Mr. Anderson Goes to Washington

By Frank Anderson

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My father was surprised to hear that I was in Washington DC to protest against the second Iraq war.

I was equally surprised that my father, who had served three tours in Viet Nam, was in support of the war. My father is retired Navy, serving most of his life in the Military service. While in Viet Nam he received the honorable medal of Silver Star, a medal of bravery. My father was the captain of a boat, in the River Rat Patrol, in South Viet Nam. He took the crew of his ship in to rescue a South Viet Army ship that was being attacked by North Viet soldiers. Putting his life, as well as the lives of his ship mates in jeopardy and disobeying his commanding officer, he rescued the South Viet Army ship at 27 crew members. For this, he received the Silver Star Medal while his crewmates received Bronze Star Medals. My father rarely tells stories about his experiences in Viet Nam. Normally, you would have to ask questions to get any information.

He told me once that his time served in Viet Nam was more accurately told in the movie "Good Morning Viet Nam" Although this is not accurate for everyone. I am thankful that my father returned from Viet Nam. But, I have little recollection of his return from the war as I was roughly three years old. I remember in Good Morning Viet Nam that Robin Williams played the main character in this movie, and it has some comedic leads. I relate this to my father who masks a lot with humor.

I’d called my father from the hotel where my friends Allen, Robert and I were staying, several blocks from the Mall. I was about to get an earful. I hadn't called my father expecting or wanting a political debate, and I only received a light one. He told me he was going to a 'Support the troops' rally in his hometown of Fort Wayne Indiana. He was surprised to hear that I would have gone to that rally as well, as long it supported the troops and did not support the war.

My father asked me if I had paid any attention in history class. This annoyed me, but I answered his question. He then asked me if I had heard of a man called Adolph Hitler? Getting more annoyed with him again I answered yes. He then proceeded to tell me how Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein were men of the same material. From what little I knew I couldn't argue either point, and without a strong argument of my own, I could only hear him out. I told him I was in D. C. to protest the war. I wanted to experience the protest, and to be counted. I wasn't there to debate, just to add my name to the list of supporters that just want to be sure, that at all costs, all peaceful efforts would be exhausted. I didn't realize this comparison to Adolph Hitler would soon directly confront me. I didn't want to have this discussion with my father so I changed the subject.

Robert, Allen began the day with breakfast. The banter between us was light. None of us had a clear picture of what to expect would happen during the day. But after finishing breakfast, we headed off for our walk to the White House. The roads were already diverted of traffic, and the DC police were out in full force, just to be sure that nothing got out of hand. Thankfully it was a peaceful demonstration. We observed several camera crews setting up and broadcasting at the gates of the White House, but the rally was at the Washington Monument, so our visit to the White House was short.

Arriving at the Capitol Mall, before the official beginning of the demonstration, several demonstrators and speakers loudly voiced their opinion. Many reader signs were available, and visible, for a bounty of political causes, primarily focused on the war.

Allen also wanted to see the Holocaust museum. Because the official rally didn't start for another hour and a half, Allen and I took off for a tour of the exhibits. Robert stayed behind, and we had agreed to meet back up at the concession stand at noon. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to do the entire museum so we took on the special exhibit of "persecution of the homosexuals". The exhibit was made up of reader boards with a few official paper artifacts laminated to them. Set up in storyboard format there were about 30 boards, telling how the reign of Hitler sent Jews, homosexuals and other undesirables to prison, and or concentration camps.

Gay men were spied on, lied to and set up for entrapment. Followed by the Gestapo, if any hint of homosexual actions or activity was detected, citizens were arrested. Once in jail, their homes were searched, and personal information was taken. Address books, and contact information was seized with those people listed contacted as well. Many men went to prison and concentration/work camps, with most dying there. Some were gassed or burned. Others had to do the physically demanding work of the camps.

Work camps took advantage of the free labor of those held captive for the war effort. These people were forced to labor, building a country that imprisoned them not only for their sexual orientation, but that imprisoned others for their religion beliefs and the color of their skin. Gays were given some of the most difficult and dangerous work, and frequent “accidents” became yet another process of elimination. If the exhausting work didn't get you, the accidents would. Other accused imprisoned gays were given the opportunity to be "voluntarily" castrated in hopes of being released.

My father’s connection between Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein finally hit home. The incarcerated men had no possible way of asking for help, and those willing to try heroic rescues on their behalf were unable to hear their pleas. Those who were suspected of showing sympathy to homosexuals were followed, guided, spied on. Any protest of this activity would have surely ended in death.

