I thought what is going on? Then I got the answer. I receive an email describing a celebration: a 320th birthday party for the Army with some sort of reenactment of Gen. George Washington and his camp. I could not believe what I was reading.

Cambridge is officially opposed to the war in Iraq. Why was it hosting an event like this? I immediately changed my schedule to make it to the birthday bash.

As I was walking from the T, I passed a group of "Special Forces" policemen, all dressed in black, looking quite militaristic. When I passed them I could hear one of the men say, "Let's make sure we have our foggers, I don't think we'll use them but make sure you have one." Foggers? What do they expect to happen today?

I walked down Mass. Ave. noticing a Veterans for Peace sign on the corner. I greeted the members of the North Shore Chapter of VFP and members from other MA chapters. There were about a dozen of us there at around 9:00am. I looked around the Cambridge Common scanning the streets as I always do these days.

The scene turned out to be another affirmation of the militarized police state our country has become. Our little group was being watched by Cambridge police, groups of special forces from all over the state, and some form of plainclothes security trying to make themselves invisible but looking very obvious.

A 75 foot long black Army recruiting truck was parked directly across the street from where we stood. I am a volunteer with the American Friends Service Committee. I know what is inside those "propaganda boxes." I know all the lies and deadly deception that is perpetrated by the recruiters. It made me physically and emotionally ill to see the recruits walking up the steps with young boys knowing there was nothing I could do about it.

Around ten we received a visit from a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who explained to us the ground rules for the "event," as the numbers of demonstrators grew around us. We were not to go onto the baseball field because the parachutists would be landing, hopefully, on the field. Parachutists? The Army was spending a lot of our money today.

We were explained our rights then about 50 of us started walking across the street to the Common. At a "police gate" we were stopped and searched. We were also told to take the sticks off our signs so we couldn't stab the police, steal their guns, and shoot everyone in the place. (with apologies to Arlo Guthrie and his song, Motorcycle!) We walked up next to the stage, faced the very small audience, and quietly held our stick-free signs and banners. We were were told to move because we were blocking the area where the "birthday wreaths" would be placed. Several people refused, told the most nattily clad officials what an atrocity this party was, and then sat down. They were arrested.

The "men in black" turned to the rest of the group and told us we would have to move back because the "festivities" were about to begin. (I think they already had.)

We moved away from the stage as more peace groups arrived doubling our numbers. Some demonstrators stayed outside the common with their "stick signs" others milled about the common area. A group of about fifty of us stayed where we were asked to move to as the police and the "brass" kept talking to their shoulders set with their communication devises.

All of a sudden, with no warning, the "men in black" rushed us and started to shove whoever was in their way, including several older women, back towards the gate on Mass. Ave. The group response to this provocation was to chant louder.

It was so crowded in the free speech zone that we could only talk into each other’s backs and shoulders. Suddenly, I felt something was up. I asked one of the "men in black" if he wouldn't mind asking me to move instead of trying to shove me. He grunted and the shoving and pushing started again as they tried to move us back closer to the gate. Eventually they had us surrounded. No one could go in the free speech zone, but our numbers continued to grow on the sidewalk.

I wound up leaving the free speech zone, found water, and helped some friends to hold signs along the gate.

I could hear the speaker introduce an eleven year old boy whose father was killed in Iraq and thought, You @#$%& slime balls, using a traumatized little kid to recruit for another one of your "Wars for Cash."

I did not stay much longer. I had been there for four hours. I witnessed the militaries sick, desperate attempt to recruit children to kill other children in the name of power, greed, and "god." All with the help and support of Cambridge city officials. A sad, disgusting event.

"There is no way to peace—peace is the way".