Thursday, August 18, 2005

Fighting Faith

I suppose I should congratulate Beinart for writing a pro-Sheehan editorial. But, there are two issues. First:

Partly because she captures something profound about the war in Iraq. Vietnam was a mass-participation war: Nearly 3 million Americans fought; more than 58,000 died. And it provoked a mass antiwar movement: Year after year in the late 1960s, hundreds of thousands of Americans traveled to Washington to protest. The assumption was that everyone would serve. It was that assumption, and the fear it created, that drew so many demonstrators into the streets. And it was the betrayal of that assumption -- as children of the elite evaded service -- that ripped America apart.


We showed up. We protested. We tried to stop this thing before it started. We were ignored.


Secondly:

Another politician -- think Bill Clinton or John McCain -- probably would have met with Sheehan long ago. After all, her request isn't that hard to grant. But for this president, it clearly is. Which is partly how we got into this mess in the first place.


Partly how we got into this mess? How do you spell the other part?

P-E-T-E-R B-E-I-N-A-R-T