Harry McGrath: Wednesday November 30, 2005

Anti-war protesters should consider company they keep

Antiwar protesters — we used to see them every Friday and Saturday at noon at the corner of 12th and Commercial in front of Safeway and they held a rally on Nov. 2 that was covered in detail by the Anacortes American. But who are these people?

Some of these folks are our neighbors — good citizens who love their country, but are opposed to administration activities in Iraq, or who didn’t think the president made a strong enough case for going to war. When I was growing up my mother aways told me to be careful about whom I associated with because “you are known by the company you keep.’’ I would suggest that our fellow citizens investigate the company they are keeping when they stand on the corner waving their signs.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, there are several prominent far left-wing groups who are actively involved in organizing and staging anti-war protests. Three of them are active in this area: Not in My Name, United in Peace and Justice and World Can’t Wait. All catchy titles — but unfortunately they are all fronts for left-wing hate groups.

I won’t give their Web addresses here, but you can easily google them. When you reach their Web sites you will see evidence of their pure hatred and virulence of anything American. The links on these sites all point to far-left radical wing-nut, pseudo-intellectuals, many who trace their roots to the Community party in America before the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Why do I call them “hate groups? Read their Web sites and it becomes evident that they hate everything American. They hate capitalists, corporations, Wall Street, oil companies, car manufacturers and insurance companies. They really hate the Defense Department and the military (Oh yes they claim to “Support the troops.’’ I’ll deal with that below), Christians and Jews, anyone who is pro-life and of course the apex of their hate is any Republican and especially the big four: Bush, Cheney, Rice and Rumsfled. Most of all they hate our free democratic society.

Oh come on — no one can hate that much, can they? Yes they can, and they do. But don’t they love anyone? Yes they do — it’s a short list but very significant. They love Fidel Castro — he is their ultimate folk hero. Alhtough Castro has murdered and tortured more of his political opponents than were ever harassed at Abu Graib, they truly love him.

The late terrorist turned political leader Yaser Arafat was another of their heroes as is anyone who is against peace between Israel and Palestine. I wondered if Michael Gorbachev was one of their heroes. Turns out he wasn’t. I found several references on the Web sites that were critical of him for presiding over the breakup of the Soviet Union.

What about the business of “We support the troops.’’ Their standard answer is “We support the troops. That is why we want to bring them home now.’’ Funny, I never see any of these people at Memorial Day or Veterans Day ceremonies honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, our freedom and our fellow citizens of a free society. The truth is they hate the military and anyone who wears the uniform.

Personally, I support the war and the mission to bring freedom to millions of people who have only known centuries of tyranny and repression. Do I have some qualms about the way it is being fought — sure. You may feel strongly that the war is wrong, or is being pursued for the wrong reasons — that is your right and you certainly have the right to dissent.

If you are one of these radical far-left wing nuts then go ahead and join their protests — you probably don’t care what anyone else thinks of you. But, if you are a reasonable person who truly loves our country and our way of life, and all of the good things we stand for, and you are against this war, then don’t support or associate with these hate groups. They are just as vile and anti-American as the far-right hate groups at the other end of the spectrum.

If you want to protest, write your Congressional representatives or the White House, write op-ed pieces and letters to the editor, and most of all, find your own corner to protest on. When you join with these groups most people see you as just another wing nut.

Harry McGrath
Anacortes