From New London: great coverage of our anti-Bush demonstration. (photo)

[femmedem]

From the New London Day: "To Promote Peace is To Benefit All."

New London — So anguished was Carlos Arredondo when three U.S. Marines delivered the news that his son had been killed fighting in Najaf, Iraq, that he took gasoline and a propane torch from his garage and lit himself on fire inside the Marines' government van.

Since that day, Aug. 24, 2004, Arredondo has recovered from his severe burns, become a U.S. citizen and created a mobile memorial to his son, Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo.

He brought that memorial — and a personal plea for an end to the war in Iraq — to New London Wednesday as more than 1,000 demonstrators converged on the city for President Bush's visit to deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

snip

“There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism, and there is a difference between supporting the troops and supporting a war. It is patriotic to speak out against our country and its wars,” said Ted Goodnight of North Providence. “To promote peace is to benefit all. It is also the greatest honor to all the heroes that have given their lives to our country.”

Russ Ostlund of Stonington, who served for 14 years as a chief petty officer in the Navy, protested the Bush administration silently by holding an American flag over his right shoulder, a flag with a peace sign over his left shoulder, and lifting a copy of the U.S. Constitution as he looked toward the Bush supporters across the street and, behind them, the path of the presidential motorcade.

Frances Crowe, 88, of Northampton, Mass., protested the Bush administration with the group Code Pink Women For Peace. She wore a pink shirt and a sign — almost as large as she was — around her neck that read, “Arrest and convict the serial killer in Washington.”

Twenty eight paragraphs of coverage! http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=31cddeb6-aaea-41ac-8450-f0c1aa46c952

[Captain Hilts]

1. Well done! I had a thread on this yesterday. Great protest, great coverage.

Mookie is a Grubby Groton Girl trapped in swanky Chevy Chase, MD.

[femmedem]

3. Sorry I missed your thread.

:hi: from across the bridge. :)

[YOY]

2. "There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism"

Strange that we never learn this lesson in school...or even in adulthood. It's almost like it was overlooked purposefully. Realizing this is what made me come around. I wonder if there would be anyway to do the same for the rest of the country.