It was last Monday evening that I was standing at the corners of Delaware and Kenwood in Delmar. A longtime friend from Boy Scouts, Mike Connelly screamed "I can't belive you gone this far" that out his window as he drove past and gave me a thumbs down. It had to be one of the toughest moments in my life, despite the fact that I was not down and out on some drug addiction or doing something unlawful, but out there protesting for my country—to bring it back home from Iraq in the protest organized by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace.

It seems like it wasn't all that long ago that I was a Boy Scout with Mike Connelly for nearly half a decade. Yet, that much time has passed by since then. I'm not sure if my political beliefs on war and peace have changed over all those years, but I guess people sometimes don't know everything about you. Still I think that I am living up to the Scout Oath and Motto in fighting for what is right for my country.

I'm not a bad person just because I have a voice. Standing on the street corner, holding a sign might not seem the most productive thing in government, yet it does generate public awareness and force people to think as they drive by. They are free to disagree with my opposition to war in Iraq, but at the same time they should respect me for what I do believe. Rather then giving me the finger or ignoring us, they should join in and educate the public for or against the war. Politics is about being involved and making change, and not just ignoring what you don't think is right.