Posted on 04/04/2003 9:46:50 AM PST by Utah Girl
War and peace, it turns out, is nothing to joke about.
An e-mail suggesting the best way to deal with anti-war activists is to punch them in the nose has incited outrage among Salt Lake City peace activists, who have demanded a police investigation.
But Kerry Howell, the Salt Lake City man who says he forwarded the e-mail to a few friends, thinks everybody needs to lighten up.
"Anybody with half a brain can see that [the e-mail] is just a joke -- it's funny. Nobody could think they were really being threatened," said Howell.
Peace protesters are making an issue of the cyber-jest to "draw attention to their cause," he said.
Rick Chase, who opposes war in Iraq and has participated in anti-war rallies, doesn't see any humor. A friend forwarded the e-mail to him earlier this week.
Howell said the e-mail he forwarded originated before America launched an offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. "I have no idea how [Chase] got it," he said.
The e-mail, titled "Encountering a Peace Activist," advises "listen politely . . . and look very interested" in the protester's argument.
Then, "in the middle of their remarks, without any warning, punch them in the nose . . . Hit them again [and] repeat until the desired results are obtained and the idiot realizes how stupid of an argument he/she is making."
Chase accuses Howell of trying to incite violence. Unlike his right to protest, the e-mail is not protected by the First Amendment, in his opinion, Chase said.
"In light of what's happening in the world, this is not funny," said Chase. "I respect and support all diverse opinions until a person expresses the desire to harm somebody . . . He has the right to say whatever he wants, however stupid, until he starts making threats."
A press release issued Thursday by members of People for Peace and Justice of Utah on Thursday said two homicide detectives from the Salt Lake City police department were pursuing the case along with the FBI.
Actually, "there's probably not a lot we will do with it," said Salt Lake City police Capt. Scott Atkinson.
Police filed an initial report after receiving a complaint and will likely interview Howell, Atkinson said. But because it contained no specific threats, the e-mail is most likely not criminal, Atkinson said.
Diana Hirschi, who issued Thursday's press release, worries the e-mail might jeopardize protesters, who have already been pelted by eggs during recent rallies.
"I'm a pacifist," Hirschi said. "But if somebody punched me in the nose, I don't know what I'd do."
I would think that a simple (overpowering,brutal, and devastating) punch would be O.K.
The "interview" will no attempt whatsoever to "clarify" the situation -- its goal will be to intimidate Howell or to trick him into saying something -- anyting -- that they can use to haul him in. When you're in a situation like this, especially in this lucky situation when it's already right there in the paper that "we can't really do anything about it", simply be totally uncooperative. Don't even let them talk to you through the door.
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