Word: deserts
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Speakers at the demonstration, which was sponsored by the newly-formed Students United for Desert Storm (SUDS), condemned the vocal protests of anti-war activists and called on the nation to come together in support of troops in the Persian Gulf...
Many of those present carried framed portraits of President Bush or signs stating "USA: Love it or leave it," "Give peace a chance, destroy Saddam's arms" and "Appeasement=Genocide." Some wore the Desert Storm sweatshirt which has recently risen to popularity among supporters of the Gulf...
Most remarkably, a limited Desert Storm economy is springing up. Companies have boosted production of war-related books, maps, computer games, T shirts, yellow ribbons, American flags in all forms and just about anything red, white and blue. At Bloomingdale's in Manhattan, the brand-new Stars & Stripes boutique drew crowds eager to buy Ralph Lauren coffee mugs (price: $40), leather bomber jackets ($500) and beach towels sporting Old Glory. Suddenly teenagers are wearing camouflage pants...
Simple arithmetic, if nothing else, gives African Americans a special stake in Operation Desert Storm: they make up 12% of the U.S. population, but represent nearly 25% of the fighting forces in the Persian Gulf. When the air war finally shifts to a grinding ground confrontation, therefore, they are likely to spill a disproportionate amount of blood onto the desert sands. That has only fueled uneasiness among those blacks who feel that their friends and loved ones are being asked to do more than their fair share of dying for a nation that gives them less than their share...
While they take pride in the accomplishments of soldiers like Powell, many black activists are openly voicing their opposition to Desert Storm. "It is not anybody's war to fight, but most definitely it's not African America's war to fight," says Representative Maxine Waters of California, who warns black soldiers that they may return to a country where the President is unwilling to "take some affirmative steps to make sure you have a job or an education." Waters joined the majority of black Democrats in Congress in voting against the Jan. 12 resolution authorizing the use of force...