1991

It was early January and I had returned to Cleveland after a stay in Chicago. We were going to war, and I was prime meat for a draft. The economy was not real healthy and I had discoverd that my roommate had lied about the rent. I had been paying 3/4. So I came home.

As GHW Bush's deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait closed in, I became more and more nervous about our future. I had never known war. For me Vietnam was where my friend Hung had come here from. He told me the stories of that war from the perspective of a child. But I don't remember it while it was happening.

I wasn't sure what to do with the energy this anticipation was creating. I was kind of freaked out, so I sought out friends my age. Everyone was feeling the same way. We were not sure wheather we agreed with the objectives and means of "Desert Storm". We did know that we were scared.

A few of us decided to head down to public square to see if anything was up. For some reason we stopped at the Case radio station WRUW and went on the air. We played a tune and then the DJ asked what we were doing about the war. I didn't really know, so I said we gonna go downtown and look for more folks trying to cope with the confusion of the moment.

Anyhow, we got downtown and met up with a handful of people that had heard us on the radio. We all sat out in front of the Sohio building and rapped with one another like a peer counseling group. We hung out till early morning(6:30am) grabbed a meal together and crashed at some apt. on the corner of Ford and Hessler. We slept thru the day and headed back down around 7PM. As we approached the square, the news had broke that the war had begun.

A great sense of urgency swept over us. We felt that we had to do something. Anything. We were now at war. The soldiers were our friends and family. Two of the group were headed to Iraq within six months. The rest of us didn't know when we might be called upon to go to war. The fear was selfish, but it was real. We all agreed that we needed to work it out together, and that we all needed to work it out as a country. So we ratted ourselves out.

We stopped at the WKYC studio and told the front desk that people were gathering at the soldiers and sailors monument.

This is when the story gets goofy. We had no plan. We were making it up as we went. I was given a blank check to ad-lib to the media on behalf of 20 other people.
When a reporter from the station TriguyJT works for asked what we were protesting, I responded, We are not protesting, we are praying for peace."
"How long will this last?" She inquired.
"Until there is peace." I announced.
The reporter looked back to the camera and said, "You heard it. They are staying until the war is over!".
My jaw dropped. What had I just done?!

Within twenty minutes VW buses and Volvos were dropping off food, tents, water, blankets and socks. We also got word that Mayor Mike White and Counsel President Jay Westbrook supported us and had promised a squad car to watch over us.

We were stuck. We began to create a plan. The first resolution we made was to remain neutral politically. We knew that we could not end a war in Iraq, but we were determined to end it in Cleveland, Ohio!

We were a motley group camped in tentville. Some had gone and some had joined along. Vets from the Vietnam war had joined us. They found peace in being able to share their own feelings about the war. We had come to realize that what we had started was important. We were making a difference with our simple request for peace. Peace was happening.

Anyhow, after three weeks of remaining neutral and doing more listening than talking we needed an outlet. We took a break to go watch the Superbowl. We all picked teams and rooted for our picks. We trash talked, we fretted, and we gloated. We acted like a bunch of 20somethings watching football. I picked the Giants. They won. Scott Norwood was the goat for the Bills.

We left the bar feeling that the game and obnoxious behavior had been really healthy. We had harmless competitive fun. We could return to our mission more relaxed, having exhausted the little boy in us all.
I had always loved sports as a kid but had turned my back on much of it as a teenager. Football was my last enjoyment in the world of athletics. But in 1991, Bill Belichick was rapidly ripping the heart from our Cleveland Browns. My love was fading.

While letting go of all of that crazy energy, sport became important to me once again. I understood why we value sport as a society. I could finally once again respect sport. Within' 7 months I had become a runner. I had finally found peace.
Peace is not something we can demand, peace is something that we are or we are not.
My little sister once told me that you got to let a little steam out or the pot'll blow.
So whether I am hammering away on the trainer or watching a game, I am letting out a little more steam. It helps to cool me down, relax me, and find peace.

Well, in 2008 I root again for the Giants. Not because I am unpatriotic, just out of nostalgia. In 1991 I rooted for the Giants to beat the Bills. In 2008 I am rooting for the Giants to beat Bill.

Peace Hippies!

Seriously, in honor of Dr. King.

Please, consider peace for just this moment.
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