Patriotic People Protest for Peace

LAS VEGAS, NV: Saturday, January 27^th, 2007 from 1 to 3 pm, United States George D. Lloyd Federal Building: They came, they stayed, they raised their voices in grievance, and they held up their signs enthusiastically and waved to passing people on “The Strip” nearly two hundred patriotic people protested for peace – and against Iraq and Bush!

Only one couple stood alone on the opposite side of the street “protesting the protestors” – a ratio of about a hundred to one!  Neither side was professionally organized.

Young, middle-aged and old, black, brown, yellow, red and white, men, women and children – it was a very diverse and representative crowd that showed up to protest the war in Iraq and the failing policies of President Bush.  Though passionate, their anger was seriously steeled and very polite as I conducted on the spot interviews (and about a dozen of Las Vegas’ finest police stood by watching closely – and looking sharp).

The Young Democrats showed up with their core supporters.  The local chapter of DFA (Democracy For America) helped organize the event, as well as Move.On members, ACT (America Coming Together) the new “One Corps” supporters of John Edwards and a few SEIU members.  No political party pundits or operatives were present.  It was apparent, finally, the local activists and advocates are learning from their past mistakes and how to consolidate their resources.  Hopefully, they’ll get some more professional training?

Most were Democrats, but I found a number of Non-Partisans, Independents and even a few disgruntled Republicans!  A significant number were veterans, either with the Vets For Peace, Democratic Veterans & Military Families Corps Caucus, the Nevada Veterans Coalition – Joint Task Force, and many unaffiliated veterans that oppose the war in Iraq.

All agreed “We must support our troops” and the general consensus was “Bring Them Home” and many voiced equal concern for fully funding the Veteran’s Administration.

I started by asking “Why are you here today?”  Conroe and his wife Sue are “angry and ashamed that Bush has violated the Constitution and launched an illegal, preemptive war.”  A former USMC Corpsman (Marine Medic), Conroe, “Wants the Constitution to be respected and restored.”  Both feel that “Bush has not told the whole truth and has misled the country, from the start, into an unjust and unnecessary war in Iraq – but, they do strongly support the troops!”

One old guy, who looked like he was locked in the era of the hippie sixties, enjoyed the Bruce Springsteen music playing in the background and tapped his foot.  When I asked him “Why he was here?”  He gave a classic response, “I’m just here for the beer!”  No surprise, really, there’s always a few that just aren’t aware of what’s happening around them, there not helpful, but harmless – generally.  In fact, “far left wing looney-tunes” were few in number - thankfully.  This was obviously, a very representative and diverse group of Southern Nevadans – an excellent cross cultural sample in my opinion.

Ray (47) and April (36) were there with their two daughters Heaven (11) and Kenna (7).  The youngsters were selling Girl Scout Cookies to send over to the troops.  Their uncle is in Iraq and they have a step-brother that served in Afghanistan in 2004.  “I just want my brother home safe, not in a body bag, or a coffin, or wounded, or disabled – and I want him home now” April emphatically said.  Her husband Ray said, “I’ve been against the war in Iraq from the beginning – it’s an unjust war and we had no business going into Iraq in the first place – Iraq had nothing to do with 911.”

“I’m a Blue Star sister and I don’t want to be a Gold Star!” said April.  (NOTE: Blue Star families have a family member in harms way, Gold Star families have lost a member of their family).  Ray, April, Heaven and Kenna are a modern day All-American patriotic family doing their civic duty as engaged citizens – they are representative of the few who have “skin in the game”, only war is NOT a game and there is a lot more at risk than a little skin!  They were also very concerned about fully funding the VA for the disabled.

I bought six boxes of cookies for the troops – and tried not to break into tears publicly.

