[Peace-discuss] Letter to the Editor

[Paul M. King]

[fellow citizens - below is the letter i've written to the 
news gazette in response to another letter that was posted a 
few days ago. the letter that i'm responding to is first and 
my response is last. the word count is too high, so i expect 
it to be trimmed; always a painful experience when writing 
on such essential and important matters. any feedback is 
welcome. i will send it in tomorrow.  .:: paul king]

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It is hard for me to put into words how upset I was after 
seeing the Fourth of July parade in Champaign.

This was my first year attending the parade, and I have to 
admit when the anti-war display passed by I was taken back. 
I thought, why would there be an anti-war display in the 
Fourth of July parade? I was happy to just let them pass. I 
changed my mind when I saw a man in an Army Class A uniform 
pass by. By wearing this uniform and waving an anti-war 
sign, I believe this man was disrespecting the uniform.

I can understand having an opinion and being for or against 
any cause. But what was this man trying to do other than 
look like a fool and invoke anger throughout the crowd? In 
my eyes he was mocking every soldier who has ever worn that 
uniform. He is lucky that there are men and women who 
respect that uniform and wear it proudly. If it weren't for 
them he would not be able to make a fool of himself in any 
more parades.

I am not trying to silence that voice, but I think there are 
more appropriate places and ways to get points across. 
Marching in a Fourth of July parade, waving anti-war signs, 
and disrespecting the Army dress uniform is in bad taste. 
Maybe next year the coordinator of the parade should invoke 
his freedom of speech to say no to the anti-war protestors.

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It is impossible for me to express the anger I feel when I 
reflect on the meaning of the Fourth of July today. How can 
we celebrate a holiday that commemorates the repudiation of 
British colonialism and empire and simultaneously support an 
American imperial agenda that is every bit as murderous, 
destructive, corrupt and oppressive as the British were?

I wore my Class A uniform and marched in the parade with 
AWARE (the Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort) in order to 
demonstrate that we do not owe our allegiance to an 
institution, an administration or even a geopolitical 
entity. The genius of America is that we are founded on 
principles, not force. Our allegiance is to democracy and 
individual freedom.

I have not disrespected my uniform because I have not 
betrayed the principles for which it stands. My allegiance 
is to those everywhere who struggle against oppression. It 
is our leaders who disrespect our institutions and betray 
our sons and daughters who yearn to do good in the world but 
whose aspirations are twisted in the diabolical service of 
murderous campaigns for money and power.

Furthermore, in a democracy it is not the soldier who grants 
freedom to citizens. That is how a dictatorship works. 
Rather, it is the people who ultimately grant its military 
the powers to safeguard their lives and freedom.

Anger precedes and serves to distract us from fear. I am 
just as angry as you. What is it that we are so afraid of? I 
ask you as a friend and a patriot: Can we move past our 
fear, come together and begin to rebuild our society in the 
image of the principles for which America once stood?

Paul King,
Army Veteran, 1988-1992