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October 27, 2007
Smithfield, NC

The following is a copy of an editorial appearing in the Smithfield Herald.

Civility missing from civil discourse
Crowd opposed to anti-war protest was simply rude

Politically, we are more in step with those flag-waving folks who turned out Saturday to protest the protesters. Terrorists flew planes into our buildings, not the other way around. And while Iraq seems a poor target in hindsight, pulling out now would create a void that enemies of freedom would no doubt fill.

Still, the “support our troops” crowd didn’t make us proud on Saturday. They seemed to care less about being heard than shouting down the opposition. A man standing at Front and Market streets held a sign encouraging motorists to honk their horns if they supported the troops. A nice sentiment, but all of those horns struck us as a ploy to drown out the speeches of the anti-torture, anti-war crowd. Even louder, closer and more effective was the Everglades-type point boat speeding up and down the Neuse River.

When we were growing up, our parents and teachers taught us not to talk when someone else was talking. Unfortunately, civility has since disappeared from civil discourse in this country.

But we wonder if incivility is meant to mask insecurity. Our suspicion is that people who shout down the opposition are really afraid to hear what the opposition has to say.

Personally, we think people opposed to how America fights the War on Terror are well intentioned but wrong. But if America can listen to the president of Iran without shouting him down, can’t we extend the same courtesy to our own citizens?


Comments by Eagles

Rude?
Well yea, I reckon so. Cant deny that. A few of us were rude, myself included.
That is an admission, not an apology. So, dont get confused. I'm not sorry.

Disrespectful of free speech?
First of all, your right to free speech does not constitute a right to be listened to. I have no obligation to listen, respect or even tolerate your free speech.

Let's talk about free speech, and our rights. What exactly does the Constitution say about it?
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So constitutionally, your right to free speech is implicit in that the only mention of it is that Congress has no say on the matter.

What the leftists have made of free speech, via the liberal and activist courts, is the right for leftists to do anything, say anything, anywhere, anytime to anyone about anything. Under the quise of free speech, leftists reserve the right to spit on veterans, call oldiers murderers and mercenaries, burn our flag, defecate on our flag (in view of children no less, dont deny it - I have photos), make up and repeat lies about our president and ridicule other folks' religions. Except Muslims of course, you lefties seem to have a strong affection for people that literally want to butcher you.

Now, how much of your free speech is really worth listening to, much less respecting and tolerating it?

Insecurity? Is that the best think you have going? We shout down our opposition because we've already heard what you have to say. We've been hearing it for 40 years. We've tolerated your free screech since the anti-war protests of the 60's.
But now, many of us are sick and tired of hearing your hate-America mantras, and we are not willing to be silent anymore.

You better get used to it, or Shut Up and stay at home.

Bubba
Johnston County, NC

Those present to counter protest were not offered a chance to speak, or rebut, only to listen to hate filled speech , outright lies and half truths.

The event was not a debate, the rules you suggest do not apply, the event was a counter protest. Counter protests have no such rules. Sec. Rice was interupted during her speech by the same groups this month in Washington DC, they found no need to follow the PC rules of debate. We, Sir, agree in a perfect world we should all follow the rules. Too bad the Islamic Jihad supporters do not agree.

Civil conversation is not the norm in the world of the anti-war movement, their view is that they alone have rights, others have none.

George Samek

Editor,

Here is a real example of being rude.

What you may have missed Saturday is what Code Pink was holding is called a prooo-test. I wrote that real slow so you could stay with me. It is spelled p-r-o-t-e-s-t. Go look it up. I'm sure you've seen them on T.V. They get free press all the time.

They were not invited to speak at some lecture hall like the terrorist leader of Iran. I won't use the term "president." And it wasn't America that listened to that jackass. It was some Americans. I would have shouted him down because I'm a patriot.

Through all the chaos Saturday I heard those morons put up a 14 year old girl to brag about getting arrested last year. I'm sure even those idiots would call what they did civil disobedience. Underscore disobedience.

What we held was a counter protest and we played by the same rules as any protest. And as far as the honking, that was to show them what Johnston County thought of those morons.

Unlike you, Code Pink doesn't realize that war was declared on us years before 9/11. So with that I'll end with civility and thank you for continued support in the biggest fight of our lifetime.

