MONTCLAIR NJ calls off the war

The Montclair Times, Montclair NJ ^ | Wednesday, March 05, 2003 | By JEFF HARRELL

[lindasobers]

Yet, last Tuesday night, protesters showed up en masse at the Municipal Building to bully the Township Council into passing an antiwar resolution.

Nearly half of the protesters were Montclair High School students, which is always a nice touch when you’re trying to sell a panel of adults on anything. The rest were a lot of the same adults who tried to talk the council into passing a resolution against the death penalty a couple of years back.

Those in town who aren’t honking for peace were nowhere to be found, probably because they were manipulated into staying away.

A council conference session was scheduled for last Tuesday, which usually consists of round-table discussions focusing on township projects with no time set aside for the public to speak. The original agenda had the discussion of an antiwar resolution scheduled for 10 p.m.

Once word spread that the antiwar protesters were meeting on the corner of Bloomfield and Church at 7 p.m. with plans to march to the Municipal Building just in time for the council’s meeting, the antiwar resolution discussion was moved to the first item on the agenda.

Exactly when the item was moved is unclear.

Councilman Don Zief, the only council member who opposed a township antiwar resolution, didn’t find out that he had missed the protesters until he showed up late to last Tuesday’s meeting at 9 p.m. expecting to discuss the antiwar resolution at 10.

Then there was John Morris.

Morris, a Vietnam veteran and father to a Coast Guard reservist who was recently deployed to an unknown location in the Middle East, admittedly didn’t like the thought of a war in Iraq any more than he enjoyed the Vietnam War.

Still, Morris showed up with a framed American flag in hand and served as the only voice in the room who thought the council should represent everybody in Montclair and not “play to the noisy minority.”

“This is not a township issue,” he said. “I’m asking the council not to deliberate on this issue or take a stand either way.”

But even a neutralist wasn’t going to be spared by these protesters. Morris spoke over snickers, hisses and under-the-breath comments that turned the idea of freedom of speech into the personification of a child selfishly hogging a toy.

“I don’t want these kids to come back home and be called names,” Morris said. “When I came back from Vietnam, I was called a military industrialist bastard.”

“You still are,” mumbled a voice from two rows behind me.

So I’m done honking for a bunch of self-righteous antiwar protesters whose only concerns involve what their country can do for them. After the council voted 6-1 in favor of an antiwar resolution this past Tuesday night, they don’t need my horn anyway.

Besides, if they think the president is going to stop in his tracks and bark out a commandment like, “Call the troops home because the Township of Montclair just passed an antiwar resolution,” they’re smoking stuff that was a lot better than anything we had in 1972.

Nor am I going to bother letting them in on what this antiwar resolution really means.

I will tell anybody who is as sick and tired as I am of these people hogging a freedom that is meant for everybody, though.

4797

[hobbes1]

True.....

[hobbes1]

The Biggest enemy is the Real Estate section in the Sunday Times.

You're living happily in a nice quiet town, and then the Sunday Slimes does a little feature on a small "Bedroom Community" just 15 minutes from Manhattan, and the Red Exodus begins.

[wtc911]

Montclair loudly proclaims itself a shining example of all things liberal. They particularly go out of their way to pat themselves on the back in congratulatory self abuse over the black/white racial mix in town. The town has become the suburb of choice for middle-upper middle class blacks who, for the most part work in NYC, and middle-upper middle class whites who love their brothers as long as they can afford to buy into the village. Meanwhile impoverished, urban crime-plagued black Newark looms large on the eastern border. You can bet that this well to do liberal enclave would fight any proposed building in their fair city of low income housing to ease the crowding in Newark. It's always the liberals who applaud themselves for being color blind by pointing out the color of those whom they accept into their world.

[firebrand]

It's unfortunate. Although I had no great love for the locals when I was there, who successfully lobbied Trenton to close my school down when their kids didn't get in. It was for anyone in NJ, and kids came from as far away as Pines Lakes, Mount Holly, and . . . Newark! Even Kearney. The locals hated that.

[Exit148]

"At least living one town over, is good for amusement..lol

I live one town over, too. My little town ----that used to be VERY conservative ---- voted for Gore and McG. I couldn't believe it! Just printing this, and thinking of it, makes me sick.

[hobbes1]

Yes, when I got sold on the Town by my MIL, I thought the same thing.....LOL.....

But we had one of those articles, about 3 years ago....

[Coleus]

Yep, typical hypocrisy from the left, just as Clinton, Gore, Jackson, Sharpton and many others did with their children.

[XRdsRev]

Different Short Hills. The Short Hills of Revolutionary War battle fame were located N-NE of Metuchen NJ. Present day "Rahway Road" runs along the Short Hills north of Ash Swamp Park. The town of Short Hills is located about 10 miles north and played no part in the 1777 battle. That area however, probably had some troop movements during the Battle of Springfield in 1780.

[Flipyaforreal]

I went to Glen Ridge high but spent most of my time in Montclair, glad to be out of there. Sounds worse than ever.

[ELS]

Different Short Hills. It figures, thanks for the info. Yes, Springfield does border Short Hills for a bit.

[XRdsRev]

A very good general website is Glen Valis' "NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION" http://users.rcn.com/gvalis/ggv/NJrev.html

Also do a Google search for "CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HERITAGE AREA"

If you are interested in the Revolution in New Jersey don't forget the reenactments of the Battle of Bound Brook NJ, April 12-13, 2003 (Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Franklin & Bridgewater NJ) and the reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth June 28-29, 2003 (Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Freehold NJ).

[Dutchy]

Outrageous and disgusting behavior in N.J.!!

[Exit148]

"I went to Glen Ridge high ----"

What year? (If you don't mind my asking.)

[Flipyaforreal]

Oh, let's just say more than 10 years ago, Lol.

[hellinahandcart]

There are 51 on the NY City Council. There were two vacancies and one abstention/absence at the time of the vote.

One of the vacancies was filled just today, after a count of absentee ballots. But NY1 won't tell me whether Gentile of Bay Ridge is a Democrat or Republican, so I can't hazard a guess as to how he would have voted.

I should have said "The abomination passed by a vote of 31-17; who knew there were 14 Democrats in this town with a clue?"

[Exit148]

My kids graduated in '76, 77, 78, & 80. My husband looooong before that. (Now I'm dated!)

[Malsua]

I lived in Montclair for 4 years, my wife for 20 years.

Our close friends(we rented 3rd floor apt in their house) are huge liberals. I used to mix it up with them.

This doesn't suprise me in the slightest. The town holds that artsy farsty night every winter. Many of the residents are uhm, well, you know...a bit light in the loafers. I used to ride the Decamp 66 into Manhatten daily for 4 years and I overheard enough conversations that I'd be suprised if they didn't pass some anti-American resolution.

-Mal

[Coleus]

Yep, and Montclair now has the MidTown Direct into NYC, a one stop ride...

[Coleus]

Thanks for the info, Cross.

[Sub-Driver]

makes me feel better.............NOT!