Maui News story on “Maui Still Wants Peace”  from issue of March 21, 2004

Participation in peace rally...
By CLAUDINE SAN NICOLAS, Staff Writer

KAHULUI -
The number of people waving signs Saturday against the U.S. war in Iraq was nothing compared to the figure that rallied on Maui streets a year ago when the conflict began.

"It's really unfortunate what it says about the people of Maui," sign waver Gavin Dillard said as he sat with signs saying "Got Peace?" on a sidewalk in front of Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.

"I'm feeling more like the American people are becoming more complacent," said Montana Salinger, 37, of Huelo. "People don't want to get out from behind their computers and their cars to take a stand," he said.

Salinger held a sign that read: "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire." The sign had an image of President Bush with red flames billowing out of his pants.

Salinger said he didn't make the sign but it underlined his feelings about the president and the U.S. involvement in Iraq. "My opinion is once you lie, there're 100 lies behind you," Salinger said.

He said he was particularly upset that the coalition forces that invaded Iraq were unable to find weapons of mass destruction that the Bush administration had insisted were stocked away by the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Mele Stokesberry of Maui Peace Action, the organization that coordinated last year's peace portrait and this year's rally, was disappointed but not discouraged.

"We can see from the response that the feeling is they appreciate someone in the community is doing this," she said. "We want to show people that it's patriotic to criticize your government when you believe it's doing something wrong."

Stokesberry counted about 60 people participating in the two-hour sign waving Saturday afternoon. The "Maui Peace Portrait" taken at Maui Community College in March 2003 drew approximately 1,500 people and also featured a sign waving.

The peace portrait has been published on at least 12,000 postcards sent out all over the world. Participants at Saturday's rally were invited to pick up free postcard packets.

Members of Maui Peace Action have been meeting on a regular basis since the war started a year ago, to watch films, host guest speakers and hold discussions about war and peace in the world.

Martha Martin, 71, of Paia, held a sign that read: "Bring our Boys Home." She said she opposed the U.S. involvement in Iraq and the use of violence to seek peace, but she was not against the American soldiers who are serving in the war.

"This is about the policy of the country. It has nothing to do with our armed forces. We wish them (U.S. soldiers) the best. We hope they'll be home safe and well," she said.

Martin walked down the line of sign wavers, offering pretzels and praise for their participation in Saturday's rally. She said she did not believe that Saturday's sign waving held on Maui, one of hundreds of such demonstrations across the country, would stop the nation's participation in the war. But it could start a discussion on how the war could be stopped.

"I'm hoping people will read our signs and start talking about it. That's what we all could do to help," Martin said.

Vietnam veteran Michael Schneider, 52, of Kihei, said his opposition to war in Iraq has only intensified over the past year. "Terrorism spawns from lack of hope. You can have peace, but you have to work at it. Diplomacy is key. You have to give and take," he said.

Rich Zubaty, 56, a part-time Maui resident, has participated in war protests on the Mainland and even in Germany. "I've had it with this war," he said.

Zubaty worried about the economic fallout from the war and how countries opposing involvement in Iraq may view the United States.

"We've seen countries going from giving us the benefit of the doubt to distrusting us," he said. "In the long run, this war will have major economic impact. It'll be horrendous," he said.

Sign wavers on Saturday said most of the response on the streets has been positive. One man showed his displeasure to Schneider. "You get a few of those," Schneider said, but most motorists honked in support. "We have a lot more supporters," he said.

World War II veteran Ralph Johansen, 80, of Kihei, said that unlike the conflict he fought in, he does not see the purpose or benefit of today's battle in Iraq. "I believe this is a terrible mistake, just a tragic mistake. . . . We're not any safer. We're more at risk."

Adonna Bishitashon, 12, of Kahului, attended Saturday's rally along with her 8-year-old cousin, Jessica Fujimoto, and 8-year-old friend Ross Takemoto, also of Kahului. The three participated in last year's rally and gladly supported this year's event.

"I'm here to express my First Amendment rights," Bishitashon said.

"So we can have more life and peace on earth," Takemoto added.

Claudine San Nicolas can be reached at claudine@mauinews.com