By Matt Miller

From the looks of it, Ed Bloomer, Glen Carter and John Feller are similar in every way. All three men display a nose-to-the-grindstone type personality and a love for family and friends. Each spent time in the armed forces protecting what citizens of the United States cherish most — freedom. And each has observed major events in U.S. history, including the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But that’s where the similarities stop for these war veterans.

Questions remain about the United States’ decision to go on the offensive in the War on Terrorism, including going after Iraq President Saddam Hussein and his alleged weapons of mass destruction. Carter and Feller believe one way, while Bloomer and other antiwar protesters believe another. After a catastrophic event that killed more than 6,000 civilians, the three men have their minds made up.

“The troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the world are doing a good job,” said Carter, 72, who served in the Vietnam War. “Serving in combat and being a veteran, I don’t know why they are protesting. We need to let the generals decide what to do with the war, not the politicians.”

“I believe that war is an unreasonable solution to any argument,” said Bloomer, who was drafted into the Army. “I feel that violence is unchristian. Jesus wouldn’t bomb anybody. He’d go to the cross rather than kill.”

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I think the protesters don’t know a thing about what they are talking about,” said Feller, 81, who served as a merchant marine in WWII and in the Navy during the Korean War.

John Feller & Glen Carter - John Feller (left), who served as a merchant marine in WWII and in the Navy during the Korean War, says in order to keep a free country, we must fight for it. Vietnam veteran Glen Carter (right) questions the motive behind the protesters and says that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are doing a good job. Photos by Matt Miller

Regardless of what side of the fence you sit on, on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, loved ones are still gone and questions still remain. Though support for the War on Terrorism and the Iraq War is strong, there is still strong opposition from antiwar protesters. People like Des Moines’ Ed Bloomer and Mona Shaw, Des Moines Catholic Worker Community members, trying to leave their handprint on U.S. history by making their presence known through weekly peace vigils held in the Des Moines area.

“I pray a lot about this,” Shaw said. “What drives me to participate in the antiwar protests is the injustice in the world. I don’t understand why people aren’t more involved and speak up. Some people get it, some don’t. Hopefully we can light a fire under people’s asses and make a difference.”

Founded in 1933 in New York City by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, the Catholic Worker Community movement implements religious teachings by living their promise of mercy, compassion, justice and love. The Des Moines Catholic Worker Community was established in 1976 and “responds to the Gospel call to compassionate action as summarized by the Sermon on the Mount. In the spirit of the Catholic Worker tradition, we are committed to a simple, nonviolent lifestyle as we live and work among the poor.”

This year the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community had a season of direct antiwar action, resulting in many arrests. On Dec. 31 through Jan. 3, Seasons of Discontent: a Presidential Occupation Project (SODaPOP) took over four offices of leading presidential candidates in Iowa, which included Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The protesters demanded complete withdrawal of the U.S. military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan within 100 days of assuming office. They also demanded to stop any and all military action against Iran. In total, 15 members of SODaPOP were arrested. On the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, Bloomer was one of dozens of protesters arrested when a military recruiting center was briefly shutdown in Des Moines. Bloomer was holding antiwar signs, distributing anti-recruitment literature and blocking the entrance to the Armed Forces Center.

Though they have not picketed in front of the Iowa National Guard at Camp Dodge, the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community has displayed antiwar action by hosting weekly demonstration across the metro area and the state.

In 2004, more than 30 people attended the “Vote with your Feet Antiwar Rally and Nonviolent Direct Action,” walking hand-in-hand, overstepping barricades to voice their opinions on the war. All 35 were handcuffed, and 11 were arrested.

Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard says it’s been a number of years since protests have happened at Camp Dodge, but they have every right to share their opinion.

“Overall, it’s been a peaceful process between the Iowa National Guard and the antiwar protesters,” Hapgood said. “They have been respectful and haven’t caused any trouble. People need to understand, the Iowa National Guard, we don’t call men to deploy. All we do is prepare them for combat.”

So what drives people like Bloomer and Shaw to invest their time and energy to protest war? To understand, you must look at the roots Bloomer and Shaw established years ago.

In 1974, six years removed from his service as a part of the Heavy Equipment Airborne Combat Unit in the Army, Bloomer’s life as a human activist took shape. Bloomer took part in a fasting at the Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) in Washington, D.C. The fast was intended to put pressure on the Nixon Administration during the Vietnam War, questioning justice and human rights.

“We wanted the Nixon Administration to free up money to help those at the CNNV,” Bloomer said. “It was our understanding that if we staffed it, they would help out financially. On election night, President Nixon said he would allocate the funds.”

