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A walk on the peaceful side By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings No longer will Ashland's youth sit idle while the leaders of America beat the drums of war. Nearly 600 students flooded Siskiyou Boulevard Wednesday in a march that stopped traffic, gained attention, and gave students a platform for their political voices. Carrying signs reading "Books Not Bombs" students from Ashland Middle School, Ashland High School and Southern Oregon University cried out against the Bush administration's well-funded military defense while calling attention to the inability to provide today's youth with solid and stable education funding. Nearly 600 students from Ashland High, Ashland Middle and Southern Oregon University flooded the Plaza on Wednesday. Beginning with a swarm of signs, drum beats and chants at SOU, the mass made its way down Siskiyou Boulevard to AHS where students were participating in a peace-sit. When the two bodies converged, an eruption of cheers and whistles broke out as the march gained momentum and the interest of everyone within earshot. For Abby Adams, a sixth-grade student at AMS who helped pull the march together, giving youth a voice is well past due. "Kids are going to be leaders of the world and we have the right to decide what happens," Adams said. "As a kid, we want to know that we can do something." Adams said she became involved after seeing fliers with the "Books Not Bombs" message stapled around Ashland. After searching for more information on the Internet, Adams came across the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition site which encouraged youths worldwide to speak out for peace March 5. While Adams rallied middle school support, AHS students Jessica Baker, Rose Otter, Chelsea Cotton and Zack Williams met with the Peace Club created by SOU student Keith Quick to learn how to become involved. "It's about our future. We want books," Baker said. "The military's funding is far, far greater than what we're getting for schools. They (the government) can't even afford to keep kids in the schools. I think it's an important issue to look at." According to Quick, the mass assembly allowed students to feel empowered rather than helpless or disenfranchised. It also gave them the chance to speak their minds regarding current U.S. action. "The military budget has increased by $100 billion since Bush took office and we feel $100 billion should be invested in education," Quick said, adding Cuba spends more of its gross national product on education than America. "We're supposed to be the richest country and we spend such a small amount on our education," Quick said. Quick said he fears our actions will hurt relations with other countries. "I can't stand for U.S.-enforced sanctions against countries like Iraq," he said. "If you look up sanctions in the dictionary, it's very much like the definition of terrorism, so you could say these sanctions are an act of terrorism." After a little coordinating, AHS and SOU students spread the word about the march, which drew numerous students to the cause. School officials said students at the middle school were able to participate with parent's permission and students at the high school would face the penalties of an unexcused absence. Winding down Siskiyou Boulevard onto Main Street, students were greeted with honks of support, cheers and smiles even though they were heading into oncoming traffic. The peaceful march submerged the Plaza in a sea of youthful protesters as a faux-Bush hammed it up in a political street theater scene before being booed by the mass for his theatrical support of war on Iraq. Donning signs - with messages like " Who Would Jesus Bomb?," "The Real Axis of Evil: Bush, Cheney, and Ashcroft," and "Bush Is A Weapon of Mass Destruction," - students chanted "We want peace" and "Books not bombs," while beating drums and causing a stir. Students also took a few moments to proclaim messages of peace to fellow anti-war activists. Ashland resident Debi Smith said Wednesday's political demonstration was an important lesson for her children Riley,10, and Taylor,12. "It's a history lesson. We live in a democracy where our vote is supposed to count and matter. I want to teach them to exercise their rights at a young age," Smith said. Smith and her children participated in the 10-mile march, in addition to several other local marches to show their anti-war commitment. After a peaceful yet thunderous eruption of students on the Plaza, marchers then wound their way to the Ashland Armory, then to the high school and SOU before circling back down on the Plaza. In between the anti-war protesters, North Medford High School seniors Sarah Knerr and Kristine Van Etten took a moment to offer their support of the president. "Like the Italian prime minister said, he doesn't see red, white and blue, he sees freedom," Knerr said. "These people (Iraqis) are trying to infringe on our freedoms." Knerr said Iraq's inability to comply with U.S. demands poses a threat to our security. And while she supports education, she feels that security must come before education. "If we didn't put money toward our defense, we may not have education," Knerr said, adding the U.S. stands for freedom and it won't be preserved if the U.S. backs down. Although there was some presidential support, the majority - like AHS freshmen Nora Thomas and Kaia Maclaren - opposed Bush's push toward war. "It really frustrates me that our country bribes Turkey with $30 million and can't support schools," Maclaren said. "The money that Bush is spending is not in our best interests." Both students said they've attended several rallies in the San Francisco area and are happy to finally have a political voice at home. Thomas and her mother Troll Henderson sported blue ribbons in support of the United Nations weapons inspections. They hope war can be averted and remain concerned about another family member Owen Thomas, who just turned18. "Students my age were the last one with draft numbers for the Vietnam War," Troll Henderson said. "Having experienced that before in another war that seemed unjust, I would like to see it stop. We need to learn to solve our problems in better ways." Ashland Police Department Lt. Mike Bianca said police were present for the duration of the march and while it was peaceful, one arrest was made. "I'm not sure if whether the protesters of this day understand the contract or concept of civil disobedience," Bianca said. "You break the law and you can be arrested." SOU student Nigel Cameron Brooks was arrested for disorderly conduct after blocking traffic near the university. He was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on $3,000 bail.A walk on the peaceful side LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -