Walkout has its own protesters - Pro-war activists march against what they say is anti-war rhetoric, hyperbole

www.dailybruin.ucla.edu By Brad Greenberg DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR bgreenberg@media.ucla.edu Stationed at the bottom of Kerckhoff steps, Grant Rabenn was one of the first pro-war activists students saw as they walked down Bruin Walk Wednesday. Rabenn, a fourth-year political science and history student, was protesting a protest. "Is the world better after you support these socialist causes?" he asked. Rabenn was backed by other war supporters, including Democrats, Republicans, Independents and members of other political parties. Jon English, a member of the Bruin Democrats and first-year political science student, said calling for "education not devastation" was hypocritical. "When they walk out of class, that pisses me off," he said. English could be seen shouldering a boom box playing the Pledge of Allegiance. CATHERINE JUN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Graduate student Garth Meckler (left) and high school student Aaron Laran (right) debate the issues of the war in Iraq. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other students held signs reading, "Saddam loves walkouts," and some handed out fliers reading, "Love Hitler? Then you'll love Saddam." The "Love Hitler?" flier went on to show similarities between Hussein and Adolf Hitler in the areas of genocide, conquest of neighbors and nuclear weapon production attempts. "They (anti-war protesters) don't know what they are fighting for. All they care about is blaming America first, they know nothing of the Kurdish people," Rabenn declared. Rabenn said it is the United States' responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Owen Paun, a fifth-year European studies student, agreed with Rabenn. "America is the only country with the military capabilities to defend the Iraqi people," Paun said. Paun, who said his father received two bronze medals and two purple hearts in Vietnam, said Americans' involvement in that war was wrong. "Iraq is different. The Iraqi people are not going to fight for Saddam like the Viet Cong did (in the Vietnam war)," Paun said. When asked about an anti-war sign that read, "Stop fuhrer Bush," Rabenn said the protesters' hyperbole was a testament of their ignorance. "You would never see a protest like this in Iraq," he said. Emily Currin, a fourth-year political science student, said signs declaring President Bush as incompetent were unfounded and she put her faith in him. "God knows I'd rather listen to someone who got Cs at Yale, than a bunch of spoiled, liberal UCLA brats who skip class to go to some stupid rally," Currin said. Rabenn's brother, Chase, a first-year undeclared student, said anti-war protesters had no arguments and were just spewing rhetoric. "All I hear is no blood for oil. If this were a war for oil we would be attacking Venezuela," Chase said. Chase added that claims for peace seemed contradictory, coming from protesters who tore down a pro-war sign and who Chase said were trying to pick fights with some war supporters. "They say they want peace, peace for who? Peace for themselves so they can sleep at night, or peace for the Iraqi people who are dying every day?" Chase asked. Currin said it was important for someone to represent the United States' interests. "Everyone seems to be just supporting the interest of countries that want to kill us," she said. As the protest moved from Westwood Plaza to Murphy Hall, the pro-war activists could be seen leading the line of anti-war protesters behind them. "We felt that we would make a bigger impact in the front," said fourth-year physics and math student Jeremy Werner. "It's important Americans know that some college students still love their country," he said.