Which Group Will You Stand By?

Almost every weekend, I pass by two groups of people proudly and boldly exercising their 1st Amendment rights.  They stand peacefully on the corner of a relatively busy intersection near my home.  One group holds signs that read, “Peace” and “Stop the War,” and the other group’s signs read, “Support Our Troops” and “God Bless America.”
When I approach the intersection, I always take time to pay attention to the other drivers who pass.  Mostly, I hear the honk of car horns and see hands wave.  Sometimes people go the extra mile, with a “thumbs up” or a flip of “the finger” just so there is no mistake as to their group of choice.
Most people want to belong to a group.  They find comfort in sharing an idea or belief with another.  I personally find comfort in both these groups.  First of all, anyone who exercises their 1st Amendment right gets my thumbs up.  Secondly, with regard to these two groups, I believe most people could join either side and share their ideals.  Sure, they stand separately but I believe they are united enough to share the same corner.
The “peace” group wants peace.  Who doesn’t?  For those drivers who flash the middle finger, are you really pro-war?  Do you really support conflict?  This “peace” group simply wants our men and women to come home.  I support that.  Perhaps you don’t have a moral objection to violence, or you simply agree with why our troops are locked in conflict, but surely you don’t want war for the sake of war.  I understand why our country is at war, I understand the politics of this current conflict, but nonetheless, I am whole-heartedly pro-peace.
As for the “troop” group, they want support and respect for the men and women who serve.  Sadly, as the Vietnam war showed us, there are some people who blame our service men and women for our government’s conflicts.  That small group of people is wrong on every level, and their behavior past and present is without excuse.  What those same people choose to ignore, is that our troops protect their right to express their beliefs albeit distasteful and misplaced.  I do not group those people with the “peace” people.  I don’t believe the peace people want any harm to come to our troops, nor do I believe they place blame on our troops for the conflicts currently occurring in our world; therefore, I am proudly pro-troops.
I think the two groups could definitely share the same corner.  It would be difficult for me, if I were forced to choose a side.  I truly want peace, I do not want conflict, I do not want deaths, nor do I want our service men and women hurt or maimed.  But directly across from my beloved beliefs, stands another set of values which I hold dear: my value of human life and those who sacrifice theirs for mine.  I have the utmost respect and appreciation for those who serve either in the military or in public office.  I fully support and respect them and their families for what they give to me as a citizen of this United States.  Their service is invaluable and immeasurable.  Their sacrifice allows me to write the words on this page.
Therefore, I believe I can, at the same time support our troops and desire peace.  I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive.  Those who serve are braver than I could ever hope to be, but there are those who do not serve who deserve my respect and admiration through their civil protests.  Neither of these people actually reflects the policies of our government.  Those policies are bigger than we are.  The biggest impact I can or you can make is to vote.  Furthermore it’s through my vote, I can agree to disagree.  That’s my right, and that’s the right protected by our troops whether in times of peace or war.
If you should travel through this particular intersection or you have one like it in your hometown, take time to honk, wave or throw your thumb or finger up.  But more importantly, take time to realize these two groups, representations of us all, really do intersect and not just when they are on the street corner.