Charlie Phillips
Smithfield, NC

Our parents taught us that the Communists want to destroy democracy...and the so called anti-war are anti-American communists groups...Besides an Armchair soldier like you knows nothing about fighting wars.... So just support the Troops and their Mission and leave the logistics and tactics to the Professionals.

Jim Diehl USN 65-71
"Gathering of Eagles"

What's new. They try to play both ends against the middle. They say they believe in what the Eagles are doing & then call us names. Does that mean that we are being noticed? Does that mean that it really pisses them off when they hear people honk their horns to support us & the troops? Does that mean that the slim protesters don't have anything to say worth hearing? If they want to be heard then they will find away. My guess is they have nothing worth a damn to say & it is becoming clear that it we are not going to let it happen "On our Watch" ever again. They better get use to it because we are back & we aren't going anywhere. So I guess that is "rude". Oh well we have been called worse. Matter of fact we have been called worse since Vietnam. You know what Bubba---they will understand the Eagles & the saying "Never again, Not on our Watch" better than they want too when all is said & done. So if rude is what it is---than so be it....

Cee "Snake"
"Gathering of Eagles"

There's nothing quite so inane than a person discussing being civil in the middle of a firefight. Yes, civility is missing in our counter-insurgency.

The opinioneer (don't know what else to call the anonymous presenter of the paper's opinion) doesn't understand where we are coming from. In fact, we are extremely civil. The protestors, however misguided and simple-minded, are helping our enemy to kill and maim our boys and girls in Iraq and Afghanistan. These boys and girls, our super heroic soldiers, are trying to save our lives and our democracy. The fact that these moonbats do not get that, and neither does the opinioneer, does not mean I should be civil to these traitors.

Civil you say? I would much rather walk over and beat the hell out of these trolls and get on with more important things. Do I like standing on the corner shouting disparagements to these scoundrels? Heck no. I have much better things to do, like playing with my grandchildren, like serving as Honor Guard at our brothers funerals, memorial ceremonies, sending goody packages to our soldiers, visiting VA hospitals, and myriad other things my Veterans organizations do to help. These trolls do nothing but protest. These trolls, who disparage our wonderful soldiers, cannot be ignored.

Never again will our soldiers be treated like we Vietnam Veterans were treated in the 60's-70's & and even the 80's and 90's.

Never again, not on our watch. Civil my ass..........

Jim Tuttle
Charlotte, NC

I must beg to differ with The Herald's suspicion that the Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder fears anything the opposition has to say. In fact, we couldn't care less about what an ill-informed anti-war crowd had to say-their diatribe is infused with nothing more that recycled rhetoric and anemic, dusty slogans that have been sitting in someone's attic the past 35 or 40 years.

The Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder are two groups of die-hard patriots who believe that the vast majority of North Carolinians (and, in fact, Americans) are sick and tired of the liberal left's ranting, raving and street theatrics.

We have simply refused to sit home and watch it on the news any longer. That being said, where was The Herald's criticism of the protesters? Where was their criticism of the 13 year old speaker given the stage to speak so proudly of her arrest record due to previous Aero protests? After all, her friends thought it was "so cool!" For The Herald to remain silent on this issue makes me wonder if they condone such behavior, for they didn't even express dismay at the questionable parenting that lead to this girl's arrest.

Finally, was The Herald there on the grounds of Aero later that same day when the combined forces of the Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder stood silent and immobile, shoulder to shoulder against the oncoming hoard of protesters, denying them the satisfaction of yet another unopposed protest? I tend to think not.

Though The Herald opined that they are "politically more in step with the flag-waving folks," I must wonder where they stand emotionally. I would wager that the editorial staff at The Herald is more concerned with a decline in readership and subscriber base should they actually print their true colors, for I'm not so sure their true colors are "red, white and blue."

Irene Holland
Charlotte, NC

I just read the op/ed in the Herald. It seems to me that for far to long the right has been silent while the left pretty much did as it pleased. They (the liberal left) have destroyed our values, our schools, our culture and are working hard to destroy our religion. If there;s one thing I've learned over the years it's that nothing, absolutely nothing, is sacred to these people. When they've been confronted, they claim some kind of "political correctness" crap and refuse to debate. Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I for one, am tired of turning the other cheek. These people set no boundaries on anything just so they don't have to live by any. On a lighter note? At some point in time, they will have to call the muslims homophobes, bigots and rascist. Maybe GGGod will help them at that time because I will not.

Bean