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News > September 3, 2004 > Web Only

On the Streets of New York: Patriotism

By Terry J. Allen

National Guard Kelly Dougherty criticizes Bush administration policies in Iraq.

Inside their convention, Republicans spoke as though they had a lock on the values that Americans treasure. But on the streets of New York, thousands joined together to show the world real values. Contributing Editor Terry Allen closes out this extraordinary week of protest and creativity by exploring, through words and pictures, some new interpretations of well-worn themes.

Long days of spirited, but largely peaceful protest spread across New York as Republican delegates met in self-congratulatory isolation this past week. Within a heavily fortified Madison Square Garden, delegates were wined by corporations and dined on the red meat of Kerry-bashing. Out in the baking hot city, under the stare of surveillance cameras, the shrill of sirens, and the chup-chup of hovering helicopters, the streets rang with chants as hundreds of thousands of people denounced the Bush agenda.

Activists honored and mourned the victims of Bush administration policies: Iraqi casualties, U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, people targeted by the “war on terrorism,” as well as those whom the economy has left unemployed, uninsured, and worse-off than four years before.

During her National Guard tour in Iraq, Kelly Dougherty, a founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War, says she saw the United States “treat Iraqis like trespassers in their own country.” She accused the Bush administration of “perverting people’s sense of patriotism for their own greedy means.”

On the Streets of New York: patriotism | compassion | courage | security | opportunity

Terry J. Allen, an In These Times senior editor, has written the magazine's monthly investigative health and science column since 2005.

More information about Terry J. Allen

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  • Reader Comments

    The media is so controlled in our area that we can only get the true story by going onto the internet but there are a lot of people that do not use the internet. We need a way to get these messages out to them. I can send this on to everyone on my email list but this only get to a few. We need to get this word out to every US citizen. Lois Jobe

    Posted by Lois Jobe on Sep 5, 2004 at 8:40 AM

    “we can only get the true story by going onto the internet”

    Yes, I have noticed that the internet is a bastion of truth.  Well, except for all the rumors, distortions and outright lies.

    Posted by Frank on Sep 10, 2004 at 12:46 PM

    You sure cannot get the truth from our local news media the televison and our corporate controlled newspapers.

    Posted by Lois Jobe on Sep 10, 2004 at 8:39 PM

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