Hundreds call for forgiveness, not violence

The Seattle Times ^ | 9/23/01 | Christine Clarridge

[ppaul]

Crowded into Westlake Plaza yesterday afternoon were hundreds of people: professional protesters, anti-military activists and plenty of regular folks with kids, jobs and mortgages, who wanted to let the world, the city, anyone who would listen, know that they don't want war. They carried placards and signs that said, "One people, one planet" and "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

And they cheered for speakers who called for reason, patience, compassion and forgiveness in the midst of a military buildup sparked by the terrorist attacks.

"Tuesday (Sept. 11) gave us a pile of rubble that was not only of bricks but also of bodies and hopes and dreams," said Gina Aaf, an Afghanistan native and University of Washington student. "There have been many piles just like that throughout history and one more pile isn't going to solve anything."

Ed Mast, a spokesman for the 911 Peace Coalition that helped organize the Alternatives to Violence rally, urged the crowd to be strong of heart.

"We are grieving. We are mourning," he said. "But let's not betray our grieving with more violence. Let's not betray our mourning with more deaths."

Many in the crowd acknowledged that there was an element of futility to their message: Their voices couldn't stop the buildup of arms and forces already under way in the United States and abroad.

But they said it was important for people to know that the war movement, while supported by many, is by no means supported by all.

"It's a very important thing to show that there are people who are opposed," said Ernest Mailhot, a member of the Socialist Workers Party.

"There's been this idea that if you are not backing the war drive, you're not mourning the dead, and that's wrong."

Cori Adler, a professor, writer and mother who brought her 2-year-old daughter, said she hoped the tragedy would inspire the United States to re-examine its role in the world.

"We can't put all our energy into being a superpower and then be surprised when we're viewed as bullies," she said.

Whenever one group attacks another, it's often described as a strategic move.

"Well, now that's happened to us and we know that all that symbolic posturing is really about real bodies, real blood and real lives."

The demonstration, which may have drawn as many as 800 participants, was overwhelmingly peaceful despite a small group of counterprotesters who gathered across the street with signs and flags.

"We're out here to support the U.S. and George Bush," said Crosby Olsen, a student at O'Dea High School. "All these people, if they got what they wanted, this country would no longer be free and they wouldn't be able to stand over there and protest."

Lee Tuimanu'a, a former Marine who served two tours in Vietnam, was driving through town on his Harley when he saw the demonstration and the small group of counterprotesters. He pulled over and took a stand with the smaller group.

An anti-war demonstrator, who didn't want to give his name, approached Tuimanu'a, wanting to know why the ex-Marine picked that side.

"I've earned my citizenship. I have a right to be here. You haven't earned anything," said Tuimanu'a, who was wearing a "Remember New York" T-shirt and a red, white and blue bandana.

After a few more exchanges, he lost patience: "Kid, you're a leech. You have the luxury of being here for free because guys like me made the sacrifice."

(emphasis added)

[rockfish59]

i've got a great pic of my brother holding his M-1A .308 at cu-chi. he not only had to fight in the field but also deal with the little bastards popping up from their tunnels. he made it back. my 2 nephews were at chu-lai and 2 other brothers were navy and merchant marine.

'from your 'friends' in berkeley' indeed!

KILL A COMMIE FOR MOMMY!

[spunkets]

""One people, one planet" and "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

Stupid.

If anything, "one people, one planet means the whole world's blind."

[Snow Bunny]

Yes, thank you so much for your post. I also love your little graphic in it too.

Like you said THIS time we are not going to let them get away with it. YESSSSSSSssssssss

[Billthedrill]

1. The Shining Path was Peruvian, not Chilean; had nothing to do with Pinochet.

2. Our "support" of Batista was simply our recognition of the current legitimate government of Cuba - had Castro not expropriated large amounts of property owned by U.S. citizens and gotten in bed with the Soviet Union, we'd have probably recognized him as well.

3. The "Clinton doctrine"? You're joking, right? How long have you lurked here? Does the name Riady ring a bell? Huang? Mena, Arkansas?

I doubt if that opinion will get you banned, but it might get you flamed a bit. Underlying it is the assumption that if the guys we supported were bad guys, the other guys were good guys, and that is demonstrably untrue. In the case of Khomeini, the bad guy - the Pahlavi Shah - we supported was displaced by a worse guy who would have hated us anyway no matter what we did before him. Sorry, but foreign policy just works that way - we bombed Milosevic and got the KLA; if we'd bombed the KLA we'd have Milosevic, and your complaint would be made either way. If we hadn't bombed anybody we'd be culpable for letting "ethnic cleansing" continue and your complaint would still be made.

