Takin' it to the streets

By: GAIL CHATFIELD - For the North County Times | Monday, January 21, 2008 8:46 AM PST ∞

At a time when we cannot be certain if our vote counts or is even counted, it is easy to become politically apathetic. After all, how can one person possibly make a difference if indifference is all around?

But great changes in our society have often started when one or two ordinary citizens have had enough. Standing on the cornerstones of our democracy of free speech and peaceable assembly, and I emphasize the word peaceable, these few, ordinary citizens soon become the many.

In Vista, Poway, Ramona and Encinitas, neighbors and friends are standing on street corners and saying, "Enough!" to the war in Iraq. These community rallies are part of the larger, national effort started by retired Gen. Wesley Clark. They join the hundreds of other groups, from Washington, D.C., to Seattle, Wash., who also gather on street corners for one hour a week to express their opposition to the war. Make no mistake, they support the troops but do not support this particular war.

After hearing about the group in Poway, Carmel Valley resident Gil Field and his wife e-mailed a few of their friends to join them on the busiest street corner in that community last July 28 for a peace vigil. Fifteen people showed up.

Jan. 27 will mark the six-month anniversary of that growing group. Every Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. ---- regardless of fire, rain or Chargers games ---- a few dozen neighborhood folks continue to gather on the corner of El Camino Real and Del Mar Heights Road and hold signs that say "Enough," "Bring the Troops Home," and words of peace.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive from the motorists who pass by and flash the peace sign or give a thumbs up. This should not be surprising. According to various opinion polls (http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm), between 60 percent and 70 percent of Americans oppose the war and disapprove of the way the administration is handling the issue.

"What it has told us in the last six months," Field says, "is that as conservative as this city is, feelings for the war have changed radically from whatever they once were."

The only goal they set, Field says, "was to be on the corner every week until the war and occupation ended or we elected a new president and felt comfortable that the policies had changed."

Even as the presidential campaign heats up, Field explains that they have gone out of their way not to be involved with any particular candidate. "Nobody stands there with a candidate's sign," Field says. "We are nonpartisan."

Indeed, it is difficult to stereotype these community peace advocates. They are veterans like Field as well as civilians. They are young and old, couples and individuals; Democrats, Republicans and Independents; high school students and teachers; blue- and white-collar workers; those who are financially set and those who are struggling. They are a cross section of our North County neighbors and they have had enough.

For more information about these peace vigils, contact Gil Field at (858) 342-1964.

Carmel Valley resident Gail Chatfield is a freelance columnist for the North County Times.

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