Posted on 02/18/2005 9:51:12 AM PST by Impeach98
This week Move America Forward conducted a "Support the Troops" candlelight vigil across from the home of Steve & Virginia Pearcy.
The Pearcy's you will recall hanged a U.S. soldier in effigy - from a noose with an American flag balled up in the soldier's helmet - above the Iraqi flag of Saddam Hussein as part of their anti-war protest. In the adjacent window they hanged the Palestinian flag.
Despite pouring rain for most of the three hour vigil, several hundred people from northern California turned out to show that Free Speech works both ways - the Pearcy's do not own a monopoly on it, and free speech includes the right to oppose offensive displays that undermine the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Mark Williams of KFBK 1530 - Sacramento and Deborah Johns of Northern California Marine Moms for helping Move America Forward make this event a success.
I hope you enjoy the pictures from the "Support The Troops Candlelight Vigil" - Tuesday, February 15, 2005 from 7:00 - 10:00 PM Pacific.
Thank you.
Mark Williams was virtually alone in Sacramento's conservative media. He and Move America Forward were opposed by a competing a talkshow host and a new organization seeking to revise the defunct conservative Sacramento Union.
Basically some of the opposing arguments were that this mob (their word) was an unsettling tactic copied from the left, that it was a promotion by Mr. Williams, that it only publicizes the effigy hangers.
The public's outrage expressed in this manner (a vigil) was a "distorted way" of expressing support for the troops, said the opponents. The Union put vigil in quotes.
Mr. William's suggestion that hanging an effigy of a U.S. soldier should be pursued as a "hate crime" was sneered at -- well good, I can hang an effigy of a lawyer or judge or a minority. No problem! I am sure the Union and the other talkshow host will back me 100 percent. Sure.
IMO, again this is a case were -- IMO again -- the opponents cared more about the impact upon the Republican Party than countering the already widely publicized effigy of a U.S. soldier hanging from a house in Sacramento. Certainly, the troops in Iraq with connections to Sacramento knew about this. The opponents would have us say, Ho hum?
To be fair, one of the opponents allowed that neighbors putting up patriotic displays would be enough.
Thanks for the ping!
Love everyone who made it out there in the rain and countered the vile, mindless yippie Bezerkley scum who did this.
She's a lawyer for a law firm called Orrick, I believe.
Good job! I am so proud of all of you!
As soon as I heard about this, I wanted to be there! Good job to you all who stood against this crap! Free speech goes both ways, after all.
I have a sticker on my car: "If you can't stand behind our troops, stand in FRONT of them." I've gotten some extra dings on the buggy, but it's ok...... "I'm older, and I have more insurance".
The Pearcy's came up for the night to "crash" the vigil and had announced plan to erect their THIRD soldier effigy. But, faced with the public shaming from hundreds of protestors and dozens of media outlets covering such event they had a change of heart.
They can "sleep tight" at night, because their Airforce, Army, Marines, Navy, National Guard, and Coast Guard.... are all awake. Oh and their local police and firefighters, too. I pity these sad sacks.
These are deranged and ungrateful people - our troops are noble people to fight to protect their rights.
The deranged and ungrateful just don't get it.
The silent majority has found its voice.
Singing LOUD and singing PROUD!
Wish I could have been there.
Gosh, I wish I could have been there! I bet I would have seen a lot of familiar faces in the crowd.
Some things I really miss about California. Although, at this point, if I'm ever going to move back, the state is going to have to ditch its current descent into abject socialism.
I guess I should contact Dish network and tell them how much this military family appreciates the Pentagon channel.
I've never complained about the "Free Speech TV," an extreme left propaganda channel--why can't the left be as tolerant?
You mean, something like Dennis Kucinich? I've always thought of that look as the look of someone whose soul has departed for a friendlier abode. There just isn't anybody home.
"The silent majority has found it's voice."It's about time!
"Because they hate Bush and Conservatives", is the truthful answer that you will never hear.
Also, the real answer is that their philosophy that claims ownership of all tolerance cannot, by its nature, be tolerant.
Or, their soul has been replaced by something else.
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