SOUND MORAL VALUES TO GUIDE THEM.
SAVE THE TROOPS LIVES FR0M BLIND, THOUGHTLESS, WAR-HAWKS WHO TRADE THE LIVES OF THE TROOPS FOR THEIR SELFISH CONSCIENCE SO THEY CAN SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT.

TO BE TRUE TO YOUR COUNTRY, SPEAK OUT AND PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR!!
SUPPORT THE TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME!

WAGE PEACE!!


Sincerely,

Eric E. Johansson
Ex-US Army Paratrooper and Infantryman
President, SF Bay Area Veterans for Peace, Chapter 69
San Francisco, CA
http://www.veteransforpeace.org
"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." ---A.J. Muste


Below I share with you, my fellow American citizens, the informational tools to help guide you in your patriotic pursuits as you remember your obligation as citizens to care for and watch over our common United States.


WEBSITES TO HELP YOU STAY INFORMED

ALTERNATE SOURCES OF NEWS FOR YOU

Radio and Television Programs in your Area:

http://www.democracynow.org/stations.htm
http://www.democracynow.org/watch.htm
http://www.pacifica.org/

My Top Five Favorite Sites:
http://www.commondreams.org
http://www.counterpunch.com
http://www.alternet.org
http://www.antiwar.com
http://www.truthout.com

My Top Three Favorite Anti-War Organizing Sites:

http://www.unitedforpeace.org
http://www.moveon.org
http://winwithoutwarus.org/


NEWS sites - Non-Partisan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.haaretzdaily.com
http://www.aljazeerah.info/
http://www.islamonline.net/english/index.shtml
http://www.hindustantimes.com
http://www.dailymirror.co.uk
http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk
http://www.MondeDiplo.com
http://www.latimes.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.nytimes.com
http://www.timesonline.co.uk
http://www.independent.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
http://www.sfgate.com
http://www.reuters.com


NEWS-sites - Liberal Perspective

http://www.commondreams.org
http://www.alternet.org
http://www.motherjones.com
http://www.thenation.com
http://www.workingforchange.org
http://www.tompaine.com
http://www.villagevoice.com
http://buffaloreport.com
http://www.interventionmag.com
http://www.truthout.com
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/
http://www.lchr.org/
http://www.drudgereport.com
http://www.progressive.org/
http://www.theonion.com
http://www.utne.com/
http://www.zmag.org
http://www.inthesetimes.com
http://www.fpif.org
http://www.presentdanger.org
http://www.counterpunch.com
http://www.movingideas.org
http://www.yellowtimes.org
http://www.progressivemajority.org
http://www.freespeech.org
http://www.indymedia.org
http://www.transnational.org



NEWS-sites - Conservative Perspective

http://www.anti-war.com
http://www.fff.org
http://www.drcnet.org/cops/
http://www.lewrockwell.com/
http://www.mises.org/
http://www.lp.org/
http://www.cato.org/
http://www.reason.com
http://www.drugpolicy.org/
http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/
http://www.theamericancause.org/
http://www.amconmag.com/
http://www.fee.org/vnews.php?sec=iolmisc


Veterans / Peace Issues

http://www.veteransforpeace.org
http://www.iraqwaterproject.com/
http://www.vaiw.org
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org
http://www.vvaw.org
http://www.mfso.org/
http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/
http://www.antiwarnetwork.org
http://www.actagainstwar.org
http://www.iraqpeacepledge.com
http://www.debka.com
http://www.mwaw.org
http://www.iwpr.net
http://www.patriotsforpeace.org
http://www.addictedtowar.com
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
http://www.moveon.org
http://winwithoutwarus.org/
http://www.peace-action.org/
http://www.californiapeaceaction.org
http://www.warresisters.org
http://www.globalexchange.org
http://www.war-times.org
http://leb.net/IAC/
http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/
http://www.objector.org/
http://www.nonviolence.org
http://www.activism.net/
http://www.usip.org/


Good Organizations to Join or Follow:

http://www.aclu.org
http://www.fair.org
http://www.poclad.org
http://www.unequalprotection.com
http://www.democraticmedia.org
http://www.now.org
http://www.blacksgainstwar.com
http://www.ruralpeacemakers.org/
http://www.aflcio.org/
http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org
http://www.hrc.org
http://www.gay.com
http://www.ngltf.org
http://www.stopaids.org/
http://www.hispaniconline.com
http://www.naacp.org
http://www.aarp.com
http://www.plannedparenthood.com
http://www.tolerance.org/
http://www.corpwatch.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/
http://www.hrw.org


Religion-Based Organizations to Join or Follow:

http://www.shalomctr.org
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org
http://www.jewsagainsttheoccupation.org/
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/
http://www.ncccusa.org/
http://www.afsc.org
http://www.csmonitor.com
http://www.tikkun.org
http://www.gush-shalom.org/english/index.html
http://www.seruv.org.il/defaulteng.asp
http://www.rhr.israel.net/intro.html
http://www.seekpeace.org/
http://www.socialaction.com/index.phtml
http://traubman.igc.org/dg-prog.htm
http://www.junity.org/
http://www.geocities.com/jewishpeacemakers/
http://www.peacenow.org/
http://www.btselem.org/
http://www.ipcri.org/index1.html
http://www.pij.org/