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July 3rd, 2008 7:47 pm
500 miles and counting: Bush foe hits streets
Angry about the Iraq war, retired Murray man says he's 'not going to hide'
By Pomera M. Fronce / Salt Lake Tribune
It was January 2003 and a war in Iraq was looming.
On a whim, Larry Bergan, a baby boomer from Murray, scratched out a sign that read, "Impeach Bush."
He walked the streets of his community, raised his sign to passing cars and logged the first 10 miles of what has become his own personal trek for peace.
He chronicled the events of that day in a letter to his mom, Ruby Snyder, who was serving an LDS mission in Des Moines, Iowa. The letter, dated Jan. 26, read in part, "It was a great deal of fun. Although I tried not to stare at people as they went by, I got dozens of thumbs ups. It's probably impossible to tell if a honk is supportive or not, but I think if someone lays on the horn, that's bad, and if someone gives a couple of short beeps, that's good. There were far more short beeps than long ones."
Bergan stepped up his efforts the next month when he heard commentator Bill O'Reilly, say, "Once the war against Saddam Hussein begins, we expect every American to support our military, and if you can't do that, just shut up. Americans, and indeed our foreign allies who actively work against our military once the war is under way, will be considered enemies of the state by me. Just fair warning to you, Barbra Streisand and others who see the world as you do. I don't want to demonize anyone, but anyone who hurts this country in a time like this, well, let's just say you will be spotlighted."
Bergan wrote a second letter to his mom March 9 in which he excitedly reported, "Well, I hit a big landmark today. I have carried my "Impeach Bush" poster over 100 miles now. This project of mine has really amazed me."
It has amazed him because of the support he has received - like that from the veteran who pedaled by with three American flags attached to his bicycle. He looked Bergan in the eye, put his thumb in the air and said, "I'm with you 100 percent, man."
On another occasion, he walked by a young couple playing with their daughter. Bergan was slightly embarrassed because of the blunt message on his sign. He tried to go unnoticed only to have the couple shout out their support.
There are dozens of such stories, but not everyone supports Bergan. Some simply ignore him. He has been called a communist, terrorist, tree hugger, wimp and worse. He usually just smiles, waves and ignores the insults.
And when people tell him to "get a job", he counters that he was an optician for more than 30 years. Now that he's retired, he spends more time stumping for his causes.
To date, Bergan has walked more than 500 miles and invested hundreds of hours to share his message of opposition to the war. Along the way, he garnered City Weekly's award for the best lone demonstrator of 2006.
Bergan's mom was not surprised he received the award.
She describes his passion as unbelievable.
"He is trying to do what he thinks is right," she said. Snyder is proud of her son for standing up for his beliefs. She adds that he tends to be a bit too zealous.
Bergan doesn't disagree with his mom's characterization. It is not his intent to anger the good, hard-working people of Utah. He pounds the pavement in an effort to generate dialogue and get people to think outside their comfort zones.
"I am really angry about the war and want to express my feelings. I'm doing something I don't have to do and it makes me feel good," Bergan said with pride. "People can take me or leave me, but I'm not going to hide."
500 miles and counting: Bush foe hits streets
Angry about the Iraq war, retired Murray man says he's 'not going to hide'
By Pomera M. Fronce / Salt Lake Tribune
It was January 2003 and a war in Iraq was looming.
On a whim, Larry Bergan, a baby boomer from Murray, scratched out a sign that read, "Impeach Bush."
He walked the streets of his community, raised his sign to passing cars and logged the first 10 miles of what has become his own personal trek for peace.
He chronicled the events of that day in a letter to his mom, Ruby Snyder, who was serving an LDS mission in Des Moines, Iowa. The letter, dated Jan. 26, read in part, "It was a great deal of fun. Although I tried not to stare at people as they went by, I got dozens of thumbs ups. It's probably impossible to tell if a honk is supportive or not, but I think if someone lays on the horn, that's bad, and if someone gives a couple of short beeps, that's good. There were far more short beeps than long ones."
Bergan stepped up his efforts the next month when he heard commentator Bill O'Reilly, say, "Once the war against Saddam Hussein begins, we expect every American to support our military, and if you can't do that, just shut up. Americans, and indeed our foreign allies who actively work against our military once the war is under way, will be considered enemies of the state by me. Just fair warning to you, Barbra Streisand and others who see the world as you do. I don't want to demonize anyone, but anyone who hurts this country in a time like this, well, let's just say you will be spotlighted."
Bergan wrote a second letter to his mom March 9 in which he excitedly reported, "Well, I hit a big landmark today. I have carried my "Impeach Bush" poster over 100 miles now. This project of mine has really amazed me."
It has amazed him because of the support he has received - like that from the veteran who pedaled by with three American flags attached to his bicycle. He looked Bergan in the eye, put his thumb in the air and said, "I'm with you 100 percent, man."
On another occasion, he walked by a young couple playing with their daughter. Bergan was slightly embarrassed because of the blunt message on his sign. He tried to go unnoticed only to have the couple shout out their support.
There are dozens of such stories, but not everyone supports Bergan. Some simply ignore him. He has been called a communist, terrorist, tree hugger, wimp and worse. He usually just smiles, waves and ignores the insults.
And when people tell him to "get a job", he counters that he was an optician for more than 30 years. Now that he's retired, he spends more time stumping for his causes.
To date, Bergan has walked more than 500 miles and invested hundreds of hours to share his message of opposition to the war. Along the way, he garnered City Weekly's award for the best lone demonstrator of 2006.
Bergan's mom was not surprised he received the award.
She describes his passion as unbelievable.
"He is trying to do what he thinks is right," she said. Snyder is proud of her son for standing up for his beliefs. She adds that he tends to be a bit too zealous.
Bergan doesn't disagree with his mom's characterization. It is not his intent to anger the good, hard-working people of Utah. He pounds the pavement in an effort to generate dialogue and get people to think outside their comfort zones.
"I am really angry about the war and want to express my feelings. I'm doing something I don't have to do and it makes me feel good," Bergan said with pride. "People can take me or leave me, but I'm not going to hide."
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