Cape demonstrators gather to voice protest against war

A war with Iraq would be unjustified, costly in lives and dollars, and could backfire against the United States, warned demonstrators who held a anti-war rally Saturday across the street from the Federal Building on Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

Despite a heavy mist and chilly temperatures, about 60 people lined the block in front of the Marquette Hotel for more than an hour, holding home-made signs with various messages: "Honk for peace," "I love my country, but I fear my government," "An eye for an eye makes the world blind."

Many drivers did honk, seemingly in support, at the demonstrators -- made up of area residents, professors and university students -- and there were no hecklers.

The event was organized through word of mouth and e-mails to coincide with similar anti-war rallies that were being held Saturday in Washington, San Francisco and other locations nationally and abroad. President Bush has said that a "regime change" must come about in Iraq, by force if necessary.

Timing not right

Everyone at the rally denounced Saddam Hussein and most said that war is sometimes necessary. But they added that this isn't the right time or the right circumstances.

"I don't think we've been given credible evidence for an unprovoked military attack on Iraq," said Bob Polack, a rally organizer and Southeast Missouri State University professor. "We're going to throw tens, maybe hundreds of billions of dollars at a war that will result in thousands of kids coming home in a body bag? We just don't have enough significant evidence to warrant that."

Polack, who teaches social work, also said that he thinks a war with Iraq could backfire.

"This is going to consolidate the Arab world," Polack said. "And we may even do it without the support of the United Nations? All that's going to do is consolidate our enemies and alienate our allies."

Sister Rita Schonhoff and two other nuns drove two hours from Ellington, Mo., to participate. Another nun came from Kennett, Mo. Schonhoff held a sign that said: "Not in our name."

"The thought of war in Iraq, a pre-emptive strike, violates my conscience," Schonhoff said. "For me, it's a moral issue. In the past, war has been justified. But a war like this may precipitate the very kind of response that we're trying to prevent -- an all-out nuclear war. It just doesn't make sense."

Shelly Goss, a Cape Girardeau resident, brought her 5- and 6-year-old daughters.

"The U.S. would kill thousands of innocent people by bombs, cancers from chemical fallout, and starvation from economic sanctions," she said. "Bush will do this if we do not take a stand."

Young adults, mostly university students, also came. Some of them said Democracy is about speaking your mind -- even if it's to protest government's actions.

"Democracy wouldn't be here if we didn't speak out for what we think is right," said Jessica Crass, a 23-year-old university student. "Going blindly along with what the government says doesn't mean you're being patriotic."

The answer, Polack said, is diplomacy, containment and working within the confines of the United Nations.

"We contained the Soviet Union with their 1,700 nuclear weapons pointed at us for 40 years," he said. "Surely we can work diplomatically now."

Polack said that a group has been formed and tentatively has been named the Southeast Missouri Coalition for Peace and Justice. They are planning to do more rallies in the future and are going to begin holding weekly meetings.

"This is a grass-roots effort," he said. "This isn't the last of it."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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