On one hand, you have people who honestly believe that they support the troops best by protesting an unjust war and trying to keep them out of harm's way. On the othe hand we have a group of people who believe that the only way to support the troops is to support the way and trust the government to do what is best for the troops, and that anybody who does not do this is betraying the soldiers and their nation. I'm not sure there is any common ground.

Which leads to the question: Is it a moral good to take action you believe in, even if good people are offended by that action? I can't see how the answer to that can be anything other than a resounding "Yes". Is it the right thing, politically? I don't know, but I really hate that politicians tend to put evey action on a political scale. We've been telling policians for years to forget the polls and do the right thing. How can we say that the war is wrong, but we shouldn't protest on a day dedicated to remembering soldiers because it might offend some soldiers? Don't the soldiers who are going to die in Iraq over the next year count as much as those who have already died?

We will never convince soldiers that we value their sacrifice until we convince people that it's okay to protest the war and still respect the soldiers who are fighting. By backing off of protesting at military parades, we are implying that the right wingers who tell us we can't oppose the war while supporting the troops are right. I would suggest that protesting at Memorial Day parades should be encouraged, but anybody who is disrespectful of soldiers on this day should be shunned by their associates. We should wave flags, praise those who fight for us, and protest the war proudly.

Though I find the Republican attempts to politicize the military repulsive, especially around Memorial Day, the point I took from Joe's article was that by protesting on Memorial Day, you walk right into a predictable and effective Right-Wing Noise Machine trap. Neither side should do it.

And the guy who called the members of the American Legion as "...a bunch of fat old guys who sit around guzzling beer and haven't done jack for anyone under the age of 55." is truly a dick...these "fat old guys" went to war you sorry f*ck. How about the fat old guy that's your father or that fat old broad that is your mother (or your aunt, or your wife's mother)? What have they done for anyone under 55?

Randy

If Memorial Day became a day commemorating the fallen, while at the same time earnestly convincing Americans to stop the spread of violence in this world. I'm not naive enough to think that War will never occur again, but its our responsibility to tell our children that war isn't grand. It isn't a video game. "See all those names on that black marble? They are dead. They could have been alive today, but they are not. Because of war. Remember this. Celebrate this. Take this into the future. War kills."

Edwards should tell his people to engage in silent, civil disobedience. With respect for the dead, respect for those surviving veterans, and promise for those still alive that we will do everything possible to BRING THEM HOME.

You don't stop fighting the fight because the day has been warped to support the other guy's cause. You don't see George Bush halting the destruction of the environment on Arbor Day. No, in fact, you see him wrap up a tree cutting initiative in something called Healthy Forests. Let's try a little of that out, shall we?

but typical "progressive" tactic. A day dedicated to remembering those that have sacrificed themselves for our country is turned into a political stunt by a dem.

It's not about the soldiers, it's about Edwards satisfying his need for increased power. Having more money than god isn't enough.

... and I think the Memorial Day protests are a great idea.

Don't buy into the Republican line, even a little. Don't assume "the troops" are so mindless and easily manipulated that they'll believe the protests mean "that the left devalues or ignores their sacrifice." Soldiers, veterans, and their families are people, and Americans, and like all such we have the means to form opinions of our own. Now, I was always a bit more leftish than most of my fellow soldiers, but I can tell you that I know a great many formerly staunch Republicans among them, many still in uniform, who believe absolutely that it is time to bring the troops home and who will support civilians -- on the street or in the White House -- who work toward that goal.

The American Legion does not speak for us. We speak for ourselves. And we who pay the price, or watch our younger brothers and sisters in arms pay the price, are not afraid to speak out when the price is too high, and what is bought with our blood worth too little, to keep on paying.

... nothing stops innocent Iraqis fom being killed on Memorial Day, does it?

While I'm generally a fan of Joe's writing, this kind of thinking couldn't be more off-base: Edwards shouldn't encourage protests of this war because far-right blowhards like the American Legion might call him names? Because the pro-war establishment will call him weak?

This is exactly the kind of politically-focused thinking that got us into the war in the first place...Democratic Senators were too scared to vote their conscience because they were scared it would make them look soft on defense.

Well, Edwards learned from his horrendous vote supporting the war, he apologized, and this time around isn't backing down. Cheers to him for not letting the pro-war camp dictate the terms of the debate and telling him and others when and how they're allowed to speak out against this travesty.

I would say you can't enjoy your American privilidges (with all that entails) without, if not gratitude, at least tacit acknowledgement that our troops provide some measure of insurance for the lifestyle you surely enjoy.

Well, maybe you can, but it makes you a hypocrit.

To the extent that you condemn them, you condemn yourself for enjoying the fruits of their labor, all while wagging your finger in disdain.

You should think a little more deeply about who we've made enemies of recently and what our army means in that respect.

I'm not saying we undertook our current Levantine adventure because we're in danger. I'm saying to the extent we're not in danger, given our behavior as a nation, the fact that we have our army we do has a lot to do with it.