Posted on 01/27/2003 8:31:44 PM PST by aculeus
Anti-war slogans have been sprayed on a prominent memorial to firefighters killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks as anger over a possible United States-led strike on Iraq intensifies.
In a clear assault on American foreign policy, slogans such as "You Get What You Deserve", "You Reap What You Sow", and "USA + UK = Axis of Evil" were spraypainted on and around the memorial, which was built on the corner of Madras and Kilmore streets, in central Christchurch, last year out of steel girders recovered from the debris of the World Trade Centre.
The Armagh Street Bridge and bluestone pavers on the Firefighters' Reserve walkway alongside the Avon River were also sprayed with anti-war slogans and a damaged American flag was hung near the memorial by the vandals, who struck overnight on Sunday..
The attack, which has been condemned by city leaders, peace activists, and the American Embassy in Wellington, comes as the military build-up in the Gulf continues and chief weapons inspector Hans Blix reports back to the United Nations on the outcome of the UN inspections in Iraq.
Mayor Garry Moore, who this month joined anti-war protesters on the streets of Christchurch, said yesterday there was no justification for the attack on the memorial.
Using one form of violence to protest against another form of violence – war – was wrong, he said.
"Those misguided individuals who have painted on it have ignored the message of that site, which is that when people push their views down each other's throats ordinary people suffer."
The Christchurch City Council had never envisaged the memorial would be targeted by those with anti-American sentiments and was disappointed that what was essentially a peace memorial had been defaced in such a way.
Rob Green and Kate Dewes, co-ordinators of the Peace Foundation's Disarmament & Security Centre in Christchurch, said they were shocked and saddened by the attack on the memorial.
"We utterly condemn actions which desecrate memorials to victims of violence.
"This will only deepen polarisation of views about the so-called war against international terrorism and US determination to invade Iraq," they said.
However, the vandalism was evidence of a "deep anger, frustration, and powerlessness at the seemingly unstoppable drive for war led by the US and British governments, despite the inevitable humanitarian catastrophe for the already-suffering Iraqi people".
Natalia Batchelor, of Peace Action Network New Zealand (PANNZ), said the attack on the memorial was not part of any organised protest activity.
PANNZ was a "family-friendly peace movement" and did not want people "doing awful things" in a misguided attempt to promote the cause.
As city council contractors yesterday worked to clean up the memorial, the American Embassy also spoke out against the attack.
"Desecrating a memorial to innocent people from 80 nations, who lost their lives in a senseless act of mass murder, accomplishes nothing in the way of constructive dialogue," an embassy spokeswoman said. "We don't believe that this is the appropriate forum or method for such protests."
Canterbury-West Coast regional fire commander Brian Joyce was furious the memorial had been desecrated:
"I find it very disturbing that somebody out there views a monument dedicated to those who lost their lives through their own dedication to helping others as a political statement about war," he said.
"They have missed the target. It's not something I can buy into. Firefighters in every country enjoy the respect of the community they serve and no-one expects to see such disrespect."
Christchurch sculptor Graham Bennett, who designed the memorial, was disappointed it had been misinterpreted by some as a symbol of September 11, when it was a tribute to firefighters killed.
Most are very immature and can't adjust themselves to a world where difficult grown-up decisions must be made to protect the weak and free those in bondage.
These types just cannot wrap their simple minds around that concept and act out because that's their emotional age.
You said it.
Looking at the bigger picture...
Did you ever see any news items referring to the commissioning of this memorial for the Sept 11 firefighters?
Did you know that firemen in every fire station in New Zealand participated in nationwide collections from communities for New York fireman?
Did you realise the opportunity for the surviving NY firemen to come here for a break was instantly made open to them?
Probably not. As in the US, the media pounces on any possible chance to put the boot into the US and right wing causes.
In this case, a destructive action paves the way for non-thinkers to see the US in a bad light. It's all about leverage. The goodwill in building such a memorial on foreign soil is cheaply hijacked in order to advance anti American sentiment.
Maybe you could run a count of any memorials in the US to New Zealand's Tangiwai or Mt Erebus disasters - or even WWII memorials. It won't take you long at all.
they call themselves pansies. that has to be intentional.
BUMP
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