It was one of those weekends when you don't have much to do and you really don't want anything controversial to get in the way of just having a good time. We were in south Florida for business... and a little golf, with some people we know and they had never been down into the Keys. So, having Sunday off, we drove down Saturday evening and stayed in a nice place on Duck Key. All is normal... with the possible exception of certain orientations of the waiters in the resort restaurant, but the food was good.

There was some discussion about driving down to Key West to see the sunset at Mallory Square and eat at one of the restaurants down there - but since it was Fantasy Fest weekend and the night of the grand parade down Duval Street - we thought it best to avoid the... congestion... and drive down on Sunday to see the Southernmost Point and eat at Blue Heaven. (A funky little outdoor restaurant with chickens in the yard and great food.)

Arriving at Blue Heaven around 1:00pm or so Sunday afternoon, we were told they were serving brunch until 2:00 and having already had breakfast we opted to walk down to the Pier House and eat on the pier. As you may know, walking in crowds lends itself to crossing the street during red lights and anywhere there is a break in the traffic. Walking down Duval St. is no different and we were surrounded by groups of people who never noticed the lights... or the sidewalk... or anything more than about 3 feet in front of their hung over gaze.

Somewhere along the way, were a couple of women holding "Stop the War" signs with all the usual left wing slogans scribbled on them. They looked sincere, though they weren't getting much sympathy from the hoards of half drunk or hung over sea of walkers. But since we hadn't been in town for the debauchery of the night before and we don't drink (at least not like that anymore), we were sober enough to notice the signs, what they said, the two women and the crowd.

Now I'm not against holding up signs in a lawful protest. It's the simplest form of free speech guaranteed by the United States Constitution. It's not the most effective method - but for some, I know it’s what they know to do with themselves. I strongly disagree with the politics that inform people against the war effort. I think we need to be in Iraq and I know we have much to lose by leaving early. I would go so far as to say that those who want to set dates for withdrawal are either ignorant of the facts or politically motivated to undermine this country. But it is their right to say what they wish on their signs. It is the appropriate way to utilize free speech.

So while not agreeing with the surface intent of the women with the signs, I agree that all of us need to do what we can to help stop evil of all kinds and that includes war and the need to angrily protest war.

Borrowing a slogan from the left, I decided to "Think globally and act locally!"

It all begins right here - with me - right here in my own heart - with my own actions. It also occurred to me that I was already acting locally. I was already stopping at the red lights and waiting for the "Walk" symbol. No one else was - but it was me just doing my part. I'm sure had I stopped the crowd and begged them to do likewise, I would have been ignored... in all likelihood, had I stopped and told the two women that was how I was going to "act locally" to stop the war - I would have been chased down and gotten at least an earful. (which has happened before from feminist abortion advocates)

But it got me to thinking. I was told in the restaurant gift shop up the street that there was not just a little - but a LOT - of public nudity the night before at the Fantasy Fest Parade down Duval Street. Where were the police? Why weren't there arrests for public indecency? Were the police on duty? Were they "out of uniform" so to speak, as well? I'm all for First Amendment Rights and all - but how does walking down the public street "buck necked" as they say in the south - how does that not qualify for arrest. It's certainly not the free speech intended and guaranteed by the 1st!

I don't know what the two women holding the signs were doing the night before. I can only assume they were attending the biggest parade of the year in Key West. I wonder if they were holding signs saying, "Stop the Nudity". I think not.

It's just another example of the duplicitous of fools and failing to "act locally".

As for me, I will continue to stop at red lights, follow the laws of the land as best I can, get out and vote my conscience and then pray to the one God of all creation that one day we will study war no more.