Waging Peace: Alabama teen's anti-war Web site creates furor

[trof]

Sunday, January 28, 2007
By ROY HOFFMAN
Staff Reporter

ALEXANDER CITY -- At 5 feet 4 inches, with wavy red hair, braces and a cat named Kiko, 16-year-old Ava Lowery hardly seems like a girl who has angered some people enough to call her "a traitor" and a "terrorist" who's responsible for "emboldening the enemy."

That she has been the victim of vicious threats -- one e-mail to her Web site stated she needed "to die" and "get raped while your corpse rots in the sun" -- seems, upon meeting her, surreal. "I'm just a normal teenager," she says, turning on her computer in her room while Kiko sprawls on her bed.

"I don't represent any group," Ava says in response to accusations that she's a front for a leftist organization or, as one e-mail accused, a "parrot" for liberal parents. With two uncles who've served in Iraq and the first Gulf War and a "conservative" granddad who's a Vietnam veteran and former Pentecostal minister, Ava says matter-of-factly: "I speak for myself."

At the age in which most kids count their lucky stars for finally being old enough to drive, Ava feels proud of the fact that, as she calculates it, "I get 30,000 hits a day," -- the number of Internet users who visit her Web site, www.peacetakescourage.com.

Yep, our own Ava.
Go girl!
http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1169979617152330.xml&coll=3

[il_lilac]

1. k & R for Ava n/t

[NoodleyAppendage]

2. Hmmm...seems like emails threatening her with rape would be illegal. No?

How 'bout the FBI actually doing their job and going after those who issued terroristic threats against this minor?

It's HIGH TIME we started fighting back against these dangerous FASCISTS.

J

[BR_Parkway]

3. Protect and defend...from all enemies, domestic and foreign

[Old and In the Way]

6. Sounds like a case of textbook terrorism to me.

Why is it always the other side who threatens bodily harm? We just ridicule the Bushbots and RW groupthinkers. They really don't understand that freedom of thought is a core Democratic concept. They'd be much happier in a totalitarian society where everyone must think the same way.

[rodeodance]

23. sounds like typical RW talk to me!!

[B3Nut]

15. That would be a miracle...

but maybe now that we have Congress, we might be able to get their asses in gear. They seriously need to investigate the threats she's received. Do these Bushbots have any shame or sense of decency at all? Sending threats to a 16-year-old girl who had the audacity to express her OPINION!! Why, she must think this is America or something! :sarcasm:

Kick ass, Ava - they're intellectually bankrupt and they know it, all they can do is lash out because they have no rational arguments.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[tanyev]

17. Y'know, that's quite an odd threat when you think about it.

Supposing someone's corpse were out there "rotting in the sun". It's certainly beyond their care or concern whether they got raped or not. I daresay that even most of the wretched souls who commit rape wouldn't think of attacking a rotting corpse. And yet, this person who sent a threat to Ava has not only thought of it, he has expressed a wish it would happen. That's some fine specimens of humanity still supporting our President, yessiree.

[SemperEadem]

58. that is someone who needs to be prosecuted

under the Patriot Act--he's threatening and terrorizing a young woman by wishing she was raped. That is a hate crime, too. Some types of speech are not protected by the first amendment and this cretin needs to be buried under the jail, never to see daylight again.

[Benhurst]

25. Yeah, that'll be the day. The FBI in War and More War. NT

[anarchistmanifesto]

36. Threats

If the people that keep sending her death threats like the war so much, then why don't they sign up for the Army or something? This reminds me of an old saying: "A barking dog doesn't bite". I seriously doubt that the people sending those messages would actually carry them out since any coward can just send a death threat over the internet.

[grace0418]

47. They're too busy stopping people with brown hair who are trying

to complete their photography homework for class. Or stopping people in airports for having a name that sounds vaguely like Laden (this is true, a coworker of mine goes through hell every time she flies).

