PDA

View Full Version : Censorship or common sense?

MrDave
April 14th, 2004, 1:20pm
Censorship or common sense?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In last night's speech by the Pres:

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, April is turning into the deadliest month in Iraq since the fall of Baghdad, and some people are comparing Iraq to Vietnam and talking about a quagmire. Polls show that support for your policy is declining and that fewer than half Americans now support it. What does that say to you and how do you answer the Vietnam comparison?

THE PRESIDENT: I think the analogy is false. I also happen to think that analogy sends the wrong message to our troops, and sends the wrong message to the enemy.


This administration has repeatedly warned the American public/media to basically "watch what they are saying" and has implied that statements that are critical of some of their war policies are unpatriotic.

I can see why they don't want to give terrorists or enemy fighters any moral boost, but in a democratic country is this type of warning appropriate?

I, for one, find this type of comment very distasteful and dismissive. However I totally agree with Bush that we cannot lose Iraq now that we have invaded. I also think we cannot give in to terrorism because giving in in the past is what set up the success and the continued fight of the terrorists. But my bottom line is that in a democracy there has to be debate and openness of information for it to work correctly, so I am offended by this type of comment coming from the President.
Txsweeper
April 14th, 2004, 1:26pm
He doesn't want to see a repeat of the insulting welcome home we offered our military boys in the 60's and 70's. It damaged America, not just in our own eyes but in the eyes of the all citizens of the world. Vietnam was sad :frown3:

Please always praise those who risk their lives, whether you agree with the war or not, they are doing their jobs.
MrDave
April 14th, 2004, 1:34pm
He doesn't want to see a repeat of the insulting welcome home we offered our military boys in the 60's and 70's. It damaged America, not just in our own eyes but in the eyes of the all citizens of the world. Vietnam was sad :frown3:

Please always praise those who risk their lives, whether you agree with the war or not, they are doing their jobs.

Your point is well taken but off the mark. Again, people should be intelligent enough to separate the support of the men and women of the Armed Forces and the support of the policies and administration that dictate what they do. I would say the fact that we were involved in Vietnam and the handling of that conflict damaged America, not the criticism that resulted.

Edit: In both Iraq and Vietman the world was already critical of the actions, so in their eyes the damage was already done based upon the policies of those administrations.
Txsweeper
April 14th, 2004, 1:54pm
Your point is well taken but off the mark. Again, people should be intelligent enough to separate the support of the men and women of the Armed Forces and the support of the policies and administration that dictate what they do. I would say the fact that we were involved in Vietnam and the handling of that conflict damaged America, not the criticism that resulted.

Edit: In both Iraq and Vietman the world was already critical of the actions, so in their eyes the damage was already done based upon the policies of those administrations.

Yes, true, but there are those who say any war is a mistake. I obviously don't know exactly what President Bush was trying to say, but I think it was dealing with the American attitude as a whole. He doesn't want the military to feel defeated by it's own citizens. And I believe that Ted Kennedy's comments were remenisent (dang I can't spell!!) of the anti-war jargon of the 60's and 70's. Which is also the major reason I would never consider Kerry.

Whether or not war is the answer is not for me to say. I have my opinions. Being critical of your government is good, it's what sets us apart, being critical of our citizens following their orders is another story.
MrDave
April 14th, 2004, 2:31pm
Whether or not war is the answer is not for me to say. I have my opinions. Being critical of your government is good, it's what sets us apart, being critical of our citizens following their orders is another story.

I totally agree.
TabooU
April 15th, 2004, 1:57pm
I have noticed that the president warns the press quite often. I have wondered what threat is intimated with that warning.
MrDave
April 15th, 2004, 2:00pm
I have noticed that the president warns the press quite often. I have wondered what threat is intimated with that warning.

Some press have been blackballed if I remember correctly.

Overall, this administration is very tight lipped. Bush acts like an idiot dictator in some ways.