EagleTribune.com : Blogs : The Soapbox

I am a veteran and my son is serving in Iraq. I am disturbed by the vitriol of the left in this country towards our armed forces, military personnel, and war effort. The ill winds blown by the steamy malaise of defeatists make it seem fashionable to accept capitulation. To me, it smacks of sedition. I’m sorry, an “I Support the Troops” magnet does not purchase them an indulgence. I read and hear opinions in the media every day about how we don’t have the will to fight, that most Americans want the troops home under any conditions. I believe the opposite to be the case.

I believe that many, many Americans want an outcome favorable to our national interests in this (or any) conflict, in spite of any perceived flaw in our policies leading up to the fighting. I believe that outcome, for many of us, has to be the surrender or annihilation of our foes upon the battlefield. In other words, total victory.

Maybe its time to start a grassroots campaign to finish this fight with honor. In our Grandparent’s time, people displayed their patriotism with symbols like the “V” for Victory. What a marvelous sight on our roads it would be if out of nowhere "V” started popping up on bumpers, windshields, or written in the grime on the back of a truck. What a sign of loyalty to our sons and daughters in uniform if all the “Welcome Home” banners had a big red “V” on them. I’m going to start displaying a red “V” on my vehicle, and at work. I know I’ll get some stares, maybe even ridiculed, but it is a non-confrontational, and dignified way to express the values that were instilled in me in the America I grew up in. And who knows? Maybe the wings of enough butterflies beating together can change the winds blowing across our land.

Brian Caron

Mr. Caron, We have already lost two wars because we allowed the politicians to run the war , rather than the military.
The two wars are, of course Korea and Viet Nam. Unfortunately, I don't think there is enough patriotism left in this country to take our country back from the evil (and they are Evil) liberals. Over the years, they have shaded right from wrong into gray and our young people cannot tell the difference any more. I don't happen to think that our entry into the Iraq war was for the best of reasons, but on the other hand once there, our motives are nothing but the best. We hear so much about no WMD's being found in Iraq, but so little about Husseins repeated failure to account for them as the UN demanded on more than one occasion. There is no question the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein. We have a governor who believes (OR his words say he believes) we share responsibilty with the Islamic
murderers for September 11, 2001. Once again they are trying to erase our abilty to distinguish right from wrong.
I will be more than happy and proud to display a red "V" on my vehicle, my house or wherever else it can be seen.

Today in this day an age it's very hard to take one issue at a time, or to take one thing at a time. We are being bombarded by news from the press 24/7 365 a year. Where does one start. What is the most important of all the issues that the American's will have to address in the comming years. And there are many! For me, the single most important issue the american people have to address is "who will be the next president". Never before in our history of America since the revolutionary war, has there been such a defining moment. Never before in my opinion has there been such a lack of leadership in this country, and no one on the horizon to lead in the future. That goes for the presidency, the Senate, and the congress. This also goes for private enterprise. There is no more free market system due to pure greed of both Corporate management, and union officials. But I do know one thing for sure. If Hillary Clinton is our next President, you can say good by to the balance of powers in the constitution.