Democracy in action was the headline attached to Tuesday’s front page story of the Brainerd Dispatch that documented the protest and counter protest of the war in Afghanistan and the use of drones by the U.S. military. The demonstrations took place just outside of the main entrance to Camp Ripley.
Each group was relatively small. Each group was demonstrating to get its point across to those observing the event.
A Little Falls based group, all 11 of them — Little Falls Partners for Peace — was at the Army National Guard Camp Ripley to demand an immediate pull-out of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the cessation of drone warfare, which the group alleges is indiscriminate.
On the other side of County Road 115, were counter protestors, headed by a group of 20 veterans of Afghanistan and Vietnam.
What was actually taking place Monday was American democracy in action. It was peaceful demonstration and exercise of free speech by two groups with opposing points of view. It was peaceful. It was lawful. It was the essence of what America stands for and why our Constitution guarantees the rights of both groups to clearly demonstrate and state their views.
Perhaps the demonstration and counter demonstration was summed up best by Camp Ripley Post Commander Col. Scott St. Sauver who watched the activity from inside the main gate to the camp: “The reason we (the U.S. military) do what we do is so they can exercise their rights. So that’s pretty important.”
Col. St. Sauver got it right. Each group that chose to face off on an issue of national, regional and personal importance was well within their rights as citizens to disagree without resorting to violence.
Both groups and the men and women of Camp Ripley are to be commended for their restraint and their willingness to actively demonstrate their beliefs.
Keith Hansen
Comments (42)
Add commentI don't need to ask you how
I don't need to ask you how you know, I already know, and have known for years. I also know that he wasn't responsible for 911, I've known that SINCE 911. However, I'm glad that you know what you know.!
When you frat boys and gals are done with your pathetic
bravado, conspiracy theories and gamesmanship, do call. Some of us have to live in the real world and put dinner on the table for the family tonight! Have fun, in the meantime; fasten your tinfoil hat tightly, now, as I may be defrosting some babyback ribs in the microwave in this county. I like the serious tenor of conversation over at other site: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-08-27/democracy-action-outside-cam....
Toodles, Yumbo
Hey dove...
I drive by your house every day when I go to and from work. I know you don't need any help looking more foolish than you already do but on one of your most recent signs you spelled "August" wrong.
I'm sure no one's taken the time to point that out to you because they're too busy laughing at all the other ridiculous signs you have in your yard.
However, because I have a big heart and I'm genuinely embarrassed for you I thought you should know about it.
XOXOXO
Don't tighten those tin foil caps too tightly, folks
Some other, good comments can be found here:http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-08-27/democracy-action-outside-camp-ripleys-gates?page=1
Hey, RonMex! Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
I guess I just love that yard!! I only wish the beautiful landscaping didn't make it so difficult to see the lovely array of color and flags. Long live free speech.
Now, the yards that DO have problems in this town -- can't even begin to tell you how many look like a nasty rendition of Ken Zylla's "Bumper Crop" (a great piece of art -- but not in my neighbor's back yard, please!) The City made a silly move when they selectively applied their antiquated, so-called sign ordinance. Live and learn, right, City Hall?
While I might not agree with Ms. Dove on all issues, I sure do defend her right to free speech, and the right of any citizen to have laws/ordinances applied even-handedly to all property-owners.
Gotta check the ribs! Yumski.
More "I know where you live" talk
and I am wondering if someone posting on the Dispatch forums gets their house egged or hate mail or worse yet, accosted or hurt some angry out of control poster...
Can these posts be used for evidence? Denton? Does the paper ever discuss this?
Color me curious. No wonder people on here want to stay anonymous.
Kudo's to the brave Letters to the Editor writers and those willing to be interviewed.
I wonder if most know they are being attacked on-line? Guessing a lot have no clue.
OOoOoOooo, the tinfoil hat
OOoOoOooo, the tinfoil hat comment, You make that one up yourself? Sooooo original. And then follows it up with a I know where you live comment? Now THATS a conspiracy if I ever heard one.
Thank Bubba
I appreciate the welcome and I agree with most of what you said. I'm all for free speech but Robin's expressing her feelings at the expense of her neighbors. Can you imagine living next to that? I pity those people who have to look at her property when they step outside. Do you think any of those people could sell their homes right now for anything close to market value? Not a chance.
And really that's just one of the many unintentional consequences her big mouth has caused. Look at all the vehicles parked along side the road that have garage sale signs on them. That's all thanks to Robin.
Before you support what this lady is doing take a step back and look at the big picture. Do you really want to be involved with someone like that?
Thanks, again, Ron
I guess I still circle back to why the City decided to single out one situation, when there were so many other bigger issues at that time. Seriously, Ron, when this whole issue started, I could EASILY name 20 yards that were so much more of an eye-sore (if the standard for being offensive is real estate value), and none of them had the up-side of the free speech issue. I do understand what you're saying, on one level, but I'm still going to side with the free speech, equally enforced (not one home singled out due to content of message). Let's keep talking.
And back to our regularly scheduled program . . .!
This comment section was supposed to be about the protest: here's some more fodder for discussion from other article:
From Bubba, on other comment site:
More clarifications, indeed, will be helpful . . .
Indeed, if somebody's G'pa or Grammy kicked my butt, I might mistakenly take it as a physical confrontation. "And don't forget, their are a lot of Viet Nam vets out here that would love to take care of unfinished business. Don't push our buttons. We were fighting a war when you protested in the past but we haven't forgotten and stand ready and willing. We might be older now but you are still going to have to explain to your kids how somebodies grandpa kicked your butt. s/s Viet Nam Vet." (quote from Charlie, above, in the other article's comment section.)
You may also need to explain to someone's grandkids why you, Charlie, who presumably adheres to a code of honor, would speak to a fellow American with such contempt and, despite your protestations to the contrary, threatening language.. Why would you presume that a group of peaceful protestors are there to personally provoke you? This isn't about you! These protestors -- who respresent the views of many people worldwide -- hold some very dear beliefs and convictions about one of our most important global issues:- how to settle disputes in our world. These are follow citizens who love their country, their communities, their children and grandchildren just as you do. Why does their mere presence in a public place infuriate you so much? Is it not possible that, contrary to your presumptions, they bear you no ill will, completely respect your right to disagree with them, and merely want their under-reported view to be heard? The term "patriot" is not just reserved for those who wear/wore our nation's military uniforms; it also applies to those who care enough about our children and grandchildren to imagine alternatives to war for dispute resolution.
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Did everyone remember to save
Did everyone remember to save a tinfoil hat for charlie?
I think snow is
trying to position herself for a lawsuit of some kind. She has a fixation about people outing her on here when she outed herself years ago. Now, every other day she is low key complaining about her identity being revealed when it was already broadcasted on live radio multiple times.
Of course, as a former DFL bigwig, she would like nothing more than to get some of her detractors booted from these forums. Suppression of dissention is a number one communist principle.