Peace on a Corner // Soundslide

Added by High Tide on May 19, 2011
Saved under Features, Multimedia, People, Soundslides
Tags: john fortier, local, peace

Korean War veteran John Fortier sits on the corner of Knob Hill and Pacific Coast Highway promoting peace with his sign and flag. He speaks about his experiences as a war veteran and his ideas about peace to those that pass by. Motorcycles, cars, and pedestrians alike show their support by honking and holding up the “peace” sign. In this soundslide he shares why he comes back with his sign each Friday afternoon.

Interview by Brianna Egan, Gianna Esposito, and Cedric Hyon
Photos by Erinn Middo
Soundslide visual and audio presentation produced by Brianna Egan and Cedric Hyon
Duration 7:59
Interview in Apr. 2011

2 Responses to Peace on a Corner // Soundslide

PS

I lost a comment I started earlier. I hope somehow it found its way home to you folks; it was a 100% positive criticism.

This post script is to bring to your attention and suggest as a suitable possible interview – Dick Kazan. He joined me toward the end of your interview of me, and he chatted with a couple of you a bit. He has been holding a vigil for 5[?]years at PCH and PV Blvd.or Dr. where the ribs restaurant recently closed.

He is an interesting individual and I’m sure he would be open to any means of having exposure for his feelings. He holds his vigil from 5:30 to 6:30 every Wednesday evening, rain or shine.

Keep on keeping on. You do good work. The general public is a bottomless pit of ignorance and indifference about the wars. Y’all make some much needed difference. Thank you.

John Fortier May 23, 2011 at 5:45 pm Reply
John, a Korean War veteran and a retired school teacher has held this peace vigil since just before President George W. Bush directed the invasion and occupation of Iraq in March, 2003.

This U.S. war on Iraq has led to hundreds of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children being killed, millions more Iraqis injured, over a million Iraqi children orphaned, and two million Iraqis having fled their nation.

Their economy is in shambles. And for what? What has been and is being accomplished? Yet that war continues and it has cost the U.S. 4,455 soldiers their lives and about 35,000 bear severe injuries such as brain damage, loss of limbs, etc. U.S. allied soldiers also lost their lives and many more live with severe injuries as well.

The U.S. has spent over a trillion dollars and will continue to spend far more, even when this war is over, as it cares for its damaged veterans.

So who has been right? President Bush, who calls himself a “Reborn Christian” and receives extensive news media attention when he so much as utters a word he wants publicized or John Fortier who quietly conducts his peace vigil, virtually every Friday for more than eight years, yet almost totally out of the limelight?

Thank you Mr. Fortier. I wish there were more people of principle and courage like you.

Dick Kazan

Dick Kazan May 24, 2011 at 9:46 am Reply