I Thought This Was America

I find it very frustrating when extremists from either side feels that this idea of freedom of expression is a one way road...

Earlier this week the Peace and Justice Center on campus tied many blue ribbons all over campus to trees and poles in memory of the anniversary of our fourth year occupying Iraq. Later in the week another unknown person or persons took down these ribbons. This act has been deemed as cold hearted vandalism. A breach on the rights of others in the community... and I want to know why?

First let me say... I do not support our presence in Iraq, I did not support the invasion or anything affiliated with the actions in Iraq that deterred America from finding Osama Bin Ladin who actually threated our very soil. That being said I'm still highly offended how the demonstration of the PJC is deemed peaceful while the other unknown group is being cursed as vandals.

The Unknown group had every single right to take down those ribbons. There are many people with family over in Iraq and those ribbons were a slap in the face to everything their family has done in the name of America. For those people to have to look at those ribbons everyday may have been highly offensive. And further more... they were left up for 3 days. That's plenty long enough for a peaceful memorial.

Even then the school mentions the hard work of the PJC to put them... I don't doubt that it was hard to take them all down too. You can't deem something moral on the grounds of effort. I can't say I agree with the ribbons being put up or torn down, but what I can't stay silent about is this double standard.

And I think that's something Americans need to understand. This is what it is to have freedom of speech. This unknown group cause absolutely no harm and I think had every right to make their own statement. I believe whole heartily it was in response to the very obvious opinion of the PJC that the war is meaningless, and I know if I had family or friends fighting every day in Iraq I would probably be offended to.

And on that note... putting ribbons up does not get the troops out of Iraq no more than taking them down is sentencing them to their death. PJC, you made your point... you only had to make your point for a day. Anniversary. Once. So drop it. Unknown group... I commend your bravery to make a counter statement and I hope that the community will someday recognize your right to your opinion.

In the end I feel so conservative... but in all actuality my belief that all opinions should be respected is what makes me a dirty hippy. So close yet so far away Eric. *grinz*