Puzzled Looks
I was tipped to this article in the New York Times (of all places) by the Newsbusters site (Tim Graham writing). This is an enormously revealing article about the anti-war protests in Washington, DC yesterday. Probably a lot more revealing than ANSWER would like, in fact.
Judging by the speeches and placards, the marchers on Saturday set their sights on sweeping goals, including not only ending the war but also impeaching President Bush and ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Many carried Answer Coalition signs bearing the image of the Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara.
Brian Becker, the national coordinator of the Answer Coalition and a member of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, said the group held out little hope of influencing either the president or Congress. “It is about radicalizing people,” Mr. Becker said in an interview. “You hook into a movement that exists — in this case the antiwar movement — and channel people who care about that movement and bring them into political life, the life of political activism.” (Emphasis added)
In a speech before the march, Cindy Sheehan, who made headlines in 2005 camping outside the Mr. Bush’s Texas ranch after her son was killed in Iraq, called the president and his military advisers “war criminals.”
“We want the people in the White House out of our house and arrested for crimes against humanity,” Ms. Sheehan said.
As they gathered before the march, the protesters met what several veterans of the antiwar movement described as an unusually large contingent of several hundred counterdemonstrators. Many were veterans in biker jackets who said they had come to protect the nearby Vietnam Memorial, citing rumors that had circulated among veterans groups that the demonstrators planned to deface it.
Crossing the bridge toward the Pentagon, the marchers met another group of about 50 counterdemonstrators by the Arlington Cemetery, one holding a sign that said: “Go to hell traitors. You dishonor our dead on hallowed ground.”
Near the Pentagon, police officers in riot gear spread across the road, effectively blocking the demonstrators from approaching the building. Five people were arrested by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency for “failure to obey a lawful order,” said Cheryl Irwin, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
Many in the crowd said they were unfamiliar with the Answer Coalition and puzzled by the many signs about socialism. Several said they had come from across the country for a chance to voice their dismay at the war. (Emphasis added)
Just a question. Is it more dismaying to be against the war or to find you have associated yourselves with people who want the US overthrown? Inquiring minds would - very seriously - like to know. Are the folks who went just to protest the war happy with keeping company with folks who think a murderous, mass-murdering thug is a hero? Really? Are you sure? Or are you being used by manipulative agitators who are trying to overthrow your country? Figure it out for yourselves. You have been "hooked" into for purposes you never intended. And you are being used - very, very thoroughly.
