A Weekend in Fayetteville

There was a large anti-war protest in Fayetteville (where Ft. Bragg is and where Joe is stationed when he's not deployed) this weekend. I have very mixed feelings about the whole thing. I strongly support the right to peacefully protest just about anything. In addition to that, I strongly oppose this war myself.

I guess I don't understand the decision to hold the protest here. People normally protest in either places where decision makers might notice them or outside symbols of what they oppose. Well, there are no decision makers here. I hope no one is opposed to those inside the gates at Ft. Bragg because all that's left these days is people like me - wives, a few husbands, and kids of those soldiers currently deployed. I can promise that those inside the gates want the soldiers home safe and sound - and probably with more intensity that any protester outside the gates.

Thankfully, I managed to drive through Fayetteville twice this weekend and miss all signs of any protest. Instead, I went to an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids of the soldiers that Joe is deployed with. My friend and I both took our dogs since we had no kids. The dogs were a huge hit - the little kids really enjoyed petting them and a few older girls took the dogs and ran them all over the park. We had a little problem with the dogs finding the Easter eggs, but the girls took the dogs across the field so the eggs could be left to the kids. It turned out to be a nice day and made me feel a bit more connected to these women.