Did you see the picture of Angela Jolie with General David Petraeus in Time magazine? She's in Baghdad lobbying for more aid for "iraq's estimated 2 million internally displaced refugees." It reminded me of a war that doesn't seem so long ago when Jane Fonda made her conscience the business of the nation. The cases certainly aren't identical. The times aren't, either. But I am reminded that without citizens who care enough to speak their mind--yes, particularly influential citizens--our nation tends to go astray. It doesn't matter so much if your agree with their stance but that they have the right and believe they have the responsiblity to speak their minds. Tolerance. Activism. Hopefully one day peace.
-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment