As many locals know, a group of us protest the war in Iraq every Friday in Montrose.
On Monday I missed a phone call at home (my number is published occasionally in the Glendale News-Press with a notice about the protest); the caller expressed her disagreement with our protesting near the Vietnam memorial in Montrose.
Because she did not leave her phone number, I would like to use the Community Forum to communicate with her and others about the protest there.
We believe that this memorial is a truly fitting location for our group's message for a number of reasons. We appreciate having the American flag nearby, as we are all patriots. We believe that the ultimate way to respect our service people, especially those who have died in war, is to not send them into battle needlessly or heedlessly, and to do so only when every other alternative to war has been fully utilized.
We who protest this war believe it is the current administration showing disrespect, even contempt, for our troops.
What are they on now, is it their fourth or fifth unsupportable justification for the invasion and subsequent occupation?
Congress shares the blame by continuing to authorize and fund our troops to stay there in harm's way.
We have veterans and those with family members in service among our protest group.
Veterans/service members with a range of views on the war have spoken with us to affirm our right to speak out at that location. We have the most profound respect and sadness for all the victims of these wars.
It is unfortunate that my caller would not seem to stand behind her opinion enough to leave her own number. Anyone who wishes to engage in peaceful discussion with those of us who urge an end to the catastrophe in Iraq knows where to find us until the troops are brought home.
