Iraq and Vietnam: The parallels in opinions

I just finished looking through microfilm images of the Herald and News, a local newspaper, at the library. On page 5A of the issue published on Halloween 1965, there was printed a story with the headline "Sidewalk Interview In KF Finds No Support For Anti-Viet Nam Demonstrators". While you read this story, keep in mind the "war on terror" and the Iraq War.

— Athelwulf

Sidewalk Interview In KF Finds No Support
For Anti-Viet Nam Demonstrators
A sampling of opinions in downtown Klamath Falls last week revealed no support for and little patience with students who are demonstrating against U.S. involvement in Viet Nam.

A Herald and News reporter asked 10 people how they felt about the wave of demonstrations currently being carried out on campuses across the nation.

Unpatriotic, shameful and stupid were some of the words used by those interviewed as they expressed themselves on the demonstrations.

Following are their answers:

George DuPont, 224 Pacific Terrace, co-owner of camera shop — "Demonstrations are stupid, particularly when it comes to interfering with troop trains, although I don't think it is necessarily Communist inspired."

Huston Davis, 3644 Agate, barber — "We should get those students over there and let them get a first hand view of what it is all about."

Harry Beer, London, England, World War I and II British Army veteran, tourist — "My opinion, and I believe the majority of the English, is that the demonstrations are all wrong and if the United States did pull out of Viet Nam, it would be another victory for the Communists."

John Stroop, downtown mailman and World War II vet, 2204 Green Springs — "I think it is very unpatriotic on the part of the students."

Frank Nesbitt, 1208 Martin, radio advertiser — "Students are not educated on the situation over there and I feel they are being snowed by subversive attitudes."

Mrs. Lola Fowler, 3322 Homedale Road, cashier — "I think the demonstrations are lousy but it is no more than a fad. Something like follow-the-leader."

Mrs. John Williams, service wife, 716B Wright — "I think the demonstrations are ridiculous when we are fighting for freedom and it also destroys the morale of our fighting men on the front."

Mrs. C. E. Barnes, 721A Wright Ave., clerk — "I am sure there is more to the demonstrations than meets the eye, we are all supposed to be fighting for freedom, not supporting communism."

Virginia Longhofer, Rte. 2, Box 7917, clerk — "Those students should spend more time doing something constructive and keep their little minds occupied."

Kevin O'Donough, Banff, Canada, artist on way to San Francisco art exhibit — "Those youngsters should be ashamed of themselves. These are supposed to be future leaders of America. If communism is not stopped over there, it will have to be stopped on the shores of the U.S."

This just doesn't fly...

A commentary from Ruben Navarrette Jr., a special to CNN:

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- This is where we've arrived in this country: You have the constitutional right to burn an American flag, but you can get into trouble for simply flying a foreign one.

At least you can in the 30,000-person town of Pahrump, Nevada, which is close to Las Vegas and even closer to stepping over the line with an idiotic, intolerant and insulting ban on foreign (read: Mexican) flags. The town council voted last week, 3-2, to approve an ordinance that makes it illegal to display a foreign flag -- unless an American flag is flown above it. Scofflaws face a $50 fine and 30 hours of community service.

(Another article from USA Today.)

So it seems that in the community of Pahrump, Nevada, it's illegal for someone to display a foreign flag, unless, of course, an American flag is flown above it.

Right.

Well, according to a certain document called the United States Constitution, what they did is wrong because it violates the basic right and principle of this nation.

Do you know what the Constitution says? It states, in the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

*Sighs*

The man who proposed the ban, Michael Miraglia, said he was upset by the sight of immigration activists marching through US cities waving Mexican flags last May in protest to a crack-down on illegal immigration. He also "told USA Today that he was especially miffed that 'we had Mexican restaurants closed that day.' "

So, Mr. Miraglia, you're going to ban flying foreign flags, just because some Mexican restaurants were closed one day? It seems to me like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.

Mr. Miraglia, do you value your freedoms? Especially your freedom to propose this ban per freedom of expression? If so, remember what Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Instead of thinking of yourself, think of others, especially in your community, who just might want to exercise their First-Amendment right and fly a foreign flag.

Also, I must say this is a waste of resources. Why not do something else, like raise standards of living in your area, or increasing the water supply? Focusing on anything other than important issues such as these is very silly.

Not only that, but as my fellow blogger Athelwulf has alerted me, this ordinance breaks flag etiquette concerning both international flags and American ones:

2) When the flags of two or more nations are flown together, each flag should be displayed from a separate pole of the same height, and each flag should be the same size. In time of peace, international custom forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation.

[...]

4) Within the United States, when the U.S.A. flag is flown with flags of other nations, the poles should be the same height and in a straight line.

One last thing, Mr. Miraglia. I hope you like this present from me:



(Source: 3DFlags.com.)

If you wish to express your disagreement (kindly) towards Mr. Miraglia, here is his contact information (thanks to the Pahrump Town Board website):

Michael Miraglia
(775) 727-5107
m.m@netscape.com

NOTE: His term does end on December 31^st, so be quick.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Memorializing his legacy

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Presidents, civil rights icons, celebrities and ordinary citizens gathered Monday on the National Mall, where construction is getting under way for a monument honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The monument will be built on a four-acre site near the Lincoln Memorial, where King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for civil rights in August 1963.

President Bush said that he was proud to dedicate the memorial to "the lasting memory of a great man."

"Dr. King showed us that a life of conscience and purpose can lift up many souls, and on this ground a monument will rise that preserves his legacy for the ages," Bush said. (The article.)

