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Hey FF,
This thread is a good idea but I deleted my comments before coming to your thread here so wont try to repeat them. The subject was to what extent the Support Our Troops rallies should be organized as politicized events- with agendas that promote domestic issues like gun-control, foreign relation issues like Castro, and other peripheral threads which create an environment that is not inviting to lots of people who would otherwise like to join in.

That's why I think our rally in Stuart is a great model since there is no agenda beyond demonstrating in own way- support for the troops, their mission and the president. No one is in charge, no sponsors and constant excitement and gratification as the demonstrators and drive-by traffic get to interact and reinforce that common theme. The result is
an inclusive, grassroots, high-energy event that truly expresses the overwhelming support and thanks our community sends to the troops and our allies via local media and a website that has galleries of pictures families can email to the deployed- http://www.artfightingterror.org

In contrast, I watched the first half of the April 12 "Rally For America" in D.C. and as an independent who has thoroughly supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and am activist against the "Peace" and "anti-war" movement I was still put off by the degree to which the program was politicized to promote far right-wing agendas. I mean- was it helpful for G. Gorden Liddy, refering to America's war on terrorism, to instruct the audience that- "this IS a crusade against militant Islam"- reviving a word the administration has since tried to forget in it's foreign policy rhetoric. This- just preceeding an Iraqi dissidant
presumably a Moslem, thanking America for bringing down the Saddam regime and freeing his people and expressing the hope that Americans and Iraqis can be friends.

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Thanks Registered

Hello, I'll move my reply into this thread as well, reducing the "clutter" on the announcement board. HOWEVER, whenever or wherever I see a post with something I think is incorrect or objectionable, especially in keeping with the focus of FR, I will respond in situ. I should also point out that smalltowns has revised and extended his/her original post as presented above in this thread. I'll conjecture that it was in small part due to my criticism, to illustrate my point about replies in context.

Here is my original post from the Florida forum, unaltered:

Smalltowns, I don't follow your point. Where does the message about Ocala say it is "exclusively Republican"? Yes, a speaker is from FFYR, but that hardly makes it "exclusive". Why don't you contact the FFYD and ask them to propose a speaker, if you are so concerned? Some of the agenda items could be considered Republican but I do recall seeing mention of them in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Feel free to attend and carry a sign stating your objections, celebrating Amendment #1 instead of #2 if you want. I'll bet you would be safer doing that at an "exclusively Republican" gathering than at a Democratic one. Those peaceniks would rip you apart!