Local men say give peace a chance
Worked on anti-war ballot question
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Staff Reporter

Dick Vaillette, of Westminster, is one of a few area residents who worked to get a non-binding referendum question on the Nov. 7 state election ballot in the 1st and 2nd Worcester districts.

Vaillette sees it as a way to require politicians to talk about the issue.

"I realize that if it passes the war isn't going to stop," Vaillette said. "A lot of times politicians don't like to commit themselves on controversial issues. They at least will have to address this."

The question will appear on 139 municipal ballots. Two hundred signatures were required for the referendum to be placed on the ballot.

"I've been against the war in Iraq since before it began," said Vaillette, 64, a member of the Green-Rainbow party.

"I realize a lot of signers wouldn't agree with me at all," he said.

He said many people who signed the petition oppose the Iraq war, but do believe there could be a time and a place for a different war.

Vaillette said he spent a lot of time outside the Stop & Shop in Gardner and the Hannaford in Leominster.

"This cause is extremely important," he said. "We are being governed by fear. If we continue in this vein we'll be in trouble."

Gene Farrell, an Ashburnham resident who helped to collect signatures, said he wants to raise awareness of the conditions in Iraq as well as the anti-war movement with this referendum question.

"It's just a statement - maybe they'll look at it," he said.

The goal of this is to ensure that people are talking about the issues in Iraq, he said. Farrell knows that the results of the ballot question do not require elected official to take any specific action.

"It's a statewide ballot just to say enough is enough," he said. "I'm just trying to raise consciousness."

Farrell said he believes in the non-violent methods of resolving conflict and that the battle in Iraq is a "war of choice" and not one of necessity.

The non-violent movements have worked in the past Farrell said citing the history of Poland against Russia.

"It's standing up without violence," he said.

"Iraq was never tied to 9-11," Farrell said. "Even (President George W.) Bush says that now. They never found weapons of mass destruction. We can't force democracy."

Both men have also attended vigils to protest the war.

Vaillette, a Vietnam veteran, said he doesn't believe it is unpatriotic to question the government.

"Many of the founding fathers thought it was necessary regardless of the issue," he said. "They are saying you should stop discussion when it is most needed."

Vaillette spent two years on active reserves for the United States Navy and four years in the inactive reserves. During his two years of active duty, Vaillette served in the Middle East during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Farrell has never served in the military.

"I don't believe in killing," Farrell said. "I would die for my country but I wouldn't kill for my country."

- + - Caitlyn Kelleher can be reached at (978) 827-3386, ext. 15, or e-mail: editor@thecommunityjournal.com