Likewise, I rarely have time to stand on a street corner and wave a sign (I think it's a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing, though it might make someone feel better. I prefer writing to my legislators, state and national).
But because I'm not out actively PROTESTING something does not mean I oppose those that FReep. On the contrary, I support them in every whit.
A valid point, but my intention was not to write a dissertation on the influence of the protest rally press coverage on international opinion, research the agendas of those who show up at the rallies, point out the fact that most non-protestors are raising families, working and don't want to add to the unrest, or investigate the financing and special interests behind the rent-a-mobs, though each point may be valid. The 500 Karachi protestors would be worrisome in a city of 5000, but Karachi is a city of millions.
The sum total of protestors is clearly dwarfed by the number of Americans supporting our efforts - as polls show. The leaders of our allied nations, coalition members (even Nigeria) have been vocally supportive, and I believe, from the few reports we've received from inside Arab nations (as well as e-mails), that most of the people within the nations of the world support our efforts to drive out the terrorists.
I'm not suggesting that we should ignore the protestors. Protestors are given too much press coverage, supporters not enough. That's a fact. The power of the press to influence public opinion is also a fact. The one-sided coverage encourages our enemies, both foreign and domestic.
One more point, we are more determined and courageous as a group than any angry anti-American mob. They can burn effigies, threaten us with colorful language, riot in the streets, rattle their sabers, but they'll still be on the losing side in this battle. If the press keeps up their old tabloid, fearmongering, "riots make good ratings" mentality we need to remind them (again and again) that we are at war and that, yes, we are the good guys.
In Your Very Humble Opinion....
"The number of protestors actually seen does not represent the sum total of those who oppose the war effort. Likewise, I rarely have time to stand on a street corner and wave a sign (I think it's a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing, though it might make someone feel better. I prefer writing to my legislators, state and national)."
How many times have you actually stood on a street corner and unabashedly made your opinions known to neighbors and passersby?! It is the Essence of Liberty, IMHO!!
Writing and/or calling yer legislators is good, too, but don't go knocking the patriotic efforts of others!!
"But because I'm not out actively PROTESTING something does not mean I oppose those that FReep. On the contrary, I support them in every whit."
Fair enuff...MUD
BTW..."Black II"