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November 12, 2005Arlington West(Slightly edited from the original version) If this is to be our end, then I would make such an end as to be worthy of song and story. Yesterday, I hauled myself down to the beach--tough duty, that--to chronicle Code Pink's latest effort at highlighting their concern for the US military on that most martial of days, Veteran's Day. When Charles Johnson gave his myriad readers a heads-up on Code Pink's latest effort toward "supporting the troops" here in Southern California, I was all set to run down to the site, camera and self-righteousness in hand. After all, some of Code Pink's efforts at troop support have been misguided at best and horribly insensitive at worst, to understate the matter. But I could only feel one thing when walking among the many crosses that were meticulously planted in the sand on Venice Beach: not sadness per se, but a sense of awe and reverence. As someone who believes in eternal life, I found myself wondering what all of the military men and women were thinking as they surveyed the same scene that was in front of me. If you ask me, a lot defeat and futility went into the presentation: those who put so much effort into planning such a well-organized display were saying to those departed "your penultimate life's work was a tragedy and will mean nothing in the grand scheme of how the world will turn out." If I were one of those looking down (or up), I'd be shaking my head. Or laughing. Or I'd be PO'd. After all, who are these people that they can say that the fallen have died for nothing? Or that any war dead are needlessly dead? As is the norm at these displays which purport to support the troops--the same troops whose voluntary action they are designating as fruitless--there was a continual reading of the names of each man and woman, their age and their hometown. At one point, my ears perked up and I heard one of the readers mention a name, then stop. The reader then looked up and pointed to the bright blue sky complementing the type of beautiful autumn day for which Southern California is renowned, and said something like this: "One thing is for sure; this young man will never experience another beautiful day like this one."When he said that, I was struck by the fact that behind him stood hundreds of crosses and at least one Star of David. If he really believed his own word, really believed that the young man mentioned was dead--non-existent--forever, then what was up with all those symbols of unending life that were the display's main theme? Could it be :::gasp::: that the symbols of Christianity and Judaism were mere props? Well, it's not like that hasn't happened before. Then again, I could be asking for too much too expect concepts to be consistent during such an exhibit. After all it's the over-arching point that counts; counts even more than the God that a goodly portion of these fine people don't believe in: war is always bad and always wrong and those who die perpetrating warfare waste their lives. No exceptions. It just seems to me that the people who make up Code Pink want to stand for something before they do what we all have to do: die. It's their choice to take the easy road to the end, rather than the difficult one. Too bad that they would denigrate a divergent choice that others would make. Enough babbling; here are the photos. ![]() Here's the scene with me standing on the Santa Monica Pier facing northeast; crosses/Stars of David and coffins, obviously. ![]() Each cross/Star of David was blank initially and it was up to the visitor to pick out a name from the list printed out from the FoxNews site--ironically--take one of the cards provided and rubber bands provided, write a name on the card and hang it on one of the symbols. Here's a close up of the coffins. ![]() You are now entering Arlington West. ![]() The first exhibit on the left when one walked into the make-shift enrance of the display were two charts, one with the first one thousand troops who died in Iraq, the other featuring the second thousand. ![]() ![]() On the left was a rather perfunctory chart featuring the Afghanistan casualty list. ![]() The above chart seemed like an after-thought. I guess that the Afghanistan casualities don't have the propaganda vaue that their Iraq War brethren do. This charming sign was just to the right (facing) of the Iraq War casualty charts. ![]() This next display did tick me off: photos of grievously wounded soldiers. ![]() ![]() I wonder whether Code Pink and company have implemented anything like Project Valour IT for these guys and girls. It would be the least they could do after using photos of their stumps, etc. to make their point. Here's another photo that gives you an idea of how many crosses there were--and this is just on one side. ![]() Here's a conglomerate of symbols that I'd imagine would ignite "holy" wars in a whole lot of places in this world. ![]() I wonder whether it ever occured to any of these people that the "needlessly" dead GIs which they claim to support had defended their right to show such things without molestation. I doubt it. I don't think that this people are bad, however. I simply think that they don't understand the mindset of most military persons, especially those whose specific reason for being puts them in mortal danger--Marines, for instance. Such people believe that they are helping the next Marine; such people never consider that there are persons that go into the war business with their eyes wide open, knowing that they might die, but living for the chance that they might make a difference, small or large. But because that anti-war types can't understand such a mindset, they believe that warriors are stupid and/or duped. Either way, it is an insult; either supposition is evidence of a large amount of arrogance on the part of the anti-warriors. And that is why most real warriors hate this sort of "tribute." (Cross-posted at baldilocks) UPDATE: Additionally, I took a drive over to the Los Angeles Memorial Veteran's Cemetary to pay my respects. ![]() God bless them. Comments
