Apr 01 2008
Code Pink vs GOE: A lesson in many ways
Crossposted at Peace Thugs.
While poking around You Tube, I found this video.
While the initial impulse is to cheer, it makes me somewhat sad at the same time.
Let me clearly state that I find Code Pink to be fairly disgusting and offensive. If I were at one of their protests I would be hard pressed to contain my temper.
Code Pink has no respect for dignity, nor for the civil rights of their opposition. They will without hesitation cross lines to infiltrate into the areas designated for other protesters. They will illegally block entrances, and do, as one member stated, “anything” to bring attention to their cause.
But at the same time, there is a principle at stake behind the nuttiness, and that is free speech, and while I despise their message, I have to respect their right to have on. I will of course draw the line at legal, if they violate the law let them be treated accordingly.
So in other words, while I have little sympathy for them, I have to allow that their right to be publicly idiotic is guaranteed by the same Constitution I swore to defend, 20 something years ago.
So when I see the frustrated pro troop protesters lose their tempers and commit acts that are more reminiscent of Code Pink and other liberals, I am somewhat sad.
Obviously the people in question are adults, and if they choose civil disobedience, that is their right to do so.
But at the same time, they are also acting to make their antagonists martyrs and victims, by violating their free speech, and if there is one thing liberals know how to exploit, it is victim hood.
I am not going to point to a particular act or comment by the pro troop folks in that video as my example of crossing the line. Let the reader make his or her own choice about how to respond when insanity walks their streets.
But take a moment and consider that part of what makes them so despicable is their tactics and their disrespect for the rights of others and the law in general.
So while it is somewhat satisfying to see them get their own back in their faces, at the same time, the last thing I want is to use those wackos as role models.
Frankly, though it may be condescending, I think we are better than they are….we have truth on our side.
Just my 2 cents.
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8 Responses to “Code Pink vs GOE: A lesson in many ways”
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Code Pink vs GOE: A lesson in many ways…
Crossposted at Leaning Straight Up
While poking around You Tube, I found this video.
While the initial impulse is to cheer, it makes me somewhat sad at the same time.
Let me clearly state that I find Code Pink to be fairly disgusting and offensive…
Code Pink really disgusts me. So this photo essay by Zombie about a Berkeley rally makes me especially happy. http://www.zombietime.com/pro-troops_rally_berkeley_3-22-2008/
Karl,
I agree that there’s something sad about this incident. It’s sad that combat veterans of foreign wars have had to endure the seditious and treasonous behavior of anti-Americans like Code Poink for so many decades.
Considering the number of physical attacks on recruiters and combat soldiers, (Berkeley, Olympia, D.C., Chapel Hill etc, etc, etc, etc, etc ), and the blatant display of hatred of America by the anti-war crowd, and the flag burners, the Che worshippers, the Chavez butt-kissers, the terrorist appeasers, and the …. ( geez, I could go for hours with this ) - how much of this crap are we expected to tolerate before we stand up and say NO MORE! How far do we allow these Communist puppets to go in destroying our Republic before we decide that a butt whipping is called for?
Yes, it’s sad that veterans have to violate the Constitutional rights for which they have sacrificed and offered life and limb. It’s sad that we’ve reached the point at which we feel that portions of it must be infringed to protect the whole.
Intolerance? Oh, you better believe it. Some things are just too stupid to put up with.
Bubba
WhatBubbaKnows.com
I would assume you have sold yourself on the concept of allowing vile people like the members of Code Pink to attack anyone who stands against them with whatever means they find effective & the pro troops supporters are required to follow the “rules” set for a High School Debateing Team.
Sir..with all due respect for your views,.. I will continue to abide by civil laws concerning counter protest but I will not bow my head like a sheep following a Judas goat to the members of any anti-war group.
Protest,.Counter Protest..Is not a debate..When Code Pink is allowed to set the “Rules” I consider this response to be the only one “They” understand.
You bump it up a notch..I will meet you head on..within the law..& you can respond or pack it in and go home..Period.
I count the Anti-America ..24/7 365 & I care less for the after Rally score card given by Monday morning Quarterbacks
FYI..No member of the Gathering of Eagles has ever been arrested at any counter rally..Nationwide..Can Code Pink say the same?.
Have a great day ..in free America & never turn your back on the..Peace..Movement.
