War Protestors: Anti-American or Patriotic?

[Nubclear]

Discussing this on some show jsut a few moments ago, so I thought I would bring the discussion to you.

Enjoy

[Kepler]

How old?

Under 20 they're just sheep following their peer group, just like the under 20's who are pro-war.

Over 20 they're patriotic, and in fact runnng quite a risk of social scorn. When Bostonians marched against the war in the Common across from my window in 91, dozens of conservatives shouted obscenities at them, threw things, and caught and beat several protestors until the cops got them safely away. One Southie policeman I was talking to during the process started out by grumbling they had it coming, and was so shocked by the "good Americans" that he wound up laying down a full body block so three of the protestors could get away from a guy with an American flag... and a baseball bat.

There are brave people on both sides of the issue. The cowards are the ones who morally oppose war but go along to get along.

[MichaeltheGreat]

They're neither, and they're both. They have the First Amendment right to express their views. It really depends on the depth (and the reason) for an individual's convictions.

[David Floyd]

Patriotic is not really a compliment, so I wouldn't call them that. Anti-America is not really accurate, so I wouldn't call them that, either.

I'd just call them something like anti-killing. As a converse, naturally, those who support war are pro-killing, in this particular case.

[Berzerker]

Banana, patriotism is in the eye of the beholder and therefore meaningless in all but a few cases. When Japan launched a sneak attack on us, it was a day of infamy, when we launch sneak attacks on other countries, it's called "self-defense". Kind of explains how the Japanese and Germans could talk themselves into believing their actions were justified...

[Dis]

they aren't anti-america, but they aren't patriotic.

I have to vote neither. or banana

[Solly]

War protestors: gullible sheep and terribly short-termist.

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Boddington's
War protestors: gullible sheep and terribly short-termist.

If I had to venture a guess.....You and Fez

[Solly]

I am pro-war with proof.

[MikeH]

Anyone who is pro-war in general is insane. A rational viewpoint is that war is a terrible thing that is necessary in certain situations.

So bearing in mind that everyone sane is anti-war, the only difference is what people think is a situation severe enough to warrant it.

Anti-American or Patriotic has nothing to do with it. Criticizing the government of the country in which you live doesn't make you unpatriotic. It would be more unpatriotic to let your country do something you thought would harm it, or you thought was wrong, without saying something against it.

[Solly]

"Anyone who is pro-war in general is insane. A rational viewpoint is that war is a terrible thing that is necessary in certain situations."

I think we're talking about the war in Iraq here seeing as though that is of immediate consequence, not war in general.

[Dis]

I am pro-war. It offers something interesting to watch on tv...

I support any war. In fact I think it is time to attack Canada. We have a guy wanted for murder here in Las Vegas and Canada won't turn him over to us saying our justice system is too tough. WTF!! Attack them now!!!!!!!!

[MikeH]

Originally posted by Boddington's
"Anyone who is pro-war in general is insane. A rational viewpoint is that war is a terrible thing that is necessary in certain situations."

I think we're talking about the war in Iraq here seeing as though that is of immediate consequence, not war in general.

Of course. Anyone who's pro a war in Iraq is still insane. Surely most people who would support it think it's terrible but something that they feel is the best way to... do whatever it is they think it will achieve.

[Solly]

"most people who would support it think it's terrible but something that they feel is the best way to"

Exactly, so pro-war in Iraq. Pro- means you support something, Mike, regardless of how terrible it might be.

I personally think the consequences of not acting will be far more terrible, but feel free to be short-termist and not see past January.

[MikeH]

What do you think the long term consequences of no war will be?

What do you think the long term consequences of a war will be?