Interesting--read the comments

I stumbled across this short blog post, Payback Time: Who the Democrats Will Target. As I said above--it's interesting, but only because of the many comments people felt compelled to make.

I am struck by the lack of basic writing skills.

I am struck by the number of folks that still believe in the President's agenda. They are vocal, at least.

I am struck by the hate displayed by so many ... Republicans (I guess). Democrats are displaying schadenfreude toward their wayward opposing political party (that's finding pleasure in of the difficulties of others). An all too human trait.

I am further struck by the complete lack of trust that average Americans display toward each other. 60% of Americans aren't wrong. Not about the evil being done to them, and in their name. America may be up for an another attack of some kind, I couldn't possibly say, but if America is attacked, it will not be the fault of the Americans who voted Democrat this time around. Some of us may have drunk the koolaid, but the rest of us aren't buying it.

I am also concerned about the following comment left in the post:

Having served in Iraq and having seen the positive results we are achieving (which never seem to get reported in the media), I am worried my brothers and sisters still in harms way will not get the support to finish the job.

This election result is a direct signal to the American soldier that the American people do not care about them.

I am proud I served my country, but considering the signal sent by the American voter, I doubt I'd do it again. Not because Iraq is the wrong war, or because of the administration. Because of the lack of support voters are showing the military.

First off, I can respect this man's opinion. He would see we keep doing the things we're doing in Iraq, ultimately "finishing the job". But his assessment that the American people don't care about the American soldier is simply wrong. We do care about our sons and daughters, that's why we want them out of Iraq. Despite the good things our men and women are accomplishing, there are more important missions waiting for them. Yes, these soldiers will be sent into harm's way--just not in Iraq.

The other point he makes that I must disagree with is his apparent abandonment of America as a country worthy of his service. He's turning his back on this country because we, as concerned parents, want to bring him and his comrades home. I would ask: Is America just the people, or does America stand for more than just political opinion? Americans should serve because they believe it's the right thing to do, and not just because people are telling them what they want to hear. In a pluralistic society such as ours, there will be people who despise the military and what it stands for, but those people are not the majority that voiced their opinions yesterday.

This man is entitled to his protest of the election. I see parallels between his disagreements and the protests of John Kerry when he returned from Viet Nam. Agree or not--these men earned the right to say their peace. No one should question their patriotism, and I am not questioning his. I would just ask that we all open our ears and listen to what's being said. We still may not agree, but 60% of Americans are not wrong.

A final postscript to the election: I have been against the prosecution of the Iraq war for quite a while. I am in opposition to President Bush and his administration. I believe we were lied to and misled, and that is a serious charge. I am also completely apalled that many people are so quick to stomp our precious civil liberties into the ground, all in the name of "national security". I remind you that these rights exist precisely because they matter, and they matter for everyone. We cannot be the beacon of law, liberty, and freedom unless we believe the law extends universally. Every exception we are willing to make to deny others their rights only further erodes our own.

I voted Democrat because I wanted to send a message to Washington that I want change. I just didn't think so many would agree with me.

A final post-postscript: I voted against Jimmy Carter, but later did vote for Ronald Reagan. I voted against George Sr., but not for Clinton the first time. Yes, my vote was wasted on a crackpot, but I thought he couldn't be worse than the others. I voted for Al Gore because I believed George W to be an inarticulate idiot, and even though I thought Kerry wasn't the best candidate (as is so often the case), I voted against George W the second time, as well. I don't think I wasted my vote that time--someone else wasted it for me. I am truly sorry I was right about W, because we have all paid for that.