White Noise Insanity

On Monday, July 3, I went to my old home town of Blue Hill in support of the 24-hour Bring the Troops Home Fast that was being conducted there and in towns across the nation. I joined old friends, members of Peninsula Peace and Justice and Veterans for Peace and others on the steps of the Blue Hill Town Hall.
Meanwhile, across the street, a contingent of pro-war protesters set up shop, serving hot dogs and drinks to their group.
The pro-war group had tried the previous week to get the Fast moved off the town hall property, contending that protests against the government were not appropriate on government property. Thankfully, the Blue Hill Selectmen cited the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, all of which applied in this case.
The contrast between the two groups was stunning. The fasters were serious, somber, and resolute, focused on the war, and determined to do what they could to bring our good military men and women home from that war as soon as possible. The pro-war group was an angry bunch, mad at their neighbors on the town hall steps simply for not towing the pro-war line.
At one point I decided to talk to the pro-war group. It was an interesting discussion. Captain Tom Kelly (Ret.) of Blue Hill, wanted to ignore the reasoning (or lack thereof) that got us into the war. He just wanted the Fasters to know that their actions were demoralizing to the troops, all of whom, Kelly contended, were happy to be serving in Iraq. Others insisted Iraq was central to the attacks on 9/11, and seemed stunned when I informed them that George W. Bush himself had admitted, belatedly, that Saddam Hussein had not been involved. And so it went.
Anyway, I hear I was on Channel 7 News in Bangor. And an article appeared in the Weekly Packet, Blue Hill's hometown paper.

# posted by KayInMaine @ 7/12/2006 05:11:00 PM