For most of the last four days I have struggled with this decision: Go and march in Washington on the 24th, or no? The logistics were a consideration–I really can’t afford to make the trip, and leaving my wife with all three of the kids still living at home over an extended weekend is a lot to ask. The kids are too young to take with me (6 and down) and my wife wouldn’t go regardless–let’s just say that she and I have some very different political views in most areas. At any rate, it was going to be difficult to pull off, but I could conceivably have made the trip. I have decided against it–I’m going to tell you why, and I would be very interested in any input the BT community might have.
As I understand it, the message put forth by the people organizing the rally is “Pull out of Iraq immediately”. Now I may be wrong about that, but I’ve checked the links posted here at BT to the web pages of the event organizers, and that’s how I read it.
Here’s the thing–I don’t agree with that statement. While I want to get our people home as soon as possible, and while I believe they will probably have a civil war once we leave (no matter how long we stay), I don’t think that packing things up tomorrow is the way to go. IMHO, we went in there, as a country, misguided and lied to or not, and we owe the people there more than that. We need a structured withdraw over a period of time.
I have heard it expressed that any reason to march on Washington–any reason to demonstrate against this administration–is a good reason. I am more than willing to demonstrate against this administration for any number of reasons, including the war in Iraq. I am not willing, however, to back this particular message. I think the message is misguided, fundamentally flawed. I think that most Americans are going to look at the root of the message being broadcast, and turn the channel on those protesting.
What do you think?
