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Politics : Stop the War! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PartyTime who wrote (203)	3/19/2003 2:54:41 AM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 21614

All-American protesters Editorial The Chicago Tribune Published March 18, 2003 Not since the Vietnam War has the American public been so divided about the prospect of a military engagement, or so resoundingly vocal about it. Beyond the tens of thousands who have taken to the streets to demonstrate, millions more argue and disagree and freely express opinions in smaller groups, at home and in public. In many countries, including Iraq, such vocal dissent could get you jailed, if not killed. Even after more than two centuries of democracy, there's still an uneasy undercurrent among some Americans that such dissent is somehow disloyal. A few days ago, an airline passenger who had two "No War with Iraq" signs in his suitcase said a federal transportation security agent who opened his luggage inserted a handwritten note. It said: "Don't appreciate your anti-American attitude!" Whoever slipped that note into the protester's luggage is profoundly confused. Dissent is not anti-American, or unpatriotic. Quite the contrary. What is happening today in America--fierce, vociferous, even to some, offensive, debate over war--reflects the robust health of our democracy. The U.S. appears likely to go to war. At that point, if the past is any guide, much of the American public will close ranks behind its soldiers. Dissent may subside a bit then, but many who feel passionately that the war is wrong likely will continue to speak out. Let's hope so. America stands for the defense of the opportunity to speak freely, to express an opinion and not to be muzzled either by fellow citizens or the government. On Sunday, the Tribune introduced readers to Fran Johns, mother of Robert Sarra, a sergeant in the Marine Corps. While her son is in Kuwait awaiting orders, Johns sends him packages and a constant stream of e-mails. And she does something else that sets her apart from many military families: She marches in anti-war rallies, holding a sign that says: "Marine Mom Against the War." Halfway across the globe, her son understands. "I know my mom is protesting the war," he said. "It doesn't bother me. She's doing it for the right reasons. She's doing it because she's worried about me and the other guys out here. So how can I object to what she's doing?" There's a lesson in that for every American. Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune chicagotribune.com