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Show Editorial """" I Last week, the nation's capitol 1 and law makers saw a different type I of protest against the Vietnam war. I Thousands of veterans who had I fought in Southeast Asia were dem-I dem-I onstrating, urging the President and I Congress to immediately withdraw. I The most poignant point came when I they marched by the thousands, I soldiers, widows and mothers to the I capitol steps and there threw metals I of honor received for valor and I patriotism fighting for the United I States military in Vietnam. I Never before had such a unified I group of veterans protested against I what they felt was an "unjust and I immoral war" where the United I States "had no business." The capi-I capi-I tol had seen college students, labor-I labor-I ors and mothers and wives of POW I protesting, but never before military I people, those actually engaged in I fighting the war. This was impressive I and caught the sympathy of many of I the policy makers in Washington. I However, the protests beginning I today are not in this same class. They will accomplish nothing except to infuriate both proponents and critics of the war. Organizers of the protest have stated their aim to keep the government workers from their jobs by blocking key intersections of Washington. By demonstrating their ability to "close down" the government, govern-ment, stopping Congress and other government agencies from operating, they believe they can secure an early end to the war. Again this protest is unlike others in the past years where the protests were first against the war. This one is first against the government in that it is first a sign of power, and of the disruptions these protestors can cause and continue if their demands are not met. This theory of ending the Vietnam war by thwarting the business of the capitol has been challenged and criticized criti-cized severly by many critics of the war, both in and out of congress. President Nixon, calling a special press conference at the western White House, said that the right to demonstrate for peace abroad "does not carry with it the right to break the peace at home." He asserted that "we are prepared to deal with it" if there is any illegal conduct. "We will arrest those who break the law." He continued saying that neither he nor Congress will be intimidated by the protestors, that neither will listen to them and that the policy of this country is "not made by protests in the streets." What affect then will the protest have? Very possibly there could be violence, both on property and persons. per-sons. It will be obstructing the rights of others. It will be showing the same intolerance and insensitivity that the protestors have issued against the administration. Little good will come of the protest. After the Kent State tragedy last year and after the Cambodian invasion, it was generally realized by critics of the war that the battle to end the war, as the President has reiterated, will not be won in the streets. Many at that time gave up what had become almost the "protesting game" forfc more realistic game of power pontics. pon-tics. Young people engaged in pot cal activites, ran for ofe supported those candidates whote expressed their views and in "game" they won their greatest cess. This is the game that needsic be continued, not the annual spar.- protests. . With a presidential election a)f-away, a)f-away, students should begin nc-organizing nc-organizing their political po those candidates who will war rather than demons ra j power by stopping the WJ traffic. Millions have come to that the war is a mistake the United States should" as soon as possible The d comes in the methods. But is, that most are sympatt the protestors of a year a , ally speaking, these f; should be played upon no u k streets, but fron i the vc J from the political where their power is |