A Few Choice Comments ... by Brunetta

1. In Portland (Oregon) as elsewhere around our country, there are those who are opposed to the war.  Ironically, when they gather to protest the war, they often themselves take up battle against the local citizens, blocking traffic, marching/cycling through the streets, in the streets, shutting down bridges, etc.  They say it's not our responsibility to police the world.
   What I find most curious is that these are the very same people (or so it appears to me) who would, on another day, under changed circumstances, be doing the very same thing but for a different (humanitarian) cause ... the oppressed women in Iraq, the starving children in Iraq, etc.  They would be demanding that we DO something.  Implying that it's our responsibility to protect and feed the world.
   What they don't appear to understand is that, especially in this case, the war we wage is a form of surgery.  And like surgery, there is some damage to healthy neighboring areas.  But that surgery will, in the end, produce results which could never be achieved without it. 
   They also express concern for our Troops.  Saying that they want our men & women to come home now, safe and sound.  What they don't seem to understand is that, by their words & deeds, they are not only feeding the flames of our enemies but they are also setting into motion the types of mental & emotional injuries that have beset our Vietnam Veterans since they returned home to criticism & jeers.
   At times, they are accompanied by a few who take that battle a step further, burning our flag, damaging businesses, defacing government buildings, even injuring police officers.  While it's probably true that the former and the latter are not compatriots, I still believe that "Birds of a Feather ..."
2. In Portland, the Mayor is putting a very high price on the policing of the protestors.  Something in the hundreds of thousands of dollar range.  While that seems a little (??) padded to me, the main issue is that this is just part of the cost of freedom.  Protestors have the freedom to speak, the public has the freedom to be protected from the protestors, and the cost must be paid. 

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