Great Opinion piece in the Virginian Pilot today

[Catchawave]

I also posted it in GD-P, for the "talking points" :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2269446

The Virginian-Pilot
© November 22, 2005

First, let’s get the civics lesson straight.

It is no more unpatriotic to oppose the war in Iraq than to support it, no more un-American to want to withdraw troops than to favor a buildup.

It may be an attack on President Bush to disagree with the administration’s policy in Iraq, but it is not an attack on American troops who are dutifully carrying out that policy.

And while patriots come in all stripes — some have served in the military, some have not — it is particularly suspect and silly for those who have not served to question the loyalty of those who have.

Equating congressional hawk and decorated war veteran John Murtha with liberal ideologue Michael Moore, as did Bush spokesman Scott McClellan, is particularly out-of-bounds. The personal attack from the White House followed remarks by Rep. Murtha, D-Pa., describing the war in Iraq as “a flawed policy wrapped in illusion” and calling for a troop pullout.

Cont'd at:
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=95...

***There is also a Poll on this page***

Would you support U.S. Rep. John Murtha's proposed resolution to withdraw troops from Iraq ''at the earliest practicable date''?



Yes
50.06%

No
46.34%

Not sure
3.6%

Total: 2639 votes

[FSogol]

1. Nice, thanks for posting. n/t

[abluelady]

2. Excellent Talking Points

I remember having a conversation a year ago about Iraq and was told the war was about my freedom. I responded the reality is you are trying to take away my freedom by telling me what is right and wrong. Of course the person wasn't listening to me and wouldn't have got it anyway. I think these people are so used to saying and thinking in small words and small sentences that we have to give it back to them the same way.

[VaYallaDawg]

3. Always refreshing to see the Pilot's open-mindedness,

even in an area where military presence is so dominant. Wish we were lucky enough to get that kind of viewpoint here in Richmond ... but, well, you know what the TD is like!!

[MacGregor]

4. Ugh, don't I know it...

I work at the RTD and sometimes walk through the editorial department on the way to mine. Sadly, there's nowhere on the premises that I know of that I can immediately bathe in bleach afterward. x(

I concur that it is a rare thing indeed to see that from the Pilot. Now, if they could, say, stuff Kerry Dougherty in the trunk of a car and never again let her commit her vapid words to print again, it'd really be cause for celebration...