Gunner's Blog

This past Saturday, the anti-war groups Code Pink and ANSWER co-sponsored a protest rally in the form of a march from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington to the Pentagon in an attempt to discourage and destabilize the Bush Administration's public support in order to end the War in Iraq. Calling for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, and led by one of our most infamous anti-war activists Cindy Sheehan, the crowd loudly advocated the cut-and-run approach to end the war. The march drew a sizeable chunk of airtime on all major news networks, and brought the issue of immediate withdrawal once again to the front pages of America's newspapers. Undoubtedly, Americans have seen the media's coverage of the anti-war protesters in Washington, and most will think that what they saw on CNN or Fox was all there was to be witnessed in Washington that day. However on the same day, on the same National Mall, another group of demonstrators congregated in support of another cause. The Move America Forward Organization, in conjunction with the Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder groups, comprised mainly of veterans, organized themselves into a counter-protest that rivalled the anti-war movement in every aspect. These patriots, conveniently excluded from the media's coverage of the St. Patrick's Day protests, convened in support of one sole mission in Washington that day, and that mission was to show their unwavering and unconditional support to the men and women of the United States Military.

The counter-protesters lined the sidewalks of Constitution Avenue, covered the grounds to the west of the Washington Monument and guarded the Vietnam Memorial wall from potentially destructive anti-war demonstrators (who had spray-painted the steps of the Capitol the week before) in a successful attempt at keeping the disruptive crowds from disturbing families visiting the sites dedicated to the memory of those who have honourably served their country. The number of counter-protesters, by the Park Service's estimates, actually outnumbered those of the anti-war crowd, and the Service estimated that about 30,000 counter-protesters were in attendance during the height of the rallies. One local news network even estimated that the pro-troop crowd outnumbered the antiwar crowd 3 to 1. This estimate is astounding, considering the fact that the anti-war groups had been planning the event for almost a year, publicly promising that 100,000 liberal supporters would show up, while the counter-protesters coordinated their own event in less than two months. Judging by the unexpectedly high turnout of anti-anti-war protesters on St. Patrick's Day, this nation's attitude is far from that of a defeated and hopeless losing team. In fact, according to several Vietnam Veterans with the Gathering of Eagles, Cindy Sheehan couldn't even be heard within her own camp during her keynote speech due to the overwhelmingly loud booing emanating from the thousands-strong Rolling Thunder and Gathering of Eagles veterans. Aside from the realization that this country does not overwhelmingly side itself with the likes of Sheehan, Fonda, Pelosi and Clinton, the scene in Washington last Saturday provided a revealing glimpse into the attitudes and personalities of those on both sides of this issue.

Looking at the 'camp sites' of each group, the protesters and counter-protesters, gives a metaphoric description of the true character of each group. On the anti-war side, protesters waved yellow banners calling for immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the impeachment of President Bush, and the firing of anyone associated with the war. Protesters waved the flags of Lebanon and Palestine, screamed about America's unjust occupation of the Middle East, and proclaimed to the nation that the war was unfair and the cause unworthy. No banners could be seen in support of our troops. No signs suggested that they had any faith in the American Government. Some even handed out fliers claiming that the Federal Government had engineered 9/11 to benefit Defence Contractors. The only American flags to be seen on the anti-war side were flown upside down, spray-painted with peace signs or slanderous accusations or thrown to the ground to be stepped on by the self-proclaimed 'just and righteous' activists. Some activists even went so far as to burn the flag in a shameful act of anger.

On the other side of the lawn were the pro-troop counter-protesters. To be seen and heard in their camp were patriotic songs and speeches delivered by military men and women and their families. Signs and posters called for unconditional support of the military. Participants held fundraisers to collect donations for troops dispatched overseas. Others posted banners reminding us of the horrific crimes our enemies have committed against us and against others in the past. Veterans told of their own service in Vietnam and a few of them spoke about their time in the Second World War. VFW representatives were in attendance to support today's troops and to fundraise as well. The crowd, mostly comprised of veterans, waved over 15,000 American flags, with a few state flags and military flags speckling the sea of red, white, and blue. No yellow banners decked the railing of the stage on the pro-troop side. No foreign flags or desecrated American flags flew over the crowd, and each and every veteran made sure that those on the other side of the lawn heard every thing they had to say, and saw everything they had to show. Veterans took shifts in lining the sidewalks surrounding the Vietnam Wall and other memorials to prevent potential defacing of the monuments or disruption of family visitors. The Vets remained calm and peaceful, with the exception of yelling a few jokes at some of the more comical hippie-like folks, who soon became known throughout the pro-troop camp as moonbats. Try googling that term of endearment; I bet you'll learn something.

At the end of the rallies, after the counter-protesters had packed up their flags and banners to send overseas to our troops in Iraq, and the anti-war group had crossed the bridge toward the Pentagon, the lawn still told a story about those who had occupied it during the demonstrations. On the anti-war side, trash and stomped banners and flags littered the ground in front of President Lincoln's sacred monument, all left for the D.C. Park Service to clean up. On the opposing side's half of the lawn not a banner or flag or any trash at all was left lying in the shadow of that tall spire honouring our first Commander-in-Chief, George Washington. The respectful attitudes of those supporting our troops stand in clear contrast to those who so feverishly oppose the war and the Bush Administration.

Labels: ANSWER, Anti-War groups, Code Pink, Col Harry Riley, Gathering of Eagles, Justin Till, March 17 2003, Pro Troops

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