Thank you Juliette. My amateur radio call is WA6YFP issued when I moved west in 1970. Took my West Coast shingle down completely in 1980. A very interesting decade in a very interesting place (Silicon Valley). The handwriting was writ large on the wall. Out of the fire into the frying pan! Since I read your main good bloggyness all the time I ought to update my linkyness. Good ol' blogspot jus' loves to do fun things when modifying the template, tends to be tedious! Posted by: Bogdaddy on November 12, 2005 05:35 AMThanks Baldilocks for posting those pictures. They were actually quite moving. "I simply think that they don't understand the mindset of most military persons, especially those whose specific reason for being puts them in mortal danger--Marines, for instance. Such people believe that they are helping the next Marine; such people never consider that there are persons that go into the war business with their eyes wide open, knowing that they might die, but living for the chance that they might make a difference, small or large." My husband was an Army Officer for 34 years. I still remember when Dessert Storm began, we were stationed with a unit that wasn't going to be deployed. He called in some big favours till he could transfer and go to Saudi. He said "How can I see all these young soldiers face this with such courage and not be there to serve with them?" I am sure you remember how some military people are focussed on the troops. The civilian world just doesn't comprehend, do they? Posted by: Library Lady on November 12, 2005 11:57 AMIf you really wanted to piss off the Code Pink folk you could have added the appropriate American Flags by each of those crosses. To do less would not be fitting. Posted by: The Thomas on November 12, 2005 01:05 PMLibrary Lady, Some of us civilians out in the world do indeed understand. The Code Pinkos disgust us beyond words. Utterly beyond words. I couldn't go to one of their disgusting displays because I would end up in jail. Because several of them would need ER services. You see, I'm not blessed with some folk's patience. Posted by: Gerry N. on November 13, 2005 12:33 AMNicely done Juliette. It important to show how the leftists dishonor those who are honorable. Posted by: bleedingbrain on November 13, 2005 01:23 AMThanks Gerry, I didn't mean to paint with a broad brush. Years ago we were stationed in Germany and my Mom was visiting. We went to downtown Frankfurt where a demonstration was going on and they were burning American flags in protest. Of course military personel and their families were NEVER to get involved opposing anything like this but my husband had to physically restrain my tiny mom! I think she would have punched the protestors if she could have gotten to them. It was so hard to see this and not be able to respond. Posted by: Library Lady on November 13, 2005 12:52 PMThanks, Juliette -- nice work. My son-in-law is one of those "persons that go into the war business with their eyes wide open, knowing that they might die, but living for the chance that they might make a difference, small or large." He's in Iraq right now (F-18 pilot), having now missed more of his little daughter's life than he's been present for -- she has said her first word, learned to crawl and 'cruise' and will be walking and talking before he gets home. He is a bright, funny wonderful young man who could have done any number of things in life besides sign up for the Marines for 8 years, and to think that anyone would consider him a mindless dupe just pisses me off beyond all belief! Ask his mother and his wife and his daughter, not to mention the rest of his family and friends what sacrifices he's making for the chance to make a difference! God bless them ALL on Veterans Day and EVERY day! Posted by: Marianne on November 13, 2005 06:41 PMCode PINK can stand for whatever they like - our country is set up to allow that. Unfortunately, the group is led by those who think Castro is the bee's knees and Communism is the way to go. They do not have anything like Project Valour-IT going. The only support they show for our troops is that which brings them publicity and places a heavy veil over their other activities and goals. I'm glad you were able to see one of their displays. I hope that you can attend one of their other gatherings to catch the rest of their message. P.S. the images that upset you, multiply that by a couple hundred to understand what Smash and I have seen at their protests. Posted by: Joanie on November 14, 2005 05:14 PMCode Pink doesn't sponsor or set up Arlington West. Veterans for Peace does. Now go tear apart the veterans. Go ahead. Posted by: Barry on November 15, 2005 12:18 AMBarry, Why would I tear VFP apart when I didn't tear CP apart? People like you consider *any* criticiism "tearing apart." What are you anti-war types some fragile little flowers or something? That would explain a lot. BTW, most veterans don't wilt from criticism. I should know. Posted by: Juliette on November 15, 2005 01:58 PMDo you feel better now Juliette? I wish you peace. Posted by: Barry on November 15, 2005 04:29 PMHmmm... Looks like somebody fucked up royal here. What happened? Only two posts showing and none in 3 days. My browser also shows a lot of errors on this page. Who fucked it up? Posted by: assrot on November 15, 2005 07:25 PMBarry: As if you gave a rat's backside. Posted by: Juliette on November 16, 2005 03:06 PM"Too bad that they would denigrate a divergent choice that others would make." As one who made that "divergant choice", just as you did, it does truly baffle me as to how people that try to tout "tolerance for multiple cultures and views" can be so damned intolerant of those that choose to place themselves in harms way to protect their spouting ravings of "tolerance of all things." Thank you for your service. Post a comment
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