War views divide military families

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/24/PEACE.TMP

The first thing Anne Roesler does every morning is check the Internet for news of the 82nd Airborne.

It's the same anxious routine followed by thousands of American parents with children stationed in Iraq. But with Roesler there's one major difference: She passionately opposes the war fought by her son, an Army staff sergeant with the 82nd Airborne.

If most military parents are consoled by "support our troops" patriotism, Roesler and others opposed to the U.S. occupation say theirs is a special isolation. Yes, they support the troops. But when they oppose the war, some people question not just their loyalty to their country, but also to their children.

Roesler was communicating with other Bay Area military parents until the war started. "And then several of them felt that we had to close ranks (and support the Bush administration) because that was what patriotism was all about," Roesler said. "And I said, 'Absolutely not. That's not what patriotism means to me.' "

On Saturday, Roesler will join a small contingent of military parents in an anti-war march in San Francisco. The event begins with a rally at 11 a.m. in Civic Center, followed by a march to Jefferson Square Park. Along with a demonstration Saturday in Washington, D.C., it figures to be one of the largest protests since the war began in March.

I very much identify with this 82nd airborne mother’s experience. I have not once had a positive experience with any other military family member or loved one. Most are fairly ignorant, mainly by choice mind you, about the realities of this war and the treatment of their children. I now run the other direction when I see any loved one of a military person coming my way. I feel that I have to avoid all of them because I have never met any military families who are not Fox watching Bush sheep. I hate them, every one that I’ve met I hate and I don’t use that word lightly. If Bush is Satan, then military mothers are some of his strongest disciples.

It is nice to see that the military families we were told would be coming out in September to march will actually be there this time. I’m tired of being the only one wearing yellow.

Welcome to DU!! :toast: