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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Vitas who wrote (531750)	1/28/2004 11:30:22 PM
From: PartyTime	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

I am not the issue, Vitas. That's the primary part of your distortion. But since you wish to demean me, I'll respond. I'll do this first by informing you that any future communication with you on threads like this will be on issues and not on personal insults. Frankly, I'm tired of yours! So, to address your points: 1) All Americans enjoy their freedom from the bloodshed of those who fought for it. Although Native American Indians might have a different view than you or me on this. Yes, we fought against the king's tyranny. So why should we have to experience Bush's tyranny and his systematic breakdown of the rights and civil liberties our ancestors fought for? You've studied law, you should know that this is happening, and you don't need me to tell you this. My country--your country--also has just waged an illegal war. Militaries do not install democracies; people do! 2) Yes, I was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. In fact, I requested noncombatant status thinking I could help my country by serving in a role that did not require me to kill anyone and I entered the service. I did not believe in killing then, Vitas; and I do not believe in killing today. If you respect freedom, then you should respect my right to feel and believe this. Once in military service, I determined Vietnam was only of a killing nature, I did not see this war as a defensive war, it was not a war for our freedom or anyone else's. After six months of serving, I concluded no matter what role I was serving in, I was assisting a killing machine and the nuts and bolts were holding that killing machine together. Thus, I applied for a discharge as a conscientious objector. In the course of standing for my beliefs I was sent to a military jail, based on a charge of disobeying an order. The order given was for me to set up targets at the rifle range, and it was an order given while my conscientious objector application was pending. The order was given knowing that I'd refuse it, and this provided the basis for my commander to confine me. You see, he didn't like my beliefs and thought he could use his power over me. At my military trial I found not guilty because that order violated the kind of orders I was to receive while my conscientious objector application was pending. The order violated the spirit of the law as relates to conscientious objectors. So, Vitas, I've had the courage to go to jail in order to defend my beliefs. And, Vitas, don't lecture me about freedom, especially when it comes to the freedom of beliefs and standing up for them. Have you ever stood for anything? Anything that would harm you because you did? So, yes, I was a conscientious objector and I received an honorable discharge. I didn't run away to Canada, I didn't opt for a student deferrment, a fake medical condition, and I didn't take the easier route that Bush took. Unless you're attempting to heap abuse and prejudice upon me in order to detract from my arguments on the issues we debate in this forum, you shouldn't have any problem with this. If you do, you should immediately get over it as it's counterproductive thinking! 3) Regarding the two SI threads I created: a) DON'T START THE WAR; and, b) Stop the War? The first thread was not moderated and it became hell for many who participated. Due to several requests, I made the second one a moderated thread. Anyone who got booted from that thread got booted because they weren't respecting others, and they were booted at the request of others. Lots of folks paid money to become SI members; they didn't pay to get freely insulted at the behest of those who simply didn't agree with the content of belief. Why do you think SI provided an opportunity for moderated forums? You signed up for SI knowing the terms, and one of them is that sometimes forums are moderated. Get over this as it's a red herring issue and serves no relevence to Bush lying to the American people and taking them into a needless war where too many are dying for the wrong reasons. Once again, this is the last post from me to you that's of a personal nature. I'm not going to let you distort the issues I'm concerned about by bogging them into a distractive personal realm. Got it? I hope so--fare ye well!