Why Don't We Hear Antiwar Voices in America?

Image taken from Weldon Kennedy on flickr.com

Articles, news stories, or even blogs around antiwar are not easy to find. My professor showed our class two websites, ANTIWAR.COM and The American Conservative, both of which feature strong antiwar voices. Prior to this class, I had never even heard of the two websites. They are certainly not apart of mainstream media. After browsing the pages, I began to question why antiwar voices are not included in popular media. I came to one main conclusion; war is a large part of the American identity.

The United States military is an integral part of American culture. At every high school, college, and professional sporting event, the first thing to take place is the singing of the national anthem. At high profile events, such as the Super Bowl, a flyover often occurs. Why is this? I believe it is to showcase the power and strength of the United States military. It is a demonstration to the Americans, but also the rest of the world. With the military being so prominent in U.S. culture, many Americans see the military as a point of pride for our country.

I believe this is why we do not see many antiwar voices in mainstream culture or media. Speaking out against war is, in a way, speaking out against our military. This could be considered by many the un-American thing to do. It would not be viewed positively by a lot of readers. However, I do not think antiwar voices should be silenced. The Constitution grants citizens the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. It is our job to ensure that all voices are heard, even if it is not a popular opinion.

If you would like to read some articles from individuals with antiwar voices, feel free to visit the websites linked above.