Sat, 22 Mar 2003 04:53:09 +0800 (CST)
Subject: the war

Hi folks,

This morning the US force finally started to bomb iraq. every news channel here is constantly playing those 'live' video pictures and reports, day and night. i was in the city SF yesterday, enjoying walking under a beatiful clear sky and warm sunshine, then i saw a crowed in the front og my way. getting closer to check out, it was another anti-war demonstration in these days. it was 9,30am, a small group of demonstrators (around 30 of them) blocked a crossroad, sitting on the street, tying their hands in the back, remaining silence. some of them tied themselves on the steel tubes on the street, so the cops and firemen had to cut up those tudes by a big electric saw to release them and then pulled each of them away to the car. the crowds and protesters stood around, watching them and chanting for them. i was standing in the crowds chanting with them as well, and being part of them. it was an unforgetable moment, i was right there participating a part of the modern history.

"Police in the city of San Francisco on Thursday arrested more than 1,300 anti-war protesters during a massive civil disobedience campaign, the sheriff's department said. The arrests began with the shifting series of protests early in the morning and were continuing into the evening as US troops moved into Iraq (news - web sites). "More than 1,300 people have been arrested so far and we expect that number to rise considerably during the evening," San Francisco Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Eileen Hirst told AFP."...21, 2003>

leaving that high emotional environment, the atmosphere went back to the tranquility and peace. the sun was still shinning, the sky was still blue, and the air was still fresh with the fragrance of the grass. the tourist spots were still crowded, and people were still having fun with their families and friends. i hardly smelled the tense from the war. i couldn't help wondering if it was just the tranquility before the storm.

so much contradictory here. i'm not afraid anyway. i'm still going on my trip.:)

Tina

ps. tina went up to the socall 'evil island'-acaltraz island to visit that well-known prison yesterday! the escpae story and the cell house were so cool!:)