Bloomer, a Kentucky native, left Washington D.C. in November 1984 and traveled to Des Moines where he landed at the Philip Berrigan House, a drop-in shelter for people.

“It was a shelter where guests could use the bathroom, make a phone call, eat something and get off the street,” Bloomer said. “To this day, it’s still a place of rest and relaxation.”

After becoming homesick in April 1985, Bloomer returned home to Louisville, Ky., where he worked at Dare for Care, a second-harvest food bank and Project Warm, a heating assistance program. Bloomer returned to Des Moines in 1990 where he now works at the Catholic Worker Community, a street outreach for residents on the north side of town. The community was established in 1976 and responds to the Gospel call to compassionate action as summarized by the Sermon on the Mount.

“I’ve learned through trials and tribulations that everyone has a voice,” Bloomer said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a group of people fasting in Washington D.C. or the antiwar protests each week, people can bring change. It may be hard, but the work will pay off.”

A life path started early
When most children would rather spend their time playing with their friends, Shaw’s path as a

human rights activist began at the tender age of 10. Born in Burlington, she participated in a strike kitchen and walked the picket line in 1961 during a labor union strike at the Champion Spark Plug factory where her mother was employed.

Shaw attributes her human rights activism to the day her mother was threatened by thugs.

“My mother stood up and said no,” Shaw said. “That event really galvanized my intentionality to work for better legislation to represent the underdogs.”

Shaw attended the University of Iowa where she was involved in the women’s rights movement. She married (and later divorced) and had two sons, one in 1975 and one in 1977. After coming out as a lesbian in 1978, Shaw became a vocal advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

Shaw also became active in antiwar efforts during her time in Iowa City. The University of Iowa is no stranger to the antiwar movement. Protests there have been well documented over the years, including a demonstration in November 1967 when Marine Corps recruiters tried to sign up new recruits, but antiwar students blocked the entrance to the student union. Another incident included Gov. Harold Hughes speaking about the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) parade, an annual tradition. Antiwar protesters attended the speech carrying symbolic caskets and throwing flowers. Both Gov. Hughes and the university president were crowned with a wreath of flowers.

While her sons were growing up, Shaw worked as the marketing and public relations director at the University of Iowa. In 2001, the mother of two left Iowa City and became the director of the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Center in New York.

In 2004, Shaw returned to Iowa City and began studying the teachings of Harriet Tubman, Mary Harris Jones, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi. A year later, she founded the School for Moral Courage, a school in Iowa City to instill belief in sacrifice for change. Shaw became a part of the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community in August of 2007.

“People ask me all the time what drives me,” Shaw said. “Since the age of 10, I’ve been voicing my opinion about injustice in the world. Why do people care so little? Everybody says they believe this and that, but damn few people actually stand up and do it.”

Doing whatever it takes

Standing up for something you believe so deeply in can wear a person down physically and mentally, but Bloomer and Shaw welcome the challenge. Battling wind, rain, snow, sub-freezing and the hot summer temperatures, the antiwar protesters’ stance on the war has not wavered.

“No matter the situation, I’m going to keep on fighting,” Bloomer said. “Anger keeps me protesting against the war. I’m not sacrificing anything, but it needs to be said. The ones sacrificing something are the men and women out in battle. I just wish we could get them out of there as soon as possible without getting hurt.”

“Why aren’t there more people out there,” Shaw said. “To me, it’s not a sacrifice, but a way to hopefully change people’s minds about the war.”

Mother Nature’s harshest conditions aren’t the only visible presence at the weekly peace vigils. Those supporting military action regularly make an appearance at the weekly protests to voice their opinions.

“People criticize what we do all the time,” Bloomer said. “We have people that yell at us and tell us what we’re doing is wrong. On the other end, there are people willing to discuss the war and share their opinion. It’s great to be able to have a conversation with them and share viewpoints.”

The effort pays off
In a society that values power, the endless effort put forth by the protesters hasn’t gone unnoticed.

One recent success marked by protesters was when Community members and other peacemakers maintained a weekly vigil at the entrance of the Iowa Air Guard facility at the Des Moines airport in hopes of bringing home pilots of the National Guard’s 132nd Fighter Wing who were active in Iraq. On June 17, the 12 pilots returned home safely.

“We are very relieved they were able to return safely,” Bloomer said. “This just proves that the ‘small guy’ can make a difference.”

Veteran Feller disagrees. “There needs to be more education about what’s happening militarily in the world and a little more gray matter in their heads before spouting off. We can’t keep a free country until we fight for it.” CV

A recent study conducted Aug. 29 to 31 by a CNN Opinion Research Corporation Poll, asked the question, “Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war in Iraq?” Here is a look at the responses since November 2006.

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