[R-G] Anti-war demo a tough slog

[Anthony Fenton]

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Kaufmann_Bill/2008/03/21/pf-5065731.html

Anti-war demo a tough slog
By BILL KAUFMANN

The young cop videotaping the proceedings in civvies and shades lent  
them a subversive air otherwise lacking.

Any irony of peace officers shadowing the peace-obsessed is lost on a  
crowd accustomed to such attention.

For the most part, it's a mellow affair, the few dozen anti-war  
protesters at Tomkins Park on 17 Ave. S.W. marking the fifth  
anniversary of the Iraq invasion.

It's a turnout representative of a smaller city.

Five years ago, 5,000 marched through the Beltline to protest on its  
eve a war and occupation that's become an ingrained constant, a  
normalized reality.

That resignation is either its own quiet indictment of the obscenity  
meant to be a quick cakewalk or apathy over what's become background  
noise.

Five years ago, our premier gave his blessing to the invasion -- and  
the instability it's brought to the markets has helped boost Alberta's  
bottom line.

What are these protesters complaining about?

In Calgary, not many complain, so when any do, it's always a good idea  
to share the rare glow. As the peaceniks gather, anti-seal hunt  
protesters are already on the curb nearby with their red placards.

One of them says they knew their anti-war cousins were coming and  
thought they'd hitch their wagon to the bigger crowd.

A few motorists honk, but it's not clear if it's for the peaceniks or  
PETA types.

One anti-war organizer doesn't like the fractured focus that also  
includes Afghanistan and Darfur.

"Some people who have doubts about opposing the Afghan mission didn't  
come down ... I almost didn't ," she says. "I really think Iraq  
deserves its own day."

It's a tall order when Parliament has just extended the Afghan mission.

Speakers recite the usual laundry list of atrocity and grievance, but  
miss a chance to make Iraq relevant to Calgary passersby.

There's no mention of a string of Canadian generals helping subdue  
America's petro-military colony.

Ottawa, too, doesn't like to discuss Canadian Brig.-Gen. Nicolas  
Matern's recent posting to Baghdad with the U.S. 18th Airborne Corps.

One in attendance who'd approve and goes to bat for a relentless  
catastrophe that's killed hundreds of thousands and created 4.5  
million Iraqi refugees is a guy named Merle. For such a right-wing  
city, it's a notable pro-war under-representation at Tomkins Park, but  
Merle's a reliable demo-crasher.

About those missing WMDs, Merle says they're still there somewhere,  
adding "I know it sounds UFO-ish" and that "war causes awful  
consequences."

You said it, Merle.

Another protest regular is Dijla Al-Rekabi, a 32-year-old native of  
Fallujah who comes wrapped in an Iraqi flag. As for her relatives back  
in Iraq, "the ones who haven't been killed are starving ...  
everything's been destroyed," she says.

Last year, says Al-Rekabi, two of her cousins were kidnapped and never  
heard from again, possibly tortured to death by electric drills in the  
new and free Iraq.

She notes that before 2003, her homeland had been bombed for 12 years  
and throttled literally to death by a U.S.-led embargo. Then it was  
deemed a threat.

After the speeches, human nature -- much as it does for war -- takes  
over with Merle and the hippies loudly in each others' faces.  
Suddenly, police have a reason to be there, form a cordon and convince  
Merle to leave.

It's about as much passion to be found among Calgarians "who really  
don't care," says Al-Rekabi.

She glances at the small knot of protesters almost outnumbered by  
reporters and cops and says "to me, this is a big number."

In Canada's cradle of apathy, you take what you can get.