By Courtney Dentch
About 80 candles illuminated the evening sky in Alley Pond Park Sunday, joining thousands of other flames lit around the borough, city and world in a vigil to protest the looming possibility of a U.S. war with Iraq.
Northeast Queens residents took to the park as part of the Global Candlelight Vigil for Peace, a rolling wave of almost 7,000 gatherings in 140 countries around the world to protest military action in the Middle East.
“It’s cool knowing that everyone gets together to do something for the people of Iraq,” said 13-year-old Baysider Amanda Katz. “We don’t need hate in the world right now.”
The protest was held the day before President George Bush gave Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave their country or face military attacks.
The Alley Pond Park vigil was organized by Little Neck resident Abby Farber-Robinson via moveon.org, a Web-based democracy advocate group. Farber-Robinson was dismayed when she logged onto the Web site and saw that although there were protests planned for Manhattan and elsewhere in Queens, there was no vigil planned in the northeast part of the borough.
“I wanted to be here in Queens with people I know live in Queens,” she said. “I thought this would be a way to get like-minded people in Queens together with others and know there are people who are against the war.”
About 80 people formed a circle at the Alley Pond vigil, sharing their views on the war, Iraq and President Bush with others holding candles.
For some the vigil was a symbol of the best values of the United States.
“The greatest thing about democracy is the ability to express ourselves,” said Steve Katz, Amanda’s father. “Not every war is a just war and not every war is an unjust war. We as a family believe this is not a just war.”
Some who attended carried handmade signs and others like Great Neck resident Alexis White wore red, white and blue ribbons in support of the nation.
The cup holding White’s candle bore a label reading, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
“The president has not made the case for this war,” said White. “There’s Iran, North Korea, Pakistan. Saddam Hussein is without a doubt an evil person, but he’s not the only one.”
Some at the protest wanted Bush to wait for more support from other countries before using military force against Hussein.
“We need to wait and let other nations join us,” said Oakland Gardens resident Leonard Yarmus. “That would allow us more entry points into Iraq.”
Noah Ohringer, 10, of Great Neck, believes there is still a diplomatic way to resolve the conflict, he said.
“War is a last resort,” Noah said. “We have not exhausted all the opportunities for peace. Bush just wants to go to war to finish his father’s job.”
Edith Ziefert, a Bayside woman who lived through World War II, is reluctant to send U.S. troops into the fray, she said.
“I’m not prepared to send my children to war and I’m not prepared to send anyone else’s children,” she said. “When they start drafting the middle-class kids, then parents will complain. The ones going now are the poor.”
But some like Farber-Robinson fret about the long-term effects of a war in the Middle East, she said.
“I’m worried about the future of the world,” she said. “I’m afraid of the consequences of war on this country, on the world, and on our children’s lives.”
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
