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I Need To Say This Again

Awhile back, I wrote this. I still think it. I'm a far cry from a peacenik spitter, but you'd think we all were, the way some people react when you bring this up. We have not been a nation characterized by peace in my entire lifetime, and the brief calm before the storms of war is not peace. Peace is a steadfast resolution to avoid military intervention in all but the most extreme circumstances, and a principled articulation of the terms of international cooperation, and the explicit terms under which the normal state of comity will be breached. Does anyone know? And are we really going to say that to demand this is beyond the pale, because Pvt. Johnny from down the street is a helluva guy?

And again, I'm not saying he's not. I'm just saying the personal bravery, patriotism, and selflessness of our personnel has very little to do with the moral correctness or the prudence of the political decision to send them into the theaters where that fortitude is displayed. It's high time someone said that America is teetering on the edge of fascism. And for what? Because some over-educated egghead college kid whose politics we don't like said we're the aggressors? His collectivist sympathies aside, are you sure he was wrong? And to prove he's wrong, let's invade the world!

Do you remember the last time "just war" wasn't a funny joke? Can you think of an international crisis the United States wasn't involved in militarily? Have you ever heard a person in your lifetime say, "I'm glad we didn't intervene"? Or if he did, do you still talk to him?

They say the people are cynical about the political process. Well, I'd be cynical too, if all the presidents in recent memory launched illegal, or immoral wars (or both), and the only reaction was to ask what this will mean for the partisan balance of power, while Congress cowers in fear. Does it matter? Will it bring back the people who are dead? Was it worth it? Did you seriously give thought to answering "no"? Better yet, did you feel like it was safe, American, and patriotic to answer "no"?

I'm the furthest thing from a leftist I can think of. I love America as much as anyone you care to name. Let me be blunt: Do you recognize her anymore? Does it make me a Quaker or communist to say that I don't? What if George McGovern and Eugene McCarthy--at least on this--were right all along? I'm just asking.

Frankly, if this end causes you to dismiss me as an emotional weakling and coward, so be it. I yearn for peace. I am having a hard time participating in Mass as a brother of the Prince of Peace--and an American--while American bombs fall seemingly without end. And no one knows why.

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