Is anybody else sickened by this?

Question

I particularly would like to hear from current military, former military, and former or current military family members, but anyone else is welcome to comment. Watch the video first please, it's about three minutes long. It's of an anti-war demonstration in Portland, Oregon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2DtGcw_VMc&NR=1
I know they have freedom of speech and all, but it's men like MY HUSBAND who give them this freedom. And what do they do with it? THIS kind of crap makes me SO angry, and ASHAMED of the country I love. If you're going to protest the war, that is NOT the way to do it!
Is anyone else as angered by this as I am? If so, we need to start speaking out about it. I'm stationed in Germany with my husband, so I can't participate in any counter-protests. Is anyone willing to speak for us? Is anyone willing to stand up for us? Is anyone else as shocked, saddened, and sickened by this as I am?

I AM fighting by supporting my US ARMY HUSBAND!!!! Anyone who says otherwise should try being married to the military!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

This is just plain sick. We protect the very people who are doing the SH**. I can't say more, i'm too F&&^%$ upset.

Answer 2

I too was angered by this video, but I am mostly saddened by it. You wanted to hear from military people. I was a paratrooper in Viet Nam, 101st. When I came home I hated the hippies, and was in the hard hat parades. As I grew older and look back at it I don't hate the protesters any more. They were right. I don't even hate Abby Hoffman are Bobby Seal. I Still can't stand Jane- Hanoi Jane- Fonda. At least Abby Hoffman and Bobby Seal never sat behind an anti aircraft gun in Hanoi. All the protesters burned were draft cards, not effigies of our troops. I don't support the war but I would never protest it. We are there right are wrong. So we have to see it through. I would not want to be the parent of the last soldier killed in a loosing effort that acomplished nothing. I would not want to be the parent of a soldier killed in a winning effort either as for as that go's. I noticed that the traitors were hiding there faces. Figures, cowards. As a combat vet. I don't want to see anyone have to go through that. Although I met the best people I ever met in my life in the airborne, life long friends that you can not have that sort of bond with any where else, I still don't recomend it. Lost some good friends too. But I guess mostly I feel depressed about that vidio. I felt depressed for a week after I saw the movie The Deer Hunter the first time. You ask about a counter protest. I would protest against those traitors but I won't protest in a pro war movement. So how do you do that? I will and do support our military men and women and there famillies. Each Army div has a support group. I contribute to the 101st. div. This year the 101st. Airborne Association gave over 90,000 dollars to our service men and familys. People can show there support by giving. My dad was a Sea Bee in W.W.II so I give once a yr. to the Navy relief fund also. So maybe we can get the word out about some of these organizations. As I said I've softened my stance against the anti Viet Nam protesters. I'm 64 now but I can't condone burning our troops in effegie. Good luck and I hope yours and your husband stay safe.
NO SLACK.

Answer 3

Sung to the tune of "Clementine," the charming lyrics "build a bonfire, build a bonfire, put the soldiers on the top, put the fascists in the middle and we'll burn the f%$#ing lot," don't really sound like a protest anthem about political motivations behind the decision to go to war. It sounds more like the recycled "babykiller" rhetoric of the Vietnam era; it might almost be quaint, if the visual image of the burning "soldier" weren't so reminiscent of similar scenes, recently played out throughout the world, featuring the lives and limbs of actual Americans.

I'm a female active duty officer and combat helicopter pilot in the military (I've made two combat deployments, one in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (that was that whole Afghanistan thing, remember that?) and one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom). From my point of view, a small group of misguided teenagers who seem to be having serious difficulty using a Bic lighter doesn't detract from the profound sacrifices my fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines--and their families--make on a daily basis (and have made, even when we haven't been involved in a war, as anyone who has deployed for six months in a Navy ship will tell you).

Besides, very few of us voluntarily risk our lives for our national defense because of the positive feedback we get on youtube. We do it because we believe there are certainly things worth fighting and dying for. Whether Iraq qualifies is yet to be determined, but rest assured that a gang of listless, drug-addled skate punks isn't going to shake our resolve.