Today, countless individuals witnessed the groundbreaking for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, over 38 years after his death. Although I personally wish the memorial was made much earlier, at least it has been done.

While Dr. King, Jr.'s activism was the core of the black Civil Rights Movement, his heart lay with the natural, God-given rights of all people of all races. This monument is a nice symbol of who he was and what he did. Bravo to those in charge of getting it built, as well as those who pushed for its making and supported it along the way, and so on.

As he said in his famous speech delivered on August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

God rest his soul, and may his legacy continue, reminding those of us alive today, and our children yet to be born, of his struggle and his death.

~Elindelwolf

P.S. For those who are interested, here are Google results regarding Martin Luther King, Jr.

The future doesn't seem so glum anymore

Democrats win House, promise new direction
Democrats win control of Senate, AP reports
Bush takes blame for GOP election losses

For the first time, I feel I can give Bush kudos for something: He has gotten a wake-up call, and it appears he is accepting it gracefully.

"I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome of the election," he said during an East Room news conference at the White House, "and, as the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility."

It is said that he, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid will work together to conduct the nation's politics in a bipartisan manner.

"The message yesterday was clear: The American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences, conduct ourselves in an ethical manner, and work together to address the challenges facing our nation."

The strong grip the Republican Party has on Washington is coming to a close. Hopefully, with a Republican executive and a Democratic legislature, everyone can breathe a little easier now. Hopefully, the balance of power is on the way to being restored. Hopefully, no longer will the Republicans divide the nation with me-me-me-ism, and no longer will they demonize the Democrats. Hopefully, it'll become us-ism, where Republicans will now seek common ground with the Democrats, as Bush and Pelosi state.

The sweet smell of cooperation is in the air. I sure hope this smell doesn't turn sour.

It's still possible that Washington's Republicans, especially the Bush administration, will continue along the same path that has brought them to this defeat in the legislature, and I still wouldn't put it past them — but for the first time, I sense some good, refreshing vibrations. I'm looking forward to this promised bipartisan cooperation.

I still extremely dislike Bush and the radical, fundamentalist-Christian Right that has reigned over America for what seems like forever now, but I'm preparing to be pleasantly surprised by Bush in the last two years of his reign.

Let's hope there's a union in America beween the two parties — not like after 9/11, where we united on the right-as-in-wing side, but better, where we unite at the center.

I am glad that the Democrats are soon the majority party in Congress, and it makes me smile that Bush and Pelosi are accepting this gracefully.

The future doesn't seem so glum anymore, and I'm glad.

— Athelwulf

A little something

I wanted to share this article I found on Democratic Underground. I find it admirable, even if it does come off a tad like "In your face!" or "Haha!" in a way.

Enjoy,

~Elindelwolf

Dear dismayed conservatives:

I hereby make these promises to you.

We will protect your lives and livelihoods.

We will listen to and respect your beliefs.

We will never try to force you to change your religion, sexual orientation, or first language.

We will do our best to reduce the number of abortions in our country.

We will have no tolerance for corruption and cronyism, even in our own party.

ESPECIALLY in our own party.

We will never tell you that you are unpatriotic.

We will never tell you that your opinion doesn't count.

We will never waste your lives for power.

We will hold our leaders to a high ethical standard and when they succumb to lust for power, WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

If we forget this, please, please, please, remind us.

We need you to do this. You are America as much as we are.

Let's go.

Liberalism (Pt.1)

You know.

I get tired of some things.

Yes, I believe that every human being has the right to believe, or say, what he or she wants no matter what it is.

However,

I get sick and tired of hearing such things as:

“Your kind are going to bring down this nation.”

“Liberalism is an excuse for having no brain.”

“You liberals are all the same, future democrats”

So on, and so forth.

***

At the moment, I deal with several individuals in my life - family members, and others who are this way. It is as if I am destined for hell, and there is no chance to be saved.

Why is it that liberalism is viewed as a plague?

Great and admirable people have been liberal.

John F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, etc…

[I]“The American War of Independence established the first nation to craft a constitution based on the concept of liberal government, especially the idea that governments rule by the consent of the governed.”[/I]

Yes, yes, I know folks are going to say - “but they are not the modern definition of liberal.”

The point is, they were. They too, were looked down at because of them being liberal.

There is often the argument that being liberal equates to being idealistic, and not having a plan - or the like.

Folks, not everyone is built off the same blueprint. There are liberals out there, who do have plans. They have ways to do things, and some of them are good plans (in my opinion).

I think that it is the surge of extreme liberalism, those individuals who seemingly do not consider the consequences/the outcomes, that leads to some individuals to assume.

It is being used as the template, so to speak. Some folks are assuming that all liberals are extreme, and therefore…pointless, wild, willy-nilly, etc…

Also, left wing politics doesn’t represent all liberals.

Wrong folks.

That is called generalizing.

One size does not fit all.

Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Mao all generalized.

***

Being liberal is not a bad thing.

Free speech.

The right to vote.

Equality.

Tolerance.

Are these things bad?

I wouldn’t think they would be, but you know the catch is for some folks?

They’re the basis of liberalism. Suddenly, they’re wrong. The liberal process is wrong.

Liberties; individual rights of thought, and belief. Limitations on power (I.e. no dictatorships/theologies), law/justice, education for every citizen, free exchange of thoughts.

It is liberalism, that allowed you and I to blog on this very site.

It was liberalism, thinking outside of the status quo - that obtained women’s rights to vote, blacks the right to vote, and so on and so forth.

So, is liberalism bad? Is it really?

I for one do not feel it is.

What I do find bad, is intolerance, and generalization.


~Elindelwolf