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It
was the largest public rally since the Peterloo massacre in 1819.
Thousands of people from the North West gathered in Albert Square
to protest at Britain's involvement in the conflict.
Now
war has started, anti-war protesters of all ages and ethnic groups
have been staging demonstrations across the city.
Are
you for or against the War in Iraq? Are you a Manchester marcher?
Can protesters make a difference
or are they just stopping traffic? Have
your opinions changed over the past few weeks? Have
your say >>>
NB.
To discuss the war in Iraq, check out one of the BBC message boards
on the Five
Live, Today
or Asian
Life websites.
From
Liz in Manchester
It pleases me to see so many young people who have a political
conscience protesting against the invasion of Iraq. It saddens me
to hear purile comments about the inconvenience of marches, particularly
offensive remarks such as marchers should `get a job' - what century
are we living in? UK politicians should threaten to withdraw our troops
unless we get an assurance that more will be done to work with Middle
East countries to resolve the Palestinian/ Israeli problems. It is
naive to think that this war is about saving Iraq from its despotic
leader. Why are we using cluster bombs, and why do those who support
the war oppose this. US have more weapons of mass destruction than
any other country, and have used them more than any other country.
Donald Rumsfeld discussed the strategy of using chemical weapons too,
and has not ruled them out. Do not think of this invasion as a moral
crusade
From
Darren Hughes in Melbourne, Australia
War demonstrations are ok, but the're no substitute for the real thing!
From
Karen Chapman in Manchester
Quite frankly I see no point in protesting against War when quite
clearly the powers that be are making their own decisions heedless
of what we feel. As an office worker in the centre of Manchester I
only feel angry at the protesters delaying me from getting to my office
- obviously they don't have a job to go to themselves. Their energy
would be far better spent on working to make the world a better place
in a more tangible way - hospital visiting and using their time to
help old people look after their gardens, run errands for disabled
people etc etc. instead of blocking roads and climbing on bridges.
I can see on the faces of my fellow commuters the contempt and hatred
for these 'time wasters'. I feel too for the policemen and women who
have to spend their very precious and over-stretched resources on
'baby sitting' these people. Recently we had a fire-fighters dispute
- did they block roads then to support our precious firemen in their
efforts ? ! This is a far more 'real' fight and one which can be won.
From
Alan Walker in Stockport
Peace and freedom,democracy sometimes have to be fought for if they
had stood up to Hitler in 1935 10,000,000 people would not have perished
in work and concentration camps.Tell the marchers to think about that!!!!
From
Shelly in Ashton-in-Makerfield
It's anti-war "pinkos" like the protesters that let people like Hitler,
Mussolini and Poll Pot get in power. Free Iraq!
From
Mike in Wigan
I am a soldier myself. I can cotagorically say that the anti-war protesters
are completely ill-informed and don't really know what they are talking
about. Do they seriously believe that us soldiers sailors and airmen
would be willing to put our lives at risk for something that wasn't
a just cause? Get real. Innocent people die and are tortured every
day at the hands of the regime, it must be stopped and we will stop
it and free Iraqs people.
From
Richard in Oldham
If something is illegal before it is committed, it is still illegal
whilst it is being committed. Our protests can make a difference,
so don't give up.
From
Natalie in Manchester
Just because someone is under 18 doesn't mean that they can't
make an informed opinion about this war. The children i spoke to yesterday
were there because they wanted to, and the only danger they were in
was from heavy handed police officers. I felt proud of these young
people for making the effort to stand up for their beliefs, instead
of cinformign to the media stereotype tahtw ould lead us to believe
taht kids and teens only care about tv, boy bands and playstation.
Everyone who does not agree with this war, no matter what age, should
make their voices heard now through protest.
From
Ian Phillips in Manchester
We ARE now at war and there is clearly no way the US or UK leaders
is going to stop because a lot of kids are waving banners about and
chanting slogans. There is a major threat of terrorism in this country
whethter directly or indirectly related to this conflict. Street demos
may be fun but are a nuisance no-one (ie the police etc) needs right
now.
From
Caz in Manchester
If America had followed up on its promise to backup the Iraqi
people after the Gulf War we would not be in this situation.Saddam
would have been removed from power and would be rotting in some prison
for the terrible things he has done.Instead thousands of people were
massacred,left to fend for themselves against an evil dictator with
a bloodlust and a huge arsenal of weapons.We do not need this War,America
and Britain could send in teams of elite soilders to dispose of Saddam
and his followers.The problem is that Bush and Blair would rather
kill thousands possibly even millons of inocent Iraqi civillions with
stray bombs then sacrifice a few brave men/women who have pledged
to give their lives for their country so we can rid the world of Saddam.