I wondered, is that what is happening in Iraq today? Are these people trying to ask for help and can't get a word out without fear of death? Was brutal oppression causing them to hide? Iraqis could not hold elections, and they could not march on their Washington. Their government policies were not up for public debate. I questioned whether Iraqis might be asking for help and we were unable to hear it?

Could the sort of persecution and torture that occurred in Nazi Germany, survive in our world today? Sitting in the comfort of my home, with my freedom, I am able to ask these questions freely without punishment from my government. Was it possible that these people in Iraq experienced the same treatment as citizens experienced 1930 Germany?

I really wanted to believe that a repeat of the Nazi movement would be impossible in our world today. We are a global society. I would hope that, with our eyes open, we could see each other as equals, regardless of race or religious beliefs. We are in fact all human. We all have the same ability to love, to hate, to fear, to dream, and to believe. Could it be that some people are not allowed this ability?

Leaving the holocaust museum, Allen sensed that something wasn’t sitting right with me. Troubled, my head was full of conflicting information and my heart was torn. Here I am protesting against the Iraqis war, but if Saddam was in fact torturing his people for their religious beliefs, he was in fact the same as Adolph Hitler. We, as a global community have to protest these people.

I recalled a story about the dangers of standing idly while those around you are persecuted that seem to fit the situation. (I do not have the official story so I am going to substitute in my own words here) "They came for the Jews, and the Jews asked for help, but I was not Jewish, so I did nothing. They came for the blacks, the blacks pleaded for help, but I am not black, so I did nothing. And so on. Finally when they came for me, there was no left one to ask for help.”

I am here in DC to protest this war. Now, I have information that supports fighting this war. I have the ghosts of the holocaust pleading with me "don't let this happen again" I try to explain my current condition to Allen but I am unable to put together a sentence that makes any sense. Surrounded by Bush haters, war protesters, and peace supporters of all kinds, I hear loudspeakers, bullhorns, chanting groups, and rustic music that oddly has the sound of war drums. These are the noises and conflicts in my head and in my heart as well. I'm standing in this crowd of thousands, as the sounds of the protest are now unbearable and my emotions gain on me, heading me quickly towards overload.

How did the citizens of 1930 Germany react to these acts of violence and breach of privacy? Where were the family members, the friends and neighbors? Were they forced into submissive fear and did nothing? Did they speak out and were retaliated against? Where were these witnesses to the persecution?

Today where are the citizens of Iraq? The people of surrounding countries? Where is the global community? What is the difference between the Jews, homosexuals and the 'undesirables' of 1930 Germany and the tortured peoples of Iraq? Is it simply time and location? Are we who protest the war in denial?

In desperate need of some down time, I left Allen and Robert at the Washington Monument and headed across the Mall for the Lincoln Monument. As I walked away from the rally, the noise faded, and my anxiety started to fade. Mounting the steps of the Lincoln Monument, the quiet respect of the other visitors was appealing. My back remained to the Washington Monument and the sounds of the rally fell silent in my mind. In front of me, sat the towering image of Lincoln.

This statue of a great leader that towered before me also once took our country to war, for what seemed to me many of the same reasons. We took up arms on our own soil. Brother against brother. Now, we regard this man as a great leader, but what about the citizens of our country at the time? Did they march on the White House? Did they assault his name in anger? Did they rebel against his decision? We did go to war, but neither side won. The cause won, but as a nation divided, we also lost.

I am not a Bush hater. I would not want his job. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be president. I am here to protest war, not Bush. If we go to war, I am in support of our troops, they are fighting for our country, for freedom in other countries. Yet we are not a global army. I'm sure that all of our troops believe that war is necessary either, but they will serve, as is their duty. Some troops died for the freedom of the blacks in America, and for the freedom of Jews in Germany. Now some will die for the Iraqi people of today. I do not think any person would be disrespectful to our men and women in the armed forces in our country today.

I hope that we paid attention in History class. These troops are our defenders of freedom. I would be supportive of our president taking us to task knowing full on that every peaceful opportunity was given chance to reach peaceful resolution first. If those opportunities truly fail, then we must, as a participant in global community step up to defend these people, that is our responsibility as free Americans.

