Always a Flipside
September 25th, 2005 by BWV
Debatable issues always have two sides. Personally, I benefit immensely in my career by considering what the guy on the other side of my trade is thinking.. and examining the reasons we each think we are right rather than the other guy.
Our country’s takeover of Iraq falls squarely in the debateable cateogory. So do the widely varying reactions of our citizens.
This past spring I noticed those sleek black bumper stickers around town declaring “W the president”.. (yes I know who holds that office, thanks though 
. More recently, “F the president” stickers have appeared, right on schedule.. Pretty funny, but also quite childish.
In a Washington Post article about this weekend’s protest of our activities in Iraq, I was happy to catch a more thoughtful form of disagreement. In the march, one current soldier’s family contrasted the familiar “Support Our Troops” signage — which seems to attach political tones to genuine well-wishes — with a sign reading “Proud of my soldier: Ashamed of this war.”
Disregarding anyone’s thoughts on this single issue, I definitely appreciated the actual thought those people put into their declarations. Separating issues is important. And I believe wholeheartedly that anyone with the capacity to separate issues from their emotions will never fit neatly into any political party.
I just read this story tonight.. hopefully I wasn’t overly influenced being in a super liberal state for 4 days
