Inauguration Protests

I watched a good many of the speeches at the ANSWER protest, via C-SPAN, and was struck by the simplistic tenor of many speakers. These issues are complex. They are not going to be solved, or helped, by chanting "Bush and Cheney go away!"

No objective observer could have watched or listened to President Bush's second inaugural address, and left with the opinion that the man is either dumb or evil. You may disagree with his choices, or his behavior, or the results of his actions. If you really do want to influence American policy, let us start with the premise that he really does want to do what he claims to want to do, to spread freedom to oppressed people all over the world. If that is true, would that be a bad thing?

If that is true, and if you have valid points to make, to show that the "unintended" consequences of his actions are lessening the freedom of people in America, or in other nations, are interfering with their ability to live freely, or to live at all, then President Bush ought to be open to your suggestions regarding how to better accomplish his agenda.

It is only when we enter the discussion with the bias that the other side is lying, or is manipulating the truth (they may be), or has ulterior motives (no doubt they do), that we interfere with our ability to communicate. Shouting slogans at each other ought to be a last political resort. Instead it has become the first action to be taken.