I am enjoying this post. It shows how even such discussion like this mirrors the event your talking about. Susan owns this forums, sort of like being the President. Chaunte you since you have the right to disagree, can post your disagreement and reasons, without fear of being kicked out, as long as abide by the rules. Mainly the attack the issue not the person rule which you are abiding by. It reminds me of bush vs dixie chicks.
My girlfriend's son was in the 1st Marine, from San Diego that has been in 2 major iraq offenses. He was in the first "surge to baghdad" where they went from the border to baghdad in a few days at the beginning of the war. They said they killed everyone in their way, even bus loads of people. They even ran over people. He took pictures of it all. One picture he took was called the flatman where a tank had flattened one person.
We also attended a return of her cousin from iraq that lost all ability to move, and lost half his brain in a land mine. The whole small town held a parade to him, he couldnt even talk anymore.
Then her son was in Fallujah, for his 2nd tour. They brought the 1st Marines there to invade that city. He said they killed everyone in sight, even women and elder people.
In pursuing one person that had entered their cleared section (they had eliminated everyone from their houses, and someone entered coming from another uncleared section), after throwing 2 grenades into a shack, his lead soldier then quickly went to fire in to finish them off, and was killed instantly (he thinks) shot in the face/head. He then, in a attempt to pull the fallen soldier (one of his good friends) out of the doorway, reached around and returned a volley of rounds. He was shot in the hands. One other of his soldiers was shot in the shoulder, and one in the elbow, and they had to pull out leaving the fallen soldier.
He said he could see through his palm. I saw the wound when he got home. War is no joke and very serious, nothing to be trivial. I will try getting him to send me a picture of all the wounded soldiers in Germany showing their wounds if you want to all see. Very graphic and something you will never see on tv or cable. Or the pictures of the carnage on way to baghdad. News has a way of making the war seem clean and without injury/death, not showing the true nature of the beast.
The whole Military Engagement makes me really mad. The whole resolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Resolution_to_Authorize_the_Use_of_United_States_Armed_Forces_Against_Iraq 's weapons of mass destructions is a joke, and even after years of being there, havent even turned up any WMD. Our cousin and son that was injured should have been in Afghanistan fighting, chasing Al-Qaeda fighters that caused 911.
On my brother's side (who lives in new york), his wife's relative was a firefighter killed in the collapse of the World Tradecenter. And Bin Laden hasnt been captured yet. And I have only heard of a few people in the chain that have. Iraq was one huge costly diversion (lives, ideals, and tax money) from the real war on terror. This force, if it was in afghanistan would have made a difference against terror, greater than the current forces there.
I would have been in agreement had the Dixie Chicks responded against Afghanistan, the real war on terror.
I applaud anyone that speaks out against this actions, and any future actions, especially before it happens. Yes its already happened now and you cant really dwell too much, since we have fighters there now. I look at what Dixie chicks said in between songs "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." at a concert, a few weeks Before USA invaded Iraq. And they were boycotted as well as lipton tea was boycotted after, which is all fine in the USA. With freedom of speech, others get freedom of speech to respond, and even act with boycots.
I do like the song that I have seen videos of lately.
I would like to see both sides continue, because It makes me feel better that at least we still have freedom here, at least a great portion of freedom. And I applaud you Chaunte for speaking against the Dixie chicks, though I have been pursuaded to go out and buy the CD.