The liberal website Crooks and Liars, in a childish effort to tweak the Young Republicans, tried to place an ad in the group’s convention program calling on members to volunteer for the military and go to Iraq. The ad is part of the latest stupidity from the left called “The Yellow Elephant Campaign.” It was refused by the Young Republicans because in their opinion, it was “too negative.”
I disagree with the action taken by the Young Republicans not to put this ad in their Las Vegas Convention program. If the ad as it appears on Daily Kos is the same ad submitted by the moonbats, the only thing I’d change would be the word “infantry” to “military.” Of course, the moonbats would have to agree to drop their childish logo of a yellow elephant. But if the liberals are serious about helping recruit for the military, I see no reason why they shouldn’t be willing to make the appeal as non-partisan as possible.
We’re familiar with the “chickenhawk” tune that the lickspittle left has been singing these past couple of years. The “Yellow Elephant Campaign” is another manifestation of it. Of course, the moonbats never give an answer to the flip side of that question: If they’re so dead set against this war and have the courage of their convictions, why aren’t they in jail? A true, patriotic anti-war American would involve himself in the honorable practice of civil disobedience and, as both Ghandi and Martin Luther King taught us, (and Thoreau considered to be equally important to the act itself) go to jail for their beliefs. After all, how much worse can jail be than combat?
The act of civil disobedience is extraordinarily powerful. It drove the British out of India and started African Americans down the road to equality here in this country. The fact that so many on the left are unwilling to go to jail for their beliefs only proves that they aren’t the only ones who can be accused of political hypocrisy.
My own experience at the end of the Viet Nam war was typical of my generation. In January, 1972 the last draft lottery was conducted by the Selective Service. Since all deferments had been taken off the boards, if you were healthy you were going in. There was a group of us that met during school hours informally to talk about what we’d do if we got a low number (the lower the number, the more likely you were to be inducted).
Looking back on these conversations I’m amazed at how brainwashed we were. Of course, we read nothing except anti-war literature, immersing ourselves in the latest rants from activists like the Berrigan Brothers and Tom Hayden. And the attitude of the media toward the war has been well documented. We even had the brother of one of our little group come in and tell us how evil the war was and if you didn’t want to kill Vietnamese babies, you shouldn’t go into the military.
We even thought that communism seemed like a pretty cool idea! Almost to a man we decided that if our number was called, we’d go to Canada. For myself, I’d decided I wasn’t going to fight a war just so that Coca-Cola could open new markets, that being the one of the favorite themes of the anti-war left in those days.
I realize now that we were wrong. Even though my attitude toward the war changed later, at the time I made the decision to go to Canada I realize that this was the cowardly way out. There were thousands of young men who didn’t go to Canada, refused military service, and ended up in jail for their beliefs. While I now disagree strongly with their choice, you can’t help but admire that kind of dedication to one’s personal beliefs. I’m glad they ended up being pardoned by President Carter, one of the few truly decent things he did.
I also find myself questioning whether or not I would have had the guts to join the military and go to Viet Nam if I was a supporter of the war. It would have involved a tremendous personal sacrifice, not to mention going against the wishes of my parents. It would have meant putting my life on hold and radically altering my plans for the future.
Would I have done it? I’m somewhat ashamed to say probably not. The urgency to go fight a war that was winding down just wasn’t there. And given the general selfishness that permeated the times, I doubt whether I would have had the guts to buck my parents, my friends, and most of my generation and join up.
Are things different today? What advice would I give a young person who believes strongly in our mission in Iraq and the middle east?
If asked, I would encourage that young person to think very carefully about any commitment to the military. The sacrifices involved not only entail personal danger. There are other sacrifices necessary including family, career, and financial considerations. Then there’s the time factor. It appears that even after one’s active duty stint is completed, one’s availability in the reserves for duty should also enter into the decision making process.
Not everyone who’s 18 and supports the war should volunteer for service. But I think they should seriously consider it. You do a disservice to yourself not to.
