Posted on 12/10/2001 9:37:04 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
Anti-war demonstrators, war veterans square off in peaceful gathering
Monday, December 10, 2001
By MIREIDY FERNANDEZ, mmfernandez@naplesnews.com
and I.M STACKEL, imstackel@naplesnews.com
Anti-war demonstrators mostly made up of Collier County schoolteachers and students faced off against Vietnam and Korean war veterans Sunday afternoon, with each side armed with the symbols of their philosophy — protest signs and American flags.
The confrontation was peaceful, and although police were on the scene no one was arrested during the three-hour protest.
Wearing a green poster that read "Peace not War," Kathleen McLoughlin said she doesn't support violence of any type.
"Why don't we listen to giving peace a chance?" asked McLoughlin. "One war doesn't stop another war. Is that a solution?"
"You just have to feel disgusted," said Barry Kotek, 49, who favors the war on terrorism. "Our country was attacked Sept. 11; we did nothing to provoke the attack and several thousand people died. We have a lot of troops in harm's way who need our support."
A heated argument broke out for about 15 minutes shortly after the 3 p.m. rally got under way when the motorcycle-riding vets surrounded the anti-war demonstrators and revved their engines, creating a thunderous clamor.
"Where are the cops when you need them?" asked anti-war protester and rally organizer Ian Harvey, 46, a media teacher at Lely High School and a member of A.N.S.W.E.R., for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a New York City-based organization created in the aftermath of Sept. 11.
A handful of Naples police officers showed up minutes after protesters arrived at the Naples Plaza parking lot at U.S. 41 and Golden Gate Parkway, where both sides either waved American flags or held posters condemning the war efforts. The anti-war protest was called by Harvey, but war vets and others who support held a counter-protest.
Naples police Lt. Robb Bock said he had responded to the scene as a way to "try to keep the peace."
At least one person didn't feel safe during those tense minutes when the vets argued with some anti-war protesters and questioned their patriotism. Organizers estimated there were nearly 100 pro-war demonstrators and 25 anti-war protesters.
"They surrounded us over there. It was pretty intimidating," said Margaret Williams, 54, who attended with her son John, 15, a Gulf Coast High School sophomore.
But tempers remained cool despite attempts by some to verbally wrestle the other side to their point of view. Passing motorists along U.S. 41 looked on and waved or honked at the sight of dozens of American flags being waved by pro-war demonstrators.
Mark Huber, a sophomore at Lely High, said he joined the protest when he learned that Harvey, who is his English teacher, was organizing the rally. He said Harvey openly talks about America's war on Afghanistan in class and that most of his classmates agree with the teacher and also disapprove of the war.
"He's not brainwashing us," said Mark, 15. "He's telling us about things that are happening and that are in the news. We're deliberately bombing a lot of people just to kill a few."
In response, Keith Martin, a member of Collier's POW-MIA organization and a biker, tried to explain to Mark why Collier's war veterans were so emphatic about waving the flag and sticking up for U.S. troops abroad.
"These people are war people," Martin said of his fellow vets. "They're very patriotic and feel this way. They are nice people."
War supporter Barbara Wnek also joined the conversation with another point:
"I read that (Osama) bin Laden is ready to make his largest attack ever on the world and having our children out here protesting that we're trying to stop an evil man from spreading evil throughout the word is awful," said Wnek, 46.
Among the anti-war protesters was Amanda Woodward, a junior at Lely High who wants the United States to stop its attacks on Afghan soil.
"I don't agree with how we're fighting back," said Amanda, 16. "I think we should go to the world court."
John Dwyer, an English teacher at Lely High, said he wants the United States "to stop killing people" and felt it was his "democratic duty to come out and support this."
"This is an opportunity for me to express my opinion," said Dwyer, 58. He and another instructor, Katherine Kando, who teaches English for speakers of other languages at Naples High, said although they were worried about the Collier County School Board's reaction to the protest, they believe everyone is protected under the First Amendment.
