Posted on 10/27/2006 12:29:14 PM PDT by Jeff F
No one has silenced you
I’ve gotten so sick of these fence sitting celebrities making comments about the President then bitching because no one wants to buy their records or go to their shows. I had to address the Dixie Chicks on their own site dedicated to “Free Speech.”
I thought long and hard about registering and posting on this site as I do not agree with the political views of these women. No doubt many people like myself who have chosen to do so will be mis-represented when these women boast of the amount of people flocking to their site in support of their cause…I am not one one them. That being said, I’ve been silent long enough.
You are nothing but attention whores motivated by greed. No one has ever, in this country, stopped you from spewing the nonsense that comes from your mouths. The only reason you are upset is because you chose to exercise your right to free speech, albeit “so bold and courageously,” in another country, and it came back to bite you in the ass financially.
Let me tell you a thing or two about myself and how I came to view our President over the course of the last six years.
My name is Rob Garcia. And I am an Iraqi freedom veteran. But before all that I was an aspiring journalism major, writing a column at Shasta College and then going to San Francisco State University. I worked for KCBS Radio in San Francisco and didn’t know what people were talking about when they spoke of liberal media bias until I witnessed it first hand in the news room. And yes when I was able to vote in Presidential elections my first ballot was cast for Bill Clinton.
I have learned a lot since then. For instance, one of the greatest protectors of free speech is the men and women who fight for others to have it. That there voices were almost silenced in the 2000 Presidential election by a litigation attempting to block the counting of their absentee ballots did not sit well with me, neither did the fact that this action was taken by the democrats and was pretty much a story that the media tried to bury among hanging chads. As I said, I worked in the news rooms in San Francisco, I’ve seen liberal biases in action. Still it’s all in the name of free speech, right?
Forward to September 11th, 2001. I had moved on after eight years of service in the National Guard. Immediately I knew there was a fight to won and I knew against whom; the same people who attacked U.S. Rangers in Somalia and not just those people specifically, but all those who went unnoticed as an ideology built. An ideology, that doesn’t stand for womens rights, gay rights, abortion, or free speech; much less a group of three outspoken and ignorant women.
And so one night while I was in bed contemplating how I would contribute, I thought about those Rangers, I thought about those Sailors, and I thought about those Americans on who died on 9-11. Their freedom of speech was gone forever. I could sit at home and be safe or I could stand up and speak for the voices they lost and risk suffering the same fate. The answer, though hard to come to terms with was no doubt crystal clear. If I did nothing I would not die in the sands of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan, but I would not be able to live with myself.
I am an Iraqi Freedom Veteran by choice. The leaders of our nation asked for warriors and like so many before and now with me I answered our nations call. I exercised my free speech by once again taking the oath to defend everyone else’s, including the Dixie Chicks, whose idea of being silenced is decreased record sales.
You can rip on the President all you want. But as I recall, sitting alone in a chow hall Thanksgiving day 2003 and reflecting on the friends I wasn’t able to save, a man who I am proud of, who believes in the fight we are in for our survival, made me so proud as he broke bread with us in Iraq, his name is George W. Bush. To this day when I think of that moment and all the things I was feeling I still fight back tears, having witnessed the love of this man for his soldiers he puts in harms way, and that is nothing I will ever be ashamed of.
Go to hell Dixie Chicks!
I was talking to one of my liberal pals (and by pal I mean he sits next to me at work) about this.
Even he thinks they're idiots and that everything they got they deserved.
sample comment: "Because you do in fact strike me as a man with intelligence. An intelligent man researches and studies; the FACTS are right in front of you. You simply have to quit being afraid of accepting them. 9/11 was an inside job."
Outstanding, Rob Garcia, simply Outstanding.
A very good read. You make me proud.
Very nicely written!
No doubt their 'fans' will attack you on the board, but that was a good post that sums up a lot of folks' feelings.
Fantastic!
So, how long before they scrub that post off the blog?
Just to be clear - I am posting Rob Garcia's inspiring answer to the Dixie Chicks which I copied off of their website. This is not my own work.
But for reals now: The place is a breeding ground for nascent Rachel Corries, and it's just begging for a caterpillar visit.
GO ARMY!
God Bless Rob Garcia and the US Military!!!!!
Typical liberals -- they just don't understand that it works both ways.
As a former Army officer, I humbly salute you!
Only celebrities are self absorbed enough to go on national television and tell millions of people that they've been silenced.
HOO'AH Rob Garcia....what a wonderful post..
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