From
Vicky in Stockport
I don't understand why people are protesting so much now the war has
started. If they feel that strongly, shouldn't they have been doing
more before? Everyone is entilied to their own opinions & I am unsure
whether we should be at war or not - however the more I get held up
in Manchester & Stockport traffic because of the protesters, the more
I am persuaded towards pro-war sentiments. They are not making a point
- just casuing havoc for everyday commuters. The only way they are
going to make a difference is if they go to Iraq and stand infront
of the tanks.
From
Joanne in Manchester
I'm not anti-war as such but I would be interested to know where all
these peace group demonstrations were over the last decade or so when
Saddam Hussein was having his countrymen, and members of his own family,
slaughtered.
From
Ste in St Helens
Why are we teaching children that if you don't like someone, or
you want something that they have (ie oil) that you're allowed to
get a gun and kill them? And anyone who is directly or indirectly
accosicated with, (ie you don't like the school bully so you can kill
everyone in their class?) and when people ask why the question is
twisted then not answered? Sorry to sound so old but what about "If
your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink"?
From
Mike Loofe in Manchester
Losing thousands of lives for millions of people's freedom is
worth it. I support President George Bush and Tony Blair - poeple
will be liberated.
From
Paul Murphy in Manchester
I was disgusted that children were allowed to protest, unprotected,
yesterday. It is one thing to be against war but when a 13 year old
is interveiwed on national TV without adult support and clarification;
it has to be said that the media has to look at itself how it deals
with children. Most of the children who were filmed did not have a
clue what they were doing there and merely looked at it a a day off
school.
From
Nixon in Manchester
whats the deal with this stupid attitude of wantin to sit back and
let the americans deal with it its not just there problem and it would
be ignorant to ignore that. To give Saddam the room now and to back
off would only further strenghten terorists, an example must be made
to prevent this occuring again, no one likes the loss of life during
war but sometimes its the only option. Thankfully the british forces
are one of the best in the word and if anyone can deal with the problem
as quickly and safly its them, the last thing i want is the americans
who are hell bent on revenge being left to deal with this themselves.
From
Cheryl Prince in Manchester
I've just got caught up in protests on my way to University. The majority
of them were all school children. No I don't have a problem with them
protedting against the war but it makes me wonder what these kids
have been told. They don't even understand what's going on. All they
knew was this was a chance to get out of school for the day. Someone
asked us something on the way past and me and my friend told him politely
that we agreed with the war. He started calling us all the names under
the sun 0 hardly peaceful. I understand that people are against the
war and that's fair enough, it they've made the judgement by listening
to both sides but they get absolutely no sympathy when they make traffic
come to a standstill. It annoys people and I believe it's contributed
slightly to the shift in opinions on the war.
From
Ben Jones in Manchester
I don't doubt that Saddam Hussein is a evil, barbaric mass murderer.
We've know that for over 20 years, but we still sold them weapons
of mass destruction, that's why we know he has/had them. However,
do you really think the people of Iraq want bombs dropped on them?
Do you think they want to lose their homes, business and families?
Iraqi people are subjected to propaganda but sophisticated Westerns
are subjected to marketing campaigns and strategies.
From
A Realist in The World
Should we not be working with the Middle East instead of attacking
them. This war only strengthens their resolve against the west and
will give rise to even further terrorist attacks against us in the
name of religion and make more willing to become martyrs for their
religion. And why hasn't anything been done to stop the war raged
against the palestinians by the Israelis, who also seem to wait for
other things to happen in the Intl arena before killing more palestinians,
etc...
From
Jay Gregory in Ohio, USA
Saddam is much like my roommates. He likes to play games, to hide
what he really has in mind, and then pounce on you when you least
expect it, destroying you. War is not fun, but neither is living in
fear or worse dying when your fears come true.
From
Duncan Parkes in Hoylake, Wirral
No one wants war, I don't want war but I wouldn't have gone on the
march, Just what are you appeasing, a mad man, Saddam who has personlly
raped and murdered about 50 people, killed two son-in-laws and had
his own daugther be-headed this man has chemical, biological and possibly
nueclear weapons he'll stop at nothing, including handing over these
weapons to terroists. Kenya, Tanzania, 9/11, Bali... need I go on.
