The president just visited Utah, and was met by a fierce anti-bush rally last week. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson led the crusade/tyraid against the president, his speech inspired me. (link to speech)
I am holding my rally here, in this small town of Ephriam Utah, on the HUGELY conservative campus of Snow College just to show that there is desent to this president even at the heart of his dwindling support. Please read my request I submitted to the administration of the college and help me out with advice.
My Philosophy
I have been a conservative republican for most of my life. I voted for Bush twice. I tried to enlist in the military believe it or not, to go to Iraq (but couldn’t due to an eye condition).
Today I find myself organizing a rally and my heart hurts to do so. I am taking a stand to prevent my generation from inheriting a whole world of problems. My friends are going to war and some are dying for a war that they don’t really understand or support. The people making decisions will not face the consequences for their choices, but my generation and our children will.
That is why I rally, that is why I stand. I am a patriot, and it is important that people know that you don’t have to support the war or George Bush to be a patriot. That’s my message. That’s why I will speak out. I have felt alone in my ideas and ideals, but I am not. That is why I have chosen to rally, to give voice to the patriots who disagree with the war. I organize this rally because I support the troops, god bless them and bring them home.
-Support our troops, and bring them home alive-
Proposal for rally to be held at Snow College
PHYSICAL components: I would like to place one cross for every soldier that has fallen in Iraq in the grasses starting at the faculty parking lot and extending to the end of the amphitheatre.
The crosses will serve as a tribute to the fallen and will be treated with due respect.
I would also like to write the names of each fallen soldier in black chalk down the main walk of campus.
Time Table:
Set up/take down: Our group would like to set up the crosses and chalk the names Sunday Oct. 22. We would like to leave them up throughout the school week and will take them down Friday Oct. 27 in the evening.
Rally speakers:
Monday-I plan to open the rally with a speech, and introduction of an invited speaker (not yet named). There will be an hour of organized rally (possibly mid day around noon).
Tuesday/Thursday-We wont have speakers or organized events Tuesday or Thursday. We will, however, have tables staffed with people encouraging students and community to sign a banner “to bring back the troops” that will be sent to Washington D.C.
Wednesday-We plan to have a speaker discussing how the current war in Iraq has nothing to do with the 911 terrorist attacks. We speak on this topic in response to a recent survey that states 47 percent of Americans think that the war in Iraq is closely related, the speech is about education.
Friday-The closing day should be the biggest. We hope to have a big name speaker, yes Rocky Anderson is on the list (but not committed). We will have folk music for most of the day. We will have a sign up sheet for students and community to get in line to share their desire for the war to end and why.
Every night-We will have a candle light vigil in honor of the fallen troops. We will select six soldiers each night and have an hour remembrance and read stories about the soldiers and the families they left behind between 12 and 1 a.m. At least two people, perhaps many more, will stay with the crosses all night long.
Why Snow College?
Many people in Sanpete County look to Snow College as a center of education. But more than that, all of Sanpete views Snow as a sort of cross-roads where minds of different thoughts may meet in a safe forum and all voices may be heard.
Furthermore college campuses have traditionally served as “free-speech zones” and they have been filled with the democratic process in action. This will be a safe rally, although there may be loud people. Sure, there might be controversy, but there will most certainly be education and respect in every action that I will take. |
