Dear Reader, The following summary was written by John Fortier, a Korean War veteran who has conducted a peace vigil every Friday evening in Redondo Beach, CA since shortly before President Bush ordered the U.S. invasion of Iraq. John sits on a street corner next to Pacific Coast Highway [PCH] with a simple sign that reads, "War is not the answer," as he warmly greets people who drive or stop by.
It was a very good tour, though it got off to an interesting start, and had I not been about eight minutes early, I would have missed some fellow flipping me off. About 50ish, groomed and dressed ok, driving an ok car, he leaned half way across the passenger seat, looked at me without expression and 'gave me the bird'. I, with the reflexes of a pickpocket, gave him my best smile and wave. It is my intention, in cases like that, to drive the son of a bitch nuts. If time allowed I would have thrown the bastard a kiss too. But during the next five minutes there were half a dozen energetic shows of approval and support !
Grant came by about then and stayed for about sixty-five minutes. He remarked on two things - almost no foot traffic and lots of support. He was right on both and we couldn't figure it. The support blows hot, cold or indifferent and I don't try to figure it. But the conspicuously light pedestrian traffic, unless caused by the quite slight damp chill in the air. is a mystery.
The high point of the evening was a car, waiting for the signal, headed east on KH [Knob Hill Avenue], and full of kids. The lady driving was alone in the front seat and the only adult in the car. In the back seat there were at least 3 and maybe 4 kids, around 4, 6, 7 maybe. The driver lowered the passenger window and gave waves and Vs and smiles, and the kids did the same. They kept it up until I lost sight of the going up KH across PCH. They weren't screaming or acting silly like it was a game. They were happy to be doing what they were doing and maybe a little bit serious too. It was significant for all concerned I believe.
Hey - I even got a little teeny smile from a RB [Redondo Beach] cop. It was the kind of smile you might see on a man who had five girls and has just been told that his sixth child is...................... a girl.
See you Wednesday, Dick.
WAR IS NOT
THE ANSWER
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