I am a counter protest rally organizer for the Gathering of Eagles & I follow my personal code of conduct on the rally line..my code has no room for surrender to thumb suckers like Code Pink..Ask Cindy Sheehan.
I agree 100% with Bubba’s comments. Some leftist behavior is just so over-the-top that reactions like these of the Eagles in Florida last year are understandable. As long as those reactions are not physical, I see nothing wrong with them at all.
It’s about time we take back the streets!
I have three responses in this comment:
Bubba,
I agree with you that the blatant disrespect and anti American views of some of the groups are vile and wrong.
The problem is that Freedom of Speech does not make allowances for offense, so as vile as they are, they sadly have that right, and my time as an Air Force NCO was spent in part protecting their right to find my service, and that of today’s warriors, vile.
I don’t like it, but I accept it as the cost of freedom. I don’t mean that as a pious statement of how enlightened I am, or they are either. I just have to accept that the freedoms I worked to protect can be twisted and abused.
Code pink has the right to spew their blather…until they resort to assaults, vandalism and other unlawful activities. Which they do.
But you cannot use their past activities to justify equally illegal acts.
In the video, the wackos were in the street, and were not confronting anyone directly (face to face). The counter protesters went to them, and took their signs and such. In my opinion, the counter protesters allowed their zeal to carry them to an unacceptable level of response, and they easily could have been arrested.
I am sure they would have allowed themselves to be arrested proudly, but that is not the point.
In the same way that they have a right to protest lawfully, we have the same right to protest them lawfully, until we cross the same lines. When the counter protesters in this video ripped their signs and otherwise harassed them in quasi physical acts, they crossed a line and made the code pink people martyrs and victims. The last thing we need to do is provide these people with the moral upper hand.
George,
No I have not sold myself on any such concept. I think free speech allows displays and dialog, not acts of violence. That Code Pink escapes prosecution for their crimes so often is a travesty.
I fully support all legal activities to counter these idiots.
Larry,
I agree the reactions were understandable, which I noted. They however did get physical in that the counter protesters took their signs and such, and as such I have to be consistent and oppose them on principle, as I oppose when the liberal loons treat conservative protesters in that fashion.
To all,
I agree that the code pink people need to be stopped.
But rather then take their signs, how about smothering them in a sea of American Flags, and drowning out their peace chants in a rousing song or counter chant?
If we play with their dirty tactics, we cannot win, but if we refuse to, and beat them anyway, our victory is twice as sweet.
Go to the link in Reverse Vampyrs comment. About halfway down there is a photo of an antiwar protester with two flags, one of which was a US flag altered to have Corporate logos, not stars.
Rather then rip his flags, they simply blocked him in a sea of American flags and USMC flags.
That, to me, is how we take back the streets.
Thanks all for your respectful comments.
LSU
Dear Karl,
I am one of the lady Eagles, and this is a discussion that has come up many times on the GOE boards. I tend to side with you– when we stoop to the tactics of the opposition, we become what we despise. Some Eagles agree with that viewpoint, some don’t, and some see taking their signs away (or similar) as a completely different issue from interfering with free speech.
Even given our differences of opinion, however, I’m happy to report that “incidents” started by Eagles tend to be few, self-policing, and relatively minor. National leadership HAS spoken out (on the website) against crossing the line, and we continue to work on striking the balance between hot blood and responsible counter-protest. (We are, after all, not even a month past our first birthday as an organization– so there are still a few bugs to work out of the system, as has been pointed out to me many times.)
…Which is all by way of saying, thanks for the perspective shot, the suggestions, and especially the support.
God bless America,
Erin
Karl and all…
I was at that event that day and believe me, as Bubba states, some things are just too stupid to put up with.
It’s very easy to sit behind your keyboard and critique an event that happened in Washington DC on September 15th, 2007…months after it has occurred. All you see is a snippet of what happened that day. When I tell you that self restraint is far more evident that this leads you to believe, it is. Even when physically surrounded by anarchists Eagles hold their cool. As with all media, question what you have not witnessed or participated in personally so that the viewpoint is 360 degrees.
All that being said….I would extend a personal invitation to you Karl to attend our next national event, put your boots on the ground with us and find out what it’s really like to enjoy the Leftist version of free speech. Perhaps to start a weekly event of your own in your neck of the country. Eagles from coast to coast give up their weekends and evenings to stand up for everything good about our country and our troops, you might want to give it a go! We always welcome patriots