Voices Home from the Front-C-Span

[pattykk]

<p>My daughter has exchanged letters to the editor with another girl in the school newspaper about this same subject. I have really enjoyed the exchange, because they have been very respectful of one another and they have been forced to do their research. The other girl feels that the Constitution only prohibits the establishment of a state religion and that its protection of the free exercise of religion makes President Bush’s acknowledgement of the role religion plays in his decisions appropriate. She feels that the country was founded on Christian principles and that removing Chrisitian prayer and other references to God from public life was a mistake. My D argued that President Bush has crossed the line by bringing his religion into his political policy. She feels he used hot-button issues like abortion and gay marriage in a cynical and manipulative way that belies the sincerity of his stated beliefs and that he gives the religious right preferential treatment. She fears that his “democracy on the march” policy is driven by his religious beliefs and that the country is on what amounts to a crusade. I am waiting for the next round of letters to see if they budge one another.</p>

<p>Patuxent: I felt this post was related to this board because Schaeffer was speaking to students who were bound for selective colleges and subsequent high-paying jobs. He was asking them if they felt that they were exempt from defending the country, and I thought it was an interesting topic. Frank Schaeffer is the quintessential member of the elite (rich, Yale graduate, North Shore resident, etc.), and he admits it. He has had a crisis of conscience, and he has written a thought-provoking book. He takes great pains not to take a stance on the war. He edited a group of letters home from the front in an apolitical way.
I thought it was honest of you to admit that you felt we had a “dog in this fight” but that you were not willing to have your son participate in the fight. I don’t know what it would take to make me willing to have my children serve.</p>

<p>The majority chose President Bush, but the rest of us are not required to roll over and play dead just because he won the election. I think we have an obligation to raise our concerns. Dissent and free speech are still part of American life.</p>

[alwaysamom]

<p>Patty, I’m glad you started this thread. It’s an interesting topic. I didn’t see the broadcast but I did receive the book as a Christmas gift and it’s next in my pile of ‘to reads’. Interestingly enough, I just finished The Kiterunner which was discussed in another thread and is on a related subject, Afghanistan. I would recommend that book to everyone. It’s going on my all time favorites list.</p>

<p>These are issues which need to be discussed in this country, regardless of how we voted in November. I think it’s important, perhaps now more than ever, that those of us who dare to disagree with the current administration, make our voices heard and encourage an open dialogue on the many concerns which face our nation today. If we don’t, I fear for our future.</p>

[patuxent]

<p>Don’t read too much into my not wanting my Son to go. I don’t want him to be a cop or a fireman either, but somebody has to do it and the ones who do are better men (and women) than me. Nobody likes to see anybodies son or daughter, husband or wife, father or mother hurt or killed in a far away place. But nobody wants to loose them in an office building or a plane either. Committing to a foreign war is something best done dispassionately - not in the heat of the moment after an attack nor in the heat of the moment after the first casualties come in. 40,000 Americans will die in automobile accidents this year and if you focused solely on the costs to families and the individual tragedy we might not have an interstate highwat system. Similarly way more yound people have been murdered in the USA this year in drug related violence than have died in combat in the middle east. We tolerate a good amount of that domestic violence because we as a society value civil liberties more than we value the lives of those who will die. I don’t think that is a bad thing but I don’t want my family to be the ones on the altart.</p>