During the Oscars, I was two blocks from the Kodak Theater, taking in the fascinating culture of pro-war demonstrators. There were perhaps a dozen of them there (versus hundreds of anti-war people), and it was the first time I had encountered any pro-war activists at all.

I spent three hours watching and listening to them interact with the peace demonstrators and have created a photo essay documenting the experience. Last night was easily the most interesting night I have had since, well, I guess since the night before.

brian -- that was really beautiful. i think you really captured the moment. i've been to some local vigils here in claremont (eastern la county) where we have attracted counter protests -- usually one or two people versus 200+ pro peace vigilers. we stand on the street corners, most drivers honk in support, wave the peace sign, give us the thumbs up. a few motorists shake their heads in that patronizing "you silly, naive protestors." then there's a dozen or so each hour who drive by and yell "fuck you!" or "go home!" while giving us the middle finger. one man was so outraged by our presense he swerved his suburban towards the crowds, stopping two feet or less from the curb. and the counter demonstrators walk up to us, trying to pick fights. unfortunately for them, most of the vigilers are elderly folk with a smattering of people of all ages, from newborn to middle age, and none of us wants a fight. some counter demonstrators tried to steal our american flag, and after we chased them down and retrieved it, they came back with their own flag: a confederate one. they cursed out some little girls doing radical cheers, yelled at a woman that she wasn't "supporting the troops" and when she replied her husband was in Iraq and that she supported him and wanted him home, the skinheads replied "oh cry me a river." they paraded around with their confederate flag, "accidentally" hitting people in the face, trying to start a fight... and this taught me something about hate. a lot of the people who support the war that i have run into are just so full of hate and will take any excuse to start a fight. i know it's not that black and white: not all pro war people are hate mongers (as your piece shows) and not all peace folk are full of love (if i hear the word zionist one more time i think i may explode). i dunno. i just had to get this off my chest, i've been mulling over it for a while. your piece is great, and i hope more people take the time to read it. thanks!

This is the perfect lefty asshole at one of the pro-Saddam rallies.

I have never been so disgusted with any one group of people (other than the Bush administration itself). They scream obscenities, give us the finger and then tell us how they are true Americans and we are not.

Standing at the corner of Wilshire and Veternan (Los Angeles Federal Building in Westwood), I got a truly amazing picture of guys with gray hair who drive SUV's. They seem to have beer guts and only one finger - their middle one. Not one of them has bothered to get out of their gas guzzlers to pick up a pro-war sign and have their own demonstration. Nope...they would rather yell "Fuck you" at others.

Tell me about what they are all about. Last Wednesday a man who appeared to be in his late 60's , driving a gold, two-door Saturn, was stopped first in line in the left turn lane at the traffic light on east bound Wilshire at Veteran. This sick jerk started to drive into the peace demonstrators who were crossing with the cross walk signal.

What a true American, such bravery. Sat there and intimidated people on foot, legally in a crosswalk, with his car.

Yep, that's what they are all about. Real brave in their cars and in goups...but not so when alone.

Being Pro war doesn't make you any less of a person

Being Anti war doesn't make you any more of a person

You are both protesting what YOU think is right, as in yourself with no one elses opinion.