UTAH PROTEST

Here's something that hasn't seen much National Coverage, but made the local news. We need more of this kind of thinking and action:

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, who called for demonstrations against President Bush when he visited the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention, picked up the theme, both in his welcoming speech to the veterans and to peace activists two blocks away in Pioneer Park.

"We can debate, as we should in a free country, the decisions of our political leaders," Anderson told the VFW conventioneers, many who booed him. "But we must always support without wavering, and be grateful toward, our men and women in the armed forces."

After that, Anderson's comments received nothing but cheers, even as he defended his right to protest.

At the peace rally, Anderson told about 2,000 activists, "We are grateful for what [veterans] have sacrificed for our country and our freedom."

But, "Our nation was lied into war," he said.

"You are true patriots for being here today," he said, referring to the criticism of his call for protests of the president's visit.