Dozens call for peace with Iraq: Alum Creek man showed his support of Bush

DAILY MAIL STAFF

Two opposing protests gathered on the steps of the Robert C. ByrdU.S. Courthouse, and both claimed they were voicing the thoughts ofthe silent majority.

At a rally in Charleston Monday afternoon, the Rev. Jim Lewis, aretired Episcopalian priest, led 86 anti-war protesters who urged theUnited States to back down from a war against Iraq.

The West Virginia Patriots for Peace included a cross section ofanti-war groups. From staunch pacifists who oppose all war to peoplewho would support a war with Iraq only if the United Nationsapproved, they united in one belief - now is not the time to attackIraq.

Lewis told the crowd that most Americans opposed a possible warwith Iraq but were not speaking out. They were giving a voice to thevoiceless.

Standing next to the anti-war protesters, Bryant Bowman held asign that read, "I support the President!" Bowman said he was the onegiving a voice to the voiceless. His stance in favor of whateveractions President Bush chose was more in line with mainstreamAmerica, he said.

"Any time you get this many dissenters together, they are going toget all the press coverage they want," the Alum Creek resident said."I represent those without a voice."

The latest Gallup poll shows that the majority of Americans fallsomewhere in the middle of the two groups when it comes to a war withIraq.

The Sept. 20-22 poll shows that 57 percent support a war withIraq, but 38 percent oppose the idea. If the United Nations backsAmerican actions, support jumps to 79 percent while opposition dropsto 19 percent. If the U.N. does not back military actions, however,Americans do not support the war. Only 37 percent support the warunder those conditions while 58 percent oppose it.

John Palmer of Kanawha City echoed many of these views in hisprotest of the war. Palmer, who served as an Air Force captain inSoutheast Asia, said that attacking Iraq without the backing of othernations would be a mistake.

"The bad guys are in Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said."Attacking Iraq would only increase the anger of the terrorists andincrease the attacks. We are doing the right thing in Afghanistan andPakistan. I don't think we can keep doing that if we attack Iraq."

Bowman, however, does not buy Palmer's argument. He said that anywar protest against the president weakens the resolve of troopsregardless of the reasons for the protest. The Vietnam veteranclearly remembers the effects of war protests on the morale of hisfellow soldiers.

"I still believe it was people like these who lost the war," hesaid.

Bowman said he doesn't question the patriotism of the protestersbut does believe they are doing the wrong thing.

But Lewis said making their voices heard is exactly the rightthing to do. The priest founded West Virginia Patriots for Peace 10days ago. The original group of 12 clergymen wrote a declarationagainst the war that has been signed by 500 West Virginians. Thegroup plans to continue picketing the courthouse every day this weekat noon and eventually hopes to hold a town meeting with Sen. RobertByrd in attendance to speak about the war.

Lewis hopes his protest will draw more attention to war debate andmake people think about it regardless of whether they support a waror not.

"People are worried about the West Nile virus, but we have a warfever in Washington," he said.

The weeklong protest will lend welcome support to Eric Smith. The40-year-old pacifist member of the Catholic Worker movement has beenstanding outside the courthouse for six weeks. He stands silently bythe curb with a sign that reads, "In the name of God, we pray, fastand forgive for peace."

Smith signed the declaration from the Patriots for Peace but isotherwise unaffiliated with the group. Now that there is a largerprotest in front of the courthouse, he said he has been harassedless. In the past, people have shouted curses at him from passingcars and marshals have attempted to remove him from the grounds, hesaid.

The biggest problem in the United States right now is apathy, hesaid. He wonders how long the protests will last once the war starts,and he considers that inevitable.

"What happens next week?" he asked. "People will go back to beingmore concerned with Marshall football and 'Friends.'"

Writer Mike Connolly can be reached at 348-4806 or by e-mail atmikeconnolly@dailymail.com.