Answer 4

That kind of stuff is why I love and hate the US at the same time. Personally I think these people need to see the business end of a baton. I really don't know what to say other than these people are cowards who wouldn't do that kind of thing in front of a large group of our military guys, just like the Army recruiting station there that was vandalized when all of the soldiers were out of the office.

Answer 5

It is disrespectful to all who have worn the uniform. I disagree with the war but would NEVER disrespect those who put themselves in harms way to give me the right to say what I feel.

This is worse than burning the flag. This is a personal insult, not a political statement. Those who did this should be ashamed of themselves.

You know that I am opposed to the war in Iraq. I have never attended, nor will I attend, an anti-war rally out of respect, not for the leaders safe and secure in Washington, but for brave people like your husband who will continue to pay for their mistakes.

There are many people, on both sides, angry at the idiots who did this. This is not an anti-war statement, it is an anti-troop statement done by cowards too ashamed to show their face in the video. If they had 1% of the balls those in the military have, they wouldn't be hiding behind hoods and masks. But they don't.

May God forgive me for my anger.

I am praying for your husband's safe and rapid return...

Answer 6

That was sickening. They were a very small group and were obviously not proud of what they were doing since they were covered from head to toe. I think that is a far cry from how Americans view their military. In fact, the exact opposite. I think it was just an intentional stunt for propaganda. I believe it was their intention to make people angry and call attention to themselves. The person with the video camera was careful to avoid any chance that these people's identity would be revealed. Doesn't that tell you something?

Answer 7

I am vet and we do stand up. The press just will not cover it. Our counter protests if you want to call it that do not fit the stories they want to cover, and almost all of us follow the rule of law because we are good honest people. We also have jobs and work for a living unlike these government cheese eating red diaper doper babies. I love my fellow soldiers and Marines and I hope this brings us closer and causes us to do something positive. There are so many good people in this country that do not get recognized for the good things they do. The left and the press love losing and they love their losers. They want so bad, another Vietnam. The Alphabet channels on TV would love nothing more than to see the public spitting on our Soldiers coming home. They would act shocked by it but would love the ratings.

Answer 8

This is the second time I have seen this, and it sickens me more each time I view it. I believe in the right to free speech, but this is taken to the extreme. If people have a problem with the war, fine that's your right, but why use a soldier as the object if your insane hatred? Are there not better people to burn in effigy? The soldiers have nothing to do with why we are in Iraq, they are serving their country, nothing more nothing less. What angers me the most is the fact that these "protesters" all have their faces covered. If you feel so strongly about your beliefs, why are you ashamed to show your faces. Nothing but a bunch of cowards.

Answer 9

They're being extreme to make a point, and perhaps it's bad judgment, but it's their right to do so. This is not the way I would go about it, that's for sure.

Note: this was not part of the main protest, but of about 30 extremists who broke off of the main protest and performed this.

Also - it seems as if people are thinking that the protesters want to kill soldiers (looking at others answers) because the image of seeing someone burning a soldier is horrifying, but the point the protesters are making is that more soldiers will die if they stay in Iraq -- which is why they want us out. To say that they're doing this because they "hate soldiers" (as someone says below) is just not right.

Answer 10

What idiots! Like you said, they have the right, but are too dumb to understand who gave them those rights. But whatever, think of it this way- that's the best they can do, a little lame protest.
I don't know whatelse to say really, they just have their heads to far up their a** and think that their protesting actually means something.
That's right that they would never do this infront of military guys and girls. It's just BS.

And Sorry, if they are trying to demonstrate that more soldiers will die if they stay...Hello, we know this! And they are trying to show us like that? Again, their heads are so far up their a** they can't think straight.

Stop watching the video! Don't help promote their bs by sharing it with others.

Answer 11

why are they even in America i couldn't even watch the full video i don't have family there but i have a few very close family friends that are there and i was engaged to some one who is now in the army i just don't get how people are going there and should ge the respect yet all they are getting is people laughing in there face it is disgusting and maybe they should go and see first hand what is like before they start judging