1,200 March for Peace in Portland

1,200 March for Peace in Portland<br>
September 16, 2001, 04:45 PM <br>
By Andrew Kramer, AP Staff <br>
<br>
Singing Vietnam-era peace songs, about 1,200 people marched through downtown Portland Sunday, demanding that the United States find nonviolent responses to the East Coast terror attacks. <br>
<br>
While most Americans are clamoring for retaliation, the pacifists said military strikes will not help. <br>
<br>
The crowd observed a moment of silence for the victims, thousands of whom are still buried under rubble. But they also cheered and hooted vociferously to speeches condemning U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. <br>
<br>
"The peace movement is alive and well today," said Chris Ferlazzo, a member of the Portland Peaceful Response group that organized the march and a rally that preceded it. <br>
<br>
"It's a senseless crime, but more violence won't help and we're concerned more innocent people will die," he said. <br>
<br>
Scattered bystanders who watched the rally didn't seem disturbed by it. But one man asked what he thought of the rally tersely said "I support the President" and walked off. <br>
<br>
Speakers cited Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. They said they must be true to their nonviolent beliefs even at the cost of appearing unpatriotic. <br>
<br>
Protesters marched a loop from Park Blocks to Pioneer Courthouse Square and back, humming and singing anti-war songs such as "Down By The Riverside." <br>
<br>
The pacifist march was one of the first of its size in the United States since the terrorist attacks last Tuesday. <br>
<br>
At a town meeting Sunday in Norwalk, Conn. with Sen. Joseph Lieberman, some of about 400 residents gathered spoke against going to war. One anti-war activist in New York said she reached for a dove-of-peace banner rather than the American flag after the attack. <br>
<br>
At the Portland march, participants laid roses and other flowers on a velvet cloth in memory of the victims. <br>
<br>
They also said they don't want any more victims. <br>
<br>
Bishara Costandi, a Palestinian resident of Portland and member of a nonprofit group Arabs Building Community, spoke out against "the very brutal policy" of the United States overseas. The crowd cheered. <br>
<br>
"We're sending a loud and clear message that the country is not united behind a military response," he said. <br>
<br>
One woman held a placard citing Gandhi: "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." <br>
<br>
Another cited Martin Luther King Jr.: "I'm concerned about justice, I'm concerned about community, I'm concerned about truth -- and when one is concerned about these, he can never advocate violence." <br>
<br>
Lloyd Marbet, a former Green Party candidate for Secretary of State, read the U.S. Senate's unanimous declaration of support for President Bush to use force to punish the perpetrators, eliciting hissing and loud cries of "No" from the audience. <br>
<br>
(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

Those who know me, who have received emails from me know that I DO believe in peace. It is my highest hope and prayer that we all have peace. I sign almost every letter and email with "peace", but it must be realized that the terrorists have not come to bring peace. Peace may be free for us to enjoy, but peace is bought at a price. It is easy for some to say, 'Innocent lives were shed, and yet I will do nothing.' But injustice cries out for a response. Not to act to regain and preserve peace is a serious act of omission. The question is how we respond, not if we should respond.<br>
<br>
I agree that it should not be about Muslim and Christian. It should be about <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b> justice.</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> It should be about the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b> innocent blood</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> that was shed in the thousands at the WTC by terrorists. People from around the World have been touched by this tragedy. Yes, it was primarily Americans were killed at the WTC, but there were people from around the World, who lost their lives there. What was done there was done against the World, against civilization, against humanity. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b> The purpose of the response of the nations led by the U.S. is to bring to justice to those who are responsible for what happened, and to prevent terrorists from shedding more innocent blood.</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> The nations represented by the WTC led by the United States will not only strike at those who did the crimes against humanity. They will put into place mechanisms to combat terrorism on a long-term basis. Yes, the United States will act, but we shall act as the leader of the free World to bring justice and to prevent future injustices.<br>
<br>
I believe in peace, but for pacifists who would have us do nothing I say this. Freedom was purchased at the price of many who died and suffered. The price of preserving the freedom and keeping the peace cannot be found in unwillingness to act to do what is right. For someone to stand by and do nothing, when people have suffered is a serious act of omission. If we cannot stand and respond to a tragedy so immense, why are we here? To the "pacifists", who would do nothing, I want to know why do you direct your comments towards the President? Shouldn't you be directing your comments to the remaining terrorists and their supporters, condemning their actions against peace?<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.gifart.com/3d/ani/wtc2.gif"><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><b> They cannot be allowed to die in vain!</b><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> <p><font color=#CC9933>
<a href="http://pub83.ezboard.com/bilovelabasketball" target="_blank">
<img src="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/mica/PNTStypeani.gif" border="0">
</a>
<i>To talk Hoops, click on Snoopy.</i></a></p><i></i>

I understand the sentiment, really I do. I'm sure everyone wants to live in peace and prosperity. These people of course are really hoping that the world does not see another major war. However, the point is a bit moot, isn't it. Since the beginning of civility there have been issues with local and national governing bodies wether totalitarian, democratic, royal or whatever. Those have always been the reasons for war. The wish for peace is a beautiful wonderful thing, but the reality is they are also wanting to put he blame on the United States. These are not the sixties and we're not fighting in the jungle. There are no communist giants. There are ruthless madmen; terrorists. The war is against terrorism. We are going after the monster's head to kill the rest of the body. These people that are in charge of the 3rd world countries are as crooked as the churches were during the inquisition. I am tired of hearing the United States being trash-talked for their policies. We are the strongest nation in the world. The only thing that this government truly owes is to the people of these states. In fact, the only crime of the United States is guilty of is hurting the Native American. No one else need b**** about anything. <p><a href=http://pub83.ezboard.com/bilovelabasketball>ILuvBB</a>
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
<a href=http://www.itch-studios.f2s.com/> Itchi's!</a>

"My father conveyed a promise to my mother
that all of her children would finish school. It
was not a matter of whether I would finish, it
was more a question of when. I felt that my
time was the present. I had to fulfill my
promise and no money in the world could
have prevented that from happening.
Looking back, I know I made the right
decision."

Tim Duncan</p><i></i>