Quite honestly, the misguided, poorly educated example of our public school system, who appears in the photo, doesn't deserve our time and energy. We're not going to "convert" him, and all we do is swell their numbers by confronting them, and giving them much needed publicity. All they want to do is upset people and annoy us. When we show up, they have succeeded in their mission and goal.
I say ignore them, and do nothing more than to send the photo to everyone on our mailing lists.
Afterall, a picture is worth a thousand words..........
You wouldn't say that if you had soldiers and their family members thanking you for being out there, or if you saw the enthusiastic reactions of drivers.
By setting up just outside the gate, they get to talk with soldiers and their families as they pass through on foot or by car. They are preying on people who are emotionally vulnerable.
It makes no sense to allow that to go unanswered. Just taking a picture and passing it around would have no affect on those they meet in person at the gate.
Gen. Abizaid, in his recent testimony in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said soldiers are wondering whether Americans support them. By only letting soldiers see people who oppose them, it causes a false impression to be created. Our presence is a great morale boost for those in the service who see us in person.
During Vietnam, patriotic Americans did as you do. They sent letters and care packages, but they let the protesters take to the streets unanswered. Those protests gave great encouragement to the enemy--as they do today. But their effect is muted by our being out there.
And yes, we do convert people. We've spent alot of time over the years educating people who march at 'antiwar' protests. Sometimes we convert them on the spot. Most of the time it takes awhile for the truth to sink in. But it does work. The numbers of people who protest against the war in D.C. are dramatically down from several years ago to the point that the antiwar groups are struggling to get people to turn out at their events.
But those groups aren't going away. So we'll be out there standing up for America. We can't afford to do otherwise.
I'll have to respectively disagree with your #56. I'll intersperse quotes from your post in italics and my comments.
Quite honestly, the misguided, poorly educated example of our public school system, who appears in the photo, doesn't deserve our time and energy. We're not going to "convert" him
You hit the mark with your characterization of the leftist in that photo. You are absolutely right that we are not going to convert him, but your premise about our intent is wrong.
We aren't trying to convert him. Instead, and as discussed in the 4th paragraph of my original post, we want to undermine his ability to demoralize our war-wounded troops. Comments from troops and their relatives indicate that we are succeeding.
and all we do is swell their numbers by confronting them, and giving them much needed publicity.
We haven't swelled their numbers, which are declining. Other than posting on FR, we haven't given them any publicity and I don't think publicity on FR helps them.
All they want to do is upset people and annoy us. [emphasis added by me]
It is true that many of them do want to upset and annoy, but they want much more than that.
The Pinkos' evil scheme is to fake friendship with soldiers in hopes of finding one or more who, vulnerable in their wounded state, can be manipulated into joining the anti-war movement, breaking faith with their fellow troops, and serving the twisted hate-America propaganda purposes of Code Pink. More generally, the Pinkos seek to demoralize the troops.
Our FReeps have been instrumental in frustrating the Pinkos'goals.
When we show up, they have succeeded in their mission and goal.
No. We have we been able to hinder their morale-sapping efforts, as numerous troops and relatives have told us.
I say ignore them, and do nothing more than to send the photo to everyone on our mailing lists.
One minor point here. How do we get the truthful, unflattering photos of the leftists if we don't show up? Leftists are less likely to give us the photos that we need.
More important point, the troops and relatives have thanked us profusely.
Indeed, a couple months back FReepers did NOT show up one Friday because we were busy helping a FReeper with an urgent situation. An Iraq War amputee at Walter Reed FReepmailed me that he was disappointed because Code Pink was there, but the FReepers were not. He subsequently told me in person that he did not want wounded troops going into Walter Reed to see only Code Pinkos, without FReepers there to express appreciation for the troops.
George, I enjoyed meeting you. I know that you're a good guy, but I'm sure that you will understand why I value that young Marine's opinion more than yours on the question of whether FReeping Code Pink at Walter Reed is worthwhile. Maybe, that Marine's opinion, combined with dozens of similar expressions from wounded soldiers and Marines and relatives, would even cause you to reconsider your opinion?
For the above reasons, I'll have to strongly agree with BMW's #57 and Coop's #58.
Even before your later posts about your activities supporting the troops, I knew that you are quite active politically and do indeed get out from behind the keyboard in order to make a difference. I applaud all your efforts. However, your post to BMW could easily lead others to assume that you simply sit behind the keyboard. BMW did not say that you fell into that category and you certainly have explained how you aren't stuck behind the keyboard.
It's disappointing that, at post #62 and beyond, you talk about annoying personal attacks from BMW and Coop. They simply disagreed with you, without any personal attacks. None of this should get personal.
At any rate, I respect and appreciate your efforts to support the troops (as well as your considerable other political efforts) and hope that you will at least give the rest of us the benefit of the doubt for trying to do what troops and relatives have been encouraging us to do.
As for converting...converting no, discouraging, yes. The night the war started, the peace group in my county had a meeting attended by 100 people. A year ago next Thursday they had their last meeting--which was attened by a whole 3 people. Now, I'm sure their membership falloff had more to do with mass graves and torture chambers than withopposition, but I was there every single time they met, shaming them, and I wonder if they would have had so many quitters if folks hadn't had to come past me every week. The group's leaders tried to have me arrested, probably because people didn't like coming past the "Shame on you" sign every month. And the difference in media coverage between a freeped event and an unopposed event is like night and day.