Iconoclastic

The rally was part of a larger nationwide antiwar mobilization.

As I was leaving a fellow Iraq veteran pointed out a small gathering of counter-demonstrators and invited me to go with him across the street to confront them. I declined the offer. The Philly PD was out in full force and did a great job of keeping them separated from us. So I didn’t see the use.

I headed for my car that was parked in a garage on the same side of the street as the counter-protest.

I observed them waiving the flag and spouting out the same “we gotta fight em there so we don’t have to fight em here” nonsense. Proceeded by shouts to the anti-war protesters of "support the troops" over and over and over again.

From my observation the pro-war crowd had less than 10 people in attendance. It very well resembled the minuscule 24% of Americans who still agree with Bush. I actually for a moment felt sorry for the fools before I returned back to my realistic senses.

The point I’m trying to make is that there are still people out there dumb enough to believe in Bush’s crap, and they are truly subservient to this wacko mentality of lies, hate, and fear. It’s like they are members of a weird cult or something of that nature. Kinda scary.

For the past 5 years there have been harmless peace vigils on Saturday mornings in the Philadelphia area. These peace vigils are not so peaceful any more. Pro-war groups have decided to counter the vigils with a confrontational standoff involving intimidation, cursing, and needless thuggery. It has turned into a heated street battle between a peace group and a group that advocates for "total victory" in Iraq. Whatever that means.

They love to say we are fighting in Iraq for freedom, yet they persecute anyone who practices it for a peace.

Peaceful people are an easy target for this element to harass. And singing Kumbaya will only get you so far. In my experience with dealing with pro-war groups a diplomatic approach rarely ever works. The only way to deal with them is to stand united, strong, and pacify them with intelligence and facts. It doesn't mean they will go away. But make sure they know you won't either. Demonstrate your commitment and resolve to fight against their hatred and this illegal war.

A lot of these ardent Bush/Cheney supporters are actually veterans. And for the life of me I can't figure out what is driving them. They continue to play the patriot card with every hand. True patriots, in my opinion, have the ability to easily see right through these neocon war mongers/draft dodgers.

The indisputable facts are EVERYWHERE. I can’t get away from the bad news for a minute. Just turn on the TV or open up a newspaper and it’s in your face. The only way for me to avoid it would be to go down in my basement and hunker down with no outside communication and live off can goods like I’m in a nuclear fallout protection mode. I wrote that in a very sarcastic manner of course.

Is there any way to educate them? Will they ever wake up?

I guess I'm frustrated and venting because I already know the answer.