A John Fortier Special 9/11 Peace Demonstration.

In the U.S. Sunday was the 10 year anniversary of the airplane attack on the twin towers in New York City and on the Pentagon and the near attack of another Washington target. President Obama, former President George W. Bush and many other officials paraded in front of cameras and big crowds to express their sense of loss. But on a Pacific Coast Highway street corner, one man sat alone, his "War Is Not The Answer" sign in front of him and his Peace Symbol flag flapping in the breeze. That man is John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and a peace activist.

For unlike President Bush who began and continued wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq over 9/11 and President Obama, who has continued and even expanded one of those wars, the longest wars in U.S. history, killing and maiming vast numbers of people, John hopes to help bring peace. Both Presidents would make that same claim but all they have brought is more violence for unlike John, they don't use peaceful means in seeking peace. Here is John's description of his 9/11 peace vigil:

Happy to report - a very good day. Not quite the best, but damned good. The last 10 or 15 minutes it slowed down, but, prior to that, as good as any I can recall. The day was perfect for shorts and sandals. What a coincidence; I wore shorts and sandals.

No self-medicating yahoos showed up to question my 'creds'. That was a pleasant surprise. I really expected a bit of that. I had one 'Boooooo' from a passing pickup passenger, and a huge wave off from the driver of a car. I figure he was trying to swat a wasp or suggest to me that I cut my throat, or something.

to be continued