Posted on 01/29/2007 7:42:23 PM PST by smoothsailing
Aquarius Sunset
by Cal Thomas Posted Jan 30, 2007
The ideologically decrepit anti-war crowd returned to Washington last weekend for a reunion. The older among them abandoned hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Vietnamese to imprisonment, torture, death and re-education camps. Their demonstrations were encouraging to the communist Vietnamese, sending the message that America lacked the will to win. These aging hippies and their progeny now want to do the same to millions of Iraqis, who have democratically elected their leaders.
This is the sunset of the “Age of Aquarius.” Yesterday, when they were young, they were the pampered generation that eschewed self-control for self-indulgence. They were (and are) so vain; they probably thought the world was about them. They were the redeeming generation that would save their parents from their sins by ending war, curing racism and cleaning the air and water. Their failure has long been obvious to all but them. To them, intentions, not success, are paramount. Because they believe their intentions are noble, they absolve themselves from the negative consequences of their actions.
As with the Vietnam anti-war protests, several of the same Hollywood actors spoke against the effort to make Iraq a stable and independent nation. Hollywood is the land of make-believe where love means never having to say you’re sorry and acting means never having to take responsibility for your words and behavior, which are written and directed by others. These stars live behind gates with security alarms and guards who protect their privileged lives.
Is there anyone else’s freedom these celebrities would defend? Do any other lives have value beyond their own? Since none of the older demonstrators took responsibility for what occurred in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, would any like to pledge now that if their protests help embolden the insurgents and Taliban to fight on until Iraq is in their clutches they will accept blame?
Why do these people always oppose America’s efforts to defend itself and others? Why did they not protest in Washington, or in Baghdad, when Saddam Hussein was practicing genocide and his sons were raping and torturing their fellow Iraqis? Will we ever see an anti-Taliban protest? How about a demonstration against suicide bombers, or even those who produce and detonate roadside bombs in Iraq? Why do these people think only their country is evil?
This is the doctrine of the privileged and the pampered. It is salvation on the cheap. It makes the protestors feel good, even righteous, but does nothing to solve the problem, which isn’t the United States, but a very real enemy that intends to kill us. Unlike Vietnam, the Islamofascists won’t leave us alone if we leave Iraq before stability is established. They will send more fanatics to our shores. Watch the TV drama “24” for what could be our prophetic and imminent future with a nuclear device exploding in major cities. Having concluded we don’t have the stomach to fight them on their turf, they might understandably deduce we are even less willing to fight them on ours.
While President Bush may have chosen Iraq and Afghanistan to counterattack in this war, the war would have come -- and, indeed, had already come prior to the attacks on these two countries -- had he decided to do nothing.
“Peace is controversial,” said Jesse Jackson last weekend. His comment has about as much relevance in an age of terror as a declaration against lust. Peace doesn’t result when America does nothing to confront evil. Peace comes through facing and defeating evil wherever and whenever we can. If freedom is not on the march against tyranny, then tyranny will be on the march against freedom. Neither is static. Peace doesn’t “happen.” To the extent peace can be attained on earth, it arrives through strength and willpower.
Forty years ago, the protestors pledged to achieve:
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind’s true liberation
They liberated neither their minds, nor the world. The Vietnamese who were murdered were not liberated. Today’s terrorists will not be defeated if we embrace the inane doctrines of the protestors.
A better song for them might be Brenda Lee’s “I’m Sorry,” the first part of which goes:
“I’m sorry, so sorry
That I was such a fool…”
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Copyright © 2007 HUMAN EVENTS. All Rights Reserved.
Well....I have to hand it to ole Cal...this one is an A+!
PING
ping
Good column by Cal.
I know...I see him on Newswatch on Fox on Saturday nights...and most of the time he makes me mad.
This is a good column.
I agree, on both counts.
WOW!! Did Cal Thomas ever hit a grand slam home run with this article, especially with the despicable Hanoi Jane, Sarandon and Jackson.
Thank you Mr. Thomas.
PING
I have some of these hippie-elder types in my family. My brother tried to start an argument on Sunday but I stopped him with 'do you feel any compassion for the millions of innocent people that were slaughtered after we pulled out of Vietnam because the Democrats cut off funding'? No answer. Next question-'will you feel any responsibility for the tens of thousands that will likely be slaughtered if we leave Iraq before it's stabilized'? No answer.
Great column by Cal Thomas! He sure has the anti-war crowd pegged.
"I'm Sorry" is the theme song for this bunch, but if they would have their way, many won't be left to sing it.
AMAZINGLY accurate!!!!!!!...Describes the liberal mind set to a "T"!!!...... A thoughtful person could read this and honestly question HIMSELF.....A liberal will read this and IMEDIATELY go into attack mode...for to think about it and question himself would devastate his being because deep in his brain..the truth is there...too painful to visit...
Ping!
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NEVER FORGET
The Age of AQUARIUS =
Pictures of a vietnamese Re-Education (SLAVE LABOR) Camp
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts
NEVER FORGET
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NEVER FORGET BTTT
Brilliant article! Cal puts into words all the same observations we have been making about the folks who take no responsibility for their actions, because they "believe" they are doing the right thing!
*****
This is the sunset of the “Age of Aquarius.” Yesterday, when they were young, they were the pampered generation that eschewed self-control for self-indulgence. They were (and are) so vain; they probably thought the world was about them. They were the redeeming generation that would save their parents from their sins by ending war, curing racism and cleaning the air and water. Their failure has long been obvious to all but them. To them, intentions, not success, are paramount. Because they believe their intentions are noble, they absolve themselves from the negative consequences of their actions.
Um, no. No they don't, and many are only learning about it now. At the time they weren't paying attention because they'd stomped their feet, threw a tantrum, and the spoiled brats got their way.
That's all that mattered.
He's rather wise.
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