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As you may have read, on our naughty little sister blog and elsewhere, the long-lived Wednesday evening protest at the Orange Circle has started to get overwhelmed by knuckle-dragging pro-war Freeper counterprotesters. (I’ve always understood the adherents and activists of the far-right FreeRepublic.com called themselves Freepers, not Freeps, but maybe I’m just old-school.)
I’ll post the protesters’ appeal for reinforcements below, and urge all war opponents to get their act together and start joining these very cool ladies every Wednesday at 5:30, for at least a few weeks until the Freepers bugger off. But if I didn’t have my own take on this kerfluffle I wouldn’t be blogging.
I think the temptation so far is to frame this, and perceive it, as a defenseless group of peace-loving ladies needing our protection from a gang of tough motorcycle-riding steroid-pumped War Hawks.
In point of fact, Code Pink, the ladies who have run the protest for all these years, are NO SHRINKING VIOLETS. They’ve been doing this on the Orange Circle since way before it was cool and popular to be against the war, and their sisters up in Berkeley (admittedly a different environment) have faced down Marine recruiters. On the other hand these Freepers, if they’re like any I’ve met, are a bunch of soft, effete Armchair Warriors with no military experience or physical courage, hiding behind loud slogans, tough talk, leather jackets, and their own numbers (unlike our crowd, many of whom actually served in Vietnam or Iraq.)
No, the outrageous thing is that we 70% of Americans who are now against the war (maybe it’s 60-something% in the OC) have allowed the anti-war group at one of our holiest protest sites to be outnumbered by brainless Bush-worshiping dead-enders. Get your act together, progressive patriots of Orange County, and come help out at 5:30 today; show the world that we Americans want this STOOPID WAR over now!
Back in March 2003 when all this was starting, a few of us were already against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Why? Not because we’re against all wars (not all of us anyway) but because we just happened to read and think a little bit. Yes, I realize the majority of Americans were terrified by 9/11, and confused and misinformed by the government and media. But now we’re just glad that we’re not in the minority any more, and we welcome all you new converts to the anti-war cause, and promise not to tease you for taking so long to wake up and smell the coffee.
Let me tell you a little story. At the beginning of the war a few of us started a weekly protest at Edinger and Goldenwest in Huntington Beach. People yelled and threw things at us, while occasionally someone would pull up slowly and quietly, and sheepishly confide, “I think you guys are right.” A pro-war counter-protest developed across the street which grew by the week. Holding up signs that read “Nuke Iraq!” and “F**k Iraq!” (which as far as I could tell was not the official Bush position), their more enthusiastic participants went so far as to cross the street, push us, and try to grab our signs. One of my favorite signs of theirs was “Kick ass for cheap gas!” (I wish I could find that person now; gas was about $1.67 back then!) During a more civil moment, a female counter-protester explained to us that she backed the invasion of (secular Saddam Hussein’s) Iraq because she “didn’t want to end up wearing a burqa” – one of those comments it’s hard to know how to respond to. And we really had them confused whenever we joined in whole-heartedly with their chants of “U – S – A!! U – S – A!!”
But now, since around 2005, it’s been the opposite: Most passersby honk, wave, flash thumbs up or peace signs; while others pass sullenly with their heads down. The very rare dissenter these days will yell something and keep driving as fast as they can; trouble is, they can never seem to think of anything more interesting to yell than “George Bush!”
Finally if any of you think that protesting the War is uncool, a throwback to the 60’s: it’s not, it’s the hippest thing a young person can do these days, it’s “the New BLACK.” Come protest today at the Orange Circle; pretty girls from Chapman University will walk down and join us spontaneously; truckdrivers and local lowriders will take extra loops around the Circle to honk and cheer.
