Local organization holds peace rally at Cal U
CALIFORINA -The peace rally at California University Tuesday was a small one, but the passion of those in attendance turned the rally into a forum for debate, where all voices were heard and people’s opinions were respected. The rally, organized by the Mon Valley Patriots for Peace to protest America’s pending war with Iraq, attracted people of various ages and backgrounds, many with different beliefs.
As students passed the Natali Student Center to and from class, many stopped and listened, but only about 30 students remained for the entire three-hour rally, both in support of peace and in support of war.
The small crowd focused on each scheduled speaker, many of which were Cal U professors speaking against war, sharing personal stories and ideologies for world peace. They described the impact war would have on America and Iraq, some using facts and figures to back their claims.
“Patriotism is being loyal to your country all the time and your government when it deserves it,” said professor Pat Hartman.
Professor Kurt Kercher, holding up a picture of his son, Conrad, who joined the marines after the 9-11 attacks, said he hasn’t heard from his son, stationed in Kuwait, in three weeks.
Kercher held back tears as he spoke out for peace.
“I’d rather heal than hurt. That’s my deep concern with this war,” Kercher said. “I’d rather suffer some of the consequences of waiting rather than to attack Iraq.”
Kercher, during his speech, called over a group of students standing off to the side, wearing T-shirts that read “Bomb Saddam” and holding signs supporting war with Iraq. The group hung a number of signs near the rally with slogans like, “I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” and “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.”
Laura Hough of Daisytown, and her three-year-old daughter, Emma, showed up to support the war. Hough said she was against faculty members organizing an anti-war rally.
“That is for the students to do,” said Hough, holding a sign urging others not to forget 9-11 and warning that “they” may strike again.
The group of war supporters often separated themselves from the peace supporters, but it was not long before the two groups intermingled, giving way to separate debates and arguments among small groups, as the rally continued.
Cal U student, Eric Hoffman, 26, a former marine, was at the center of one such discussion. Hoffman spoke for peace as a group of students huddled around him disagreed.
Hoffman said while he supports the U.S. military “wholeheartedly,” he does not support the Bush administration’s decision to go to war.
“Sometimes you have to stop and weigh what you’re going to fight for, and see if it’s worth it. I don’t think this war is worth it,” he said. “It will only spark a larger conflict. A lot of Americans are going to die because of this.”
Hoffman’s’ opinions irritated 20-year-old Mike Bodis, a marine, who is hoping to be called out to war to fight for his country.
Bodis wore a sign that read, “Thank a soldier for your right to protest.”
When the clusters of people, having personal debates along the outer perimeters of the rally grew, Professor Trisha Milford asked the people to join the rally. She opened the microphone to those in support of war to speak their mind, giving way to a true debate, as audience members took turns expressing their opinions about peace and war.
Freshmen Megan Allison, who earlier condemned the rally organizers for not allowing those in support of war to speak, stood in front of the microphone first.
“We would not have the freedom we have today if people hadn’t fought in wars,” she said.
“Our government is preparing for war, as citizens we should support them 100 percent,” added freshmen Kerbie Adamson.
Students who have either served in the military or had parents who served in the military seemed to speak out for peace.
Senior Ryan Kennedy, 26, a former reservist with the 14th Quartermaster Detachment in Greensburg, said if people would just visit a memorial service for fallen soldiers and see how it effects the families they would not support war.
Martin Destin, political science professor, raised the most eyebrows, when he took the microphone and said the United States cannot be a world power and not have known about the 9-11 attacks.
He said the 9-11 attacks on America gave President Bush what he needed to go to war, motive and opportunity.
“We are being told by who that they didn’t know (about 9-11) and we all know that the CIA and lawyers never lie,” Destin said, with his fist in the air.
“Nothing happens in this world without the CIA knowing, and if they didn’t know and they can’t beat 19 of the so called terrorists, how can we trust them to beat an entire country,” Destin said.
Cal U Provost Curtis Smith, a member in the crowd, said he was glad to see people expressing their views.
He said personally, speaking as a citizen and not the provost, he is opposed to the war, which he described as an imperialist war for power.
“This is about living and dying. Bush is not listening to the American people. The facts do not matter to him. He looks at them as obstacles,” Smith said.
Smith said the rally was “good for students, good for the university and I’m glad to see it. “We should let the students listen and make-up their own minds.”
Susan Juli, one of the organizers of the rally said she was pleased with the rally.
“I’m pleased to see people out. We caused people to move and act. We’ve inspired activism from students that was our goal,” Juli said.