I am an American and I am for the liberation of Iraq. With that said, I have personally grown tired of the anti-American sentiment that many people in the world have taken hold of (Even in our own country).
But, I occasionally come across a story that lifts my spirits and makes me smile. After I finished reading the following story, I said to myself "Now, those people get it".
The link to the story.....
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vanc...-411EAED582E8}
DEMONSTRATORS CLASH OVER WAR (Vancouver, Canada)
A few hundred people gathered Sunday in the rain to show support for the U.S.-led forces in Iraq in a rally that later evolved into a fiery shouting match between anti-war activists and Canadian immigrants from Middle Eastern countries.
Police on horseback initially formed a barrier to keep the anti-war group away from the flag-waving, pro-American crowd as a line of speakers praised the soldiers fighting in Iraq, blasted Prime Minister Jean Chretien for Canada's unwillingness to get involved and chanted U-S-A, U-S-A.
"We are not anti-war, we are not pro-war," moderator Brent Chapman said to loud cheers from the crowd of about 300 people. "We are pro-freedom, pro-America and proud Canadians."
But as the numbers thinned, a man opposed to the Iraq invasion moved to the centre of the park on the south side of the Burrard Bridge and began criticizing the United States. He was immediately surrounded by a group of immigrants from Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Israel who berated him and accused him of being naive.
A half dozen police officers positioned themselves close by and stood silently -- some with video cameras rolling -- as the man, along with a few supporters, tried to raise questions about U.S. action, saying there is no evidence Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and suggested war will only lead to more strife and terrorism.
But he was drowned out by those who angrily insisted he knew nothing about dictators or terrorism because he hadn't lived under Saddam Hussein's rule, lost relatives to suicide bombers or been driven from his homeland under threat of death.
"You have no idea about Saddam Hussein," said Shwan Ahmad, who fled Iraq and moved to Canada 19 years ago. "The Americans are bringing dignity to the Iraqi people and we should thank them."
The man arguing against war replied that Hussein may be loathed and hated, but the fact that he is a bad person doesn't make war good.
A woman who said she was born in Israel, said the peace activists are well-intentioned but don't understand the big picture. The war is about good versus bad, and the bad has to be stopped somewhere, she said.
Ariel Tijerino, who moved to Canada from Nicaragua in 1998, had a similar view, saying in an interview that he backs U.S. action in Iraq "one hundred per cent -- one million per cent ... I'm from Nicaragua and I appreciate what the Americans did for us."
Chapman said later he was pleased with the size of the crowd considering the ste ady rain and the strong voice of those who oppose the war.
"I don't think anyone here is pro-war," he said in an interview. "This is not a pro-war rally, but we believe something had to be done in Iraq."
Organizer Cheryl Kaysser, a political science student from Douglas College in New Westminster, described the event as a "rally for freedom" rather than a "pro-war rally."
"Basically, we want to get our enemies before they have a chance to get us," she said, noting the Vancouver rally is just one of several across Canada in recent days intended to show support for the U.S. She said she plans to contact other organizers in coming days in the hope of arranging a day of support Canada-wide.
The division in Canadian public opinion over the war on Iraq was evident on the streets of several cities Saturday as demonstrators turned out to air opposing views.
About 4,000 people rallied on Parliament Hill to cheer on American forces and boo Canada's decision to remain on the sidelines. On the same day, about 2,000 people demonstrated for peace outside the Vancouver Art Gallery and marched through the downtown core.
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