February 2004

History, is not only the great teacher, it is also the irrefutable record of actions taken and actions ignored. In the endeavors of mankind, through the ages, we can record only one moment when pacifism has had any form of success. India's eventual triumph over British colonialism is that success. India's victory must be tempered with the fact that they faced an enemy with a conscience, and the outcome which came about after this victory. India aside, appeasement and pacifism have only resulted in absolute and total destruction of those that choose to follow such an errant path. Utopianism not withstanding, no person of credible common sense can believe that inaction, or the statesmanship of compromise, will produce any positive result from a country, (or a body), that is intent on self preservation, oppression and deceit.

The current peace movement worldwide, and more specifically in the US, lacks one conspicuous element, that would validate their argument; FACTS! When pressed for substance, the peacenik, at first stumbles, and later, resorts to worn out 60's anti-war slogans or undocumented and unfounded suppositions against the present administration. Many in the movement are, understandably, from a demographic more inclined to be of the MTV, reality TV, or "have not lived long enough to form an original thought" crowd. This can be forgiven, for only time and experience, we hope, will bring them to a place of enlightenment. But, the true leaders of the peace movement are a much more sinister crowd. Bent on a discredited socialist agenda, they lead the minions of, useful idiots, along their unbroken path of abject failure. Engaged in one of our most cherished rights, the freedom of speech and assembly, the best the pacifist can do is loot stores, physically assault individuals, deny the constitutional rights of others, and prove beyond a doubt, that they lack even the fundamental understanding of social discourse. They may not be traitorous, as some have accused, but they are surely ignorant or misled.

Beyond all the rhetoric, the facts remain; in a few short weeks, with limited loss of life; on both sides, we accomplished more in Iraq than 12 years of insipid diplomacy could, and has, achieved. The tyrant is gone, now the long hard road to peace and democracy begins. To me, the peacenik is the consummate example of the school-yard coward. A person that denounces the actions of a bully but, rationalizes their inaction and intimidation for the sake of their own self-preservation.

Ron Peacock