Peace March Draws 1,000 in Rural Iraq

Peace March Draws 1,000 in Rural Iraq

ARMY TIMES - July 18, 2005
By Matthew Cox, Times staff writer

QAYYARAH, Iraq--About 1,000 Iraqis marched through this small, rural town over the July 4 weekend, waving banners and flags in a show of defiance against insurgent violence.

The normally bustling market section of the town sat still as the crowd walked along, chanting, "Our soul! Our life! We give all for Iraq!" during the July 2 event, dubbed the first-ever "Peaceful March Against Terrorism."

The idea for the march materialized in late May at the monthly regional security council meeting. Local Iraqi leaders wanted to hold a peace march in Mosul for the entire area.

[...]

Becker's unit was on hand to support the event, but Iraqi army forces provided the bulk of visible security.

"I wanted to be completely in the background," Becker said. "This was their idea, their plan and their march."

[...]

The day of the march, the crowd--which was made up mostly of men and boys of all ages-- began to slowly gather on the edge of town just after 9 a.m. About 45 minutes later, the event kicked off with Iraqi military and government officials in the lead. Participants wore light blue T-shirts specially printed for the march that featured an Iraqi flag and an "I love Iraq" slogan across the front.

At the end of the march route, Iraqis stood and listened to speeches by Atalah and other leaders.

"I thank you all for making this happen!" Atalah shouted to the crowd from atop a three-story school building. "Yes! Yes! Yes for peace. No for terrorists! There is no room for terrorists in this town!"

Both Iraqi and American leaders had hoped that several thousand people would turn out for the march but were still enthused that the event remained peaceful and drew more than 1,000 participants.

Emphasis added.

The article also details the efforts the troups made to work with local leaders to make sure the marchers were safe.

I really should be working but I couldn't resist sharing this with anyone who might come by. I had a hunch that the MSM would not pick up the story. So, I went to Google News and did a search.

This is what came up: Redstate.org. Yup, another blog, albeit of a different sort. The other headlines were all about how there is NO hope for peace in Iraq.

Once again, I have no problem with reporting the difficulties our troops are facing over there. I don't want anything white-washed. I am simply asking that we also emphasize the progress being made.

This article made my day!

I really do believe that in this day and age the news creates reality almost as much as it reflects it. If everyone started talking about all of the progress and all of the Iraqis who have demonstrated that they want peace, others would perceive the tide as turning. Then, those who want peace and democracy would feel more brave about expressing themselves because they would be part of a movement, rather than just asking for martyrdom to a hopeless cause. Finally, those who want to destroy peace would lose their momentum. If all of the headlines spoke of the progress for peace and democracy and how the terrorists were losing, they would have fewer and fewer recruits. Young people would see that their best hope is to pick up tools and books and computers, rather than grenades and guns.

This push has to be based on reality, however. We can't just say that the terrorists are a "few dead enders" and make it so. That's the mistake the anti-drug movement made with "Reefer Madness." If you exaggerate, you lose all credibility.

We need to start small and honest, with articles about 1,000 protesters for peace or soldiers who are helping to rebuild a village. Even tiny pebbles can build into an avalanche.

Everyone who believes in a positive future for Iraq and everyone who wants to create a world without terrorism needs to locate these stories and pass them on. Tell everyone you know! Write letters to your papers! Spread the good news!