Posted on 10/16/2001 3:56:35 PM PDT by RaceBannon
Clueless Anti-War Crowd Never Sleeps in Amherst
By Izzy Lyman
October 16, 2001
The clueless anti-war crowd in the five-college area of western Massachusetts never sleeps.
In Amherst, at the “International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space,” impressionable children could “fold a crane” for peace. Adults could pin a “War Is Not The Answer” button to their tie-dyed shirt. Hand-outs were also distributed that offered information about “the harmful impact on cetacean life by the U.S. Navy’s experimental use of active sonar systems.”
A Mount Holyoke professor named Jean Grossholtz gave a long-winded speech denouncing the mobilization of American armed forces around Afghanistan, as well as pontificating about bottled water (or was that bottle-nosed dolphins?). One speaker at this anti-Star Wars pow-wow even invited the crowd to “stand with Barbara Lee,” a reference to the California representative who cast the lone vote in Congress opposing military action in response to the September 11 attack upon thousands of innocent civilians.
Over at Crocker Farm School - also in Amherst - a crowd of 100 gathered to talk about their anxiety following the hijackings. The most memorable advice of the evening came from another solon of Mount Holyoke College, Rev. Andrea Ayvazian, dean of religious life. She suggested that families deal with post-attack stress by donning a Muslim headdress. (Huh?)
In Williamsburg, “keith harmon snow” (who, according to the Springfield Union-News, demands that his name not be capitalized) also insists on becoming a martyr for the First Amendment. Not surprisingly, the pro-Osama sign that he placed on Route 9 - Love Thy Enemy, Matt. 5:4 - has been repeatedly vandalized.
Not All Pinheads
Fortunately, not everyone in the area is acting like a pinhead.
Back in Amherst, Arnold Silver (that’s capital A, capital S), a feisty English professor at the University of Massachusetts, organized a small “Support our Servicemen” rally on the very same spot that local activists hold their weekly peace vigil.
Arnold and friends held plain white paper signs with simple instructions for drivers: “Support our Pilots? Honk Twice.” Toot-toots, I am happy to report, were not infrequent.
Several American flags were waved, but no lame fashion tips were offered or long-winded speeches were delivered.
Nevertheless, the ‘we-like-our-president’ group had opinions about the “Food Not Bombs” counter protestors that tried to muscle their way into occupied territory. Chris O’Neil of Shutesbury said of the manner-challenged left-wingers: “They’re outraged against us defending ourselves. Everybody wants peace, but we’re inviting future attacks if we don’t respond.”
His dad, John O’Neil, of Pelham, said that he applauds the military campaign against the Taliban as the way to “cut the head off the snake.”
“To a terrorist, every American - peacenik or patriot - is an infidel,” he added.
A Closing Thought
As to this long-standing standoff between the patriot and the peacenik, allow me to close with the thoughts of one Louisiana Dave, an army veteran. This is what he wrote me:
“Reservists and regulars, kids and old pros, doing the work that men must do to allow latte-laced discussions of moral equivalence. Somewhere on a filthy hill, hard men wait to do their duties, to locate and destroy those who would practice evil. While these men await that moment, anointed thinkers castigate them.”
Brave soldier, sailor, airman, and marine, know that for every bongo-playing pseudo-pacifist that dishonors you by participating in a peace rally, there are hundreds of loyal Americans eager to salute you.
Support Operation Enduring Freedom! If you are interested in corresponding with and/or sending care packages to overseas military personnel, consider joining the adoptasoldier.com program.
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| Dozens of U.S. warplanes bombed Taliban troops and weapons in Afghanistan October 16, 2001 and the Pentagon unleashed two AC-130 'Spectre' flying gunships in a rapidly-intensifying air campaign, defense officials said. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold said the United States and Britain had struck military targets and guerrilla bases with 'well over 2,000' bombs and missiles since strikes began on October 7 and significantly weakened the country's ruling Taliban. A U.S. Air Force AC-130H is seen in this undated Air Force file photo. REUTERS/File Photo/US Air Force |
Great quote
Thanks Race--Izzy is a winner!
FReegards,
Actually, this does make sense, as long as one is carefull to line it with plenty of tinfoil.
She has done articles for New American, EnterStageRight, the Hampshire Gazette, and even FrontPageMag I think. She is TOPS...(course, I know her, so I'm biased...)
To: editor@massnews.com
Subj: Fwd to Izzy Lyman, please.
Date: 10/16/2001 8:45:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Just a quick note to thank you for your beautifully written story "Clueless Anti-War Crowd Never Sleeps in Amherst". One of my friends showed it to me, and it so moved me that I felt I should write you.
No offense intended, but it is not often you see this kind of sensible work coming out of MA.
Again, thank you.
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