I was really pleased to see Salena De La Cruz’s column, “Majority Support”(ODE, Mar. 31). After having participated in the “Support Our Troops” rally the previous Saturday, I was very curious as to what type of coverage would be in the Emerald.
Marching down the streets of Eugene was not something I had previously done, and I looked forward to it with excitement and a bit of fear; excitement because I was supporting something I really believed in, and fear because I didn’t want any ugly confrontations with those opposite my views. (Call me a wimp, but I like everyone to get along and just agree to disagree in a respectful and kind manner).
I didn’t personally have any confrontations, but I did observe a couple of instances that could have turned into confrontations had anyone decided to choose that path. The first was shortly after we started marching, a young woman on the sidewalk began shouting obscenities at us and proclaiming in a loud and angry voice, “You’re all a bunch of (expletive) terrorists!” The venom and bitterness she lashed out with was shocking and so unexpected.
Most of us who heard her just laughed and commented how sad we were for her. One mom to the side of my husband and me retorted back with “My son would give his life for you!” She was carrying an 8×10 picture of him in his military uniform. I don’t remember the young woman responding to the comment; she was too angry to hear it, I suppose.
The second incident was at the Federal Building by a young man who was greatly offended by the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.” He, too, used the same language as the young woman, letting us all know he didn’t have to listen to that “(expletive) song.” (Is there a required class at the University to learn special “peace” protesters language?) He ran through the throng of people and nearly knocked over a man standing not far from my husband and me. He probably didn’t notice; he was too angry to see, I suppose.
I haven’t been 20-something for a long time, so I may be totally out of touch with what goes on in the heads of that age group, but I don’t think so. I tend to want to believe the best about people and give them the benefit of the doubt.
Because of those beliefs, I’ll assume the two young protesters were just having a bad day and momentarily forgot the manners they were taught: to speak respectfully and courteously to people when they disagree.