Posted on 09/05/2005 7:34:53 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
A group of veterans and military families spoke Sunday night before a crowd of Madisonians opposed to the war in Iraq, spreading their message that supporting the troops doesn't necessarily mean supporting the war.
The "Bring Them Home Now Tour," an offshoot of military mom Cindy Sheehan's monthlong protest in front of President Bush's ranch in Texas, attracted a near-capacity crowd to the Barrymore.
Tour speaker Stacy Bannerman, whose husband served an extended tour of duty in Iraq, said she wasn't surprised by the attendance, noting that Madison has a history in the anti- war movement dating back to Vietnam.
"You folks kind of showed the rest of the nation how it's done," she told the audience. "Whoever thought you'd be doing it again?"
Bannerman said she was participating in the tour because her husband "was not the man I married" after returning from Iraq.
She added that critics who say the protestors are disrespecting the troops do not understand that she and others like her are protesting the war, not the soldiers involved.
"When you speak out, they say 'You're not supporting the troops,'" Bannerman said. "To which I say, 'Our families are the troops.'"
Sherry Glover, whose daughter and son-in-law served in Iraq, said she thought protests like Sheehan's were a way for anti-war military families to reach out to the nation.
Many of the attendees said they were inspired by Sheehan's vigil outside Bush's ranch.
"I think what she's doing is great," said UW-Madison student Stephanie Jung. "It helps to stimulate a dormant anti- war movement."
Stay-at-home mom Linda Kloosterboer said that, like Bannerman, she was angered by the idea that opposing the war means opposing the troops.
"I grew up here in Madison and we learned during Vietnam that you can support the troops and still want them to come home," Kloosterboer said.
She added that she hopes rallies like the one in Madison and protests like Sheehan's would help get Americans angry about the war.
"I want people to get pissed off," she said. "I want people to see what's going on and get angry and demand change."
Many of the speakers mentioned that the war in Iraq was taking up troops and resources that could be used to help ease the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
This resonated with Nevenah Smith, a taxi driver formerly of New Orleans who is staying with family in Madison.
"If Bush hadn't diverted all that money from the Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans wouldn't be underwater and I could be going home," she said.
Earlier Sunday, a much smaller group gathered to show their support for the war in Iraq
About 10 members of the Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission met at the Gold Star Mothers' Sundial on the UW-Madison campus at Allen Centennial Gardens.
Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls, who came home August 2 from a tour in Iraq as a colonel in the Army National Guard, on the Sheehan Anti- War tour, wanted to show his support for the war, but didn't want to be involved in a counter-protest at the Barrymore.
"I would not lower myself to the standard where I would actually physically go out and protest a movement that shouldn't be protesting at all," he said. "I think it's a disgrace."
Jim Karlson, whose son, Staff Sgt. Warren Hansen of Clintonville, died in a helicopter collision in Iraq on Nov. 15, 2003, also was upset by the anti-war tour.
"I guess maybe they think supporting the troops is a little different than what we think."
"If Bush hadn't diverted all that money from the Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans wouldn't be underwater and I could be going home," she said.
Not one mention of what the turnout was, except to say the moonbats were "pleased."
If a group has to say they're "pleased" with the turnout, that means turnout was lousy.
Madison has a history in the anti- war movement .... (The Madison Community is often referred to as Moscow East)
'"I want people to get pissed off," she said. "I want people to see what's going on and get angry and demand change."'
Translated: "I want a multi million dollar book deal with a major network or cable movie."
Cindy who?
Good shot!
Mark. Thanks for posting that one. I missed it. It's definitely a "keeper."
"Bannerman said she was participating in the tour because her husband "was not the man I married" after returning from Iraq. "
Maybe she was not the women he married....
These people are like sick dogs in need of being let go.
They have a hard time explaining their way out of that one don't they?
Cindy Sheehan,Cindy Sheehan ! Hmmmmmm,sounds familiar.
Oh that's right,she was last month's news.
Please remove this troll from FR. Thanks!
ZOT!
She learned that giving aid and comfort to the enemy is supporting our troops? I guess that is the same kind of support John Kerry gave them when he lied and called them all murderers and rapists. The same kind of support Jane Fonda gave them sitting in the antiaircraft gun.
There is no honor left in the Democrat party.
The Barrymore Theater holds a few hundred, tops. It's a really old, dark, dank theater. Mainly they show porn there 'round midnight. ;)
We've got that cheap oil, don't we?
And who loves fascistic government more than the brainless Democrats?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.