E-Mail Peeves Antiwar Protesters

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 4/4/2003 | Kevin Cantera

[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."

[Utah Girl]

I have passed along this email too. Perhaps the SL Police can come investigate me. /sarcasm

Most anti-war protestors have such thin skins.

[trebb]

Ditto - I got a kick out of it and sent it to some friends...

[elephant]

whine alert = LIBERAL!

[kevao]

the best way to deal with anti-war activists is to punch them in the nose

Does anyone know the definition of civil disobedience? Couldn't it include a simple punch in the nose?

[jim35]

This is criminal? But saying "I want to see a million Mogadishus" is not? What a freaking joke.

[CyberCowboy777]

"I'm a pacifist," Hirschi said. "But if somebody punched me in the nose, I don't know what I'd do."

He just proved the point of the email and does not even realize it!

[dead]

"I'm a pacifist," Hirschi said. "But if somebody punched me in the nose, I don't know what I'd do."

Bleed, most likely.

[El Laton Caliente]

I think everybody on the net has seen this one...

The left has no sense of humor!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

If its the one I saw, it involved punching them until you provoked a self defense response. I always liked it, and passed it along myself.

[illiac]

I sent emails to an anti-war group. The were going to have me arrested for stalking. Sheeeeesh!

[wideawake]

Actually, "there's probably not a lot we will do with it," said Salt Lake City police Capt. Scott Atkinson.

LOL!

[MizSterious]

What do they want to do? Suppress the 1st Amendment--at least for the pro-U.S. side?

What a bunch of maroons.

[RaceBannon]

I am disgusted at the PEACE NAZIS calling for an investigation into an e-mail joke, but not into genuine death threats against GWB, and our military officers!!!

Besides, you do not teach a PEACE NAZI to fight by punching him in the nose, you punch his wife or daughter. Know why?

Because if he STILL doesnt fight back, he proves what a coward he is, for if he wont defend his family, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING HERE PROTECTING US CITIZENS, you would only be proving what a loser he is to his family, too, not just himself.

This entire war is about that, defending our nation against an outtsider who has been killing us since the 1993 WTC bombing, the 1995 Murrah Federal Building bombing, his complicity with Osama which is continuing to be proven...

[agenda_express]

Exactly. These idiots will defend themselves by force, but they don't want us to defend innocent Iraqi's by force? Dumbasses.

[honeygrl]

Well if they can't be punched in the nose can we atleast spray paint them Red, White, and Blue? If they aren't going to act patriotic we could atleast make them LOOK patriotic.

[tbpiper]

"I'm a pacifist," Hirschi said. "But if somebody punched me in the nose, I don't know what I'd do."

If I remember the email correctly(which I enjoyed immensely), steps #2 & #5 should be repeated...often.

[Johnny Gage]

"I'm a pacifist," Hirschi said. "But if somebody punched me in the nose, I don't know what I'd do."

Typical peacenick response. Most likely he'd run crying home to mommie.

[JennysCool]

I cannot recall EVER hearing about a more paranoid, manic-depressive, self-pitying and delusional group than the American Left has become. Amazing.

[smith288]

this article itself is worthy of emailing.

[missycocopuffs]

The email proves that these peace activists do not understand irony. The United States has figuratively been "punched in the nose" by the extremist islamists over the course of decades, and we did not fight back.

Well, now we're fighting back...