It was the most difficult thing I've ever done.
Those guys are professional leg-breakers.
I know. My grandfather was a Teamster for many years. As much as I admired him, he was no choirboy. The ironic thing is that I know he would have enjoyed kicking in the head of a certain 60's draft dodger.
I fear that your admirable dedication to freedom and the rule of law may have momentarily overcome your judgment.
Not at all. Look at it this way. In October, 1998, everyone thought Clinton had gotten clean away with it, and had skated on impeachment. Clinton shows up in the Cradle of Liberty, and big crowds are there to support him. I was the only protester there (at that time). It seemed the whole world had given him a pass. So here was my choice: I could either raise my sign and get my head handed to me, or give him the pass that the whole rest of the world--it seemed at that moment--had given him, and make it unanimous.
Furthermore, I knew that if I didn't raise my "COWARD!" sign, I'd never be able to face myself in the mirror again. My accusation would become my name tag.
I'd do it again in the same situation. I'd like to believe that I'd feel the same way if I'd really copped it that day.