Where we've backed stinkers, it was generally because the other guy was worse, or at least we thought so at the time. Hindsight is 20/20; it's a pity you can't conduct foreign policy on that basis.

[Billie]

So let's just roll over and play dead and hope that those mean ole terrorists won't do it to us again if we forgive them. Right? Turn the other cheek and another few thousand innocent people and a couple more buildings and airliners .......

[Publius6961]

The demonstration, which may have drawn as many as 800 participants, ...

Looks like they were outnumbered 8 to 1 by the silent bodies continuing their silent protest beneath the rubble of the WTC.

There is something obscene about that image.

[Publius6961]

Am I missing something here??

Yes you are, the same thing we are all missing.
Some sign of intelligent life...

[Publius6961]

Unfortunately, I am afraid that they would just rather surrender to the enemy than fight for the United States -

Well then let them surrender on the battlefield.

There is a certain symmetry to that...

[Publius6961]

let's not criticize people when they actually exercise those freedoms. "Freedom" is not an empty word but actually really does mean the right to dissent, among other things.

A child throwing a tantrum is dissenting.

You missed a subtle essential: Dissent is profoundly more meaningful when exercised by those who have earned the right through sacrifice, sweat and blood.

[maxwell]

Lee Tuimanu'a, a former Marine who served two tours in Vietnam, was driving through town on his Harley when he saw the demonstration and the small group of counterprotesters. He pulled over and took a stand with the smaller group. An anti-war demonstrator, who didn't want to give his name, approached Tuimanu'a, wanting to know why the ex-Marine picked that side. "I've earned my citizenship. I have a right to be here. You haven't earned anything," said Tuimanu'a, who was wearing a "Remember New York" T-shirt and a red, white and blue bandana. After a few more exchanges, he lost patience: "Kid, you're a leech. You have the luxury of being here for free because guys like me made the sacrifice."

SEMPER FI!

[COB1]

The right to peaceful protest has never been an issue in this country.
Only when this protest aided and abetted the enemy did it harm this nation.
Vox66 would have us give sanction to Jane Fonda, the students of Kent State, and all the anti-war protestors who cost us lives in the VietNam War, then spit on the survivors.
These are the people who burn and mutilate our flag, and who say that the people who died in the firestorm of the WTC did so to protect the liberties guaranteed in the Constitution.
I say that they do more damage to this country than the terrorists because they seek to destroy the will to fight, and that is the only thing which keeps the animals at bay.

[looscannon]

Thanks for the flag. Of course these people have a right to protest; they live in America. They also have the freedom to make complete asses of themselves, exposing for all the world their inability to do something as simple as connect the dots. The country is under attack and in a state of war, with more than 6,000 casualties already, but these fools want to stop any more destruction. WE are the attackees, you poor mindless fools. Save your End The War protests until we finish cutting the heads off all of the rats who are presently laughing at your ignorance.

[LadyX]

"and all the anti-war protestors who cost us lives in the VietNam War,
then spit on the survivors."

Reminds me of the homecoming that awaited my husband in October 1968.
He lead a Strike Team against communists attempting to down our F-111s and take over all the villages surrounding the airfield to better position themselves to do so, committing atrocities as 'lessons' as to what resistance would bring.
They also took all their food supplies and animals and destroyed their crops.

After a full year, he was literally picked up from the jungle to be taken home.
The strewardesses tried to tell them about the sentiments back home - to travel in civvies, for example, so as to not 'upset' the objectors at home.

Debarking at Travis with a planeload of other warriors, they were 'greeted' by a contingent of college students in hippie clothes reviling them.
One little twit spit in his face, and he acted reflexively - snapped her arm and broke it.
Without saying a word - and with the police watching with a twinkle in their eyes! - he and the others each grabbed a punk and dragged him/her into the rest room.

They were dealt a Lesson in "Thou Shalt Not Spit In Public 101," walking out to smiles from the persons who saw it begin.

It became worse. Flying across the country in uniform to get standby status, he was told on two flights to 'Please sit in the very rear of the plane so you will not disturb the civilians' - and he was forced to do so.

The disgrace of the civilian behavior haunts many of us still...perhaps there will be understanding this time around from those for whom they fought TO have their freedom.

[LadyX]

AMEN to everything you said, my friend...

[looscannon]

AMEN is the key word, all right, LadyX. The protest crowd should be thanking God that there are millions of people in America who WILL fight for EVERYONE'S freedom, even the protesters' freedom to look stupid in public.

[Brian Allen]

Thank you.

[Deb]

Of the ones who weren't old hippie, "professional protesters", I'll bet 98% were under 20. You can convince the unformed mind of anything, like blowing yourself up to get hummed by 70 virgins.

[michigander]

Better dead than red.

[Redleg Duke]

Millions call for violence and not forgiveness!