If a member of our Armed Forces in Iraq can voice an opinion this reasonable, why can't those of us stateside do the same? What is so wrong with celebrating each other, instead of condemning our differences?
People are talking about boycotting celebrities who spoke out against the war.
You can count me out. I don’t look to celebrities to tell me how to think.
I make my own decisions. I volunteered to serve in the military. I worked hard to earn my officer’s commission. I swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That includes the First Amendment.
Celebrities, like all Americans, enjoy the freedom of speech. I enjoy the freedom to not listen to what they have to say. Until they run for public office, their opinions hold no more weight with me than that of my garbage man.
Heard that Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have taken some heat for speaking out.
I think they are fine actors. I loved Bull Durham – it’s a classic in my book. If Susan and Tim want to take advantage of their celebrity status to express negative opinions about my Commander-in-Chief, that’s their prerogative. I happen to disagree with their point of view.
Hey, I have people I call friends who have similar points of view to Susan and Tim. Some of them may have attended war protests, for all I know. We disagree, but they’re still my friends. I’m not going to stop returning their calls just because of their political opinions.
So why should I boycott actors, or musicians, just because they oppose what I’m doing? I think there’s room in our democratic society for dissent, as long as it is respectful.
So go ahead, boycott celebrities if it makes you happy. This American respectfully declines to participate. But that’s OK, I’ll continue to defend your freedom, just like I defend those celebrities.
Whether they want me to or not.
Indeed. Since when does dissent make someone anti-American? Since when does standing against the majority opinion qualify one as a traitor? Have we forgotten that the first word in the phrase "Freedom of speech" is still FREEDOM??
You tell 'em, LT....
