We are a nation, just a bit over the 200 year mark and we have freedoms that are unequaled anywhere else in this world. The only impediments to the use of our basic freedoms are our own ability to express ourselves. The constitution, freely elected governments, and the willingness to protect those freedoms by going to war guarantee our freedoms.
Over the life of our nationhood, it has been necessary to go to war several times. Sometimes, to ensure our own freedom, it is necessary to protect the freedoms of others. In every conflict there has been disagreement about the merits of the war we were involved in and congressmen, businessmen, and workers at every level voiced their opinions that were not always in concert, but were never anti-American.
In wars past, the single greatest weapon was the support of the people and the media. In reading about a particular battle it was not difficult to determine that the writer or commentator was reflecting opinions that were favorable to our side. The soldier at the front was bolstered by the knowledge that everybody back home was in support of what he was doing. When you listened to the radio or read the newspaper of the day you weren't hearing negative assessments of the progress or conduct of the war. We disagreed at times, but did not call the Commander-in-Chief a liar because we thought his policies were different than ours.
A nation at war is the responsibility of every citizen. We are best served by a people and a government that keeps its controversies at the debatable stage and comes up with solutions that will make us stronger. We have had "American" news people, actors and actresses, and even elected officials go to foreign lands and say that we are wrong. By our actions, we have demeaned the soldier who is fighting to protect our right to free speech. We make a terrible mistake to shape war policies by the dictates of polls and we are fortunate to have a Commander-in-Chief who is tough enough to maintain a positive course, while at the same time being open to legitimate criticism.
We are in a war that will probably be as long or longer than any war we have ever been in, and we can't afford to lose it. The enemy has been forced to fight this war on foreign soil since the beginning, except for on September 11 and we need to keep him at bay within. We should not be subjected on a daily basis to news that gives the enemy as much encouragement as is given to our own fighters. His papers do not treat us with the same kind of equitable reporting. America, we are at war and we need to be united!
Bill LeBlanc is an elder of the Bay Mills Indian Community. He is retired from State government where he worked as an Indian advocate. He currently resides on the Bay Mills Reservation.
