Posted on 03/23/2007 5:34:34 PM PDT by Lady J USA 1981
Student's photo of war protest stirs controversy Posted by The Oregonian March 22, 2007 18:24PM Categories: Breaking News Apparently, "Portland hates America."
At least that's what conservative commentator Michelle Malkin of Los Angeles told the world on her Web site this week. Why?
Well, Malkin -- along with a Google-worthy list of her friends on the blogging right -- were goaded by the photos uploaded to Linfield College student Rachael Palinkas' online Facebook album.
An aspiring journalist, Palinkas snapped them during Sunday's anti-Iraq war rally and march in downtown. In one image, black-masked protesters burn a uniformed effigy of a U.S. soldier as a young girl cuddles up to her father and watches.
It didn't take long for the picture to explode in the blogosphere, with conservatives using it as reason No. 1 to oppose those who oppose the war.
"U.S. soldier burned in effigy," declared the Drudge Report on Tuesday. "What passes for an anti-war protest in Portland," huffed WhackyNation. "Brainwashing the next generation of troop-haters," said Shock & Blog.
Palinkas just wants them to stop.
"What they're doing is wrong," she said. "They're twisting my pictures and misrepresenting what happened on that day."
In the past few days, the 19-year-old mass communication major said she has learned the power of a picture. And the power of people with an agenda on the Internet.
Palinkas said she posted 240 photos from the peace rally and march that reportedly drew 15,000 people to her Facebook site. Almost all of them showed "people laughing, talking, dancing, marching" at what she called a "family-friendly" event.
"No one is linking to those photos," Palinkas said.
Palinkas attended the march with a group of college friends. Shortly before the march, she noticed that a group of about 30 black-clad people had broken away from the crowd in the South Park Blocks. Shocked to see them burning a uniformed effigy of a U.S. soldier, she started snapping photos. She also took pictures of them lighting an upside down flag afire.
Although she is opposed to the war, "I thought what they were doing was wrong," Palinkas said. "I had never seen anything like it. That's why I took the photos."
She said she has recieverd more than 150 emails about the photos. After the Drudge Report posted a link, she got hate mail from people who thought she was part of the radical group. Among other things, they said, she "should be tried for treason" and should be deported. In response, she told visitors to her Facebook page, "I don't support this."
Late today, Palinkas removed her Facebook album from public viewing so that people without permission could not use the photos.
Conservative Portland radio host Lars Larson posted three of the images on his Web site. "If you think recent anti-war protests are harmless free speech .¤.¤. let me give you a few more images to consider," he posted.
Larson, who supports military action in Iraq, gave no apologies.
He said he used the images because he felt they were the most newsworthy part of the protest. "I'm showing that some members of this community advocate killing soldiers," Larson said.
After spending months planning what was for the most part a civil demonstration, organizers say they are aghast.
Kelly Campbell of American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, was frustrated. "We had a massive, peaceful demonstration against the killing and destruction going on every day in Iraq, a positive experience for thousands of people from different walks of life."
-- Joseph Rose: 503-221-8029; josephrose@news.oregonian.com
The pictures the student posted were pulled, but you can still find them posted on the blogosphere. I was discusted by the photos showing nothing but hatetrad twords the troops, and showing proof of desecration. Little children were at this event, if you ask me this is a case of child negect.
Portland does hate America, and can defend its own damn self.
The "Redline" should have read, "Portland, Oregon Hates Anything American." Government without Representation is the order of the day. They don't count Republican votes in Oregon, unless the Republicans are liberals. And the elected ones are. I am ashamed to have lived there for 45 years.
I love it. Liberals who post pictures on the Internet have no agenda. Conservative who use them do. Wonder how the weather is on planet MSM?
As usual, the Left isn't as mad at their own side for horrible behavior, they will blame the Right for exposing the story and keeping it alive.
-PJ
NOPE, LOL
PIGINPORTLAND
SORRY FOLKS
They don't think at all.
Thanks to Little Green Footballs
More pictures at the link
In the same way, the Manson family in 1970 was for the most part just a bunch of happy, loving people, but everyone seems to insist on bringing up that icky Sharon Tate business.
"Portland does hate America and can defend its own damn self"
"Tokyo does hate America and can defend its own damn self"
In either case, a couple of squadrons of B-29s can be made to perform wonders.
Thank you longjack! And the other one? We need to show EVERYONE what these Moonbats are all about!
She claimed that these burners were a separate group (masks, dressed in black, burning flags, effigies etc). Lars pointed out that these masked cowards were liberally sprinkled in the crowd.
In addition not only was a flag(s) burned and an effigy of the soldier burned, in public, these scumbags actually defecated on the US flag openly. Lord forgive me, but these 'people',and I use that term loosely, should be beaten soundly and need a couple of months to mend and think about it.
Nam Vet
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