Hernando Today
Anti-war protesters converge on Brooksville, meet opposition
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Published: March 19, 2008
BROOKSVILLE -
At about 12:15 Wednesday afternoon, two very different viewpoints converged in a cacophony on the same downtown street corner.
"Bring home the troops," chanted anti-war protesters who came to town to make a statement on the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
"When the war's over," counterdemonstrators responded a beat later.
Motorists chimed in with horns, though at that point it was tough to tell which group they were supporting.
The stretch of shouting bodies and swinging signs along Jefferson Street came as stark reminders of the division that still exists in the country when it comes to Iraq.
About 60 anti-war protesters representing several Tampa Bay area groups organized the event in front of the courthouse, just steps away from the office of U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite. Brown-Waite, a Republican, was not in the office Wednesday but was in Florida on a personal matter, said spokesman Charlie Keller. Sheriff's deputies stood by the door of Brown-Waite's office. Brown-Waite had no comment on the demonstration, Keller said.
Some two dozen counter-protesters arrived before the 11 a.m. scheduled start time and commandeered the corner of Jefferson and Main streets that the anti-war group hoped to use. At one point, the anti-war demonstrators straggled south to Main and Broad Streets, then to an opposite corner at Jefferson and Main.
Eventually, the anti-war group came back to its original place, standing side-by-side and even intermingling with their counterparts so that a "Misery Accomplished" sign bobbed in the air right next to one that read, "Thank You, U.S. Military."
"That was not our intention, but I guess emotions took over," said Brian Moore, chairman of the Nature Coast Coalition for Peace and Justice, which co-organized the protest.
While a few tempers flared during the two-hour demonstration, things never got physical. Brooksville police officers zeroed in and quickly defused the few shouting matches that erupted.
Laura Smith, 59, of Weeki Wachee said she initially "bought" the reasons for the invasion of Iraq, realized those reasons were fabricated and finally felt compelled to act.
"I've been on the couch for five years now, and I think it's time I got off the couch," Smith said. "I never want to be duped like that again."
Glyn Carver, an Illinois resident visiting Brooksville with his wife Isabel, said he showed up to protest "the lunacy of five years of a war that should have never started."
"When there's an anniversary like this, you have to do something," he said. "Now they're saying we have to stay because of the terrorism we've created there. It's an outrage of epic proportions."
Anti-war protesters are tired of attacks calling their patriotism into question, said Isabel Carver, 55.
"The idea that to support the troops you have to support the war is outrageous," she said.
"This is such George Orwell doubletalk," said 61-year-old Gulfport resident Don McKeating, nodding to the counterdemonstrators. "I think fear, pride and greed are the things motivating this country, and those things manipulate people."
Demonstrators had placed about two dozen pairs of shoes — from battered boots to tiny pink sneakers — on the courthouse steps to represent the thousands of Iraqi civilians who have died since the invasion.
About 15 minutes before noon, Melissa Baird emerged from under a black burka, the traditional garment of Muslim women. Baird, of Tarpon Springs, had been lying motionless on a blanket on the courthouse lawn, clutching a baby doll with red paint spattered on its face.
The goal, she said, was also to bring attention to Iraqi casualties. Baird declined to give her age but said she'd been around to protest the Vietnam War.
"I'm sorry to say we're having to do it again," she said. "We didn't learn anything."
'Finish it now'
Ed and Maxine Kolbe of Brookridge stood just a few feet from traffic, tightly clutching a flag with the slogan "We Support Our Troops" and the emblems of the five U.S. military branches.
"We've got grandchildren in the war now, and I don't want my younger ones to go later," Maxine said. "I want to finish it now."
One counterprotester's sign had a unique message: "My son died for the freedom to protest. Please respectfully consider the cost."
Dee Mills, the mother of the late Marine Sgt. Lea Mills of Masaryktown, held the placard. Lea Mills was killed in Iraq in April, 2006.
"I said my prayers this morning, and it's been a lot easier than I thought it would be because I know I'm here for the right reasons," Mills said. "I didn't want our military to see a war protest without seeing they had support."
The protest prompted its share of reaction from motorists.
Some gave thumbs-up to the anti-war crowd. One man in an SUV directed his stare to the counterprotesters and called President Bush a choice name or two.
"Move to Iraq," a man on a rumbling motorcycle yelled to one anti-war protester.
"Get a job," a man behind the wheel of a passing Corvette shouted at John Palm, a member of Veterans for Peace who'd set up a table to collect signatures to impeach Bush.
"Got a job, sir," Palm called back. "We're bringing the troops home. That's our job."
Just after midday, when the two sides came together to compete for attention, Mike Fox of the Pinellas County chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America paused a moment and took it all in from the other side of Jefferson Street.
"This," he said, "is the beauty of America right here."
Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( dmsdentist ) on March 20, 2008 at midnight ( Suggest removal )
I notice the Anti-war protesters are not from Hernando County and the support Our troops protesters were locals. Once again protesters bused into the county, drawing on resourses and stiring things up!
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Posted by ( TruthLiberates ) on March 20, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
We didnt learn from Viet Nam
the cowards voice outkills the bomb.
Our valiant soldiers who obeyed,
by spineless citizens betrayed.
The land we love would not be free,
had those bussed in, been at Normandy.
Insted they would have sound retreat.
Hung low their head in pure defeat.