“Joe” a Republican Veteran didn’t want me to use his real name.  “I’m so angry with Bush and I’m angry with myself for being stupid enough to vote for him – twice!”  “I feel like I’ve been duped and lied to for over six years, and I’m fed up with the (Republican) party leadership – they are corrupt to the core, and they don’t represent most of us in the Republican Party!”  I asked, “If he’d consider joining another party?”  “Can’t do it, those damn Democrats are a bunch of dysfunctional derelicts, and the system is so screwed up Non-Partisans and Independents can’t participate in the primary election process – and I like voting in the primary’s.”

So, I asked, “What’s next?”  Surprisingly, “Joe” said, “I hope these investigations finally get us the factual answers and to the full truth, that’s step one – and if we have to go and impeach Bush, Cheney and the whole lot of them, well O.K. – no one is above the law!”

On that note, I thought I’d get the opposing view and opinions.  Across the street, Dale Lowe, an Army Vet that was drafted and served two years during the Vietnam Era (but never went into combat), held a large American flag.  He and his wife were “protesting the protesters” in their lonely effort to “voice another opinion - they support President Bush and the war in Iraq”.  Dale’s sign said “WE MUST WIN!” and “VICTORY!”  When I asked him to define “winning” and “victory” he stumbled several times, then, finally admitted he really couldn’t explain it.  “But, I’d think it would be when (the Iraqi) have a stable government, functioning justice system and freedoms…” he said.

When I followed up with the question, “How long do you think that will take and how long should America stay in Iraq?”  I got the same stumbling, and vague reaction.  “Well, I’d think a couple of years?”  Then I reminded him that this was year four?  “Well, yeah, I guess I mean five years, or so, but, however long it takes” he said, repeating himself. 

Then, I pressed the question on final time, “So, how long should America be in Iraq before we bring home our troops?”  Dale’s response was, “Well, however long it takes – we were in Germany for fifty years, right?”

His wife didn’t want to give her first name.  “I’m just tagging along with him” she said, “I just don’t like these protestors!”  So, you’re “protesting the protesters” I asked?  “Yep, they should not be out here doing this!” she said.  I replied, “That’s kind of ironic - isn’t that an oxymoronic position?”  She just looked puzzled, and said “Well, I’m not sure?”

Frankly, I was too embarrassed to ask them any further questions – for their sake.  But, in all fairness, though they could not clearly answer any of my questions, Dale and his wife provided responses as good as Senator John Ensign (R-NV) did recently in a televised interview on “Face To Face with Jon Ralston” when Ralston asked Senator Ensign “What IS victory?”  Ensign also stumbled and became vague, and failed to come even close to clearly and succinctly answering the question.  Obviously, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove have not gotten those talking points written, edited and distributed down to the local Republicans yet – Hannity and Rush can not seem to come up with answers yet either!

Maybe this would be a good time for the new Senate and House Leadership to request an updated National Intelligence Estimate, you know, just to get up to date on the current questions, and answers, and re-assess the facts – that might help a great deal!  Of course that will take several months since it was left out of the first “100 Hours” Democratic Agenda like all Veteran’s Issues were forgotten – AGAIN!

In the mean time, I’m happy to report that it seems a lot of patriotic people are beginning to exercise their duty by protesting for peace – and that’s a good thing!  As John Edwards said recently, “It’s time that we started being patriotic about peace!”  Personally, I think it is well past time, about four years late – but, as they say, better late than never!

Hopefully “We The People” won’t wait on any political party to lead the way.  Instead, I hope they will do what they did this time around, just take it on themselves to organize and work together in the spirit of cooperation for achieving mutual goals.  This was one of the best protests I’ve seen in over six years on the Nevada political scene, (that wasn’t staged by professional organizers) – I hope they learn, grow and do even better next time.

They will need YOUR support to do that.  Democracy is not convenient, it’s hard work, it takes effort and sacrifice – it is advanced citizenship – and it begins with laying down the remote control, getting out of the lazy chair, showing up at events and raising your voice!

I hope to see all my readers at the next protest for peace – holding signs and screaming!

Contact Vote Vets at: www.votevets.org

Contact DFA at: www.democracyforamerica.com 

Contact Move On at: www.moveon.org

Contact Voters For Peace at: www.VotersForPeace.org

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