On Inauguration Day

I suppose I should note the time, for all of you who may otherwise miss it. It's currently 12:55 AM, on the morning of January 20th; yes, Inauguration Day. Three of my peers, all of them intelligent guys, just left for Washington, D.C.. Why? To protest. What? I wasn't very clear on that, and to be honest, I don't believe they were either. The president won clearly and squarely, no judicial intervention required this time around. That rules out, to the logical mind, protesting against Bush's reelection. They said they were protesting the war, which is I guess why I'm writing this column.

The theme of this week's inauguration festivities is to honor our nation's servicemen (and women, for the sake of PCness). As a result of that theme, Bush has invited many members of the military who have recently seen duty in Iraq or are slated to do so in the near future. It's not just a celebration of the president and his reelection victory, but a celebration and an honoring of those people who risk their lives to defend this country, and extend its precious freedoms to others in lands far distant. We're already in Iraq, and because the majority of the American people supported the president, and thus his choice to begin that involvement, we're there to stay. Protesteing the war has no real purpose; it only betrays the confidence those fighting in Iraq should have in the American public, in the fact that they are there not only as soldiers but as representatives of the American people.

We're in Iraq, we're not leaving. Protesting the war serves no purpose. Protesting the war serves only to strengthen the hand of those we are struggling against, with the future of Iraq hanging in the balance. Protesting the war only cheapens the sacrifice, often the ultimate sacrifice, made by those who chose to serve. The time for protest is long since past; it ended when we crossed the borders on a mission of mercy, a mission of freedom. Now is the time for solidarity and unity, a time to stand united with the knowledge that our mission in Iraq has the potential to remake the whole of the Middle East, and secure a new era of freedom and prosperity for our great nation. We stand united not just with our neighbors, but with the faceless young men and women who will risk their lives in Fallujah, Baghdad, and elsewhere.

Tommorow, at noon eastern, the president will be sworn in for his second term. I ask all Americans, regardless of whether or not you believe we should be in Iraq, regardless of who you voted for in November, to pause for a moment of silence when the inauguration commences. A moment of silence to stand in marked contrast to the racousness of the protesters. A moment of silence to let our soldiers know that while CNN may show a nation opposed to their mission, it is in truth only a minority; America stands with them. The protestors may believe that in their clamor and commotion they are showing their patriotism; we shall show ours through silence.

Good night, and God bless America and its forces in Iraq.