Lyle Andrew
2008-07-06 00:12:31 UTC
The U.S. Is Drowning in Pretend Patriotism
This Fourth of July, let's remember that it's not our God-given
American right to reorder the world to our liking.
Yesterday was Independence Day and whether this meant barbecues and
fireworks for you or not, for many Iraq War veterans it was a moment
of sober reflection. "I had wanted to give the Iraqi people the same
freedoms that we here in America enjoy," recalls Staff Sergeant Ronn
Cantu, "...or freedoms I thought we enjoyed." Cantu is a member of
Iraq Veterans Against the War, one of several who took the time in the
days before the 4th of July to share their thoughts about the holiday.
"My Platoon Sergeant confided in me that the war in Iraq took
everything he thought he knew about America and crushed it," says
Cantu. "I responded by telling him that my feelings on the subject
were similar."
Army Sergeant Selena Coppa describes the 4th as an opportunity to
renew her belief in the need for resistance. "I don't wear red, white
and blue, and I don't wave paper flags. Sometimes I don't even have a
celebration. The Founding Fathers certainly had no celebration, tucked
away as they were, rebelling from a distance, the certain underdog
against England's might. No, how I choose to commemorate July Fourth
is by recommitting myself to living by the ideals which were blazed
that day." And IVAW Executive Director Kelly Dougherty renewed the
call for an end to the occupation. "Occupation and Independence cannot
co-exist ... It's time for us to leave Iraq, and to let Iraqis write
their own history."
Read more thoughts by IVAW members here. And visit AlterNet's War on
Iraq page for the latest coverage of the occupation.
Thanks for reading,
Liliana Segura
Editor, War on Iraq Special Coverage.
This Fourth of July, let's remember that it's not our God-given
American right to reorder the world to our liking.
Yesterday was Independence Day and whether this meant barbecues and
fireworks for you or not, for many Iraq War veterans it was a moment
of sober reflection. "I had wanted to give the Iraqi people the same
freedoms that we here in America enjoy," recalls Staff Sergeant Ronn
Cantu, "...or freedoms I thought we enjoyed." Cantu is a member of
Iraq Veterans Against the War, one of several who took the time in the
days before the 4th of July to share their thoughts about the holiday.
"My Platoon Sergeant confided in me that the war in Iraq took
everything he thought he knew about America and crushed it," says
Cantu. "I responded by telling him that my feelings on the subject
were similar."
Army Sergeant Selena Coppa describes the 4th as an opportunity to
renew her belief in the need for resistance. "I don't wear red, white
and blue, and I don't wave paper flags. Sometimes I don't even have a
celebration. The Founding Fathers certainly had no celebration, tucked
away as they were, rebelling from a distance, the certain underdog
against England's might. No, how I choose to commemorate July Fourth
is by recommitting myself to living by the ideals which were blazed
that day." And IVAW Executive Director Kelly Dougherty renewed the
call for an end to the occupation. "Occupation and Independence cannot
co-exist ... It's time for us to leave Iraq, and to let Iraqis write
their own history."
Read more thoughts by IVAW members here. And visit AlterNet's War on
Iraq page for the latest coverage of the occupation.
Thanks for reading,
Liliana Segura
Editor, War on Iraq Special Coverage.