President's Day stroll

Yesterday being President's Day, celebrations were held sporatically across the nation. Our current president celebrated by visiting Mount Vernon and, in his usual brashest of audacities, compared himself to "the first George W."

UTEP students at the beginning of their peace march.

Locally, it was a beautiful day for a stroll in the park. In a wonderful display of concern for the nation, a very dedicated, peaceful, yet at times wonderfully boisterous, group of University of Texas at El Paso students held a peace march.

Beginning with speakers at the campus' Leech Grove, students listened to faculty members, former and current military members and student members of NION (Not in Our Name) speak before marching to San Jacinto Plaza in the heart of downtown El Paso.

UTEP students downtown in the plaza. Note the "PACE" flag.

Upon their arrival downtown, students were greeted by curious onlookers and expectant law enforcement officers. Standing atop the plaza's large central fountain, a large "PACE" flag was unfurled. Not sure if it was in tribute to president Bush's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, or a tribute to bad spelling, I later learned it was an Italian "peace" flag.

A fountain alligator aids in holding up a demonstrator's sign

It was a very nice rally. I watched as one citizen confronted one of the march's organizers with a difference of opinion. It appeared the man was a veteran of Vietnam, perhaps, who didn't appear pleased with this demonstration. I watched as the student organizer diffused the tension of the brief confrontation with calm discussion, culminated by a handshake between the two.

At one point, even the alligator's in the plaza's center fountain seemed aroused to the cause, as one held up a sign while its partner reared up in support of the demonstrators.

More speakers assumed center stage, along with graceful dancers. Even the dogs present came in peace.

All in all, it was a very peaceful and festive event and even the police officers in attendance seemed to enjoy themselves.

I came away very impressed with university "Not in Our Name" student organizers and all who attended their event in support of peace.

I'm sure the nation's "first George W." would have been proud of yesterday's demonstration for a peaceful end to our aggressions, despite the current George W's inability to appreciate such displays.