So, who counters the anti-war, anti-American protesters? - Granite Grok

So, who counters the anti-war, anti-American protesters?

These people are the cultural equivalents of the financial Welfare Queens that will be making a comeback now that Obama has decided to change all the welfare rules.  No, I do not those that religiously make claim to pacificism like the Quakers (they get a pass).  However, I do mean these folks:

Protesters in Washington march to Pentagon, calling for an end to Iraq war

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of war protesters from across the country gathered in Washington on Saturday to mark the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Organizers from the ANSWER Coalition said more than 1,000 groups sponsored the protest to call for an end to the Iraq war. Holding signs that read "We need jobs and schools, not war" and "Stop the war!" they rallied around noon across the street from the Lincoln Memorial and by 1:30 p.m., were beginning to march across the Memorial Bridge to the Pentagon.

Get that – a 1,000 groups and they can only get hundreds"?  Even just 1 person from each group would result in a thousand!  Poor, poor turnout for such a "major" event.

There was a demonstration in Concord, NH by about 200 demonstrators in a like mind continuing a yearly event. A few hailed from the 60s generation – probably trying to relive their glory days when they were the news and feted by the media. Most were high school and college kids – seemingly more inclined that this was a party than a serious protest – in terms of the former group, "a happening!". 

But in answer to the question, there were some:

…A small group of veterans and parents of soldiers holding American flags gathered near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for a counter protest. Ron Kirby, of Alexandria, Va., was one of them.

"We’re for victory. When our president and Congress send our men and women to war, they send them there to win or else don’t send them at all," said Kirby, a Vietnam veteran.

Kirby said he thought the anti-war protest was sending the wrong message, and added that the country would not be at war unless the government believed it would be victorious….

And!  I am glad to report that Jack Kimball of the Granite State Patriots (who appeared on MTNP this past week) was able to muster 70 of his Patriots to rival to the Peace and Justice peaceniks and stand up for the troops and not let them desecrate the War Memorial in front of the State House.  For a new group, not a bad showing at all.  Yes, I was there, and I know that the P&J folks were confused that there was a concerted and organized presence to counter what they thought was an open field of operation.  And one Blue Star Mom (and MTNP friend), Sue, felt bad for the "kids" there as her observation was "what do these kids really know?  They were only 10 when 9/11 happened!".

The sign that said it all?

Obama wanted our troops to fail

 I have been given permission to cross-post their recounting of the event here (after the jump):

Yesterday’s Event – Opposing the Peace and Justice "free riders" – 3/21/09

For that is what they are – free riders on the efforts and on the sacrifices of our troops and their families – many giving much and a few giving all.  These folks, from some of the signs they waved (see below) show that their idea of America’s goodness and standing in the world is far different than ours.

The estimate on their crowd was about 200 – and they have been doing this for years.  Ours?  70 hardy souls willing and able to counter their demonstration – and we’ve been at this for just a couple of months!  Good job, Patriots!
ObamaWantedTroopsToFailCloseup.JPGAs the above sign shows – we have a message that resonates with the vast majority of the American people versus that of the lunatic fringe Left whose only message is "if we kumbaya and talk with everyone, the Age of Aquarius and peace will be upon us".

We know better – and a number have sacrificed for it:
GoldStarEmblem.JPGMore after the jump

Upon arrival, we were greeted by their signs:
Thumbnail image for FundHumanNeeds.JPGand by
Thumbnail image for BringTroopsHome.JPG
Of course, they were confronted by ours:
SendThemToFightAllowToWin.JPGand:
NavyMom.JPGand sometimes they clashed (and the Peace and Justice folks did not like their tactics turn on them!):
PeaceCoordinatorsGetAngryAtOurGuy.JPGThey just couldn’t accept what he kept saying "I’m part of the protest!"; after all, that’s what their permit was for, right?  The lady on the right got very exasperated – the lady with the ball cap, the "Peace Keeper" got angry!  A bystander told him to stop acting childish and his response was "I’ve been a child all my life"; the bystander was without an answer….

Well, she came back with angry friends:
TheAngryPeaceKeeper.JPGand we were ready for them!  Jack marshalled our troops:

JackKimball2.JPGand we surrounded them!
WeSurroundThem.JPGThey had the old (trying to rekindle their youthful glory days):
Peaceniks1.JPGthe clueless (umm, Israel abandoned Gaza years ago):
EndIsraeliOccupation.JPGand the no-thinkers:
Peaceniks3.JPGLook at the kid in with the green cap: Already Against The Next War.  God forbid Iran or North Korea hits us with a nuke.  The problem is that force is never in the tool kit for these folks – but it IS for our enemies (and thus, we are back to the free rider syndrome again).

We also see the complete difference in how we see America and they do.  For us, we believe in the motto of "These Colors Don’t Run" – we stand up for what we believe in and are willing to defend those beliefs to all comers.  On the other hand, they believe that America is, at best, no better than any other country, and probably, worse. 
Thumbnail image for TheseColorsDontRunTheWorld.JPG
So, who would the sign holder rather have leading the world: Russia guided by the hand of Putin?  Communist China?  The radical Islamic theocracy of Iran?  Socialist Chavez of Venuzuela?  Or the incompetent kleptocrats of the UN?

We know that we fight for them that have preceded us and the ideals that they stood for at the beginning of our country.  We also stand to fight for those that fight for us now, as we do for those that have given much and those that have given all:
Thumbnail image for SupportingMoms.JPGAfter all,
Thumbnail image for ObamaWantedTroopsToFail.JPG

 

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