Posted on 03/24/2003 8:28:08 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
Inconveniences caused by protesters minor in context
TJ Jourian
This is an open letter to all you pro-war and anti-protester imbeciles out there. You wanted your war, and now you have it. I hope you're happy because there are millions across the globe who aren't.
In fact, they're downright pissed off and disappointed, and they're not afraid to show it.
I'm talking about the hundreds in East Lansing and Lansing who have been marching and protesting; the thousands in San Francisco and Chicago who refuse to roll over and play dead; the hundreds of thousands in Athens, Greece, who will not remain quiet; and countless others in all corners of the world who will not stop showing their resolve against this fascist war. How can the rest of you ignore such numbers? How can you not see what kind of damage this war has already done and will continue doing for years and decades to come?
On March 12, a week before the declaration of war, several members of various anti-war groups blocked the entrances to the Frandor Shell station on East Saginaw Street. The protesters were desperately trying to get the powers that be to pay attention to them, and once again they were ignored.
You didn't like this one bit. In fact you tried running over them a few times, shouted obscenities and told them to go home.
Someone yelled, "This is the U.S. We have the right to get gas." You definitely do, and that's exactly why all those troops are in Iraq: to get gas.
You think you were inconvenienced?
I wonder how much this war has inconvenienced the family and friends of the Jordanian taxi driver, the first casualty of war, according to The Associated Press.
On Thursday, a few hours after the attacks began, close to 100 of us took to the streets in East Lansing, marching from the Marriott at University Place on M.A.C. Avenue through campus all the way to the Capitol.
We made a pit stop at Demonstration Hall where ROTC cadets are trained to demonstrate our support for the troops. Some protesters, including an army veteran, stepped up to voice their condemnation of a system that forces college students to resort to joining the army just so they can pay their tuition, while these same programs are increasing in middle schools and high schools nationally.
They called for higher education to be fiscally accessible for everyone who wants it and is willing to learn.
So when you condemn protesters for not supporting those who are fighting this bloody war by showing us pictures of your family members and friends, I tell you to listen closer to our message. We do support the troops. We want them all to return home, unharmed and safe, which will not happen for some.
The march continued on Michigan Avenue where we took over three lanes of traffic all the way to the Capitol. If it took you a little longer to get to your destination, either because you had to find an alternate route or trail behind us, then I have no sympathy for your so-called pain. What about those in Iraq who can't get to their destinations because those destinations don't exist anymore? Do you have any sympathy for them?
Then the next day, realizing that our voices continued to not be heard, we took our actions a step further. At 7:45 a.m. a group of protesters assembled ready to take over a small part of Grand River Avenue.
Traffic was blocked from 9-11 a.m. using a car that had anti-war slogans spray-painted and people chained in and around it. Others linked arms surrounding it while the rest of us carried signs, chanted and marched across the crosswalks.
Watching the news that evening, I heard your complaints. Some of you didn't like being woken up at 8:30 a.m.
Boo hoo!
What about those who were woken up at 5:30 a.m. when the first air raid sirens went off this past Thursday? What about those who have no homes to sleep in, who can't sleep anymore or who will never wake up again?
Yet again, you complained of being inconvenienced.
I wonder how much more inconvenienced you would be if instead of a group of 100 peaceful protesters, you were faced with a bomb that was dropped in the middle of the street.
You informed us that the war had already begun. Gee, good thing you drove by, otherwise we would have never known. We were too busy being an inconvenience to realize that.
You talked about inappropriate actions. Oh, so exercising our First Amendment rights is inappropriate? But I thought that was the whole premise of this war: freeing the Iraqis so they have the so-called freedoms that Americans take for granted every day.
Fourteen people were arrested for exercising those freedoms. One of those arrests involved a female protester who was standing on the sidewalk. She was thrown to the ground, cuffed and then yelled at to get up even though she had a broken foot.
Serve and protect the people?
More like serve and protect the White House.
For those of you too busy flipping us off and yelling obscenities to listen to our messages, here they are, for your reading pleasure:
"Drop Bush, not bombs!"
"Stop the war, feed the hungry."
"Bush, you liar! Your cowboy ass is fired!"
"Whose streets? Our streets!"
"What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!"
"Hell no, we won't go. We won't die for Texaco."
"2, 4, 6, 8. Stop the violence; stop the hate."
TJ Jourian is an LBGT Concerns intern.
Know the enemy folks, it's right here in tax-funded university newspapers.
Not to be of course confused, with the tax-funded war.
"Stop the war, feed the hungry."
"Bush, you liar! Your cowboy ass is fired!"
"Whose streets? Our streets!"
"What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!"
"Hell no, we won't go. We won't die for Texaco."
"2, 4, 6, 8. Stop the violence; stop the hate."
I can't stop laughing!!!
While they destroy property.
I know. I was there.
Yep. Lots of damage. Like Iraqis having freedom. Like Iraqis someday voting voluntarily for who they want for president. Like happy Iraqis dancing in the streets as they praise the Allied forces. Like happy Iraqis no longer living in fear under a terrorist dictator. Like happy Iraqis no longer being raped/tortured/killed for voicing their opinions. And we know we can't have that kind of damage, now can we? /sarcasm/
These peaceniks' signs should say "Freedom for Americans, but not for Iraqis" since they're saying the same thing with their stupid slogans.
Forces??? Gee, I managed to go to college (no parental $$$) by WORKING!...something these ungrateful pukes know nothing about.
I never would've figured out those initials, but when I clicked on the article, it showed this persons 'dome' and that brought it all together for me. Thank you for that and I'm Still LOL.
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.