A post I wrote on the war will be up on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog today as part of the Iraq War Blogswarm. When I told Kevin about the blogswarm and that I was participating, well, let's say he joked about how this was maybe not the best way to change public policy. I am a suburban mom with two kids; I'm tired of only being relevant at election time when the soccer mom vote needs courting.
For almost five years I've had a bumper sticker on my car that says "Join the MOB, Moms Opposing Bush." I've gotten tons of positive comments - and many from Republicans eager to share their disappointment with the current administration - and two negative ones. After getting our Christmas tree two years ago, a truck pulled up next to me with a sunburned (and this was November), scruffy looking guy driving who honked and held a sign he made with a ball point pen that said "FUCK MOB." Yes, he made this sign while driving 70 mph down the freeway, then as he waved it while honking, unhappy with my lack of response, he briefly lost control, swerved into our lane and then in trying to correct himself, swerved into the lane on his left, almost hitting a second car. I can only assume he was drunk on his love for George Bush.
That guy had his affinity for alcohol in common with the other negative commenter. When I got back to my car on a preschool field trip there was a note on my windshield (written with feminine handwriting) saying "Millions of Iraqi mothers thank God every night that their children are safe" and then something about how I am horrible to oppose our troops. As for the first comment, Iraqi is still a violent place and I don't think millions of mothers there feel safe. Second, as an overwhelmingly Muslim country, I think they would be thanking Allah. And finally, opposing George Bush doesn't mean opposing the troops. I feel for the soldiers serving there and I hope they all return safely...and soon.
As I mentioned in my SVMB post, we have adopted a few soldiers, sending letters of support and care packages. I have a Republican friend who smacked a Support the Troops ribbon on her new car very soon after she bought it. I asked what she did to support the troops and she repeated that she supports them. Paying a few dollars for her cling made her feel like she had done her part. Hooray for the moral majority!
When I got into my car, I dropped the note on the passenger seat, where it fell note side down, revealing the back, which was a shopping list. I really wish I would have saved it because it was a list of alcohol, heavy on the beer and vodka. Hosting a large block party or self medicating to avoid reality?
The war is five years old today, the same age as Clover. In five years I see how much she has grown and learned, yet in that time, the war remains unchanged.
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