I also have realized that even though he was a Vietnam Veteran, a real one unlike Bush, the level of vehemence directed towards him is very personal and apparently very heartfelt. I thought that the Republican Party only attacked those veterans that were a part of the Democratic Party, men like Max Cleland.
(Cleland was a Vietnam Vet who lost 3 limbs defending his country, and was then attacked on his patriotism by the Republican party and likened him to Osama Bin Laden - since he was from Georgia voters fell for it.)
Amidst the raving banter that was expelled by Beck, one thing that was said seemed to ring particularly hollow. “Liberals dislike debate because they cannot logically back up their idealogical dogma” I paraphrased a little, but that was the basis of his argument. Liberals assert specific truths then recoil, when challenged, because they don’t have an underlying truth from which their ideals spring forth.
Though I would not say I represent all Liberals, it would be fair to say that i am closer to being a Liberal than a Conservative. Therefore I thought it would be necessary to speak on my opinions of an issue and the underlying truth that allows me to feel that it is just. The fact that I need a post for the week is of mere coincidence.
Abortion- no need to start off slow lets get to it. It is my belief that Abortion, should be rare, but legal. The reason for this is that the procedure to have an abortion is dangerous, and comes with certain risk to the woman. Though we are a moral society, we also are a secular one. This is to say that although the morals and standards of behavior are influenced by religious doctrine, the necessity of our multicultural society to function disallows one religious faith to dominate society.
On the moral issue, while it is true that I believe that it is a sin, I think that the gift of Free Will must also be respected and that the Woman, Couple, that decides to take the procedure knowingly make that decision.
Military Force - If you have the reputation for strength and the capabilities for victory, it is better to get some of what you want than fight to get all of it. The reason being is that no matter the low odds, there is always that chance you might lose. Vietnam, and our current military engagements are examples of when technological hubris discounts an enemies will to fight. This is especially true of a country such as the United States where the above stated moral standards do not allow for wholesale decimation of population centers, and making the effort to separate military targets from civilians.
When facing a guerrilla warfare scenario, such as the one we face now, it is imperative to understand the necessary parameters for victory. The United States loses unless we have dramatic and palpable victories. This is to say public “arrests” of terrorists responsible for the attacks in 2001, as well as the elimination of other such targets. The boasting of prevented attacks serves no purpose other than to attempt to provide a sense of normalcy to the populace, and an attempt to secure moral support. The enemy on the other hands wins, so long as they do not have traumatic and obvious failure. Let us use Vietnam as the example to drive home this point.
The Tet Offensive was seen as the turning point of the public support in the Vietnam War. While the VietCong suffered tremendous losses and the US lines held, and was a tactical victory, it was a strategic failure for US forces. It is this same type of circumstance that we find ourselves in battling Al Qaeda, and as such need not take our eyes off the ball and place our military in precarious situations with out a plan with contingencies. Thus I think that Diplomacy from positions of strength are the true positions that we are to be striving for, using force only when it becomes clear that the danger out ways the benefit of diplomatic stalling.
While I will be postulating on other issues that separate the ideological spectrum, I suppose these will suffice for now in attempting to give some texture to assertions. So for now understand that these are my words, as as such are…Beyond Contestation.