[Hotler]

4. Hey agent Mike! Would you...

check on this for us and then get back to us?

[WinstonSmith4740]

46. Hey, that's right!!

I forgot about agent Mike! :hi:
So what do you think? Should these people be allowed to get away with these threats without any repercussions?

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. She, and her work, are *phenomenal*. I sometimes send...

her videos to pro-war legislators like my own senators, Clinton and Schumer.

Needless to say, I've yet to get a response.

[Spazito]

7. It is GREAT to see AVA's work being recognized in the media

and that the disgusting threats are publicized. I hope those who send her those threatening e-mails will scurry back into the dark like the cockroaches they are.

[HeeBGBz]

8. Go Ava! You got em riled.

Keep up the excellence!

K&R

[zanne]

9. Check out her website. It's very good. nt

[lyonn]

42. Yes, and her video on the home page is so sad....

Music fit the filming too well.

The articles were direct and full of info.

[Peace Patriot]

10. This 16 year old patriot puts the chickenhawks to shame!

Why aren't they in Iraq anyway, insteading of threatening kids? Jerks.

"Peace takes courage," indeed. Thank you, Ada--for asserting and defendng your views, despite efforts to intimidate you. You make me proud! You give me hope!

[Peace Patriot]

11. Just reviewed her web site. Excellent web site! Very informative!

I wasn't aware of Gen. Hoar's recent remarks. You can click to it from her site:

www.peacetakescourage.com

"Retired Generals Slam Bush's Iraq Plan"
(CBS News) Jan 18, 2007 10:22 pm US/Central

[Straight Shooter]

12. Ava is one of the brightest jewels in DU's crown. n/t

[Gregorian]

13. Brilliant! We love you Ava.

And we know who/what the enemy is. It takes courage to fight the hate, greed, fear.

Good for you.

[qanda]

14. Seems like peace takes more and more courage every day

Keep the fight, Ava.

[goforit]

16. Hats off to you Ava!!!

[sakabatou]

18. Keep going!

[Drum]

19. Kick and Rec!

:kick:

[sutz12]

20. Wow! It's been a while since I heard from Ava.

Glad she's still fighting the good fight!

:kick:


edited for spelling

[Elwood P Dowd]

21. Heard an interview with her on an east Alabama radio station last week

Both her parents are lawyers, and it's obvious she inherited their intelligence. Be sure and read the entire article. All you have to do is give your YOB, zip code, and gender - no registration required.

[rodeodance]

22. "He's not my president"---on t-shirt of my teen aged neice--I was pleasantly

surprized to see this.

It rather put me in my place also------thinking the young have no causes.

[oblivious]

24. Great work! Keep those hits going.

Monthly Hits:
November 2006 - 743,846
October 2006 - 1,098,175
September 2006 - 1,255,367
August 2006 - 1,236,153
July 2006 - 2,028,943
June 2006 - 1,518,241
May 2006 - 951,405
April 2006 - 440,037
March 2006 - 290,586
February 2006 - 221,417
January 2006 - 260,308
December 2005 - 228,716
November 2005 - 287,068
October 2005 - 349,252
September 2005 - 353,599
August 2005 - 290,959
July 2005 - 83,533
http://www.peacetakescourage.com/page-about.htm

[restorefreedom]

26. hope Kiko is an indoor-only cat

If she wasn't before, she should be now.

If they have already threatened the girl with rape, who knows what else they might do?

[MagickMuffin]

27. WooooHoooooAvvvvvva

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

It's so refreshing to see teenagers profiled in a positive light. Especially someone who is socially and politically conscience of her thought processes.

I know from experience of being the same height that small things can pack a powerful punch.

You are wise beyond your years. Keep up the good work and don't let the hatermongers deter you.

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[Lochloosa]

28. Give them hell Ava! K/R

[gratuitous]

37. Naw, she just gives them the truth

And they think it's hell.

