Try to keep up.

Quote: “What really annoys me is that in today’s MTV and CNN dominated world of media, and constant access to information, we have a lot of “Fair-weather Americans

What makes them wrong is their wild assertions and comparisons of America to dictatorial murder groups. That is not speaking out – that is speaking out of line.

“If you don’t like it, you can giiiiiiit out!” (points thumb sideways)

However, I’m in shock over reading some of these posted comments like “if you don’t agree with all the Bush Admin. policies you should leave our country” or the ones that imply or outright claim that dissent is somehow unpatriotic or disloyal/traitorous.

Teddy Roosevelt once said: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

Before anyone begins to make blanket accusations against “liberals” or the “liberal media” of being traitors simply for speaking out against certain policies or what they perceive to be an unjust war, remember that they do have that right, even if you or I don’t agree with them. If you don’t like the AJC or the NYT, then don’t read them–no one is forcing you to. If your true outrage over the AJC or the NYT (aside from the current cartoon) though is that their readers might question or disagree with this Administration’s policy, then what you really want is censorship.

I don’t understand how Luckovich and other liberals who agree with him stay in this country. If we’re so terrible a country, why don’t they move to a country they don’t have to feel so badly about and vilify? Luckovich is a disgrace. He has no moral character, and the AJC should be ashamed to publish such rot.

But that’s not the point … the point is that making comparisons of America with Al Quaida or the Taliban is disgracing ALL Americans. It’s not just saying we have a few bad apples – it’s describing a larger assertion that states “America is evil” or s/t like that.

Listen, of course we have some bad people, including some bad people in the military. Some of those people make bad decisions and do things that are wrong. But, the real point is that those actions DO NOT represent our military, our country, or the people therein.

So, making wild comparisons and assertions is WRONG!

What really annoys me is that in today’s MTV and CNN dominated world of media, and constant access to information, we have a lot of “Fair-weather Americans”. These are just like many of our Braves fans, but on a much serious level … as soon as some hard times come along, people start turning their backs, making fun, and making wild accusations, assertions, and general rediculous claims.

Some bad Americans make bad decisions – the AJC and the NY Times claim that the entire country and gov’t are responsible and are just like those bad people.

This is not the case, and people like Lukovich and others should not take it upon themselves to make such assenine comments, comparisons, or illustrations.

If the allegations about Haditha are proven correct, that would be a more equivalent comparison. I’m not arguing the soldiers “had it coming” as you suggest some “Libs” believe, but I would say that it makes America’s case for moral superiority more murky when incidents such as the alleged Haditha massacre occur. And again, it’s easier to argue those types of incidents are abberations if the civilian leaders aren’t busy fighting to allow torture.

Ultimately, all the terror mongering does not have ME driving around 285 worried about a terrorist attack. I think as a country, we’re allowing ourselves to sacrifice some of our principles in the name of security–which is exactly what terrorism seeks to achieve. I think the AJC cartoon–accurate or not–encourages these conversations, and because I think that’s productive, I support it. I’m embarrassed that so many want to chastise them, and even more embarrassed that our Legislature would consider a resolution of condemnation.

Rusty, re: GAWire, you have a point–funny you’d even need to make it given that the School of the Americas is located in Georgia. I’m all about loving one’s country, but when that love reaches the point of denial where one can ignore one’s own country’s faults, it becomes dangerous.

Linda,
You’re always good for unintentional comedy. Within the space of two paragraphs, you talk about the “ranting and raving liberals” then proceed to type in all caps for emphasis. Bravo.

GAWire,
I understand the circumstances perfectly. The U.S. had (and still has I’d add) a policy of propping up dictators it thought to be the lesser of two evils. It sells arms to those countries and sometimes even trains their troops (which isn’t in dispute here, as far as I’ve read). Combine that with what’s been going on at Abu Ghraib and Gitmo, and the cartoon isn’t very far off.

The Atlanta Journal Constituion is as unbalanced a publication as this state has ever seen – it’s bias knows no bounds, except perhaps in the Macon Telegraph.

By the way Jeff, thanks for serving. I undestand that, as a tactical air controller, you had a hell of a job.

If we did not have traitors to our country working in the press, the photos from Abu Gharib would not have been released to the press. My feeling is whatever it takes to get these evil mad dogs to tell us what they know about a planned terrorist attack should be used. I don’t care if they put 200 pounds of weights on them and throw them in a lake, when it comes to fighting this war on terror. If you think that they play nice, you are sadly mistaken. This is not a conventional war, and rules of engagement should not be part of the plan.

What I also see, and what the world sees–that you chose not to respond to–is the position of our leadership, in this case the Vice President of the United States:

“Cheney has lobbied against a measure in Congress that would outlaw ‘cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment’ of prisoners, calling for an exception for the CIA in cases that involve a detainee who may have knowledge of an imminent attack.”

We all want to prevent terrorist attacks. By granting ourselves an exception, we provide the enemy the room to make the rational conclusion that if we can permit inhuman treatment under some conditions, they can do the same. Loopholes in our guidelines from the top-down that provide wiggle room for rationalization by our men in uniform don’t prove to the world that we stand AGAINST that type of behavior no matter what.

As for John Douglas’ comments, I’ll take for granted that the cartoon appeared on the same printed page with the photograph since I read the AJC online. Given that, the placement on the same page appears unfortunate at best, and the layout editors should have prevented that. They should probably apologize. But I do not agree with John that the paper should not have printed the cartoon at all; too close to censorship or blind patriotism (a.k.a. nationalism) for my taste.