Silent Protester at Rumsfeld Speech Comes Forward
Work to be heard, even without words
By RANDY ARONOV
Published on: 05/11/06
Last week, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's speech at the Atlanta History Center was interrupted several times by protesters who yelled at Rumsfeld and unfurled banners, an event that drew national news coverage.
But in covering the speech, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jay Bookman also mentioned another protester:
"But one man took a different approach. As showdowns go, it wasn't exactly two gunslingers face to face on a dusty street in Dodge City. But there was drama in it nonetheless. As Rumsfeld stood at the podium, starting to outline his vision of the American role in world affairs, a balding man in a coat and tie rose out of the seated audience, turned his back on Rumsfeld and stood silently."
My name is Randy Aronov and I am that silent dissenter.
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I was quite surprised that I wasn't hauled out like the other demonstrators; they just let me stand there. When the formal speech was over, I quietly walked out and joined the other demonstrators outside.
The galvanizing moment came later, during a Q&A session, when Rumsfeld was called down by CIA career veteran Ray McGovern, a man with impeccable credentials. McGovern's unrelenting questions concerning how the country was lied into the war in Iraq gave credence to our acts of civil disobedience.http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_randy_ar_060512_silent_protester_at_.htmMcGovern gave credence to them. Amen.