I do not know if Bush is a great Leader, if he will follow in the history making images of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt or Kennedy, or if he is a misappropriated representative of our nation. What I know is he is our president. He is informed on things I cannot imagine. He has access to more facts on our Iraqi involvement and he is better educated on this subject than I am. All I can hope for from our president, and what I pray for, is that he makes the decision on war based on facts, not opinions.

I hope the facts the he weights are relative today, not just lingering from the presidential term of his father. I hope and pray that these decisions are as grounded as if he were sending his daughters off to support the military forces. That he is aware that all who serve are sons, daughters, husbands and wives. That his decisions would remain strong and his convictions would not waiver if his own family was at risk.

On the steps of the Lincoln I stopped and sat down for a bit of a rest. Tourists passed by me, and I wonder if they were aware of what was happening at the Washington Monument, a short walk away. Through the viewfinder of my camera, at first all I can see is just the Washington Monument, surrounded by protesters. Now, as I listen I can faintly hear them. If I also adjust my focus, and visualize, I can see the reflection of the pond in front of me, dried up, drained to build the substructure of the WWII memorial. And with another adjustment, beyond the protests, I can see our Nation’s Capitol. The more I adjust the focus, the more I am able to see. Pieces of the Mall, one at a time, in perspective, individually.

The leaders of our nation have all served here, and they’ve all had to struggle with right and wrong, doing what is best for our country. Without the camera, it is one big picture that collectively is too big, but individually, I can understand the pieces and their relation to the whole. I find this relative to the situation.

I resume my journey. Walking back to the peace rally, I see that we are all here, pro and con. Standing to voice our opinions on the subject of war. One of the chants passed through the crowd was "This Is What Democracy Looks Like" and this is also why I am here. Because I have a voice, I am a citizen wanting to be counted, to represent our country, to represent freedom, to represent what the power of democracy is. This freedom to voice my opinion, to be heard, defines living my life without fear and persecution. That I can freely come to my nation’s capitol and protest the war, and I can have my own opinion. I arrived here knowing only a few faces. I became overloaded with opinion and emotion, and as a result of the experience, I leave knowing this is a memory I will never forget.

Returning to the Washington monument, I met back up with Allen and Robert. My emotions had settled and during my absence the crowd more than tripled in the short time I spent at the Lincoln Monument. The collective energy of the group is empowering. We are all here for the same purpose, to join the rally and participate in the march on the White House.

I still do not believe in war, unless all other peaceful resources have been tried and pursued to exhaustion. As we marched through the streets of Washington DC, our voices loud, holding our signs and banners, we carried with heads held high and as a group we voiced our opinion with passion. The clearest sign I read was simple. "If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention." This sign spoke loud and clear to me.

Ultimately, I do not believe we went to war with Germany to end the persecution of the Jews, or to end the suffering in the concentration camps. I do not believe we are going to war with Iraq to end the suffering of her people.

But if we do go to war, will an end to the suffering be the side benefit that our fighting will be remembered for? If we do go to war, are we as an American society ready to face increased terrorism, and more horrors like the World Trade Centers? Or are we threatening war with a country that is even capable of carrying out these threats?

On the other hand, is the US the world the world Peacemaker? When were we elected to solve the world problems? Who approved this role for us? As Americans we are individuals, with different beliefs, opinions and convictions. Based on these beliefs, we form groups with similar interests, in support of our beliefs. While we claim we are from the home of the brave, and the land of the free, are we aware that other nations are made up of people with different opinions, beliefs and convictions? Our democracy works in our country, but is that necessarily the best for each country? Are we called to force our views, and demand reform on other nations, or do our forced actions on other nations also not make us a dictatorship over the world? Is the U.S. Government the keeper of global unity? At what financial cost do we stop? At what body count? Freedom is within our boundaries, but is the global community a prisoner of U.S. influence?

These were the thoughts in my head as I flew home, back to Washington State, my home, my family, my friends, my job, and my daily life. I took this trip for the experience. And I got more than I bargained for.

I didn't know my experience would be such a conflicted one. As I left our nation’s capitol, the place where our freedom lives, I knew that I was departing from a portion of our land that each of us owns collectively, as do our parents, grandparents and our children and their children. It is sacred ground that is our past, and the same promising ground that is our future. We are all here to witness, to live, to love, to dream, to fight. For our freedom.... For Liberty..... For Justice for All.

Thank you Dad for giving me another viewpoint to see from.

I was listening.

Thank You Allen for giving me the opportunity of this trip, encouraging me to learn, to grow, and to have an opinion. Thank you and your tired ears for listening.