A small group of anti-war protesters from Hanover High School drew enough attention outside Collis yesterday afternoon to prompt some Dartmouth students to assemble a counter-protest.
"We are protesting yesterday's missile and bomb attacks," Hanover High junior Jared Malsin said, holding a sign asking, "What about the department of peace?"
"More importantly, we are protesting the whole mindset" of retribution, Malsin said.
"Our grief is not a cry for war," read the sign held by junior James Carter. He said that instead of war, the United States should seek to understand, among other things, "the people of Afghanistan, the plight of the Kurds, the plight of the Palestinians."
Junior Josh Levinger said he advocated a response "similar to Kosovo or Yugoslavia."
Levinger and his group, whose numbers fluctuated between three and five throughout the day, are "looking for justice, not bombs," he said.
"We must eliminate the root causes of Anti-American feelings," Levinger said.
He identified Israeli expansionism as a major cause of the strife with Afghanistan, though he added, "there is no silver bullet," echoing the sentiments of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
"Striking back is the easiest way," said senior Anya Glowa-Kollisch. "Americans have the moral high road to think what they want."
Meanwhile, across the street on the Green, a group of Dartmouth students led a self-described "sarcastic" counter-protest to show solidarity with U.S. troops.
Holding a sign declaring, "Up with women, down with the Taliban," and "Wah hoo wah, bomb 'em," Andrew Grossman '02 said the protest was his idea.
What started out as a joke quickly turned more serious -- by the end of the afternoon, the anti-war protesters had left, and the ranks of the counter-protesters were swelling.
"Dartmouth students are patriotic and believe in the drive against terrorism," Larry Scholer '04 said. His sign read, "Terrorists are people too. Bomb 'em."
Ryan Gorsche '04 said that the inspiration for the solidarity demonstration was the anti-war protest by the Hanover High School students. "I saw their protests and it made me rather angry," he said.
The Hanover High group began to plan their protest "once the ordinance started hitting the ground," said Carter. They are also conducting letter-writing campaigns and attempting to spread their message by talking to friends.
The high school students said they will not likely protest again until another holiday -- yesterday was Columbus Day, so school was not in session.
The anti-war protesters drew mixed reactions from passers-by. Many simply ignored the signs, while others stopped to argue or give praise. Many drivers signaled their agreement or disagreement by honking.
Karsten Barde '04, a member of Peaceful Justice at Dartmouth, stopped to speak with the demonstrators and to encourage them. Barde, who especially agreed with Carter's sign, said that he was glad the Hanover students were protesting.
"They are a crucial part of this community that is often overlooked in terms of their viewpoint and their interests," Barde said.
