Impressions of a peace marcher
Letter to the Editor 10/27/02

— Urmas Kaldveer, Ph.D.

When I read that there was to be a major march and rally for peace in San Francisco I felt compelled as never before to go.

I am a 61 year old Estonian émigré, born into the "crossfire" of the second world war in which I lost my father, uncle , grandfather and dozens of assorted aunts and uncles (all civilians). Today the United States of America has become the greatest perpetrator of violence on the globe. Whether through weapons sales that provide the majority of our GNP, covert operations worldwide or with the invasion of entire countries, no one in the global community is seen as a greater threat to world stability and peace.

My parcipitation in the march was a demand for America's part in this cycle of violence to stop. I was hardly alone, Bart trains were packed, Justin Herman Plaza a kaleidoscope of color and energy, Market street filled and the civic center packed.

Young, old, male, female, gay, straight, black, brown, red, yellow and white; all Americans there to demonstrate their rights. I was very proud to be there.

This was what the declaration of Independence and the Constitution are all about. Though the corporate media under-estimated the numbers and certainly the import, "The People Spoke!" Jefferson, Adams and Franklin would have been proud.