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Do you need to buy a birthday, anniversary or holiday gift? Visit the Galleria! Add your comments on this week's "What is the Deal?" column at Uncle Hiram's Bulletin Board. March 30, 2003 What is the deal with War Protesters? By Jan A. Larson There have been, and continue to be, demonstrations opposing the war in Iraq in various cities around the country, notably San Francisco, New York, Portland and Washington. Demonstrations and protests are as American as apple pie. They are evidence of the freedoms that distinguish the United States from many countries around the world, Iraq, to name one. While peaceful protest is a cherished freedom in America, a number of protests have been anything but peaceful. Protesters in some areas have taken to blocking streets and bridges and obstructing public access to buildings and places of business. Some have taken protesting to another level, that of "civil disobedience." This is just a fancy term for vandalism. Worst of all, protesters are inhibiting emergency vehicles and taxing the resources of local police forces, diverting them from other duties, such as fighting crime and terrorism. War protests, even those that get somewhat out of hand, wouldn't be so bad if they were at all justified. At this point however, they serve no purpose other than to provide propaganda for our enemies. The people that attend these protests must be naive, gullible or have such an intense hatred for George W. Bush that they have forsaken every logical reason why the US should be undertaking the elimination of the Iraqi regime. One would think that the same people that oppose the war on the grounds that "war is not the answer" or "there is a better way" and who wail about the potential for war casualties or civilian loss of life would stop to consider the number of civilians that have lost their lives during the past 25 years under the Iraqi dictatorship. What about the thousands of Iraqi civilians killed under Saddam's regime? What about the 5000 children that die each month in Iraq under Saddam's regime? Where is the outcry? Logic is lost on the protesters and this indicates to me that the protests are really not about the war or the people of Iraq or even US and coalition service men and women. The protests are nothing more than an attempt to subvert the US government, generate propaganda for our enemies and provide an outlet for those that can't get over the fact that Al Gore is not the President and those that genuinely hate the United States. No one wants war. But just as a five year old child may not want to take his medicine, simply not wanting it does not mean it isn't justified or isn't necessary. Our elected President and the leaders of our country have made the decision that removing Saddam Hussein is in the best interests of the Iraqi people, the United States and the civilized world. Undermining that effort serves no purpose, it alienates many that might have some sympathy for those opposed to the war and it provides ammunition for the enemy's propaganda machine. A message for war protesters: It is time to either support the President, our troops and the war effort or to keep quiet. If the notion of George W. Bush being President of your country is offensive to you, or you hate the United States, you might consider moving to another country. I'm sure they would welcome you in Baghdad. -- Send feedback to the author. The "What is the Deal?" column will appears weekly on the Pie of Knowledge website. Guest submissions are welcome and encouraged. To submit an article to "What is the Deal?" click here. To subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list and receive early notification when a new column is available, click here. The Pie of Knowledge will never, ever divulge email addresses to any third party for any reason unless so ordered by a court of law. Contributions to the Pie of Knowledge are greatly appreciated. 
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