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)

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I've seen the anti-war movement up close and personal in downtown Chicago
when I was discharged from the Navy in '69.
I was cursed at, yelled at, ridiculed, and denied entrance
to Nortwestern University simply because I was a Viet Nam Vet.
Then, as now, my support for the 1st amendment and free speech remains the same.
One thing HAS changed, if I see an anti-war protestor
HARMING anyone in the military OR anyone who supports our country,
OR damaging government or personal property
I will personally exercise my right to defend my country from those who seek to destroy it.

Support Our Soldiers, E-mail a service person.

Support our Troops NOW!

USO (website) Mission: Delivering America to our Armed Forces

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Just wait until the leeches get their draft notices next year!"

When do you think N.O.W. and all the other hardcore women's rights fanatics
are going to start demanding equal treatment for women,
like women being drafted also like they are in Israel and many other countries. LOL

[Lion's Cub]

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."

I can make a pretty good guess where one cell is...Hope she's not studying microbiology, advanced chemistry, or nuclear physics...

[Twodees]

Hmm, "hundreds call for forgiveness" while a few hundred million call for retribution. Sounds like another fart in a whirlwind to me. The kids are in for a let-down.

[KQQL]

O.k Houston we got a problem,,, look what our enemy is promised , so we better shape up or more Americans are going to die.!
There rewards are

Eternal life in paradise,
The permission to see the face of Allah,
And the loving kindness of 72 young virgins who will serve him in heaven.
The shahid also earns a privilege to promise a life in heaven to 70 of his relatives.
Only justice will shut this crap!

[ppaul]

Man I hate this so much , anti-war protestors. It feels like the 60's starting all over again and I am not a happy camper about this one bit.

Yeah. But what is especially troubling is the fact that in the early days of the Viet Nam war, there was no active "peace" movement (cultural bowel movement actually). That garbage didn't really start until years after the war had been dragging on with no resolution in sight. But today, the just action against the terrorists hasn't even begun yet and these old hangers on from the halcyon days of the SDS, Nonviolence Coordinating Committee, and all those fruitcakes from the late '60s and early '70s are all crawling out of the woodwork, along with their bastard offspring, to put down our country and poke their fingers in the eyes of the 9-11 victim's families. Shameful. Disgraceful. Traitorous rabble. This time, they should not get away with it. They need to be challenged at every opportunity and denounced for being the enemies of freedom that they are - scum, vermin, parasites, leeches. Lee Tuimanu'a hit the nail on the head alright. God bless him. I'm gonna try to look him up and send him a thank you note. I'd encourage other like-minded FReepers to do the same.

:

[Gracey]

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.

I'd say, round them all up and send them to boot camp in Afghanistan, under Osama Bin Laden.

[Gracey]

their agenda is communism, PERIOD!

If they're not with us, they'll just die from biological warfare. How uneducated, these youth.

[metesky]

You probably forgot that we have First Amendment rights also. And we are after all engaged in a cyber conversation, expessing opinions.

Surely you wouldn't deprive anyone of their rights, would you?

Was 1966 the year you first raised your vox for pax?

[X918]

"All we are saying ..is give peas a chance...."

[Macaw]

As a life-long Seattle resident, I have to say that we are rivaling Berkely for the leftest capital in America.

[IceGirl2]

All Western societies that have allowed Islam onto their shores are in danger. I know President Bush means the best, and he would be so right if the Muslims were normal. But we can see that they aren't. I don't think we should harm any Muslims, but we should not allow this contagion to grow on our shores. No more immigrants. No more.

It is time for Christianity to reach out to our black population who are so susceptable to the persuasion used by Muslims to convert. They do it by economic incentives at first. They "help" each other (man to man) and convince the 'men' that they are doing a favor to their women by converting them to Islam. The women are brainwashed into believing that it offers them some stability. One man, four women. These women are used (like dogs) to create more brainwashed people. It is repulsive and frightening and, unfortunately, happening on our shores.

The Muslims don't care about our American blacks. They are using them. Just like they have used Indonesians and Filippinos. Arab Muslims will destroy these people as well when they have used them for their own purposes. I tell you that they HATE black skinned people. They hate them much more than they hate 'whites' or Christians. Arab Muslims are a danger to all the world.

Reach out to black people. I know there have been problems in the past. It's time to get over it and work together. They have been loyal Americans--they fought beside us in all of our wars--they deserve to be treated well and they deserve for us to help them. Let us help them reach their potential.

And we should reach out to all the pockets of opportunity that the Muslims have identified. There is no reason for the Phillippines or any of these countries to turn Muslim. We should encourage and support groups that want to keep these people Christian or Buddhist or anything except Muslim.

We know the enemy--and the enemy is them. I am trying to think of a right way to explain them--it is beyond barbarianism. These people would destroy all that man has created--all the beautiful things (like the Buddhas of Bamiyan)that have come from the genius of man. Buildings and statues, books and music, art and films.

They are not barbarians--because one feels that there is hope with barbarians. You think of a barbarian as someone who doesn't know but could learn. These people will never develop. No they are not barbarians. They are evil. They are destroyers. Users. They are terrifying.

I always believed in the basic goodness of human beings until now. Now I have looked at the face of evil and I see that it is smiling. They it is growing stronger every minute.

I pray for all of us. There are 1 billion Muslims. It is time for us to wake up to the threat and prepare ourselves.

[ppaul]

You stated that the Muslims hate black-skinned people. That doesn't hold true worldwide where many blacks are in fact Muslims. However, in the U.S., there is a tremendous undercurrent of seething hatred towards Muslims, and Arabs in particular, among the U.S. "African-American community" ala NAACP, et al. There's not much about this being reported in the press - but it's out there. Just wait.

[ppaul]

Was 1966 the year you first raised your vox for pax?

These babies were pretty hot in 1966:

:

[ppaul]

ping.

[DWSUWF]

"...In America, people have the right to dissent. This is what distinguishes America from, say, Afghanistan. Do you want to outlaw dissent..."

I can't speak for others here, but I would never want to do anything to drive these parasites and traitors out of plain view.

Those who have children realize how helpful it can be to have available very visible 'object lessons'...

I want for my children to be able to see how inferior, how unworthy of life itself, the treasonous liberal filth that infests America actually is.

And how better for them to do that than to see, hear or read about these room temperature IQ maggots firsthand?

[ppaul]

Exercising their free speech is just what they're expected to do as Americans.

Huh? We're expected to run our country down and support our enemies in time of war? Myass.

Again, you may disagree with what they say, but they have every right to say whatever they want as Americans.

Yes. But they shouldn't complain when other Americans throw tomatoes, rotten apples, and bags of feces at them - which they deserve. They're lucky a few hundred hard-hats don't walk off the job at noon and knock their teeth out, like construction workers by the thousands did in Chicago in 1968 during the "Chicago 7" trial (when Abby Hoffman and other scum were arrested for the riots that occurred during the Democrat Party convention).