Respectful rally

I would like to respond to J. B. Stone's comments regarding the recent successful peace rally held in Whitefish to mark Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to town for a fund-raiser for Conrad Burns (at considerable taxpayer expense).

The reported number of supporters for the rally varies, but by most accounts there appears to have been approximately 200 people, with 160 at Mountain Trails Park and along Wisconsin Avenue, and an additional 40 stuck across the viaduct.

These people came from Whitefish and surrounding communities, inspired by their own free will to peacefully demonstrate and voice their opposition to a failed administration and its policies. There were moms with their children, seniors, young adults from middle school and the high school, some folks from Kalispell on their lunch break, some that many would recognize as respected members of our community, a few local politicians, and yes, a few hippies.

I would characterize those in attendance as concerned members of our community, not the lunatic fringe as Mr. Stone refers to them. This was not a political stunt of the Democratic Party, as he would like us to believe. It was a collaboration of Veterans for Peace, People for Peace, the Flathead Democratic Central Committee and concerned citizens.

We gathered at this event to express our dissatisfaction with the present administration, which by many accounts has not only deceived us and manipulated the pretext for going to war, but also grossly underestimated the consequences of war over diplomacy.

Since March 19, 2003, the day the U.S. invaded Iraq, there have been 2,653 American casualties in Iraq and 19,323 wounded, based on information from www.veteransforpeace.org. Approximately 41,639 estimated Iraq civilians have died, according to www.Iraqbodycount.org.

The Congressional Research Service reports that the war in Iraq war has cost U.S. taxpayers $318.5 billion as of June 2006. The day that a peaceful gathering in a public park, with all the proper permits, becomes somehow shameful is a sad day for America.

Theodore Roosevelt said, "To announce that there be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

The people who attended the peace rally had a right to be heard, as they were part of a meaningful event which represents a much larger voice in America.

Joan Vetter Ehrenberg

Whitefish