This is less religious than the war on terror as Saddam is a secular
despot. The war is not against iraqis or muslims it is against Saddam
Hussien and his regime which has killed millions of both.
From
Arwen in Manchester
I understand where people are coming from when they are against the
war but what do they hope to acchieve by it? It is ovbious Tong Blair
and George Bush have made their minds up so nothing they can o will
change their minds, we're just playing a waiting game. I dislike both
men but on this issue I support them wholeheartedly. The protests
are a waste of time and eforrt and the protestors should go out and
find themselves something beter to do, like get a job. Whenever I
see proestors and they ask me to sign something against the war, I
always politely say no and they then ask why. I expalin why I don't
want to, because I'm in support of the war and last week one of them
nearly hit me. I always end up in an arguement with them. They don't
seem to grasp the fact that some people have different views on it.
All thy can say is 'if we go t war, inncocent people will be killed'.
But aren't innocent people already being killed? If they have the
right to express their view why can't people who support the war do
the same without any slanging matches.
From
Cheryl in Manchester
I realy don't see the point in people spending all their time protesting
as it will do no good. What really annoys me about the protestors
though is that they think everyone in the country is behind them in
being anti-war, well I'm not, in fact I am very pro-war and prund
of it. Why can't the news cover the people that support the war to
instead of those against. I thought the news is supposed to be unbiased.
From
Asif, Manchester
I just wonder what can George Bush have on Tony Blair that makes him
follow him around like a lost puppy. I once had great respect for
Blair but that has now gone.
From
Peter Maher, San Francisco, USA
I don't see anyone protesting for the thousands of people in Iraq
who have been, and continue to be, tortured, Murdered and raped by
Saddam. If he will use chemical weapons on his own people what on
earth makes you think he would not use them on us.War is never an
easy option but sometimes it is the only solution to a despot. He
has had twelve years to disarm and there have been, I believe, fourteen
UN resolutions for Iraq to disarm. All of which have been ignored.
All the UN is doing at the moment is proving it's irrelevance and
incompetence.
From
Richard Finch, Manchester
Will all these people who are rallying for peace, turn on Tony Blair
when Saddam launches chemical weapons in this country?? will they
be saying well at least we had peace for another year or 2, NO they
will be saying why didn't we act while we had the chance!!! America
knew of the threat of sept 11th but didn't react, should we do the
same??
From
Bryan Wyatt in Denton, Manchester.
As we have said before,"Here we go again,why oh why, as it got to
be British forces (again and again and again)" Blair could have been
a good P.M. instead he will only be remembered as the one who lead
the 'Labour party' back into the wildernest, still maybe thats his
plan. He must relise that most of the British poeple are against the
so called war, all he and his 'master' will do is finish up killing
innocent women and childern, and in no way getting anywhere near Saddam
Hussian. he as already got his escape route planed. The end of the
story will be,Bush telling Blair to go home, be a good little boy
untill the next time he orders him to turn-to, by then the Bush oil
barrons will have full control of the oil fields it's distribution
and it' profits, and will be holding the world to ransome for it.including
the British poeple. If and when our troops start coming home in body-bags,
and Blair telling the British mothers "The world does not owe them
a livi! ng" and the americans are laughing all the way to the bank,
with there "LOW FUEL PRICES AND LOW TAXES, PAID F0R FROM THE OIL STOLEN
AND KILLED FOR, BY THEM AND Blair,WILL WE WAKEN-UP AND RELISE WE HAVE
ONCE AGAIN "BEEN HAD".But Blair won't care, with his big blood stained
pay packet and pension, after telling our troops that we can not aford
to give them a decent pension, (As Thatcher did with her Gulf war)
Come on you decent british labour poeple, wake-up see through his
U\S contrick, and stop these two poeple killing women and childern
in your name.
From
Magnus, Lancs
Everyone is opposed to war, but sometimes it is necessarry. Sadam
will not go away or change just because people disapprove of him.
Sanctions have proved ineffective, and the French/Russian position
is motivated simply by the desire to profit from trade with Saddam.