Vietnam War vet Joe Hayes said it was painful to see Americans turn their backs on their own country and their service men and women at a time when they need support.
"It hurts me ... it feels like there's traitors in my country," said Hayes, 63. "(Terrorists) killed 5,000 people and (the anti-war protesters) don't worry about that. I'm a religious person but my honor is for country."
Anti-war demonstrators held signs like "Our grief isn't a cry for war," "War is terrorism" and "If (Timothy) McVeigh bombed WTC, would we send him back to Michigan?"
Eddie Filer, of Big Corkscrew Island, was also at the protest supporting the anti-war demonstrators.
"I don't think we belong in Afghanistan because we're over there bombing the country and destroying it," said Filer, 77. "We should do what we can but I don't think we can get rid of the terrorists in this country. I've always been against war."
Ray Truelove, another Vietnam War veteran and organizer of Sunday's counter-protest, said he wants the School Board to explain why there are teachers in the school system who, in his opinion, are "teaching anti-Americanism."
"We want to know some answers," said Truelove, 61. "I'm going to talk to the School Board and the PTA so that parents know what these teachers are teaching young children. This is pure anti-American."
Others like Orin Smith said they felt "neutral" about the U.S. war to hunt down terrorists, dismantle terrorist networks or the manhunt for bin Laden. He said he wasn't in support of either side at Sunday's demonstration.
"I'm kind of confused as to whether (President) Bush should send the troops over there," said Smith, 85. "I was brought up as a Quaker. I think the troops are fighting for the world — not just for our country. I'm in the middle because I'm not sure how they're going to resolve this problem and get rid of terrorists. I think the fighting now is a short-term solution."
Stop his poisonTarget has been identified. Shall we make Mr. Harvey a poster boy for what is wrong in our schools? A.N.S.W.E.R. is one sick group. Stalinists.Editor, Naples Daily News:
Ian Harvey identified himself as "teacher, mass media, Lely High School" at the end of his letter which was full of misleading statements.
A teacher of mass media, he ought to be ashamed of himself.
Mr. Harvey claimed "hundreds, perhaps thousands of innocent civilians have already been killed by U.S. bombing." Even the Taliban did not make such an outrageous claim. America is not bombing Afghanistan because "the hijackers were from there" as he claimed. America is bombing Afghanistan because they are harboring and refusing to turn over Osama bin Laden, who is responsible for killing 6,000 innocent people in New York and Washington.
Mr. Harvey compares Timothy McVeigh to bin Laden and wants to know why we did not bomb Michigan, his home state. The comparison is pitiful and demagogic.
Mr. Harvey suggests that we accept the Taliban offer to turn bin Laden over to a third country where he can be tried and punished. Where do you suggest, Mr. Harvey — Iraq, Iran, Syria or Libya?
Mr. Harvey's letter clearly shows his hatred for America — tucked into his comfortable office in Lely High School, living in La-La-Land, paid by our tax dollars.
Mr. Harvey may be injecting daily doses of his poison into young minds.
The Collier County School Board should fire Mr. Harvey immediately to stop further poisoning of young minds at our expense.
God bless America.
— T.N. Ayasun/Marco Islan
I see Lely High has two Alumni Associations so far. The
Class of 86 and the Class of 91. This really needs to be stopped. Any chance of Alumni getting together and forcing this issue? More than a few parents are upset I would imagine. And I bet if people dig around, there is a whole lot of dirt on Mr Ian Harvey which makes him unfit to be around other people's kids.
Mr. Harvey is definitely not an unbiased teacher. The parents need to know this. I'm sure a good number of them would then ask for his resignation.
Post the numbers and we can freep the school board!
Can someone post the phone number of the Naples Board of Education?
Larry: Thanks for posting those newspaper letters by locals....looks like there is already much displeasure with Mr. Harvey's teaching hate-American to these kids.
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