A Flimsy Piece

Of Propaganda

To the Editor:

Frank Viola’s August 1 response [“The Trouble With The Left”] to Laura E. Lerman’s July 15 letter [“A Bleeding Heart Liberal On The Fourth,” Letter Hive, 6/18/08] is a flimsy piece of propaganda. It would be easy to ignore if it weren’t so sarcastic and nasty. He invokes the attacks of September 11, 2001, as justification for every aspect of the war-on-terror and criticizes those who would do less with snide remarks, ad hominem attack and straw man attack.

Mr Viola, the war on terror stopped being about 9/11 at the beginning of the Iraq War. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. President Bush has said as much and even intelligent conservative pundits such as the late William F. Buckley and George Will have rightly spoken out against the foolish Iraq gambit calling it among other things a costly war of choice and a debacle. The Iraq debacle has been a dangerous distraction from the real war on terror in Afghanistan, a colossal drain on our economy, and a devastating smear on America’s standing in the world community. And yes, thousands of our military men and women have lost their lives or suffered debilitating injuries in pursuit of this abysmal strategy. In 2008, to continue to link Iraq with 9/11 is a craven act of political propaganda or an absurd act of willful stupidity.

As Mr Viola asserts, it is indeed a terrible thing to suggest our brave women and men in the military died needlessly. The horror of it is overwhelming. But if this is nonetheless true, do we run from the truth like cowards and continue to consign our brave warriors and their families to tragedy because our mistake is too terrible to contemplate? What kind of people have we become? Our obligation is to atone for the brave who died and honor them by preventing others from suffering similar fates.

Most Americans love their country, including those who Mr Viola brands as “the left.” Ms Lerman has articulated a love for her country that is akin to the love of a parent for a child. The parent’s love is absolute and pure, but the parent is expected to exercise loving discipline. Indeed, the parent is obliged to do so even when it is painful. This does not diminish the love bond; it is a manifestation of it. Mr Viola articulates a love for his country as well. It is akin to the love of a child for a parent. That love is also absolute and pure, but it is rooted in immaturity. The child loves Mommy and has the best Mommy in the world. The child, because he is a child, is incapable of comprehending Mommy as imperfect and Mommy must remain forever infallible. To acknowledge anything else is too painful for the child and the child might attack those who say differently. Mr Viola, it is time to grow up.

With all due respect,

Martin Blanco

8 Pheasant Ridge Road, Newtown                               August 4, 2008