Blogcritics: Comments on "I'm A Long Gone Daddy In the U.S.A."

Comment by Al Barger

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:58:32 EST

I'm firmly in favor of smashing the Iraqi regime, and tend to be somewhat impatient with the undecided after a year of this. Still, even as down as I have been on Springsteen, and as down as I continue to be on cheap posturing commie celebrities, I can't fault Springsteen for this. Suggesting in passing during an interview that he has some reservations about the impending war is not objectionable. He's MILES away from stuff like Sean Penn going to Baghdad to fellate Hussein. This just ain't the same.

Comment by Bill Sherman

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 13:14:57 EST

Sorry, Mike, but I can't oblige you. Perhaps I am being overdeliberate here, but when you're talking about getting involved in a war for "proactive" reasons (as opposed to responding to a Pearl Harbor), I'd say there are worse things to be. Hell, I'm in no position of power – where life or death decisions sometimes need to be made quickly – so why can't I be deliberate? Or is the administration waiting for me to give 'em the go-ahead? I recognize that the present situation can't remain unresolved in perpetuity, but it needs to be repeated that – big blogging community or no – there are plenty of us who have either:

doubts about the necessity of war with Iraq; or questions about the timing or process of going to war.

Simply stating that "you should've already made up your mind by now" doesn't answer either question. Just adds to the noise.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:48:31 EST

Well Mike, you are much more blunt than I, but I have to agree with the underlying concept.

Comment by mike

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:41:52 EST

The debate has been going on for such a long time, there exists on the Internet, etc. such an abundance of information, that I have little patience for anyone who's still "undecided." Stop the hand wringing and take a stand.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Tue, 25 Feb 2003 12:11:47 EST

Very sensible and rational Bill. I am not unbiased but remember one thing: timing does count and this is hardly a "rush to war." Anti-war people will always call the onset of war "rushed" because to them the wait should be open-ended. "Why now?" is a question that has no end limit. There are two sides to every debate and I still believe people of good will can disagree on whether this war is in America's best interest. But I also am coming to realize that many people are incapable of being persuaded regardless of the force of evidence.