Posted on 12/08/2002 9:45:28 AM PST by axel f
Demonstrators call for peace
By Tim Hrenchir The Capital-Journal
Rally-goers gathered Saturday at the Kansas Statehouse carrying dozens of signs to show what they thought about the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iraq. "Patriots prefer peace," one sign said.
"Would Jesus launch a pre-emptive strike?" another asked.
"All we are saying is give peace a chance," a third added.
Between 250 and 300 people attended the late-morning rally near the south steps of the Statehouse, said Bill Beachy, executive director of the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice.
Beachy, whose group organized the event, said he felt pleased with the turnout. He noted that participants were of various ages, religions and backgrounds and included rural and urban residents. Some were old enough to have protested the Vietnam War, while many hadn't been born at the time of that conflict.
Imam Omar Hazim, of the Islamic Center of Topeka, gave the opening prayer for the peace rally, which featured guest speakers, musical performances and a play.
Hazim said that at a time when the United States is experiencing 6 percent unemployment, the country should take care of its problems at home rather than send soldiers thousands of miles to destroy another nation.
Jim McConnell, a Navy veteran of the Gulf War, told rally participants that people who oppose an attack on Iraq have been appearing publicly once a week since August in his hometown of Wichita to show their feelings. McConnell said the protesters in Wichita have gotten an "overwhelming" response from the public, with passers-by often cheering, honking their car horns or giving them thumbs-up signs.
McConnell said public support for attacking Iraq is "incredibly soft."
"I've talked to lots of veterans, and they think this is a really bad idea," he said.
Beachy said Saturday's rally brought together people who oppose an attack on Iraq for various reasons, including opinions that:
• Federal officials haven't shown sufficient evidence that Iraq poses a threat to the United States.
• Attention to Iraq detracts from the ongoing war on terrorism in this country.
• War in Iraq would cost a lot of money at a time when this country is suffering economically.
• War is morally wrong.
• Any intervention in Iraq should be approved by the Security Council of the United Nations.
• Intervention in Iraq should occur without the use of violence.
Not everyone on hand at Saturday's rally necessarily opposed war with Iraq, though. David Owen said he just came to watch.
"I think that we should go to war," Owen said. "I just think we need to take care of the problem, and the problem's not here in America. It's in Iraq."
Saturday's rally ended with a performance by Lawrence's New World Order Choir, which sang original songs about such topics as the possibility of war with Iraq. At the end of their last song, a choir member called out, "What's war good for?"
"Absolutely nothing!" the audience chanted in response.
The rally then turned into a march as participants walked to the Carlson Federal Building, 444 S.E. Quincy, before returning to the Statehouse.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at (785) 295-1184 or threnchir@cjonline.com.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.