Report from a group meeting with our Enemies

02/25/2004 | armymarinemom

[armymarinemom]

Report from a group meeting with our Enemies

 My husband and I did something that I never imagined we would do, we along with other military parents attended a Military Families Speak Out meeting. No, we haven't turned left wing but just took an opportunity that will probably never occur again.

 An ad ran in our local paper that a Chapter for Military Families Speak Out was forming in our area. They invited all parents with concerns over the war to attend. We considered this an opportunity because we do have concerns over the war with children deployed even though we don't disagree with what our children are doing. We have concerns with what these families are doing to our troop moral and just what groups these families have aligned themselves with. This was the perfect opportunity to share our concerns face to face with those whose beliefs are far from our own.

Entering a building occupied by a Peace and Justice center is a surreal experience all in itself. You feel like you have just stepped into another world that doesn't quite fit. The bookshelves were lined with publications that on the surface look fine until you notice just what issues they are supporting. There was a table towards the back of the room prepared for the meeting. Along the wall behind the table were photographs displaying a photo journal of the local area anti-war protests. I brought photos of my own which were 8 X 10's of my three sons and a print out of a 3 star service banner all placed on a large poster. I placed the poster in the middle of the table for all to see and sat down with the rest of the families that came with me.

Everyone introduced themselves. The Peace group had family members that were either distant, related by marriage to a child, in ROTC, or non-deployed. Only one member had an active duty child in the service. Our group had one couple with three active duty sons two of which are deployed, a spouse of a deployed Marine, a Veteran with two sons deployed, a Veteran who just supports local families, and a politician that works with Veterans groups. I had been asked by several families with active duty children many of whom are deployed and could not attend to speak for them also. We had them outnumbered.

After introductions we outlined what our concerns were with their group starting a Chapter in our area. We listed as our reasons:

• The organizations that they associated with.
  • We gave specific examples to extreme left wing groups that they are openly accepting help from in a coalition such as the CPUSA, Answer, International Action Center, and United for Peace and Justice.
  • One of the above mentioned groups has publicly stated in print that they fully support the insurgency in Iraq.
  • Supporting the insurgency would include the maiming and death of our beloved family members. Aligning themselves with such groups is in essence agreeing to have your own flesh and blood killed.
  • Family members of Military Families Speak Out have been witnessed posting on Jihad friendly web sites denouncing our troops. This gives aid and comfort to our enemies.

• They are using parents with real fear for political gain in a misleading manner.
• Most of our troops believe in what they are doing.
• Who are we to tell grown people that they need to stop doing their job and come home?
• The Iraqi people are better off now than before the War.
• Armymarinedad stated very well how most of our troops believe in what they are doing. He has spoken with thousand of them while greeting flights that come home from the Middle East and has openly discussed with them how they feel about the war.

Our statements were followed by a discussion about both the Iraqi War and the Afghanistan War that lasted well over an hour. The discussion did not change anyone's mind. We did get the most vocal out of their group to admit that bringing our troops home now was impossible and would cause the senseless death of thousands of innocent people. After our long discussion it was up in the air exactly what the long term goals of their group would be. They never did get around to discussing long term goals and objectives for the beginning of a chapter.

Our group left after shaking hands with smiles on our faces yet rather flabbergasted that we never got into a shouting match or get kicked out.

[cricket]

There are surely no guarantees of anything in the Middle East and few other places as well; but we cannot be constrained in our good judgment and good faith for the future of Iraq which must be considered in the light of potential;

. . . and with our every effort designed to encourage the probabilities of that potential unfolding for the good of all in the Middle East and the rest of the world.

We can learn from the past; but the point of power is in the present and it is from here, that we must move forward, thoughtfully and determindedly.

We really have no other relevant choice.

[cricket]

. . .and thanks for your thoughtful reply! All good points to consider; which I hope my answer addresses in some measure.

[bmwcyle]

BTTT