| Show Protesters too harsh to president Susan Harker Contributing Writer The atmosphere in Washington Washington Wash Wash- Washington ington Square was electric I felt that I was attending the annual convention of the Ku Klux Klan I kept looking around to see if there was an effigy of President Bush burning on a cross I even half-expected half to see Rocky Anderson in a white robe and a pointed hat There was no physical violence but the people were angry This feeling made me seriously seriously seriously seri seri- wonder if I should have brought my two young daughters with me Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected expect expect- ed there to be cheerleaders at a protest But they were there cheering such intelligent intelligent intelligent intelli intelli- gent chants such as Bring the troops home bring the troops home now To add to their festivity they adorned themselves in red t-shirts t that said pom not bomb Amid all the confusion were the banners and signs blasting our president The signs ranged from Got Democracy to other off- off color comments relating to the presidents president's name There was a long line of ladies waiting to use the antiquated antiquated antiquated an an- portable restrooms provided by our taxpayer dollars Since that line is al always always always al- al ways slow moving I figured that it would be the best place to start I focused onan on onan onan an attractive looking lady of about 70 years I asked her if I could interview her and she readily agreed What happened next stunned me This sweet looking grandmother grandmother grandmother grand grand- mother instantly turned into a fire-breathing fire dragon I stepped back because I was afraid of being consumed bythe by bythe bythe the flames of hatred The people of Iraq were far bet- bet If If Rocky knew what I truly thought of his protest the smile would have immediately been wiped right off his smug face ter off under the regime of Hussein so damn insane as I call him she said The president and his entire cabinet should be forced to go live in Iraq among the poor people they are killing Thousands of our young men are being maimed I would rather be dead than to come home homelike homelike homelike like them I then told her that I was going to play the devils devil's advocate and ask her some other questions I then proceeded proceeded proceeded pro pro- to tell her that Sad Sad- dam and his sons once made one of their servants drink drinka a gallon of gasoline After fter this poor man had finished off the gas he was shot in inthe inthe inthe the stomach so and his sons could watch him explode I also mentioned that the World Health Organization Organization Organization Orga Orga- stated that between and Kurds were murdered between the years of 1987 1987 She looked shocked by what I had said but quickly quipped that George Bush was far more evil than Sad Sad- dam and that we had no business being over there tormenting these poor peo peo- peo I then asked her if we were wrong to go into Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many during WWII That was different I still hate Japs she said I knew I wasn't going to get anywhere travel travel- ing down that avenue so soI soI soI I moved deeper into the crowd I hadn't gone very far when I realized that I Iwas Iwas Iwas was standing right next to Rocky Anderson My 9 year-old year daughter had expressed a desire to start a newspaper at her school She felt that a direct quote from Rocky would be bea a fabulous start When I explained explained ex- ex explained to Rocky what she was doing he immediately seized upon a photo He quickly grabbed and her year old sister Kimbrell in a bear hold The media went nuts At least 15 cameras snapped photos People were saying what a wonderful thing to teach your children protesting protesting protesting pro pro- testing against an evil manis man manis manis is a God-given God right I had to place my notepad over my mouth because I was trying desperately to stifle a hearty laugh If Rocky knew what I truly thought of his protest the smile would have have- immediately immediately immediately im im- mediately been wiped right off his smug face I have to admit th though ugh that seeing h him m be cute with my children did soften my attitude towards him Well Wen at least until I heard the quote he gave He told my daughter If we had a different president we would have a better world President Bush is a horrible person The anger that prevailed amongst the protestors was too oppressive to me I grabbed my children from the clutches of Mayor Anderson Anderson An An- derson and quickly left All AllI 1 I can say of my experience is that if stars are big balls of gas then Rocky Anderson is certainly a rising star The next stop on my protest protest protest pro pro- test tour was Liberty Park I Bush Continued on Page 6 R Rocky Rocky's oc k 1 y s protest unnecessary Continued from Page 1 As I wandered toward the thet t protestors I felt a palpable change in the atmosphere People were waving flags and there were only a few derogatory posters being being being be- be ing waved around It was wasa a more serene experience I Patriotic songs were being being being be- be ing ing sung and people were smiling This was a happy gathering Rob Connelly of the American Legion was wasa a keynote speaker He said that people often have a difficult difficult difficult dif dif- time speaking at these rallies because of the lumps that form in their throats and the water that falls from their eyes This happens because because because be be- be- be cause they know what they are doing is right America is not the enemy the terrorists terrorists terrorists ter ter- ter- ter are said Connelly Our military is a voluntary voluntary voluntary volun volun- tary position and the loss of any soldier is a tragedy We need to remember those who were attacked in the embassy in Beirut and the 1 16 6 other attacks on innocent American citizens The right to protest must be carefully weighed so we dont don't give our enemies propaganda to use against us Th The Mayor of your city must be terribly confused if he thinks that he is supporting our troops Freedom is not free Next on the platform was Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff His speech was very strong I hope I never make an enemy of him There is an unspoken rule among politicians that we dont don't bad mouth each other said Shurtleff When Rocky Anderson spoke last fall against our troops it was shameful but butI I kept my mouth shut I can canno canno canno no longer keep my mouth shut I support the right for Rocky to be stupid I support support support sup sup- port the troops who fight for his right to be stupid Rocky your search for national national national na na- na- na publicity will leave you destitute How can you support our troops when you oppose their command- command in er-in-chief Shurtleff must have felt that lump in his throat because water started to fall from his eyes His speech was strong but it was not hateful This is where my protest journey ended The playground playground playground play play- ground equipment kept calling to my children and andas as my father used to say The natives were getting restless I left my journey with a deeper respect for forthe forthe forthe the President of the United States He must have the hide of a rhinoceros to deal with all the criticism he Ii I |
