Editor: I was fortunate enough to be a part of the demonstration for peace that took place in Washington DC last Saturday. It was a wonderful experience that I wished my children had witnessed, as it was not a hate-filled, violent affair, but rather a peaceful celebration of democracy in action, made up of all types people including students, couples, young families pushing strollers, groups of grandmothers, and veterans of wars past.
I have previously demonstrated with roughly 60,000 other patriots in San Francisco, but have never been a part of a group that passed the century mark. Reports of crowd size for last Saturday vary – DC police estimate 150K attendees, while organizers report over 300K. Splitting the difference suggests that well over 200,000 descended on the Capitol last weekend.
DC police also report that about 400 counter protesters gathered the following day to exercise their constitutional right to assemble peaceably. Organizers had hoped for more. It would seem that the tide is finally turning, as it has been reported for a while now that a majority of Americans have concluded that the US invasion of Iraq was a mistake. Even my sister, who adamantly supported our actions in Iraq as appropriate and justified, is having second thoughts.
Many like myself do not support an immediate full withdrawal, recognizing that we have made a mess in Iraq, but rather, an accelerated departure. At a rate of 20,000 troops returning home each month beginning right away, the US occupation can be ended and Iraqi security forces can be in control of their own future in time for the onset of the campaign season for mid-term US elections. Think about it.
The time has come to recognize and correct our mistakes, rather than perpetuating them.
Daniel Wells, Tracy