Gwen Thomas, RN, in the foreground holding a sign, was among approximately 75 people who gathered in Bandon for a recent Oregon Coast Peace Wave event. The rally drew medical professionals, veterans, children and adults in protest of a possible U.S. invasion of Iraq. One of the speakers, event organizer Dr. Janet Bates, said "A time comes when silence is betrayal." World Photo by Grant Prescott

Crowded together in City Council chambers overflowing with people, citizens of Bandon made emotional pleas Tuesday night, asking the council to pass a resolution opposing a pre-emptive U.S. military attack on Iraq.

It was not a typical council meeting, but a scene reminiscent of a bygone era, when people with divergent views, miles apart in philosophy, were drawn to a public forum to take a stand for what they believe.

About 15 people spoke both for and against the resolution, taking almost an hour to convey their thoughts, with some of them holding back tears and others pounding the podium.

But in the end, the council did not move the resolution to a vote, so no action was taken.

"I believe it is important for the City Council to consider a resolution of this kind," said Francis Quinn of Bandon, one of several people who asked that the request be put on the council's agenda.

Quinn said recent peace rallies worldwide point to a growing anti-war movement. And while it is unprecedented for local governments to take action, she said, many have done so. According to information provided to the council, more than 90 cities in the nation have passed similar resolutions and many other cities have campaigns under way to follow suit.

The resolution, read by Bob Fischer of Bandon, stated that although Saddam Hussein is considered a tyrant, it is not clear that a U.S. military action to remove him would result in the installation of a free and democratic Iraqi government.

In addition, the resolution stated that there is no proven linkage between the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the government of Iraq; that a war would kill thousands of Iraqi civilians who have already suffered; that a war might lead to wider support for al-Qaida and other terrorist groups; and that a war would cost between $9 billion and $13 billion per month to wage.

"A war with Iraq will jeopardize the health and lives of American service personnel, whom we support, even if we oppose policy that sent them there," said Fischer.

More than 60 people attended the meeting, some proudly wearing hats or jackets symbolizing their service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Others wore the uniforms of service they now represent as firefighters or police officers. Some simply carried with them carefully chosen words, conveyed with emotion, to offer their support for President Bush or to voice opposition to a military strike against Iraq.

"I'm diametrically opposed to this resolution," said Hugh McNeil, a lifelong Bandon resident who served in World War II and Korea.

"I fought with the finest men in the world who gave their lives so these people could come up to this podium," McNeil said. "I hate war, I really hate war, but do they have a better solution? If they have, I'd like to hear it."

George Miller, a Pearl Harbor survivor who served in Korea and Vietnam, said he had no animosity toward peace activists.

But Miller said the country is run by elected representatives and people need to support those officials' decisions and let them do their jobs. And many have made sacrifices so others could have that kind of democratic representation, he added.

"I just want to let you know the boys who are over there now are making it possible for what you are doing tonight," Miller said.

Jack Marohl said tyrants such as Saddam Hussein need to be stopped now, before they gain more power or hurt more people. He likened Hussein to Hitler.

"We have a president who is determined on stopping another madman from lighting the world on fire," Marohl said.

Frank Crook asked those supporting the anti-war resolution whether they had forgotten the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"That's why we're here," Crook said. "I've talked to many veterans and many feel the problems they are having is because of (war) protests. The president needs our support. If you're anti-war or anti-government, I feel you're anti-American and I feel this resolution would do more harm than good."

Bandon Fire Chief Lanny Boston choked up when he spoke to the council.

"Everyone would agree on one thing -- that we don't want a war, but we can't turn the other cheek," Boston said. "How much crap will America take before we stand up and support our troops?"

Boston added that if the council voted to pass the resolution, it would put Bandon in the same category as Berkeley, Calif., or Eugene.

"I'd be ashamed," he said.

Janet Bates, a physician in Bandon, said she was concerned that troops being called up for service are leaving holes in their own families as well as compromising national security and safety.

Ken Bates said the possibility of war is a Bandon issue because it affects people at all levels.

"I still see many people in my office whose lives have been changed forever because of their years in service," he said. "As a city, we can make a bold statement so these young people won't be left scarred.

"It takes a great government to resolve conflicts in a peaceful fashion," Bates added. "Let's show our government how to be great."

Councilors Blythe Tiffany, Colleen Cardas, David Kimes, Geri Procetto, Zita Ingham, Lou Franyi and Mayor Joe Whitsett listened intently to the speakers without comment.

Then, after a short break, Ingham moved to pass the resolution. No councilor seconded the motion, so it did not come to a vote.

During comments later in the meeting, most of the councilors indicated they felt the discussion had been thoughtful.

"But I don't feel this was the appropriate forum for it," Tiffany said. "It took an hour of time that should have been used for city business."

In other business the council:

n voted unanimously, after a hearing at which no public comment was submitted, to annex some streets and alleys to the city. In researching the annexations in order to write a legal description of the city boundary, City Planner Charli Williams found a series of gaps in the map. According to Williams, if there is a discrepancy between the map included in the ordinance and the legal description, the legal description takes precedence. The annexations took care of the discrepancies in the legal descriptions, which hadn't been updated since the city was chartered in 1891.

n declined a request to open a portion of S.W. Fifth Street on the South Jetty, west of Madison Avenue;

n awarded a bid in the amount of $39,987 to Westbrook Enterprises for an aerial photo project. The purpose is to get high quality digital aerial photos of the city and the electric service area that can be utilized by the city. The project will enable the electric department to define its service area boundary as required by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and will give the department the ability to plan future improvements. Total cost of the project, which will be paid by planning and electric department funds, is $57,487, but part of that cost will be carried over into fiscal year 2003-2004.

n and awarded a bid for a used backhoe for the electric department in the amount of $33,000.