A group calling themselves "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War" disrupted Easter Mass at Holy Name Cathedral. Apparently, they determined that the best venue to voice their opposition to the war was:
A) In a Church
B) In a church that has vocally opposed the war
C) During a service
D) During a service on one of the most important Holy Days in the Christian Faith
E) By splashing fake blood on people at the service who were dressed in their Easter best.

Regardless of your opinions of the war, or the Catholic Church, I think you should be offended by the actions of these people. I don't understand what kind of logic goes on the heads of people like this. These actions will alienate them from people who are religious and oppose the war, and will definitely add fuel to the fire of people who do not oppose the war who feel that protesters are generally misguided and more concerned with getting attention than accomplishing anything useful.

First, the name of their group: "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War"; I don't know about most people but "Catholic Schoolgirls" brings to mind soft porn more than anything else. Clearly, at least some of the group were not schoolgirls in any sense of the word (being male) and if they were actually Catholic they would most likely have more respect for their faith than to interrupt mass in this fashion. Then there's the choice of venue. It takes no guts at all to protest in a church opposed to the war. You are, quite literally, preaching to the choir. It seem that the only reason to stage a protest in this fashion is because you are afraid of actually having to face opposition to your protest. They knew there would be cameras, but security would be minimal and inclined to be gentle. No one is likely to attempt to shout down your "message". Finally, if you're going to commit a felony to further your political aims you should make sure it counts. The fundamental voice that Americans have is their vote... and felons can't vote. If convicted, these people have sacrificed their long-term voice for a single whisper.

There are people defending them, but I can't help but wonder if they'd be so inclined to defend them if they had staged the same protest in a synagogue, a mosque or a Buddhist temple on a major holy day. While I believe these people have the right to protest the war, and if they truly believe that it is wrong, that they have an obligation to do so. But their actions were misguided at best, and outright stupid at worst. They should be ashamed of themselves and others who oppose the war should be ashamed of them as well.

Not the first one. Not that that was a good idea really. At least GWB told us what he was planning before he got us in a war. No, I'm talking about Hillary. I'm not going to argue a position based on her qualifications, her positions, her claiming to be a Cubs fan but running for office in New York (seriously, if you're going to be senator of somewhere you don't live, at least have some loyalty to your baseball team). My position is simply this. She's female.

Oh my god! He's a misogynist bastard!

No, I'm simply aware that the biggest international issues facing this country right now are primarily centered around parts of the world that haven't bothered to notice that the last few hundred years have happened. The ruling bodies of not only our "enemies" but our "allies" run countries where women aren't even allowed to drive. There is no way on earth that they're suddenly going to accept mandates from a woman, or from a country "so weak" that they "allow" a woman to rule them.

Yes, it's wrong, and it's stupid, and most of the world (I'd be willing to say most of the population of even the countries I'm referring to) would, at worst, not care, and at most applaud the change. We're not getting out of the Middle East before the next president takes office. They're going to be inheriting a mess, and an already-in-progress war. If the next president is female, she's going to have to be a war president.

Ignoring the reality of the response of the extremists to our actions is what's gotten us where we are now. We can't afford to continue to do so.