More Iraqis will die in one year from torture and murder by Saddam
than are likely to be killed in any war. Thousands have already been
killed by his chemical weapons and it is inconceivable that he has
destroyed them all. Sooner or later, if he stays in power, it is inevitable
that he will allow terorrists to use them. The power of terrorism
will be magnified many times if it again gains the security and resources
of a state. For our sake and the sake of the Iraqi people it is essential
that he is stopped whilst it is still possible. Nearly all Iraqis
will acclaim such a war in retrospect, once they are free to express
a viewpoint and it is interesting that the Iraqi stock market is experiencing
a mini boom in the belief that times will improve once Saddam is removed.
Many of the hard core against the war were also against the war which
liberated Afghanistan. But in retrospect that war had benefits for
everyone except the terrorists. Many against the war are liberal and
well intentioned, but that is not enough. The road to hell is paved
with good intentions.
From
d in bolton
war in this time 2003 is highly to end bad even if we get what we
want however due to the fact of chemical tec:- of this time it is
more likley that anyone anywhere will be effected like the ripple
effect the only way to win a war i think is set aside all the power
thy have and realy think as an individual themselves and yet again
they will see another reason for war "family" protection but if we
dont go to war there is always the fear!! of hidden danger new alie's
and back stabbing, the way to win this war is to approach the people
not the president of the countries involved and put to them the ultimate
issue and they can not be protected as well as there leader says and
they out of fear will only then gain strength and to end this message
where one dies another is created.
From
iain may in manchester
I was on the march in London, and can say that it will be something
I will never forget. Never before have I seen so many people united
toward a common goal. Every race and religion was there, and for once,
there was no fighting between them... Thats got to count for something.
From
Scott Wassner in Pensacola Beach,FL,USA
The peace protests will not change the outcome, at best they will
delay war only for a few weeks. Iraq will simply be incouraged by
the protests and think it doesn't have to disarm. Iraq's leader has
never been a good judge of American thinking and in the end the current
U.S. administation will come for him and protests and anti-war opinion
will not save him.
From
Peter Gap in Yatton
PEACE is what is needed NOT WAR. North Korea are more of a threat
than IRAQ R. AMERICANS the want to attack Iraq but do not involve
other countrys. Could indanger ourselfs from Terror attacks.
From
Mike Hook in Cleeve
i dont like war. it is very bad. protests are good.
From
Darryl in Stockport
Of course we all want peace. But if we don't act then we are still
going to feel the brunt of terrorist attacks. The threat of a warlord
with nuclear capability needs to be removed! After all death doesn't
bother some people as they go to a better life! Take them out for
the worlds sake
From
Steven Mclawrence in Rochdale uk
Somtimes war is needed !In this case it is not ! Ido not trust the
current American goverment ! I strongly disagree with Tony Blair and
fully surrport the protests ! politicans are supposed to represent
us, not rule us !!!!!!
From
N McGeough
NOT IN MY NAME
From
haidy in Utrecht, Holland
I wish I could go, but financially it is not possible for me.Though
I very much do support the people.My fiance is from England but lives
with me in Holland. We are both afraid of flying back and forth to
England.I am very afraid of the war .Especially if it was a chemical
war. Innocent people dying,..why.It makes me so sad, I cry all night
sometimes.It is so not necessary.Just for a religion or territory??I
dont know. SOME people just CAN'T think.Becoming very emotinal now.Good
luck for the protesters.Let the world know.
From
jozee in Shaw Lancs
Somtimes those in power know far more than we give them credit forI.E
Bush & Blair, I still have a picture in my head of the little boy's
face when he and his parent's along with others were "guest of Saddam"
From
Phil R in Bolton
I belive that we should support the government and the armed forces,
Rt Hon Mr Blair PM & Pres. Bush both have ajob to defend world peace
and security, As a former veteran of the first gulf war I feel that
this should have been done long ago, the first time round and now
it should be finalised. There is no room for a Pacifist or pragmatist
in such an ustalbe or insecure worl
From
Dan Gilberry in Cheadle
vegetable rice and peas!! we must get in touch with our peaceful side.
From
mr wilkins in liverpool
i am wholly adverse to fundamentalist sectarianism in all of its woefull
guises - i see the spectre of terror at every cornershop, and thus
it is with grave concern that i shall be takeing a pro-active stance
at this weekends march. let there be salvation to the masses and anhilation
to the fascist's!
From
Mr Andrew Dolan in Manchester
Im not going on the March! Im busy that weekend! But I would support
it wholeheartedly!
From
Mr Giles in South Manchester
I support this weekends protest march, these people are simply exercising
their democratic right to have their views/beliefs heard. INCREASE
THE PEACE!!
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