(I was hesitant to post this because I can’t actually be there THIS afternoon due to a rehearsal of the musical Sweet Charity at Garden Grove High School, and I don’t want to be a sort of Chickenhawk myself asking people to do something I’m not going to do. But Art Pedroza will be there for me, and he’s big and scary; and I pomise to be there the next few Wednesdays, with my American flag [which the rightwingers cannot be allowed to own] my leather jacket, and a big peace sign!)
Dear OC Code Pink Activists and Supporters,
I need to let you know that for the past 6 weeks or so, a group of right wing extremists called FREEPS (http://www.freerepublic.com/home.htm) have been counter-proesting us at our weekly Traffic Circle vigils. These idiots are specifically targeting Code Pink in several locations including Redlands and now Orange. And their numbers appear to be growing. They showed up en mass for our vigil on March 19th commemorating the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq invasion. However, we had large numbers that evening too. But last week there were only about 10 of us and about 30 of them.
They wear brown leather jackets, carry lots of American flags and anti-Code Pink signs, and play patriotic music. They arrive about 1/2 hour before us and try to dominate all 4 intersections of the Circle before we can get there. They stand very close to us, verbally harrass us, and a couple of them have threatened us. One even tried to rip down our banner. They have taken pictures of us and followed us to our cars.
We have called the police several times, but have not had much assistance from them yet. However, one of our members went to the Orange PD yesterday and talked to the Watch Commander about them. The police are aware of us, but did not know about their recent arrival to our vigil. So hopefully they will be more responsive to us now if we have to call them.
The bottom line is that we need your help now! We need Code Pink OC to outnumber them! We have been holding our weekly vigil for over 3-1/2 years! And I greatly appreciate all the support and participation that each of you has given to our Code Pink chapter during this time. But now we need to show the FREEPS that we are serious about working for peace and that we will not be intimidated.
So I am asking each of you to please start coming to the Circle once again as often as you can for the next month or so to show support and solidarity. Otherwise we may
have to end our vigil. And bring a video camera if you can so we can document their actions.Thank you all for your efforts for peace!
Kathy (Code Pink OC)
And these protests, for and against the war will accomplish what exactly? I guess everyone needs a hobby. Blogging, protesting, stamp collecting….
On behalf of the Orange Police officers I want to thank both sides for the extra overtime pay!
Hey Vern, do some counting or have Art do some.
Your statement that 70 percent of Americans or 60 percent of Orange County Americans are against war. But elsewhere “Kathy” of code pink says they be out numbered 3 to 1.
Does that mean in the city of Orange, they are for “war” 75 percent to 25 percent?
I attended tonight’s rally, about 47 of us [the “end the war” folks], the “freepers” chickened out. I attended six or seven anti-war protests prior to the invasion and an equal amount since but those of you who protest weekly are amazing! We need more people like you to keep fighting the GOOD fight!
Silly Cook. I know you have brains dude, so don’t act like a dope. ONE WEDNESDAY the pro-war Freepers came out in force, so they outnumbered our friends (lots of us had stopped bothering to go.)
Good excuse for an update though. Like I said I couldn’t be there, but everyone told me there were about 50 anti-war protesters versus 8 Freepers. So, by Cook’s flawless logic, Orange County is about 88% against the war!
#1. You probably never heard us brag about it, but these folks did get Loretta Sanchez to stop voting to fund the war. Enough people doing their parts will really make a difference. I await your report, brave anonymous – what have you done lately for any cause? Something, I hope?
#2. Thank you as well! #4 was Fiala. Into the bin you go buddy! Now stay there!
Another outstanding post, Vern. You have mastered the art of synthesizing valuable information with wit, and — dare I incite the Fiala’s of the world — a remarkably impartial and fair assessment of issues that should be appreciated by both sides of the spectrum. Thank you!
Well Vern if it makes you all feel good and you make some new friends then I’m all for your protests. Just don’t pretend you are really having an impact on anything.
50 anti-war protestors.
Not bad for a Wednesday.
Maybe if they would protest in Tehran instead of Orange it might have some effect on what is happening in Baghdad.
