Tuesday, December 06, 2005

The Sedition Act of 1918

Yeah, I heard all those mice clicking off this site after reading the header just now but I have to say it again. My little brain is like a pressure cooker, after a certain level is reached, I have to let the steam out or I explode. And that's just not pretty, people.

The Sedition Act of 1918, as defined by Wikipedia, was an amendment to the Espionage Act of 1917. "The Sedition Act forbade an American to use disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the United States government, flag, or armed forces. The act also allowed the Postmaster General to deny mail delivery to dissenters". The Espionage Act and the Sedition Act were both repealed in 1921.

In today's political atmosphere, the level of discourse has reached record levels of bitterness. The war in Iraq, in conjunction with the war on terror, has brought this country to a level of ugliness never before seen. Suddenly, it is perfectly acceptable to make speeches on foreign soil and around this country calling the president, commander-in-chief, a liar without the media or journalists calling into question the validity of the charge. While the American military is on the battlefield, in harm's way, is it really just excercising free speech to say this war will not be won? While the American military is on the battlefield, in harm's way, is it really just excercising free speech to say the president picked the intelligence reports he agreed with and sent the armed forces into war for the satisfaction of his personal agenda? While the American military is on the battlefield, in harm's way, is it really just excercising free speech to say our soldiers are terrorizing Iraqi women and children? While the American military is on the battlefield, in harm's way, is it really just excercising free speech to say our military is broken and living hand to mouth? While the American military is on the battlefield, in harm's way, is it really just excercising free speech to walk an anti-war line outside Walter Reed Hospital while injured soldiers are trying to mend their broken bodies while buffeting their spirits?

It seems to me that a wing of an American political party so hell-bent on the acquisition of power as to wish for the defeat of America in Iraq is truly in need of a swift kick in the ass. It seems to me that a political agenda being pushed by the media in this country at the expense of the American military during a time of war is inexcusable.

The lesson learned from the Vietnam War by our enemies was that given enough carping by opposite political parties, Americans will lose the will to finish the mission. This does nothing to honor lives lost in the pursuit of the mission, nor does it make our country any safer at home. The enemy celebrates our weakness and continues to pursue their vision of the world.

We are not Republicans or Democrats in this war. We are Americans.

3 comments:

Jennifer said...

Amen.

What a terrific post.

Jennifer
Open Book

srp said...

It seems our enemies learned the lessons we did not. What does that say about Americans? Yes, we might have to admit that the world's perception is at least partially correct.....Americans are soft, and stupid. Yes, but then so are they. How could anyone listen to the testimony in Saddam's trial and not think this man is pure evil? Probably the same people who say the Hitler extermination of the Jews never happened.

AC said...

I'm with you 100%. I keep thinking I've heard the worst and then Howard Dean pipes up, and then its Kerry, and then its Murtha again. My list of most annoying has changed its title to most dangerous.