So there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the left encouraging people to enlist. Of course, that’s not their intent. Their intent is to play political games and, like a bunch of 5 year old little girls, be able to point their finger at Republicans and accuse them of hypocrisy.
Perhaps they should remember the old Chinese proverb about living in glass houses.
UPDATE
Mad Dog Vinnie from Vince Aut Morire is filling in admirably for Beth at MVRWC and takes a …um…shall we say a little different tack with the Kossaks on the chickenhawk response:
Hey, Kos, since you hate this war so much, why don’t you do something about it? It doesn’t matter how old you are, why aren’t you strapping on a belt full of Semtex? Why don’t you drive a car into a crowded restaurant in Baghdad? Chicken?
Why aren’t you terrorist sympathizing bleating leftist f**ktards strapping suicide belts on your children to be martyrs for the jihad you love so much?
Send your children to die, if you’re so brave and we’re so chicken, asshats. Personally, I have and will encourage my 7 year old son to join the military to defend his country when he reaches the proper age, too bad you won’t send your child to try and destroy it, hard as you’re trying with your words.
Why won’t you encourage your sons and daughters to join Islamic Jihad, or the Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigades? You’re on their side, you know. I’ll bet Zarqawi and Bin Laden would love the help, real help, not the hiding behind the computer help you provide. Die for your cause, Kos.
Vince, you’ve got to learn to say what you mean. All this pussyfooting around will only confuse the Kossaks. Please be a little more specific.
This post is also available at Blogger News Network.
9:19 am
I, too, grew up during that same time in the L.A. area,possibly a bit earlier, and had very similar experiences as Rick. My brother went to Vietnam, I did not.
Now, my #3 kid (#2 son) came to his mother in St. Louis a couple of years ago and told her that he wanted to join the military when he got out of high school. A few weeks later a Marine recruiter visited me at my work in California and we discussed Warren’s induction, the war, and Warren’s choices.
Warren and I had several conversations around the fact that, Afghanistan, Iraq or somewhere else, the fighting would probably continue for several years. It was not going to go away before he joined.
Although he didn’t say it outright (patriotism not being one of those things most kids his age feel comfortable discussing with their father), I am sure that 911 had much to do with his choice. He knew the risks and the consequences when he went in, he still knows them.
Warren is expecting to be deployed, probably to Iraq, by the end of the year.
I don’t WANT him to go but he does. We both know that he NEEDS to go.
In this time of national trouble and danger, I couldn’t be more proud of my son, the Marine, who decided to defend his country rather than complain and whine about it.
Now my daughter, Lindsey, is making plans to join the Air Force.
I wish I had been more like them when I was their age.
9:21 am
All I can say is that if you’ve done nothing else in your life, you’ve raised two outstanding kids - ones that everyone can be proud of.
Good luck to them…and to you.
10:16 am
Rick,
In the first place, military action is a civilian decision of a democracy. Supporting our troops is supporting their mission, and wishing them success. If participation in the conflict is the only way to prove metal, then that would have to apply to the police force as well. The police were the former nazi authority of the Left prior to 9/11. Lest we remember that the so called greatest generation, 60% were conscripts. While the Left revels in our recruiting shortfalls, I have a great admiration for our fellow Americans that have chosen military service. My son is a junior in high school and I have encouraged him to investigate military service. On 9/11 I kept instant messaging my wife to get out of the Sears Tower. Every day she leaves for work may be the last time I see her. We are all soldiers in this battle of our Liberty Civilization and that is what the Left wants to destroy.
10:25 am
I agree with everything you say. The point I was trying to make is that I think the President and the rest of us should be promoting the idea of service. Not because of any “crisis” in recruiting but because our country needs committed young people to join the military.
10:36 am
Sorcerer of Sticking Your Head and Arms Out …
Today’s dose of NIF - News, Interesting & Funny … I got my winch!
