A quiet statement: San Diego Veterans For Peace walk a fine line

[struggle4progress]

y David Rolland

Two stern-faced young Marines, each sporting freshly cropped, nearly jet-black hair, walked slowly by the table topped with literature, buttons and other paraphernalia. They’ve already peered at the vast grid of crosses stuck into the sand and had obviously seen one of the signs informing observers that the crosses symbolized and honored the 3,118 American service members who’ve died in Iraq ...

The Marine in the Hollister shirt approached a bearded man nearly 50 years his senior and calmly asked what was going on. “Is this a protest?” he asked, as his friend took another puff ...

Not exactly, he told his young questioner. It’s more of a memorial, he said, explaining that honoring the dead was a way of demonstrating the high cost of war.

The young men didn’t appear convinced that the display and the sentiment driving it were something they could get completely behind, but, at the same time, Barrows’ explanation didn’t provoke them. OK, Hollister said, because using the names of military men and women in a “protest” would have “upset” him. The smoker agreed ...

http://www.sdcitybeat.com/article.php?id=5377

[Maat]

1. These guys are my buddies!

I love talking to them; I loved 'Arlington West.'

"City Beat" is a GREAT alternative newspaper.

[struggle4progress]

2. Sounds like they know what they're doin

[Maat]

3. We actually became friends through a mutual friend ..

who is a well-known, well-respected activist in the area.

They have a whole lot of credibility with me.