All kidding aside, now... over at DonaldSensing.com, Guest Blogger Patrick Walsh has a few choice thoughts:
"...Almost every piece had a line similar to this: "X number of ordinary Americans braved the deathless cold last night/yesterday/this morning to demonstrate their opposition to the forthcoming war against Iraq. What impelled these ordinary folks to withstand these conditions?"A fair point, and an excellent reminder. I have seen a few articles like this, especially with respect to the National Guard. We'll see more of them soon."...Last year about 160,000 ordinary Americans felt so strongly about a cause that they volunteered to spend the next four years demonstrating their support for it. They have marched several hundred miles already. They have spent many, many nights outdoors. They will suffer intense cold and searing heat. They will be drenched by rain and parched by the wind. They will go without sleep and food. They will literally risk their lives on a routine basis. They will be separated from their families much of the time. They will often work 16 hours or more a day.
"...I am waiting for the articles and interviews asking them what motivates this extraordinary demonstration of commitment."
UPDATE: CPO Sparkey has a couple of real-life cases for y'all. "Remember them in your thoughts and prayers," he says. "For no matter who you are, or what politics you hold, they do this for you." Indeed.
Throw in the balance:
a. The demonstrators are doing their schtick for free, while the dogfaces, flyboys, and sailors get paid (well, not that much perhaps).
b. The demonstrators will only get killed if a meteor hits them. The servicemen, on the other hand, are poor life insurance risks during wartime.