10:42 am
Rick,
I give John Kerry great credit for his service. Yale men don’t get drafted was the attitude of the day. The Left hates America and nothing is a reflection of our free enterprise system more than our military. Patriotism drives enlistment so the MSM has promoted doubt of our objectives. When my friend was called up for duty in Haiti, I asked him what he thought about the policy. He stopped me right there. He said, “Fritz, the President of the United States has ordered me for duty, I am on a mission to defend the interests of the United States”. “If you want to give me support, support my success in the mission”. I agree, I think it is time for the President to make a formal address to the nation and lay out this struggle requires public support.
10:47 am
I agree that its LONG PAST TIME for Bush to get out front and lead on this. And this latest White House orchestrated and staged campaign is the WRONG WAY TO DO THIS.
Nothing less than a prime time address where he can talk over the heads of the MSM a la Reagan followed up by a campaign style road trip visiting military bases to highlight his and our support for the soldiers will work.
11:14 am
Yes and he should send a clear message that our greatness of our transparency to self investigate should not be used as a partisan weapon to garner domestic or international distrust of our motivations. He should further and righteously make no apologies for US actions, that the world is free because of the United States not in-spite of it.
11:17 am
Maybe we should get you to write it.(lol)
12:09 pm
How about this line:
Those that trivialize the motivations, of our fine young men and women that volunteer to serve their country for the benefit of future generations, reduce their contribution to humanity to little more than an occupational decision. We should honor their valor for they know they are defending Liberty.
12:34 am
Let’s see, the left should out protesting in the streets so Karl Rove can run footage of it attack the Democrats as traitors?
I think not.
Better to use ridicule to show moderates that Republican flag waving punks cheerleading the fight in Iraq and slobering all over the troops have no plans to follow them into harms way.
As Dick Cheney says, “other priorities”.
Cowards.
4:16 am
Once again Richard, you prove to all your inetllectual shallowness.
As I point out in another post, I refuse to accept the chickenhawk argument from cowards like you who refuse to put your money where your mouth is and go to jail for your beliefs.
Civil disobedience is a time honored American tradition and the fact that you’re willing to sit at your computer and criticize others for not having the courage of their convictions while you reamin above the fray and allow others to go to jail in your place nauseates me.
People who live in glass houses…
5:09 pm
I wonder where they get this stuff? The yellow elephant campaign?
Perhaps if I spent my days hanging out with the intellectuals in Barnes and Noble drinking eight dollar coffees I would be as idiotic.
If I must be forced to join the armed forces to support my position then I call upon them to join an Islamic militancy to wage jihad against America to support theirs.
They could be like Taliban Johnnys, a bunch of overpriveledged American leftists who hated America so much that he flew to Afghanistan to wage jihad.
4:39 am
[...] 20;chicken hawk” theme they’ve really been pushing lately. I posted a response here. Basically, my point is if the left had the courage [...]
2:06 pm
Please understand: Not everyone is doing this as a cheap political trick! I am a citizen genuinely concerned about the recruiting issue destroying the great post-9/11 strong support for servicemembers from all Americans.
It’s time to encourage military-age supporters of military action to give effect to their words. If they won’t, then as Chickenhawks they are fair game.
http://www.operationyellowelephant.com
Young Republicans National Convention, July 6-10 2005, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV.
http://www.yrnc2005.com
-
6:03 pm
If Mr. Olson were truly concerned about recruitment efforts for the military, he wouldn’t support an effort to denigrate and humilate the 40% of the American people who are Republicans by using a “yellow elephant.”
Drop the elephant…then we’ll talk. Until then, you’re just another moonbat with a tin foil hat.
2:41 pm
Rick Moran-
I just noticed your response. In truth, if our governing party were really fulfilling its national leadership responsibilities to set a good example for the rest of us, we wouldn’t even need Operation Yellow Elephant at all.
As indicated below, College Republicans and Young Republicans would have spontaneously responded to President Bush’s June 28 speech at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, rendering further military recruitment efforts totally unnecessary:
http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/index.php?itemid=1044
So, with our governing party having had several more months to get its act together, how are thing going? Somehow I think that the next Lynndie England was enlisted in November 2005.