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GI SPECIAL 3C48:

August 07, 2005 Photo by Rose Aguilar, Stories In America


Sr. Airman Says “Unpatriotic” To Always Stand By The President

[Thanks to Don Bacon, Smedley Butler Society, who sent this in.]


September 9, 2005 By Senior Airman John Nixdorf, Stars and Stripes



On Aug. 22, Stripes printed “Pro-Bush camp counters ‘peace mom,” (article, The Associated Press, European print edition; “Patriotic camp springs up to counter peace mom’s anti-war demonstration,” Mideast print edition), about the “patriotic” camp intended to counter Cindy Sheehan.



The headline was the same as on the AP feed, with the description of the pro-war camp as “patriotic,” perhaps to indicate Sheehan is “unpatriotic.”



In 1918, during World War I, former President Theodore Roosevelt wrote an excellent editorial. In it, he addresses questioning the president during wartime.



He said: “The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole.



“Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right.



“Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile.



“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.



“Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else . But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”



Whether you agree or disagree with his policies, you must never be afraid to question him; it’s patriotic. It’s essential in a free country that the citizenry be willing to question and criticize the president.



Saying “we should always stand by the president” is unpatriotic. If decisions must be made on which “camp” is patriotic, listen to Roosevelt.

It appears throughout history nations as a whole go mad. It happened to Germany in the 1930s. It happened to Italy in the 1920s and 1930s. It appears to have happened to the US in 2000. The right and duty of opposition to madness is expressed in the above posting. Its what will save our country and democracy. People are now wakeing up and starting to question rationals for what Bush is doing. Lets hope it is not too late.

The Phenomenon happens in lynch mobs and street riots. When emotions are high it's easy for a demagogue to achieve power.

If we citizens (the employers) do not do our duty to criticize or complement our elected officials, our representatives (employees) then we are in dereliction of our duties as informed and active members of our citizen based government to supervise those in whom we entrust our powers to make decisions. American citizens individually and collectively have a right, responsibility and duty to call into public debate and hold them accountable for any decisions or policies we suspect are not in the best interests of our well being. To do less is at best irresponsible and at worst, treasonous.