Protest

From Bwtm

War protesters wish supporters would join in

Clearly upset, the man parked his van and came to stand toe-to-toe with 76-year-old Rita Buell at the corner of South Ridgewood and Dunlawton avenues.

After two years of protesting the war in Iraq at the corner , Buell and about a dozen other members of ProActivists of Volusia said Tuesday that most drivers give approving honks but few, pro or con, bother stopping.

"I wouldn't be a fool and acting like a complete idiot out here," the man said to Buell. "I would support our troops."

Buell's flowered denim jumper dress hardly fluttered as she firmly stood her ground.

"It's the administration that's not supporting our troops," said the petite woman with cropped gray hair. "They'll tell you in interview after interview that they are not getting the support they need."

The van driver's conviction and willingness to stand up for his beliefs is the kind of reaction, albeit for the other side, that war-protest organizer Philip Farruggio Sr. has found in short supply during the demonstrations, each Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Those who disagree normally offer a middle finger or a shout that the group members should "get a life." But the people who really miff Farruggio are those who give a thumbs up and keep on going.

"They wave, and they blow their horns, but they won't join us," Farruggio said.

He estimated that more than 80 percent of those who offer a response are supportive.

"Shame on everyone who agrees with us, because they won't join us," he said.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/newEAST01100406.htm