COMMENTARY: Peace, officer

In his Commentary, ³July 4th 2006…,² veteran Sebastopol police
officer Dennis Colthurst tells us he is overwhelmed with emotion at
the sight of the fluttering flag attached to his patrol car and the
numerous flags lining Main Street and Bodega Ave., as he is being
fed ³God Bless America² on his patrol car radio. I hope readers of
officer Colthurst¹s commentary also noticed the FAITH article,
³Desecrating Old Glory,² written by Rev. Gene Nelson in the same
issue.
Passing through Sebastopol¹s main intersection, officer
Colthurst notes both war and peace folks standing vigil. He focuses
on the one and ONLY man advocating support for our current military
mission. He returns an offered salute, and yet hesitates ³to give
the aviators [sic] Œthumbs up¹ for fear of being accused of
becoming a political component [sic],² too late. He imagines that
faces have changed often (perhaps because the numbers have grown?),
except for this man, and considers that some day he will speak
with, acknowledge and thank him.
My husband and I are two of the many ³protesters² who stand
vigil for peace and against undeclared, preemptive war. We would
prefer our leaders learn the art of conflict resolution before
³getting the gun.² Bombs are not always the answer; might is not
always right.
Following 9-11, the American flag stood at half mast across our
country to honor the dead. The world was sympathetic at the loss of
so many innocent lives. The Bush Admini-stration usurped the pain,
suffering, anger and fear, encouraging Americans to wrap themselves
in the flag, and to go shopping.
Rather than seek a peaceful resolution, this president chose to
amplify the worst and most violent in us ‹ and delivered to the
perpetrators, a macho ³bring it on.² From that moment forward,
Americans were asked to become nationalistic, flag-waving patriots
and to unquestioningly send their sons and daughters to defend our
American way of life and fight terror. Never mind that the country
we chose to invade, Iraq, had nothing whatsoever to do with the
9-11 attacks.
This man, revered by officer Colthurst, deeply cares about the
troops. We support bringing our troops home before more are killed
or maimed. We do not support the concept ³America right or wrong.²
When America is wrong it is our obligation to make it right. To
stay the course as more and more innocent Iraqi civilians and U.S.
soldiers are ravaged is immoral.
I am deeply disturbed that a local police officer believed it
was appropriate to write, and moreover that you believed it was
appropriate to publish his remarkably biased commentary. Had
officer Colthurst written as a citizen, not mentioning his official
capacity, there would have been no foul. One would like to think
that while on duty, a public servant would remain, to the public¹s
eye at least, apolitical. My level of trust has been compromised.
If I am ever pulled over by this policeman, will it be for
something I have done, or because of the bumper stickers on my car?
I should not be left to consider this possibility.
Officer Colthurst feels the need to meet, acknowledge and thank
this one man for his conviction, while ignoring the conviction of
those who stand for peace. The Peace and Justice community is
passionately concerned about our country¹s direction. We consider
ourselves no less committed to our national well-being than someone
who waves the flag and seeks ongoing war. War is not always
honorable. Peace is patriotic.
– Janet Evans lives in Sebastopol