tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9951612.post112421539772410532..comments2023-11-03T04:04:17.668-04:00Comments on The Opposite of Progress: Questions without answersAmichaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10662677886550979790noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9951612.post-1124314422276614432005-08-17T17:33:00.000-04:002005-08-17T17:33:00.000-04:00No, your writing is fine. It's just that most EVE...No, your writing is fine. It's just that most EVERYONE (especialy the media) either ignores or is unawarre of who exactly is sacraficing their lives for this country. And it sure as hell isn't the children of Bush's "base" as he so fondly refers to them.<BR/><BR/>I am in agreeement with you that BOTH sides are to blame for this mess, The right becuase of their policies and fea mongering that lead to this, and the left for being ineffectual and allowing this sort of shti to happen. The media also needs to be given it's fair share of the blame.writergurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280715417926374080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9951612.post-1124290585175418552005-08-17T10:56:00.000-04:002005-08-17T10:56:00.000-04:00You bring up many valid points, and on a whole I d...You bring up many valid points, and on a whole I do not disagree with you. However, I was trying to comment more on the way the debate is phrased by both sides, and how the sheer refusal to ask or answer useful questions is a big part of what is hindering our government from doing anything progressive, and actually rectifying situations (be it our national or international policies) instead of making them worse. Right now I feel the left (and just for posterity, I am a Massachusetts liberal democrat) is being just as divisive as we have accused the right of being. As I said in the post I respect Mrs. Sheehan for what she is trying to accomplish. I could have pulled a quote from either side of any issue from anyone on either side of the aisle (your Bush quotes are equally applicable) to try and make my point. I used Sheehan solely because her story was the most recent I read right before writing my post.<BR/><BR/>I was in no way trying to diminish Sheehan or her grief over the loss of her son, her socioeconomic standing or anything else about her or her family. And any perception as such is only due to my bad writing.Amichaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10662677886550979790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9951612.post-1124261309588027492005-08-17T02:48:00.000-04:002005-08-17T02:48:00.000-04:00While your sentiment about most parents not volunt...While your sentiment about most parents not voluntarily sending their children "off to war" is correct, you neglect the actual make up of our volunteer service. As Micheal Moore pointed out in Farenhiet 9/11, our Armed Forces, these days, are mostly made up of lower to lower middle class people. These are the people who parents can't afford to send them to college nor do these people's parents have the contacts needed to have their sons assigned to something like, oh say, the Texas Air National Guard like Bush's father did for him. Our service members who are fighting, dying and being maimed by this conflict (it's not a war, since Congress did not declare war upon Iraq) are often our poorest members of society. Meanwhile every child of the Senate, Congress, and Judicairy have the means available for them to have an option. The option? NOT to serve. In many, many cases, the ONLY reason our service members have volunteered is because that's the ONLY WAY they can break the cycle of poverty and gain some marketable skills. Mr. Bush's children have many options available to them. Just like the children of Conressional members and Senators. Mrs. Sheehan, whom you take such umbrage with, is not someone who has the contacts, and judging solely from what IS known about her and her family, they are amoung those who would be considered lower middle class as she worked as a youth minister at a Catholic church.<BR/><BR/>Finally, consider this quote from Bush about Mrs. Sheehan and her vigil at his Crawford ranch... "I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say. But I think it's also important for me to go on with my life, to keep a balanced life ... I think the people want the president to be in a position to make good, crisp decisions and to stay healthy. And part of my being is to be outside exercising. So I'm mindful of what goes on around me. On the other hand, I'm also mindful that I've got a life to live and will do so." Yep, sounds like our Prez is certainly doing his best at all times for the country, right? Riiiighht.writergurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04280715417926374080noreply@blogger.com