Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

American Legion turns its back on American values

The American Legion has apparently decided to go on the offensive against people who oppose the war in Iraq:
The American Legion, which has 2.7 million members, has declared war on antiwar protestors, and the media could be next. Speaking at its national convention in Honolulu, the group's national commander called for an end to all “public protests” and “media events” against the war, constitutional protections be damned.

"The American Legion will stand against anyone and any group that would demoralize our troops, or worse, endanger their lives by encouraging terrorists to continue their cowardly attacks against freedom-loving peoples," Thomas Cadmus, national commander, told delegates at the group's national convention in Honolulu.

The delegates voted to use whatever means necessary to "ensure the united backing of the American people to support our troops and the global war on terrorism."
Perhaps we should start calling them the Stalinist Legion now? Isn't this ironic? They claim to love this country, but "constitutional protections be damned".

Veterans, what did you fight in those wars for? To have an America where dissent is not tolerated? Is that what you fought for?

Does Thomas Cadmus know what the First Amendment says?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Cadmus would have us throw the First Amendment out the window. An end to "all public protests".

There's something wrong when a group like the American Legion turns its back on the most core American values that were embraced in the Bill of Rights passed by our Founders. The right to dissent is one of the most important rights we have in this country.

There is no excuse for ending peaceful public protests. That is simply wrong. How dare the American Legion decide that other Americans should not be able to excercise their constitutional rights!

The Legion should be ashamed of itself. This is incredily disrespectful and arrogant. I cannot say I respect them as an organization any longer.

They're clearly desperate to maintain public support for the war. In order to protect America, we're going to have destroy it.

Yet another reason to go out and join, or start, a public protest.

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