Cindy Sheehan & The Freedom Fighters
I’m a liberal, and have no problem with that label. I believe in paying taxes, and I think that politicians have an obligation to serve those who elect them. Part of that service includes using taxpayer money to help those who are less fortunate. I don’t like thinking that my taxes are funding a war that is being waged in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That being said, we are at war. Our soldiers are heroic, and I have such high respect for these people who are willing to give their lives for our country. I often wonder what separates them from people like me who didn’t have the bravery to join the military. The only conclusion that I can comes to mind is that I’m a coward, and they aren’t. Whatever the case may be, I am grateful for their service, the service of those who preceded them, and the efforts of the soldiers who will proceed them.
Cindy Sheehan’s labeling of insurgents in Iraq as “Freedom Fighters” disturbs me. I must look at our soldiers in this war as the good guys, and the insurgents as the bad guys1. The term “Freedom Fighters” is far too noble a term to apply to insurgents who kill our soldiers and who perform beheadings. In fact, to apply such a term to insurgents is an insult to our troops.
To be fair to Cindy Sheehan, I don’t know the pain of losing a child. I don’t know what emotions must be stirring inside her that would drive her to pursue her anti-war crusade with such a vengeance. I do believe, however, that she was hijacked by left wing radicals who in turn used her as their mouthpiece. Her rhetoric is too rehearsed and peppered with clichés to be completely original. I find that unfortunate, and I find it abhorrent that anyone would use this woman’s pain to advance their cause.
My thoughts and best wishes go out to our troops as this war continues, and I thank them all for their service.
1 This is admittedly an over-simplification on my part. Though both sides are passionately fighting for what are probably similar causes, that discussion is beyond the scope of this post. I will always side with our troops — though not necessarily with the decision-makers who put them in peril — before I will praise insurgents as freedom fighters.
So this is what they mean…
They say that if you want the weather in Texas to change, just stick around for five minutes. Well, “they” are almost right. It was about 80 degrees and humid here yesterday, but when I woke up this morning, it was 35 degrees outside with a stiff north wind. Today’s high temperature was somewhere in the mid-70’s, which occurred in the early morning hours, shortly after midnight.
For me, this is great weather. I’m a yankee, and don’t get nearly enough of the cold weather down here. The forecast calls for chilly weather through at least the middle of next week. Beautiful!