Food Fight!

All over America this weekend hundreds of demonstrators braved the spring weather to protest the second anniversary of the war in Iraq. Their efforts ended in failure, however, as early reports indicate the anniversary occurred on schedule.

Undeterred by reality, crowds estimated from "hundreds" to "more than 1,000" hit the streets of Pittsburgh, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.

Where have all the flower people gone?
To Fayettenam, son, Fayettenam

The "big" demonstration this weekend was to be in Fayetteville NC, home of Ft Bragg and the 82nd Airborne. To maximize turnout, various (ahem) 'national groups' were providing interstate transportation to the site. The concept that a large and vocal anti-war element thrives in the shadows of Bragg needs reinforcements from the 'reality-based' community, you see. Hence, free bus rides!

The result?

Officers estimated 2,500 protesters attended the rally that went on for much of the afternoon. Chuck Fager, the director of Quaker House who helped organize the rally, put the total at 4,800.

If you want a reasonable estimate of marchers at such rallies, take one-tenth the number the organizers claim and one-half of the police estimate. Actual reality will be somewhere in that range. For this event that means 500-1200, a figure supported by photographic evidence:

Meanwhile, counter-protestors were traveling too, including Vietnam veteran Jim Szakmary

Jim Szakmary said war protesters spat on him when he returned home from Vietnam in 1969.

He doesn't want the same thing to happen to the men and women fighting in Iraq.

Memories of his own homecoming brought him to Fayetteville, where he and about 200 others offered a counterdemonstration to Saturday's anti-war rally at Rowan Park. Szakmary said he wanted soldiers to know that someone stands behind them.

It was important enough to him to drive 11 hours from his home on Long Island, N.Y. He arrived in Fayetteville about midnight, he said.

''After the 10th hour, I was really regretting it," he said.

Three cheers and a tip of the hat to guys like Jim. As one of his fellow counter-protestors noted:

''We learned from Vietnam. No one answered their protests then," said Lynn Huber, a chapter chairwoman for the Old North State chapter of the Free Republic.

But how can you answer the... grotesque giant puppets!!!

Chapel Hill's Paper Hand Puppet Intervention put on a short show before the protest march. Using large puppets on stilts, the performers depicted two tyrants oppressing several people. The puppets, some as tall as 10 feet, were grotesque caricatures of humans. There was no dialogue and the action was punctuated by a single drum. In the end, the people rose up against the tyrants.

No one expects The Giant Puppets!!!

Food fight?

Protesters were treated to a variety of food at Rowan Park. On the anti-war side, vendors sold hot dogs, french fries, chicken curry and several vegetarian dishes.

The counterdemonstrators ate sandwiches.

Perhaps inspired by the giant puppets, at least one chicken curry-munching peace activist was driven over the edge at the sight of the sandwich-eating warmongers:

Police reported one arrest. Rann Bar-On, a speaker at the rally and an Israeli activist who runs the International Solidarity Movement in Durham, was charged with resisting a police officer. Police said Bar-On jumped the fence at Rowan Park and was headed toward counterdemonstrators across the street when they stopped him.

Think the foodrage idea is far fetched?

Some on the Rowan Park stage were colorful, including a troupe of men in drag. And some of the speakers did not have a connection to the war in Iraq at all, including an organization that led a boycott against Taco Bell.

Minions of the evil Burger King, no doubt.

But regardless of your lunch preference, the one thing demonstrated by both sides is that it's great to be in America, where (enraged peace protestors notwithstanding) such small public gatherings can be held without fear of government reprisal.

In Iraq today people are protesting too.

Though in most of the Middle East, you need crowds like this one before you can really feel safe raising your voice.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's NCAA tournament action, Gonzaga, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, and Boston College all lost in upsets.

Guess there will be some long bus rides home.