Sunday, March 18, 2007

Gathering of Eagles - We Each Did What We Could...



I am so very proud of the people who attended the Gathering of Eagles event in Washington, DC and the many local events around the country. Thank you!!!

Mike has a list of those who went to events and who are blogging about them. Please visit http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com and go to these sites to see photos and read the stories.

My day wasn't nearly as exciting as theirs, but I did make the paper!!! I was interviewed by the big state newspaper, The Oregonian, as a person who is a 'war supporter' - they did a fair job of portraying a small part of what I said, though it is edited and changed quite a bit, it does capture the essence of what I said. Mostly I am humbled to be in the same story with Gold Star Mother Elfriede Pulmondore. She will make you laugh - what a wonderful lady!

"And they (the supporters) say simultaneous efforts by protesters to "honor the troops" ring hollow.

"I don't believe you can support the troops if you do not support their mission," says the author of a Central Oregon-based pro-war blog, GazingAtTheFlag.blogspot.com. She says she doesn't want to give her name because she fears being harassed for her views. "Freedom of speech only goes so far," she says.

Her blog focuses on people who are fighting in Iraq, including biographical tributes to some who died there.

"I realized no one was talking about the men," she says. "I wanted to focus on who these people are, these people who go to war for us, who die for us."

You can read the entire piece here.

Of course, I received my very own hate mail because of the interview. It says I should be stoned, that I am working for the devil if I believe the war is moral and that he is smarter than the average Joe. And, they thought I was over-reacting by not wanting to give my name and contact information...

What I said about the troops and their mission was that you continually hear people say "We support the troops, but not the war." I always ask how they support the troops - usually I get a blank stare, sometimes I hear "we want to bring them home" - then, I say, but they want to stay and finish their mission. I told the reporter to be on the look-out for the tent where the protesters are gathering donations for care packages or school supplies, clothing or shoes for the Iraqi and Afghan children, or collecting money for the Wounded Warrior Project, the Intrepid Fund, Valour-IT, or helping a widow and her children. Don't think he'll find it.

I am turning on comment verification for a while, since I had to delete some ugly stuff... so, don't be shocked if your comment doesn't post right away.

20 comments:

Sarge Charlie said...

eagles-1 jerks-0. i loved your cartoon, i shamelessly stole it for later use

Dean aka Sgt Dub said...

Falg Gazer, thank you for your support, it does hold more truth in it than those from the other side. The War Protestors have at least learned some lessons, but I'm afraid most is lost on them anyway. Continue to stand for what you believe in and we appreciate it very much.

Grizzly Mama said...

Good for you Flag Gazer!

Mike's America said...

death threats from the "peace" crowd. Amazing! Guess that's what happens when they assume that mantle of "absolute moral authority."

I'm a bit uncomfortable being tagged as "pro war." Couldn't you suggest to the reporter that you prefered to be viewed as "anti-defeat?"

No one in their right mind is pro-war.

But I'm reminded of this quote:

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
John Stuart Mill

I'm glad you got your point of view across. Before we will be able to defeat Islamic Fascism (and that's a good thing, right lefties?) we have to win the political battle at home.

Our troops have done their job. It's up to us to fight and win the political battle with defeatists.

Yesterday's fantastic turnout at the Gathering of Eagles showed that we can match the kooks in numbers and quality.

But we need to do a much better job matching the defeatists in organization, financing and communication.

If you visit the major news image sites you'll notice many photos taken from the perfect angle to emphasize the drama of the kook parade. That's no accident.

The kooks researched all these angles and helped station news photographers there.

It's not a slam on news photographers. Their job is to get the most dramatic images.

But we have to master those mass propaganda techniques and communication strategies, something we are terrible at doing.

Anyway, thanks again for getting out your message. I hope you inspired others to do the same.

Anonymous said...

Great post! The not-so-silent majority won't stand idly by and let these people insult and abandon our troops. WE sent them over there and WE must support them until the last one comes home. Cheers!

I am Heidi's Mom. said...

Thanks for your article and congrats on it being printed in the paper. Sorry about the idiots who contacted you. I know their comments can hurt even though we don't want to admit it sometimes. I had someone IN MY FAMILY once ask my youngest daughter 'if her big sister had shot anyone yet?' It's lonely being the parent of a soldier. Thank you for what you do for our soldiers and their families.

Kerri

Always On Watch said...

Flag Gazer,
I received my very own hate mail because of the interview. It says I should be stoned, that I am working for the devil if I believe the war is moral...

Same old, same old.

Standing with the GOE patriots yesterday warmed my heart.

There were two sides yesterday: those who love America and those who don't.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

flag gazer,

Thanks for sharing this! I hope you gain more commenters here that support you, than not. A double-edged sword, perhaps?

You certainly don't deserve hate mail, for what was said in the Oregonian; nor anything you write on your blog. There's nothing hateful here.

I'm a bit uncomfortable being tagged as "pro war." Couldn't you suggest to the reporter that you prefered to be viewed as "anti-defeat?"

No one in their right mind is pro-war.


You know, sometimes I use labels that are established, just to let people know my position; other times, I do quibble over such terms as "pro-life", "pro-choice", "pro-war", "peace" movement.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

Ok, I feel dense here...but the title of my recent post hits upon the very thing I quoted Mike's America about....sheesh!

Flag Gazer said...

Thank you all for your support.

Kerri - That is AWFUL, but some people are not terribly sensitive...or smart.

I am still smiling over the Gathering of Eagles - what a great day to see America stand up for herself!

Cajun Tiger said...

Great job Gazer!!! Keep up the good work on the left coast!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, FG!!! We will not be silent anymore.
I always see death threats and rude comments as little victories. These people don't do well with facts (it messes with their truthism) or support for what is good in this country (it messes with their tantrums).
You done good!

Ron Simpson said...

Ya know, for a such a nice lady, you got some BIG stones. I mean that in the bestest way. I love what you do here and have the utmost respect for you. You have my support in any way I can give it to you.
And remember after a good right cross, follow with an uppercut and a couple of good body blows.

De'on Miller said...

This is a great post Flag Gazer! VB and I are sitting here together and we're so sorry that you're getting hate mail over this, but we are very proud of you and your article! You make us proud. You and the Eagles, all!

Thank you

Anonymous said...

Al-Qaeda is pro war, we are pro victory-pro troops. Great interview G.a.t.F.

Anonymous said...

Good cartoon, 'bout sums it up!
FTGF!

Flag Gazer said...

Ron ~ I learned from my Mom!

Bushwack said...

Hey Flag Gazer, It was quite a day wasn't it?... I was hopeful for our nation for at least the 10 hours, we froze our butts off out there but I had never been so warm.

When you get death threats from libtards and peace activists you are doing something right brother.

I get an average of 4 a day that has crept up a bit since we got back from DC...I find it amusing because they knew where I'd be and I don't hide, come and get it but don't miss.... Keep up the good work FG.

Marie's Two Cents said...

That was the most memorable event I have ever experienced.

I cant even describe how it felt to be at "The Wall".

I am proud to have been a part of it and all of us who were.

USA! USA! USA!

And a sea of Red, White, and Blue.

Awesome!

Anonymous said...

Great cartoon you got there. I see a lot of folks blogging about this GOA event, wish I could have been there as well, sounded like a good time. Although, on second thought, maybe it was a good thing I didn't attend, I would have felt inclined to harass those on the other side of the field by simply asking them straight-forward questions of which I would receive zero replies. At any rate, great article. My own blog should be back up soon, have a mission to attend to down south for a while, but afterwards I should be golden. Thanks.