Cook = pith. Thank you good sir. 😛
SMS
Hey anonymous #8, did I ever mention that we convinced our Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to stop voting to fund the war last year, with a combination of meetings with her and protests? I must never have mentioned that or you wouldn’t keep making stoopid remarks like you just did. I guess I will have to mention that some day.
Of course protests isn’t all we do or should do. (And I bet you have some really good ideas of how to end the war, that I’m just waiting for you to share with us!) And making “some new friends” is pretty cool too, but only maybe about the #10 reason to protest – maybe this is worth a whole new essay.
Cook and smart-aleck SMS with her perpetual 😛 hanging out, I can’t affect what they do in Tehran or Baghdad. All we can do over here is to try to get our troops home. “Pith” is really easy when you’ve nothing to say!
“All we can do over here is to try to get our troops home.”…. in other words – capitulate.
#12. “CAPITULATE?” To whom?
Are you still under the impression that somebody in Iraq attacked us??Well, then, bless your dead-ender heart. Most of the rest of us know that this war should never have happened, is going nowhere, and isn’t worth one more maimed, brain-damaged, paralyzed or dead US soldier or marine. BTW volunteer yet, much?
Come on Vern. You protested to a Democrat. That strategy is still debatable. You didn’t help stop the war, you just gave Loretta cover to vote against funding it, which I’m sure she wanted to do anyway.
Now I’m wondering. Did she ask you to do it?
SMS
#12. “CAPITULATE?” To whom?
“With it or on it.” We’ve all heard that Spartan mothers said it while giving their sons shields before their first battle. With it = victorious hero; on it = fallen hero; without it = coward.
12/15 It’s becoming clear that you are WITHOUT it. The recruting office in Santa Ana is at 2144 N Tustin Ave. Hie thee to it, brave Chickenhawk! (Or just keep on wanking to 300)
SMS I know you like to beat dead horses but I’m getting tired of the Loretta story. She used to vote to keep funding the war, we convinced her to stop. If more folks had been that successful we would have stopped all funding of the war and Bush would have had to bring the troops home.
And we went to Dana’s and Royce’s lots of times too (well, sometimes I was there, there are a lot of us.) Now that you bring it up, I guess it’s possible that even though they didn’t seem that receptive at the time, we helped to get those two to where they are now, expressing “grave misgivings” against the war and coming out AGAINST permanent bases which is practically heresy for Republicans.
Those are examples of us pressuring our representatives, sometimes successfully, to help end the war – through meetings, protests, etc. Public protest is good for other reasons too. I think I’ll write something for next week: “Is Protest, when all is said and done, Wanky?” But first I got another deadline for the Orange Coast Voice.
What War?
US military deaths between 2000 to 2006 @ 9016, more than half are not Iraq or Afghanistan related.
US military deaths between 1992 to 1999 @ 13,417 No War, More Death.
Since no one in Iraq has attacked us (U.S.) , then it must be the terrorists who are targeting the U.S. troops, and those are the ones that congress has provided the funds to hunt down and fight.
Terrorist are a hard group of people to fight. They mostly fight in areas crowded with civilians. It would be great if a war on terrorist could be fought someplace out in the open in an area without a lot civilians around. I think a flat area in a desert would be perfect and far away from U.S. citizens and assets.
Vern, being the local OJ-blog anti-war spokesperson , Do you know of a better place to conduct the war on terrorist? Heck those dumb terrorist are dying to get to the wide open desert, almost a dream come true.
Pinche Cook. First of all, I was taking issue with Chickenhawk #12/15’s use of the word “capitulation” when nobody in Iraq attacked us. Well, nobody in Iraq did attack us, doofus. That includes “terrorists.” No terrorists in or from Iraq ever attacked us.
Maybe you were born after 2003 – if so, I apologize – but someone should have told you, WE INVADED IRAQ. Of course they’re fighting back now (and fighting each other.) But the rest of us putting a long-overdue halt to Bush’s and the neo-cons’ horrible idea isn’t capitulation, it’s long-overdue sanity.
