Live from a white spot in a purple nation on a blue planet...

I love the anti-war crowd.  There is about a third of the movement that is conservative, the Ron Paul crowd.  They love the troops, but hate the war.  Good for them, and I agree with them.  I am one of them.

Then there's the other crowd, the troop-hating dingbats.  Unfortunately, they're unreachable.  I contacted one of them today.  I'll let you read the correspondence for your edification and instruction.  This is why we have such a hard time breaking through to the pro-Iraq Bush fans as pro-peace activists...the troop-haters won't shut up.  They want their moment in the spotlight.  They want to let it all hang out, no matter how it hurts the movement.  That's fine, you fools, because all you are doing is enabling the war.  Here's the proof, his response is in red:

you are such a dupe to rejoin the military. you should be ashamed of yourself.
*******
Dear Mr. Vance,

I clicked on your article, "Heroes or Dupes?," this morning, and was deeply upset.  I'm not sure which upset me more: the actual text of your article or the fact that I knew how it would read before I read it.  I think, sir, that you may not fully appreciate the harm this sort of writing does to the anti-war movement.

Let's get all the cards out on the table.  You are writing a book on the subject, so you stand to make a profit.  Like yourself, I am not completely removed from the problem. Recently, I reenlisted in the military.  I was one of those "tuition mercenaries" of which you speak, save that I have not been to Iraq.  Ironically, perhaps, I find myself in both camps, that which supports the troops and that which opposes the war.

Recently, I worked to support Ron Paul's candidacy.  Unfortunately, Dr. Paul's time has passed, due in large part to articles and sentiments like those I read this morning from you.  It was hard to preach against the war to the Republican Party in the first place, but the task is made manifestly more difficult when all anti-war folks find themselves painted as anti-troop.  One may oppose an idea easily enough, but to oppose the idea and the icon of that idea, the uniformed loved one of the pro-War Republican, is madness that will be answered with defeat.

I do not seek to offend, and you are, of course, free to your opinion.  In fact, judging by some of the more radical elements of the anti-Iraq movement, you are probably poised to make much more profit from such articulations and devices.  People who oppose the war are often angry enough that taking their hatred of Iraq, and transferring such anger to the troops is but a small step for many.

If, on the other hand, you should choose the cause over the dollar, I would ask that you not make our job on the front lines of this culture war that much harder.  After all, sir, it is hard enough to convince most Bush Republicans that the war is wrong without having to also convince them that we aren't raving troop-haters, as well.  This was one of the hardest parts about supporting Ron Paul, and the words of the Bush supporters still ring in my ears.  As a veteran and a military member, I was actually accused of "aiding the enemy" and "supporting the killers of our soldiers."

If you want to do the greatest good, I would suggest doing so by attracting people with the message of liberty rather than by driving them away by reviling their heroes and relatives in harm's way.  Should you choose to do that, you will be making the mission of spreading the message of peace that much easier on those of us in the political trenches.  Remember, anyone can throw a barb and attack in anger, but not everyone can stand bravely in the face of injustice and refuse to sink to the level of the oppressor.  You are right about John McCain, but comparing him to today's soldier benefits no one.

In this conflict, we are called to a higher, more noble destiny.  We are called to oppose the war on principle, not on emotional bile.  If we have the fortitude to look beyond this fight to win the cultural war by appealing to the reason of the nation, we will not only win this conflict, but we may actually prevent another Iraq or Vietnam from ever happening again.  If, however, we insist on dealing in daggers and loathing, we are condemned to lose not only this fight, but the next one, too, and so on and so forth.  I appeal to you to take the high road.

Sincerely,

"C. Durden"

I'm getting tired of defending these asshats.  They are stealing all legitimacy from anyone opposing the war.  THEY are why Bush's surrogates can get away with calling all pro-peace people "unpatriotic troop-haters." 

Your words are crippling us, people.  Be careful what you say.  The person you piss off next might be someone you could have convinced to agree with you.