The Fourth of July 2007, and Peace vs. War

I am 59 years old and last Thursday I received my first death threat.

It was on the corner where I and others stand weekly for peace and justice. We mostly get honks with big smiles, thank you's, V signs and thumbs-up -- sometimes from veterans or families with tears in their eyes.

But last Thursday, a young man who was a passenger in a car moving through our intersection in two lanes of traffic claimed to have served in Iraq and shouted, "You f__in' Democrats!" Then, in a rising crescendo of rage, he screamed, "I WILL BE BACK TO F__IN' KILL YOU!" over and over, as he struggled to climb out of the car window. He had made it half-way out the window and was still screaming when the car went out of view, speeding north.

We weren't sure if he was angered by our mere presence, or by something we said or did in the confusion. Maybe it was one of the signs? The latest numbers of U.S. military and Iraqi dead and dollar cost. "Impeach Cheney First". "Peace Now" with an American flag. "If you believe in this war, ENLIST". Or the rainbow "PEACE" banner. We think and talk about it, but don't know why, or if he will come back.

Speaking for myself, I do not like this war and want it to stop. I believe that its true purpose is for global control and huge profit-making deals to benefit a relative few at the expense of the rest. I feel outraged that people who signed up for the National Guard and the military to truly help our country are being sent to Iraq again and again to subdue its citizens against their wishes. And that they come home to financial and relationship difficulties without the psychological support and other benefits they desperately need. The guy who wants to kill us is probably one of them.

While most drivers express agreement with our stand for peace and constitutional rights, those who don't seem to think that we are not "supporting the troops" and/or our country. Here are examples of what they say.

One young woman in an SUV shouted that we should be thanking our military in Iraq who are "keeping us free so our children can continue to speak English."

A young man out leisurely riding his bike said that the war is totally justified because that's how we get their oil which we need.

An old man in a run-down car said he wants to kill all Muslims.

A woman slowed her Lexus and politely challenged us to lay equal blame on Clinton.

An old woman silently thumbed her nose at us for a full minute during a red light.

A man in a suit and a BMW wanted revenge for 7000+ dead Americans: September 11 victims of Saudi Wahabi extremists, plus the military killed during our invasion and occupation of Iraq -- he says they were all killed by the same enemy in the same war.

People report us to the police because they think we are breaking the law expressing our views on public property, apparently unaware of the First Amendment.

So here we are, living with...
...people who talk and act this way to their neighbors because they are full of ignorance, hate and fear;
...a government that is bankrupting us and destroying the Constitution they swore to protect and defend;
...and a growing number of people throughout the world who are very angry with us who could be dealt with more effectively through diplomacy, a just attitude on our part, international intelligence gathering and criminal justice -- instead of arrogance, urban combat, torture, bombs, and nuclear intimidation.

At the time of the American Revolution, two-thirds of the colonists were either loyal to the Crown or indifferent. Only one-third fought for freedom and created our Constitutional democracy.

I am not going to stop speaking out, despite threats of violence or discouragement by "friendly" cynics and cowards. My father and grandfather fought wars for this, and I continue their fight in my own way. I want to honor their courage and sacrifice, and to pass on freedom and a country of laws and tolerance to my children in their memory.

The least I can do is speak up.