And your use of “statistics” is on the level of “damn lies.” Don’t know where you got them, but the problem is obvious – If it’s true that the figure from 2000 to 2006 is 9016, and it includes deaths from other places than Iraq and Afghanistan (I/A) then it obviously includes non-combat-related deaths – if there were 5000 combat-related deaths from 2000 to 2006 somewhere else, we would have heard of it! And so obviously it does include non-combat-related deaths in I/A, and that obviously adds up to the vast bulk of this 9016, probably almost all of it.
It’s hard to imagine you’re so stupid, naive, and/or uninformed as not to know that the low figure of about 4016 (last I checked) given out by the Pentagon excludes the hundreds of deaths by accidents and diseases, it excludes if you make it to a hospital in Baghdad, Germany or the US and still die of your wounds, it excludes friendly fire incidents as well as “Fraggings” (like the time early on that a disgruntled soldier tossed a grenade into a tent of officers), and it excludes SUICIDES, whether in I/A or back home in the USA — the military refuses to even keep count of the suicides by vets back home.
Why the f–k are you so gung-ho to dismiss the sacrifices of our troops in Iraqi Fiefdom, what’s your agenda? Are you going to snicker “What war?” to the families of the 4000+ killed in combat, or the 70,000 maimed, burned, paralyzed, or brain-damaged?
Then when I look at your figure of 13,417 deaths from 92-99, it dawns on me what a willful liar you are – these are obviously World War II and Korean war vets dying of old age and prostate cancer!
Cook stands revealed as either a shameless liar with an agenda, or a simple wanker who doesn’t care what he writes as long as it gets a reaction.
Just like Chickenhawk #12/15, wanking to his Spartan films, Cook glories in sending others out to die “on their shields.” I wonder how much Cook is willing to personally sacrifice for his noble war on “those dumb terrorist.” I would guess the answer is, nothing.
Oh,unless he considers making an ass of himself on the local blogs a “sacrifice.”
Vern, it just seems to me that having the battle ground in Iraq is more preferable than here.
OK, Cook. That’s a pretty common position, known as the “flypaper theory,” that the government started trying out in 2004, summarized as “fight them over there or they’ll follow us here.” There are a lot of problems with it.
First of all, the terrorists who attacked us are – well, they have branches all over – but mainly they’re in Afghanistan and Waziristan (the mountainous wild-west of Pakistan where most people think Bin Laden is), NOT Iraq. The folks who are fighting us in Iraq are 99% Iraqis who just want us out of there. Look at a map – that’s far from Iraq, with hostile (to Al Qaeda) Iran in the middle.
2. There’s not a “finite number” of terrorists, and our invasion and occupation of Iraq has created more, and continues to create more terrorists. It’s easy for “them” to fight us “here” and “there” at the same time. Granted they haven’t hit us in the US again since 9/11 – maybe some folks in Homeland Security are actually doing their jobs (or maybe the next attack will come – surprise! – right before the next election.) But terrorist attacks have gone way up since our Iraq misadventure – they’ve been hitting our allies in London, Madrid, what was it Bali, etc. etc.
3. You know who hates the flypaper theory, the “fight ’em there so they don’t come here?” The freaking Iraqi people. Supposedly we went there to liberate them from a dictator, now we’ve made their country a perpetual battleground.
Those are just three problems that popped into my head with that position, I know there was more.
Now, tell me where you found those horrible statistics that pissed me off so much, so I can go THERE and give them hell.
Hey you’re the guy who liked the music on my website so how bad can you be. Hope you can come to my next concert in HB, Mothers’ Day. (No politics involved)
PS Cook and EVERYBODY who cares about what’s happening in Iraq should read this new essay by one of our most brilliant and pungent essayists, Tom Englehardt, on where exactly we stand now:
12 Answers To Questions Nobody is Bothering to Ask About Iraq