Standing a Post

             As most of you know the movie “Redacted” opened last week in 13 cities across America.  I live in the Chicago area and went to the Landmark Theater with my Marine Corps Flag to help man a post and support out troops.  As it turns out I was the only protester at that theater, so I stood outside the mall right by the doors as to be seen by all of the passing cars and pedestrians.  I did get some honks of support in the beginning, some cars going by and yelling out Semper Fi to support me, whatever I was there to do.  The most support I received was from the Chicago Police that kept going by and checking to make sure that no was giving me a hard time.  The second Sergeant on duty that came by to check on me was disappointed that there was not more of us out there because this was a protest that he could actually support, it does not seem surprising that he is a retired Army Colonel and Iraq War Veteran. 

            I stood my post for five hours, and I had plenty of time to think about the attitudes of our nation, its individuals and how heavy a 3’ X 5’ flag could become after a few hours.  Maybe I was just in the wrong neighborhood, if there is such a thing when you’re talking about supporting the men and women who bravely put on that uniform day after day and stand their own posts to ensure that the freedoms that we take for granted day in and day out, to carry the flag of my beloved Corps.  I thought about all of those that just walked by avoiding eye contact.  I thought about those that walked by me glaring, as if I had done something unthinkable.  I thought about the few people that asked me why I was standing out in the cold holding a Marine Corps Flag in front of the mall.  And I especially thought about the few Semper Fi’s or God Bless you’s I got.

            The majority of those walking past just kept their heads down or their eye diverted from me.  I assume that the thought was if I don’t look at him I won’t have to ask what he is doing here.  Ignorance is bliss isn’t it.  But was it ignorance or apathy that kept people looking away from me and my flag?  It is one thing not to know, but completely another not to care.  I would bet that the majority of those that averted my glance were guilty of apathy.  Why should they care about those that have been stupid enough to join the military to go and die for something that the media tells us that the majority of Americans do not agree with?  Why should they take the time to get more information when they have already been told by the media what is pertinent?  I could only come up with the out of sight out of mind mentality as an excuse for the pedestrians walking swiftly past’s behavior. 

            The second group, and it was almost as large, were those that glared at me or made an off hand comment about armed service.  I was surprised by this reaction.  I was standing in a more liberal part of Chicago doing nothing more than holding a Marine Corps Flag, but even the left says they support the troops, and claim to be the party of tolerance.  I was not chanting or yelling catchy slogans, and these people did not want to even ask me what I was doing.  They just saw a guy holding a Marine Corps Flag and knew that I must be making a pro-war statement. 

            My favorite of all off handed remarks that I heard that night was from a gentleman in his mid to late 50’s.  He was walking down Clark Street with his wife, as he passed me he glared over and started to walk on by.  Then something got the better of him and he just had to say, “Why are you holding THAT?!”  I just politely told him that Brian De Palma said that the movie that he made was anti-troop so I was just going to stand here and show my support for the troops while his anti-troop movie played inside.  His response to that was angrily mumbled under his breath as he walked away and I could not quite make it out, but it sure did not sound very supportive of me or the troops.  I really should not be as surprised as I am by this type of response from the American liberal on the street, it is the same attitude that the majority of elected Democrats put forward everyday.

            The third group of people was significantly smaller than the first two.  In fact I can count them all on two hands, if I remember correctly.  The responses in this group were mixed and varied.  Everyone in this group was very polite and listened to the full explanation of why I was standing in front of the theater with a Marine Corps Flag.   

Most thought that I should at least see the movie before I protested it.  They also thought that the 1^st Amendment protected the movie even if it were to get military personnel killed, or it helped to recruit more terrorist.  All but one in this group finally agreed that I was only exercising my 1^st Amendment right and not practicing censorship.

I did not understand how they could call my protest of the movie censorship.  The majority of the third group all started their accusation of censorship along the same basic lines.  They all told me that if I were to dissuade one person from seeing the film that I was censoring the filmmaker and the art community as a whole.  From there all I asked went along the lines of if you kept me from voicing my opinion of the film, even if through protest, wouldn’t that be censorship?  Then I pointed out that if they wished to quite my opposition to the movie they would have to agree with silencing Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War and the rest of the critics on the left.  I also pointed out that I found it amazing that as a Veteran I put on a uniform and defended their right to free speech, and here they were trying to quell my voice.  As I stated earlier only one person continued to think that I was attempting to censor the movie, amazingly he also told me that because I served I did not have a right to speak out on this issue because I was biased and pro-war.  I just let it go from there; there is no way to reason with the unreasonable.

My favorite group of people was those that supported why I was there.  Unfortunately the majority of this group happened to be police officers who would frequently drive by to ensure that I was not being harassed.  I even had an unmarked car that was just driving by and asked me if that explicative movie from Cuban was playing here.  When I told him that it was he thanked me for standing out in front of the theater. 

The one person that stopped and asked me why I was standing in front of the theater that I will never forget, and made standing in the cold to the point of non stop shivering all worth it, was the old woman that politely asked me as she went into the mall why I was out in the cold with the Marine Corps Flag.  When I explained that the movie “Redacted” was playing inside. That the director of the movie said that he made an anti-troop film; so I was out front to show my support as a Former Marine to all of those that wear their respective uniforms for all four branches of the military.  Before I could finish answering her question she reached over and grabbed my forearm, squeezing it she said “God Bless You!” 

My experience in front of the theater was a good example of what is really going on in America today.  I may not have precise percentages for each group but I think it is a pretty accurate cross section of America.  The majority of the country is just apathetic, they may agree with you but they do not care enough to get involved.  I believe that the majority of America sees that victory in Iraq and Al Quada is more than possible; it is becoming a reality regardless of what the Democrat leadership in Congress is saying.  The problem is the majority won’t open their mouths and say the words.  They have been taught that demonstration and protest are for the wacko’s, and they don’t want to be one of them.  They won’t go out and stand a post to ensure that this country stays the greatest in the world, why should they when someone else will do it for them? 

That will not stop me from standing my post, either alone or with others.  I swore an oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic.  The foreign battle is being won by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines overseas,  so I will continue watch their “6” here at home.