Posted on 01/26/2007 4:22:53 AM PST by radar101
Tom Rawles, pictured in his office Tuesday, protested the war in Iraq by deciding not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during a City Council meeting Monday night. Jennifer Grimes Tribune
Fear of foreign threats real and perceived, anger at the loss of America’s post-9/11 unity, mounting apprehension about future security and prosperity: These served as the fuel. A Mesa City Councilman’s simple protest gesture was the spark.
Related Links Failure to say Pledge creates backlash Today's Top Stories Mesa
The vitriolic public reaction to Tom Rawles’ silence during the Pledge of Allegiance at Monday’s council meeting now includes death threats that have prompted police to place him under 24-hour protection at work and home.
Still, even the latest development should come as no surprise, given Arizonans’ current unease about divisive issues such as illegal immigration and the war in Iraq, local historians say.
“You can’t separate this out from the broader context of what’s going on in the world,” said Craig Allen, associate professor of media history at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. “It’s just one of those times when people are mad as hell.”
Rawles has received a handful of death threats in the days since announcing he would not recite the national pledge during public meetings, meant as a show of opposition to the Bush administration’s decision to deploy more troops to Iraq.
Mesa police spokesman Sgt. Chuck Trapani said a 24-hour security detail has been escorting Rawles until police can assess the likelihood of an attack.
“We’re trying to ascertain whether these are just angry people venting, or whether there is an actual threat,” Trapani said.
It’s uncertain how long the investigation will take, because Rawles is still receiving new threats, he added.
Trapani said in his 12 years with Mesa police, no statement or action by an elected official has engendered such a menacing backlash.
Rawles, a lawyer and former Maricopa County Supervisor, was dismayed that about three-fourths of the calls to his office have been in opposition, with a quarter of those at least acknowledging his right to protest. Just one in four callers offered support.
Some of the angry calls included threats to “put a bullet” in him, bury him in cement or commit other acts of retaliation.
“It depresses the hell out of me, to tell you the truth,” he said. “I didn’t disrupt the meeting; I didn’t whistle, whoop, yell.”
In times of national crisis, particularly in wartime, even the quietest protest can be perceived as a hostile act, said Daniel Brouwer, an associate professor at ASU’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication.
The tension between opposing views of patriotism — whether it means unqualified love of country or the free expression of heartfelt criticism — may explain the extreme reaction to Rawles’ silence, said Brouwer, an expert on political protest tactics.
“Passions are high about continued involvement in the war on terror,” he said. “At this moment, a lot of people are frustrated.”
Rawles remained adamant that the decision to express his political dissent is an act of patriotism and said he plans to continue the protest.
“I think the point is getting through — people are thinking,” he said.
Randy Foshee, Vietnam veteran and commander of VFW Post 1760 in Mesa, said he is no fan of war but believes it is sometimes necessary to protect the country’s interests.
Nevertheless, Foshee said he finds Rawles’ chosen method of protest particularly distasteful.
“You don’t go around saying, ‘I’m not going to say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore,’ ” Foshee said. “That’s overkill. That’s over the line.”
Allen said recently much of the public has been sensitive to anything it perceives as an affront to American traditions because people long for the bipartisan displays of national pride that immediately followed Sept. 11, 2001.
The deteriorating situation in Iraq has shattered that unity, he said, creating apprehension and a consequent push toward jingoism by some groups in an attempt to revive the country’s patriotic spirit.
As of July 4, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office instituted a policy of piping patriotic songs through the television sets and public address systems in its jails.
“The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” are played in the morning and evening, accompanied by video on TV sets in some cells, department spokeswoman Lindsay Smith said.
“This is America, and we should be patriotic and play our theme songs like Americans,” she said. “It’s like apple pie.”
Inmates aren’t forced to stand and salute or sing, Smith said. Some do, and some don’t.
Some Arizonans may be particularly sensitive to a perceived snub of American rituals because of growing fear that the stream of illegal immigrants crossing state borders poses a threat to legal citizens’ prosperity and way of life, Allen said. Some feel a general sense of apprehension and insecurity regardless of social or financial status, he said.
“It’s a downturn in the psychology of the people of Arizona,” Allen said.
Rawles said he has been on the other side of protest activities: He disagreed with flag-burning protests during the Vietnam War. But he said he always respected the protesters’ right to voice their opinions and appreciates how protests can prompt a reexamination of long-held beliefs.
“I didn’t appreciate it, but I believe they had the right to do it,” he said. “It made me think a little. I was a little uncomfortable. It attacked something I cherished and valued.”
JOE ARPAIO STRIKES AGAIN!
To tell the truth, Rawles and his ilk depress the hell out of me.
"Arizona was one of my favorite states until McCain fooled Goldwater into thinking he was the right man to take over his seat."
Aren't there large numbers of retired people in Arizona? The state will be going the same way as Florida.
If I can muzzle myself about why a NY Senator will never be inaugurated, then anyone can show a little restraint.
If someone feels that way, they should just shut up and do it. ( /s )
The friend of my enemy is my enemy. Many Democrats are friends of socialists, communists, and support the efforts of Islamofacists. Maybe people are getting fed up with the willingness of Democrats to openly support the enemies of the United States existence. More and more American citizens and politicians will stand on foreign soil and condemn our country. Perhaps these unpatriotic actions cumulatively collect.
No thinking involved, just stamp it with the template.
He ain't a Democrat.
Seems to me that they are leaking into Arizona from the left coast, same as they are leaking into northern New Mexico. We are semi-safe from this leakage in southern New Mexico, saved by our droughtish weather and our plentitude of normal people.
He ain't far off it, either.
Instead of making death threats they should be looking in to ways to remove this low life from public office.
Anyone who would "protest the war in Iraq" by completely disrespecting the USA is not protesting the war, they are simply demonstrating their hatred for the USA.
If he didn't want to recite the pledge, that is his business (but still demonstrates his hatred). But by not standing at all...
You got to admit, that IS one way. I'm just sayin'....
Do they also have a Bill Clinton Home for Unwed Mothers?
Sorry. I erroneously assumed that all seditious vermin are Democrats! What is his political affiliation? Is he a citizen of the USA? Can he walk and chew gum at the same time? People should not issue death threats to anyone, especially unpatriotic morons!
Goldwater won his last election by fewer votes than Webb won with in Virginia.
Libertarian.
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