How quickly we forgot the dead
whose blood was spilled in crimson red
that September morn 6 years gone by
that is why we fight and die.
A thing called honor once revered
we're remined by the ones who cared.
To stand today and back our troops
from the ill wind on our countys stoop
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Posted by ( Jimbo1254 ) on March 20, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a sad choice of photos. Doesn't that poor man realize that his son died because of Bush's incompetence (poorly planning the war, attacking the wrong country, even lying about it)??
No his poor judgement has him supporting the worst president of our lifetime, probably the worst decisionmaker ever in the history of our country.
We know Saddam wasn't a threat, we know Bush lied, we know tax cuts for the rich regardless of the economic cycle are misguided at best, and the rest of Bush's pathetic legacy.
Yet the Limbaugh Lemmings still adore him.
The war was based on a lie and those who still support Bush/McCain need a serious history lesson.
Pro-war demonstrators? Especially a unnecessary war like this one, they should be ashamed of themselves, of course if they still support Bush, they have no shame.
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Posted by ( epamela711 ) on March 20, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You can be against the war and support our troops......I also have family in iraq now as part of the U.S. military. I want that family home, enough have died. Show me why? someone please tell me why? Bush will go down in the history books as the worst president this country ever had. This war is over oil not freedom......and in the back of everyones mind you know this to be true. If it were about the rights and freedoms of others our troops would be in Africa where there being slaughtered everyday but we are not there because they have nothing our goverment wants.
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Posted by ( pcmoore28 ) on March 20, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
There were plenty of protesters that were from Hernando County. Ginny Brown Waite has caused the caustic division between the pro war group and the anti war group with her comments and it was more reinforced on March 19th when her staff came out and offered water bottles to the pro war group only and dissed the anti war groups. We are all her constituents and she needs to demonstrate courage, take the high road and stop pitting one group against the other. This war is costing 20 billion per month now. ENOUGH! Spend our tax dollars at home and rebuild our infrastructure.
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Posted by ( TruthLiberates ) on March 20, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Funny all those who make statements like the war is about oil! If its about oil, why are we not reaping any of it. It has always amazed me that without any proof people make statements as if they were fact. You know what the truth is, most of the men and women fighting the war want to stay and finish it. They have seen the good being done. But with a liberal media in America, you dont see the good only the bad. Regarding Congresswoman Ginny Brown Waite, we all should thank God for people who make right decisions even when it costs them votes. She is a a great asset to the people of our area that she serves. With the mentality of todays liberals we would have abandon the people of East Germany, we would have never returned to the Phillipines nor fought in the European front. We would have blamed our leaders for Pearl Harbor, saying that if we had not been in a land that was not part of our nation it wouldnt of happend. And before someone leaps and shows ignorence, at that time they werent a state. Oh and at the risk of being called a fool and an idiot, I will predict that 30 years from now if the liberals havent given America away we will have a much different view of President Bush's time in office and it wont be the negatives of today.
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Posted by ( brianmor ) on March 20, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
At least 22 protestors, of the 45 or 50 there were from Hernando County's Naturecoast Coalition for Peace and Justice. And there were 8 to 10 others not in our organization who also reside in Hernando County. If you want proof, call the reporter and I will show him the names and addresses. Please don't speak lies if you don't know the facts.
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Posted by ( TruthLiberates ) on March 20, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Not sure who you think lied but the fact still stands you have to ship 1/2 in from the outside. Have you considered the harm you are doing the young people in the military. If you doubt that, ask a Viet Nam Vet. I have sitting before me as I type a Bronze star and a Viet Namese cross of galantry that were my brothers but when he came home from Viet Nam people doing just what you folks are doing broke his spirit. He died a bitter man a few years back still hurt by what fellow americans called him. SO think before you speak. One day no one will join our Army if they keep being bashed.
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Posted by ( stopthespending ) on March 21, 2008 at 2:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mr. Moore doesn't have 22 family members so the number of people from Hernando must have been less.
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Posted by ( GraceMary ) on March 21, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow - truthliberates! Way to go. I'm tired of people viewing this situation through the eyes of 911 farenheight. What bogus nonsense! Consider, if you will, what this world would be like without strong people standing up for freedom. We would all be like Sudan. Do you really want our soldiers to have died in vain? That is what it will be if we leave too soon. What about the millions of innocent people tortured and murdered by Sudam? Would you rather they were still being tortured so that your conscience can rest? Wow, that is selfish. America would not exist without war. It is a sad part of reality, but it is the only way to protect freedom and possibly, thanks to George Bush, spread that freedom to others. Thank God I am protected by the American military, they allow us to sleep at night while they stand guard. And to all of you reading this that have served, I thank you for your sacrifice.
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Posted by ( DemDandytotheRescue ) on March 21, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/GC18Ag01.html
Years of war between Russia and Afghanistan decimated Russia's economy. This is now happening in the United States...and Russia's economy is getting a boost! The American Occupation in Iraq is killing our soldiers AND the economy. Bring the troops home now!
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Posted by ( marinemomkerry ) on March 21, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
kudos to those brave enough to take the abuse the liberal left dish out. those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. and i do SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
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Posted by ( TruthLiberates ) on March 21, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think those who say bring them home now, forget that terrorists see quit as a sign of weakness. I wonder what our founding fathers would say to the liberal mindset that wants to run. I think it might go something like this..... Ready ... Aim... Fire..
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