For the record, I'm a realistic pacifist; I both recognize the need for a military and the truth in Asimov's phrase "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent". The things that disturbed me, as I spoke to my co-workers and friends, were not our differences on whether or not we should go to war - rather, it was the excuses that they gave for not getting involved. These are comments from people who said they did oppose the war - but weren't going to call, and it's those comments that I'm going to address here.

I don't know enough about the situation.

One of the reasons for our public school system is to provide a "well-educated citizenry" in order to practice our democracy. The mistake made here is that our education does not end when we graduate. It is our responsibility and duty as citizens to stay informed about current issues - which leads into the next excuse:

It doesn't matter to me.

There's two reasons why the actions of the government matter to each and every American:
1. The policies set out by the government affect every aspect of all of our lives every day, from the roads we drive to the education of our children and the rules our employers (and employees) go by. Not a one of us is unaffected.
2. The actions of our government represent us to the rest of the world. One of the protest groups chose their name wisely: "Not In Our Name". The actions of our government are done in *your* name.

It won't matter or change anything.

All that is required for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing. Choosing to stay silent is giving your support for the actions the government is doing in your name.

The government must have information that they're not sharing; we won't know the truth until after it's long said and done.

It's our lives they're dedicating to this proposed war, not theirs. We have a right to know what our lives and those of fellow citizens are supposed to be sacrificed for.
Following added months later
Now I can't help it: "I TOLD YOU SO!" Bush lied (call it misrepresenting if you want, but I prefer to call a spade a spade), people died.

I'm not one of those "protest" people.

This literally stunned me. Aside from the arguments above, all we had to do was to make a quick and painless phone call. Period. Just contact your elected senator, who is supposed to represent you in Congress, that's all. It's amazing that letting your representative know how you feel is seen by some as a protest and vaguely unAmerican. I kind of thought we were supposed to do that; that's why they're called "Representatives" after all...

We should follow the lead of the President, whether we agree with him or not. Anything else is treasonous.

For eight years I served in the United States Army, and for those eight years, the above statement was true. The president is the Commander-In-Chief, and the military are beholden to follow his orders.
But now I'm a civilian, and he's an elected representative. He - and the rest of government - is there to *serve* us, not rule us. Anything less is a parody of our American ideals.

We are citizens, dammit - our politicians are supposed to be serving We The People.
Did that get a cynical snicker from you? (It did me.)
So what are you doing to change it?