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Anti-war protestors greeted by equal number of pro-troop supporters

By: North County Times wire services

SAN DIEGO - Activists opposed to the war in Iraq faced off in Balboa Park Saturday against supporters of America's troops, but the demonstrations were peaceful, authorities said.

The San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice sponsored the antiwar rally and march this afternoon that began in downtown San Diego.

Demonstrators carrying signs saying "Bring the troops home," "Bush Lied," and "Illegal War" demanded the immediate return of U.S. troops from Iraq.

A makeshift memorial with painted crosses symbolized the more than 1,900 members of the U.S. military who have been killed in Iraq.

Supporters of the war who stood along the march route waved American flags and carried signs supporting President Bush and the troops.

The counter-protest was organized by Protest Warrior, a Texas-based group "dedicated to fighting the left," according to its Web site.

One counter-demonstrator told KFMB-TV her group didn't have an agenda; they just wanted to thank the troops.

A crowd estimate was not immediately available, but television reports said about 1,000 people attended both rallies.

There were no reports of any arrests, police said.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/09/25/news/sandiego/20_12_149_24_05.txt

Guest Opinion: Battle on the homefront brings mother to tears

TROY MATTERN
letters@tucsoncitizen.com

And so they made her cry ...

Outside the Armed Services recruiting office on Speedway Boulevard comes a regular group of protesters to discourage potential enlistees and express their general dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq.

A smaller group recently started appearing, trying to offer a different view and demonstrate their support for the troops and those who choose to serve.

Sept. 14, the atmosphere between the two groups changed. Whereas in the past they had at least respected each other's space, if not their views, one anti-war protester felt the need to take matters to another level.

Video camera in hand, she approached the pro-troops crowd and, filming inches from their faces, began to verbally assault them. She accused one of raising her two sons, both Marines, to be baby killers, asking if she was proud that they were involved in killing innocent children in Iraq.

Did she know how many people died in mines to produce the diamonds in her earrings? When told the earrings were not real diamonds, the inquisitor snidely commented that they were fake, just like the pro-troop supporter.

As she continued her tirade, the intimidated pro-troops group called police. It was not the first time the woman with the camera had been seen. She had been spotted at another rally, sans camera but accusing a pregnant woman of being "Bush's whore."

Soon a police officer arrived but told the pro-troop crowd there was nothing he could do because it was public property. Interestingly, before he said he could do nothing, he was hugged by three of the anti-war protesters. I know because the woman recently accosted was my mother, which I suppose makes me one of the "baby killers."

My mother, her friend Jen and the other troop supporters remained until the other crowd left. But when Jen and my mother got home, each recalled the personal attacks they had endured and, in the privacy of their homes, broke down and cried.

The vileness of it all is only understood when one considers who was attacked. These are not warmongers or dyed-in-the-wool political activists marching to the beat of any administration.

They are people who have dedicated themselves to causes more important than themselves.

Jen's son received a Purple Heart in Iraq for the injuries he sustained. He still believes in the mission - that what is being attempted for the Iraqis is worthwhile and ultimately benefits this country as well. He now is preparing to go to Iraq for his second tour.

My mother has made sacrifices her entire life, raising three of us on her own. She never took the easy way. She has always been committed to doing the right thing, no matter how difficult.

She has dedicated much time toward efforts such as a Teen Pregnancy Crisis organization when we lived in Kingman and the "Single Parent Project" in Tucson, which she founded.

In both, she dedicated herself to improving the lives of others. She has seen me and my younger brother go off to war, and she has seen the emotional scars left on my brother. Still she believes that what is being done is the right thing, as do my brother and I.

I wonder about the woman with the camera. Is she proud to have brought to tears a 59-year-old single mother who has dedicated her life to others?

I wonder if she is proud that she brought to tears a woman who just wanted to let her son, injured once in Iraq and on his way back, know that she loves and supports him as he goes on a mission he believes in.

I wonder what that woman with the camera has done to help others or if she ever considered for a moment how my mother, Jen or any others she attacked that day have helped others.

I have spent more than 16 years in the Marine Corps, been to war, seen the faces of Kuwaiti

children elated to have their country back, helped build roads and schools in some of the poorest parts of the world and helped distribute medical and school supplies.

Thus far, I can confidently say, I have not killed any children, though I am quite sure a few are having at least slightly better lives as a result of the efforts of this "baby killer," the values my mother taught me and those like me.

While I disagree wholeheartedly with the anti-war crowd's position, I would not, could not, attack my fellow Americans in such a personal, vile way.

For while I believe they are wrong, I don't doubt their basic goodness. I only wish more on the other side shared that perspective.

For those who don't condone the actions of the woman with the camera, I ask, stop this when you see it happening. I promise: I won't send your mother home crying, and I would stop any such action. So don't allow it to happen to mine.

We can disagree passionately; we can fight for our respective beliefs, and we don't have to personally attack each other. In the end, you are still our neighbors, our colleagues, members of our churches and, most important, fellow Americans.

Troy Mattern is a 16-year Marine veteran and a graduate of Catalina High School and the University of Arizona. He is stationed in Maryland.

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=opinion&story_id=092305b5_guestcry&toolbar=print_story