They should parade a few of these around Afghanistan and wherever necessary.....
Link: BIG BOOM!</font size></font color>
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What do you think?
Posted on 09/23/2001 11:51:52 PM PDT by 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)
Aye, aye to that!
BTW: Thank you for your service to our country.
They should parade a few of these around Afghanistan and wherever necessary.....
Link: BIG BOOM!</font size></font color>
:
What do you think?
"Irrational Pacifist"
That boils it down nicely to a succinct, accurate desription of what we're dealing with here. I'm going to use that (all too frequently, from the looks of things) going forward.
Thanks!
BUMP
The protesters of the 60's certainly had no moral principles guiding them; they actively aided and abetted the killing of Americans not only by giving aid and comfort to the communists in Vietnam and elsewhere, but by planting bombs in public places right here in America, all in the name of "world peace and justice". Their only "principle" is to hate America and everything it stands for, and the only flag they recognize is the black flag of the vandals: destroy it all, tear it all down. They are the ones who seek to stifle dissent by insisting that no one should be allowed to disagree with their anti-American (anti-life, really) views by removing the American flag from view in the name of ultra-PC "diversity". My hat's off to those who stand up to this fetid trash and say "Enough!"
It is the Soldier,
not the poet who has given us freedom of speech
It is the Soldier,
not the campus organizer who gives us freedom to demonstrate
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien
But perhaps the city will not be terror-ized because the denizens don't require a big boom to go into a frightened crouch -- they're already there.
"Frightened city, crouching liberal."
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