The Walpole Peace and Justice Group presented the banner on the Town Common again this morning, and then sent it on to the
Peace Abbey in Sherborn, where it will be on display for a while. Unfortunately (very unfortunately), we have to update the stars.
We had great supportive waves and honks -- but it seemed that more folks felt comfortable yelling obscenities today. Not sure what that says about the mood of the country. One man called us "haters". I'm not sure how or why he reached that conclusion, but it's hard to imagine that he was shouting with anything but hate in his own heart. Another man yelled, "Yeah I do hope they all come home so they can pound your f---ing a--es!". Good morning to you, too!
By this evidence, those who support our troops are all about hate and violence. If our troops are in Iraq, I sure hope they don't carry this hate. We will never win a war of hearts and minds if they do. If our troops are in Iraq, I sure hope it's not because they believe violence will turn thoughts and feelings in that country. The imposition of our will on another nation through violence is the exact opposite of liberty. So, I hope our troops are people of peace, even if we have to carry guns. I certainly hope our troops do believe in liberty, even as they work to re-shape a nation we destroyed.
One man approached us in a curious way at first and left very angry when he understood our message. He said, "you should be glad they're over there so you can be free over here". To me, that's the non-sequitur: terror, 9/11, WMDs, freedom, service, democracy -- from where I stand it seems none of those things were ever, or are yet connected by the war in Iraq. In fact, I think we are losing more freedoms here very day because of the Patriot Act, the loss of power of the FISA Court, and the imperious policies of the current Administration.
But I think it's nearly impossible, with a President who equates peace protests with enemy aid, to have people understand that I do support our troops. Not only with my tax money ($440 billion?), but also in spirit. I truly believe that if there is any good to come of the fighting over there, it's because of the good work of our troops.
But that does not mean I agree with the policies (or the misguided reasoning!) that placed them there in the first place. Like
Representative John Murtha, I believe that opportunity to do anything positive is, essentially, gone; we've done all we can.
But today, we actually had some people approach us in order to make donations (do we take donations?), and also to join. Working with this group continues to fuel my hope.
[President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) with image of 228 victims]
