Remember John Komyakevich.

Posted on April 2, 2003 in Atrocity War

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamour of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shamika, who has a blog on this site, shared that and asked “Is this really a question of good or bad people?”.

This little tidbit got caught by Jeremy. I don’t know what else you can say about the heinousness of the act and the resounding silence regarding this story other than “this is bad”:

NORTH PALM BEACH — A memorial service today for Evgeniy John Komyakevich, a bar manager shot to death Sunday night after an argument over the war in Iraq, will be “a celebration of his pacifist spirit,” a family friend said. Komyakevich, 33, moved to the United States from Russia 12 years ago and lived in Palm Beach Shores. The service will be at 6 p.m. at Thomas L. Price Funeral Home, 553 Northlake Blvd., North Palm Beach.

The length to which supporters of this war will go to deny it is horrifying. When I mentioned what had happened on an international channel, the other American said “He didn’t get shot because he was a peace activist. He got shot because he was an idiot.”

I sarcastically said “Oh what a comfort.” A friend from Denmark said “i think thats not a judgement you can bring if you dont know that person.” Face it: Americans are now in the habit of rushing to judgement about anyone or anything who makes this war effort look bad. Some shoot to kill. That’s bad.

The current Utne Reader says that we should listen more compassionately to conservatives. How about us? How about the reign of terror that’s beginning for peace activists? They’re not the ones who are getting killed for their beliefs. Give me a break!

I have to wonder why this didn’t make the national news? If a window is broken within ten miles of a peace demonstration, it makes the top story. It makes an excellent example of the twisted and distorted coverage that this war and the coverage of the opposition to it is getting. Media giants have no qualms about making the American public get battle fatigue from watching endless hours of fighting live from Iraq, but when it comes to upholding the Bill of Rights and defending our own citizens from one another, you’re toast if you’re mouthing their propaganda.

The fact that John Komyakevich’s killer used a gun is another indication of the chicken-hearted insecurity that plagues supporters of this war. I can live with disagreement and not resort to eliminating my opponents. The fact that some can’t shows how dangerous this mass hysteria is becoming.

Activists around the country should stand up. The First Amendment comes before the Second Amendment for a reason: free speech is more important than the right to bear arms. And the use of arms to deny another person their right to criticize the government is murder.

This deserves comment from the Florida’s governor and the President of the United States. It better be good. Be careful, Bush Brothers: if you in any way declare open season on peace activists, the house will fall down around you. You shall inherit the wind.

No sane man wants to go there, including me. The sanity of the Bush Brothers and the good people who let them get away with their vendettas and gouging of the public for riches is questionable, to say the least.

Remember John Komyakevich. And pass the word. It’s time to stand up to the bullies. This is a nation of laws and free speech, not vigilante justice. Floridians: call your local newspapers and Governor Bush’s office. Demand a comment.

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I doubt that I will have to work hard to convince any lethal injection loving Florida jury to spare the killer’s life: they will probably say that he was provoked. Maybe they will call it “self defense” or “patriotic”.

I do want to declare that I oppose the death penalty for this or any other case in Florida. Life imprisonment works for me.