Seriously, though, how big a bunch of pansies are these folks if one 15-year-old naysayer in Alabama can so discombobulate our great American wehrmacht that its defenders and apologists have to threaten her with death? Wusses.

[mzmolly]

29. Marvelous! Love these quotes.

"I don't represent any group," Ava says in response to accusations that she's a front for a leftist organization or, as one e-mail accused, a "parrot" for liberal parents.

With two uncles who've served in Iraq and the first Gulf War and a "conservative" granddad who's a Vietnam veteran and former Pentecostal minister, Ava says matter-of-factly: "I speak for myself."

At the age in which most kids count their lucky stars for finally being old enough to drive, Ava feels proud of the fact that, as she calculates it, "I get 30,000 hits a day," -- the number of Internet users who visit her Web site, www.peacetakescourage.com.

"I don't call it anti-war, I call it pro-peace and pro-soldier," she says of the 2-year-old Web site with its daily updates on Iraq war casualties, links to news stories about the war and over 90 Internet slide shows, called animations, that Ava has created featuring rock music playing behind what are often grim images of combat bloodshed and loss.

Ava's bravery can't go without recognition as well as her talent. I also applaud the support of her Mom and step-dad who allow her to continue "waging peace" in spite of legitimate concerns about threats made against their family.

:patriot:

[mzmolly]

30. Adding, I'd love an Ava "AVAtar"

;)

[The Wielding Truth]

31. May all things good protect and sustain you, our AVA!

[Ava]

32. thanks so much ya'll!

i just got back from the DC protest :hi:

[salin]

33. hope you had a great time!

Nice write up about your work - big kudos and many thanks to all that you do!

[JoFerret]

34. Great site.

Thanks Ava.

[entanglement]

35. Sick RW criminals. Are these threats being investigated?

n/t

[Nite Owl]

38. This is wonderful

that her work is being recognized.

And her mom thought the book was a bomb? Who are the terrorists again? We shouldn't have to live in fear of these right wing nuts but they seem to never be the ones that are investigated or prosecuted.

[cui bono]

39. Ava should be held up as an example of an informed teen

who is involved in her community and takes an active interest in her country and the world around her instead of being demonized by RW thugs.

GOOD WORK AVA!!! :yourock: :applause:

[hwmnbn]

40. Another K&R for my hero......

Ava Rocks!! :headbang:

[Ilsa]

41. Atta girl, Ava! Keep up the good work! Hugs to you, sweetie! nt

[WillyT]

43. Yo Ava !!! - You Is One Tough And Truthful Customer !!!

Glad ta know ya, and proud to be in your company!!!

:toast::yourock::toast:

:loveya:

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. I saw her in DC

What an honor to meet this awesome kid!!

[northofdenali]

45. AVA!! AVA!! AVA!!

:hug::loveya::grouphug::loveya::hug:

Keep it up - you're the best!!

[donheld]

48. Ava, no doubt about it

:yourock:

[OneBlueSky]

49. Bravo, Ava! . . . we're all so proud of you! . . . n/t

.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

50. Way to go Ava -you're my hero!

:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

[BlueCollar]

51. Kick and recommend

I'm so proud of her being a registered DUer

Way to go Ava!!!!!!!!

:thumbsup:

[Porcupine]

52. kick. Kids who stand up make us all feel better. nt.

.

[demnan]

53. We should all send a supportive message

and wrap this child with love.

[YOY]

54. We always do!

Ava kicks ass!

[Clinton_Co_Regulator]

55. Ava is a wonderful soul.

:yourock:



P.S. Any freepster ever touches her, they better move to another planet...

[Dracos]

56. Great role modles for the American youth of today.

[AnneD]

57. Ava,

I told my daughter and tell all my kids at my elementary school that heroes come in all sizes and colours. Thanks for proving me right and making me proud. My 16 yo daughter is always out at a march or protest. I am always proud to see young folks stand up for themselves but you take it up a notch.:grouphug: