I wrote this to Sam Smith after his feedback started getting ugly after Gulf War II got "hot". Unknown to me, I'd end up having my own problems at work due to exactly this effect. [sigh].

Your feedback seems to have taken an ugly turn - a trend that Tom Tomorrow noted after 9/11. I can understand.

I do not feel there is anyone I routinely contact that I can talk to about the war. Even my fiancee has become bored with it, and scared by talk of arrests from even thinking about protesting with me. Many of my co-workers have been having nonstop "wargasms"; those who were pro-peace have largely taken Eric Alterman's stance and decided to shut up and support the troops.

Fuck that.

I do support the troops - not their leader. I have friends and old lovers over there. Even some children of my friends are there.

But I will go, tomorrow, and protest again, and will not be silent. I will not stop callling it as I see it, I will not stop standing by my principles. I will not allow anyone to think that the war being perpetrated is being done in myname.

Job suffered for what he believed. It was senseless, a sadistic test by satan to test his resolve. Though he questioned, though he wailed with grief and sorrow, with anger and loss, Job persevered in his faith.

Once I looked upon Job as a role model - a role model of doubt, of questioning God, of a self-hating near-agnosticism. Now, though, I realize that the story of Job is about something different. It is about his faith, his strength, his perseverance through everything that could be thrown at him.

Once I looked upon Job as a role model. Now I do again.

Though the cost might be great, let us all preach peace.

God bless you, Sam. Keep up the good work.

MAT 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The opposite of bravery is not cowardice, but conformity.
-Robert Anthony, American psychologist