2008 Woodie Awards
Protesters Compete for I-Drive
Not In Our Name holds protest and is greeted by more protesters.
Issac Stolzenbach
Issue date: 3/25/05 Section: News
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Onlookers were reminded that this is not the '60's; the event scheduled to kickoff at high-noon was vacant of signage and personnel; Channel 13 News dropped the satellite boom and pulled out of the locale before a small group finally showed up with what looked like popsicle sticks and 3x5 cards from across the street.
The event was slow to gain momentum, but eventually made its presence known. The real story was found in a group across the street that assembled in an organized, soldier-like manner: Protestors protesting the protest. At peek there were about 40 people protesting the war, and 20 people protesting the people protesting the war.
Mobile members of the public made their inclinations clear: The SUV drivers screamed "Go Dubbya" while the compact cars flashed peace-signs and waves, hammering away on their petite horns.
Rollins College class of '06 student, Doreen Barker, stated her reasons for attending when asked why she attended the protest, "I'm here today because I don't support the war in Iraq . . . to express my opinions against commercial conquest, and to prevent any further wars from erupting."
When this reporter called out for a veteran to quote, there were none to be found. The reason for this was quickly made clear as one of the members of the protest unrolled a cloth sign that broadcasted, "We Support Our Troops Who Resist."
Joe Moro, a representative for the Orlando Chapter of Not In Our Name, was proud to proclaim when asked what his title was, "Human. I don't have a title." When asked why he was at the event, Moro replied, "To show people that we are against the war, and to get more people aware about what's really going on in Iraq and the rest of the world. We are especially here to show support for troops that are resisting [participation in the war]." When informed of the Enlistment Oath (" . . . I will obey the orders of my Commander-in-Chief . . .") a veteran must take to become part of the military, Moro replied, "I mean, if the Commander-in-Chief tells them to jump off a bridge are they going to do that too? There's no justification for this war, at least no true justification."
The veterans were found on the Bush-supporting side of the street. When asked why he attended the event, four-year Navy veteran Richard Pluth replied, "I'm here to support the troops by showing the majority voice. Over there we have the fringe minority, what I like to call the 'Looney Fringe.'" When asked to comment on the signage across the street regarding the support of troops that resist, Pluth replied with vigor, "That's an oxymoron! If you are military, and you're resisting, then you are in dereliction of duty-it's that simple."
Jason Hoyt, President of Orange County Young Republicans, commented on a similar note, "[We are here] to show our support for our troops, and show that we are not backing down in supporting our president's leadership."
The most notable difference between the two groups was organization. When this reporter asked for a leader to speak to within the anti-war group no one stepped forward. They were disorganized and each participant seemed to stomach the other; whereas, on the side of the street, the Republicans were extremely organized, and when the group was asked for a leader to speak with, they provided three.
The event provided insight to the Republican successes last election year, because many of their members are cut from the same cloth, they move and operate in a collective fashion. Because Democrats are widely distributed throughout the bell-curve of ideologies, they have a great challenge getting their members to unite.