Not a Completely Peaceful Protest (Swastikas at Tampa anti-war protest)

Bay News 9 ^ | March 19, 2005 | Bay News 9

[PPHSFL]

Hundreds of people filled Tampa's courthouse square Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, as thousands did the same throughout the country.

"After three years, it's a failure," said protestor Mabili Ajani. "It's a clear and utter failure."

That belief was shared by many of the anti-war protesters, and some sounded off about how to get out of Iraq.

"We're going to have to clean the mess up," said Michael White. "Somebody's going to have to. We need to get our children out of harm's way. Strategic withdrawal is where it's at."

The message to bring the troops home resonated with Major Raymond Simmons, who retired to the Bay area after being wounded in Iraq. He sported his uniform at the rally and became part of what was supposed to be a peaceful anti-war movement.

One of the flags a protester waved was branded with a swastika, a sight that angered Simmons, who argued for 15 minutes with the waver of the controversial flag about what type of protest was appropriate to mark the occasion.

"Our president made a lot of goofball mistakes, but Americans are not Nazis," said Simmons.

Simmons and his adversary eventually agreed to disagree. Simmons displayed his own flag to honor the troops and said the the reference to Hitler degrades the men and women who are fighting overseas.

"They do not represent the peace movement," said Simmons. "We're trying to bring the guys home with respect and dignity. This is not what they're trying to do."

This weekend, President George Bush asked Americans to be patient as political leaders in Iraq create a unity government. He said he's encouraged by the progress and that victory in Iraq will lay the foundation for generations to come.

[backhoe]

Hey, I wonder if that chick is serious. She's kinda hot.

Oh, I reckon she's serious- looks like a "professional" lady, to me. Not that there's anything wrong with that... [ /Seinfeld ]

[weegee]

After three years, it's a failure," said protestor Mabili Ajani. "It's a clear and utter failure."

>>No it isn't. Why don't you say this to a free Iraqi you coward!

But Saddam is out of office and will never rule Iraq again. And his sons are gone. To a Saddamite, that is utter failure.

[backhoe]

Someone should ask this useful idiot if she is aware that Mumia is off death row.

Yes, indeed. That stuff gives me flashbacks to the bad side of the sixties. The oppressive self-righteousness of the counterculture always bothered me, and so does this junk-reasoning.

[expatpat]

Good post, Karl.

[Erik Latranyi]

Islam must come to terms with the unchangeable fact that there are other beliefs in this world.

It will. First we must ensure that those Muslims who believe in democracy are supported and in power. That is our goal in Iraq.

[Mercat]

Decades ago, my husband and I were sitting on a ship on the Amazon watching the other "gringo" passengers load. One of the last passengers was a pretty young woman, scantily dressed, alone, and as she came up the gang plank, every man turned his head to look and just as quickly, once they saw that she was bare footed and had sores on her feet and legs, they looked away. It was pretty amazing to watch.

[weegee]

Muslims have to accept that they may not always even BE in power (note, I did NOT say Arabs, Indonesians, Afghans, or Pakistanis wouldn't still rule those lands).

Islamic nations imply Islamic Territory. While Imam huff about the implications of admitting that they still consider slavery (including sexual slavery) OK according to modern interpretations of the koran, they say that such slaves must be seized in jihad and taken to Islamic territories before they are divided up.

I don't want to see radical clerics to become a suppressed minority. I want to see them eradicated, they are incompatible with all other cultures.

[weegee]

Muslims have to accept that they may not always even BE in power (note, I did NOT say Arabs, Indonesians, Afghans, or Pakistanis wouldn't still rule those lands).

Islamic nations imply Islamic Territory. While Imam huff about the implications of admitting that they still consider slavery (including sexual slavery) OK according to modern interpretations of the koran, they say that such slaves must be seized in jihad and taken to Islamic territories before they are divided up.

I don't want to see radical clerics to become a suppressed minority. I want to see them eradicated, they are incompatible with all other cultures.

[sport]

Judging by the company she keeps, if you did do her, not even the doctors would be able to name all the veneral diseases you would contract from her.