This is going to hit the news in the morning.....

[retiredman]

I thought that Jane Fonda crossed the line...but I NEVER begrudged Americans from protesting the Vietnam war.... and I never begrudged Americans from protesting our military involvement anywhere on the globe. Those people who say that dissent in America emboldens our enemies are playing to the worst in us.... we, as a country, pride ourselves in our freedom of speech and the rapidfire raucous exchange of ideas.... if America were a country where no one felt safe to criticize stupid decisions on the part of our government just because those decisions involved folks in uniform.... this wouldn't BE the America I served.

And if you will note my previous post, I asked a question, and did not make a statement. If I wasn't right, all you have to do is say so. I certainly do not fancy myself a mindreader....I merely asked a question.

[KarlMarx]

I thought that Jane Fonda crossed the line...but I NEVER begrudged Americans from protesting the Vietnam war.... and I never begrudged Americans from protesting our military involvement anywhere on the globe. Those people who say that dissent in America emboldens our enemies are playing to the worst in us.... we, as a country, pride ourselves in our freedom of speech and the rapidfire raucous exchange of ideas.... if America were a country where no one felt safe to criticize stupid decisions on the part of our government just because those decisions involved folks in uniform.... this wouldn't BE the America I served.

And if you will note my previous post, I asked a question, and did not make a statement. If I wasn't right, all you have to do is say so. I certainly do not fancy myself a mindreader....I merely asked a question.

There was a concept in the past that went like this "politics end at our shores". Those who opposed FDR's policies in the war did not say much after we declared war on Germany (although it was Japan who attacked us). That isn't true today. I don't think, for instance, that Americans demanding for the impeachment of a president who did nothing illegal serves no constructive purpose. Then there are those who want to see Rumsfeld and Cheney tried for, war crimes, of all things! Then, we have the New York Times blowing the lid off of classified domestic surveillance programs. Of course, let's not forget Cindy Sheehan's very public statements in Venezuela and the Dixie Chicks' statements. And what about Michael Moore and his comments that "Americans are the stupidest people on the planet"? It seems that there is nothing that is out of bounds for some.

Certainly, they have the right to say those things, but certainly, they deserve the consequences of what their actions.

[retiredman]

and what do you think the "consequences" should be for speaking one's mind in a country that prides itself on the freedom of speech?

If you don't like living in a country where people are free to speak their minds, even if their ideas offend you and anger you and fill you with dismay.... I suggest moving.

[retiredman]

oh..and by the way...Germany declared war on us first.

[KarlMarx]

oh..and by the way...Germany declared war on us first.

True... they did. Oh and by the way, Al Queda declared war on us back in the 1990s but the Clinton administration did NOTHING about it. Now,we find Iranians, Syrians, Egytians, members of Al Queda fighting us in Iraq so... it seems logical to fight them instead of withdrawing.

[Dilloduck]

True... they did. Oh and by the way, Al Queda declared war on us back in the 1990s but the Clinton administration did NOTHING about it. Now,we find Iranians, Syrians, Egytians, members of Al Queda fighting us in Iraq so... it seems logical to fight them instead of withdrawing.

It does seem to make sense to pay attention when someone declares war on you.

[retiredman]

True... they did. Oh and by the way, Al Queda declared war on us back in the 1990s but the Clinton administration did NOTHING about it. Now,we find Iranians, Syrians, Egytians, members of Al Queda fighting us in Iraq so... it seems logical to fight them instead of withdrawing.

Clinton certainly did do something...and when he did try to take out OBL, the republicans ALL criticized his actions.... your selective memory is humorous.

If I stormed into YOUR house and occupied it against your will because I believed that a gang of motorcycle thugs had set up shop in your basement and were making molotov cocktails which I believed they would use against me.... and after getting into your house and occupying it with a gang of my own armed men, I determined that the motorcycle gang had never been in your basement and that my intelligence concerning their bomb-making activities had been bogus...but nonetheless...I stuck around with my gang of armed men... and my presence there got your in-laws who lived with you fighting with one another.... and then, a group of motorcycle thugs appeared in the backyard and started lobbing molotov cocktails at YOUR house in order to cause havoc with MY band of armed men, would you think that it would be appropriate for me to continue to occupy your house and continue to stir up hate and discontent in YOUR family simply because the bikers had arrived on the scene?

[Dilloduck]

and my presence there got your in-laws who lived with you fighting with one another..

Is this an argument to kick all muslims out of the US ?

[Dilloduck]

and what do you think the "consequences" should be for speaking one's mind in a country that prides itself on the freedom of speech?

If you don't like living in a country where people are free to speak their minds, even if their ideas offend you and anger you and fill you with dismay.... I suggest moving.

I imagine the consequences of speaking your mind is that people who disagree with you will also speak there minds in opposition.

[KarlMarx]

and what do you think the "consequences" should be for speaking one's mind in a country that prides itself on the freedom of speech?

If you don't like living in a country where people are free to speak their minds, even if their ideas offend you and anger you and fill you with dismay.... I suggest moving.

Gee... my feelings exactly.... I remember that a lot of Hollywood gliteratti threatening to leave the country if Bush were re-elected, they're still here.

And oh by the way, I didn't say that I don't believe people don't have a right to differing opinions. However, I also am entitled to my opinion and have the right to express it.

I'd also like to offer your suggestion to leave the country to those "anti-war" activists who bad mouth America. It's one thing to say that you don't agree with the war or the way it is being run. It's quite another to call this country names and claiming that you hate it.

[retiredman]

you were the one who said that people who speak out against American involvement in Iraq deserve consequences. I ask again, what those consequences ought to be, in your opinion?

and who gives a damn whether people threatened to move or not? They decided to stay and they decided to speak. I say again...if YOU have a problem with them speaking their minds, you should either move, or go shoot one of them so that you can be incarcerated and we wouldn't have to put up with your whining about people exercising their rights as citizens.