THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511260182
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
George Byrd didn't know what he was stumbling into.
Byrd, 66, is a retired Navy civil servant who stays busy with his church, local Republican politics, and hobbies such as genealogy.
One evening on a visit to the Virginia Beach Central Library for a meeting of the local genealogical society, he drifted across the hall and found a group of citizens deeply engrossed in a philosophical discussion of U.S. foreign policy.
After listening for a while, he was hooked.
He found the discussions fascinating, stimulating - and sometimes disturbing.
As it became clear the group was moving toward a consensus that the United States should place a high priority on international cooperation, he found himself in the minority.
What disturbed him was the notion that the United States might have to surrender some of its sovereignty - for instance, giving up the right to use military force abroad without U.N. approval.
``It's something I feel very strongly about, but I was surprised at how many people didn't feel that strongly,'' Byrd said later. ``I thought, `I can't believe this. These people are Americans. They're not ready to give up their sovereignty, I hope.' ''
But the give-and-take spurred him to do some re-examination of his ideas.
``Some of the people brought up some very good points, I thought. It's made me do some deeper thinking, and I sensed that other people were doing that, too.''
Despite great diversity of backgrounds and views, Byrd found a camaraderie and mutual respect in the group that amazed him.
``Nobody's getting angry,'' he said. ``They're speaking from their hearts, I believe. They mean what they're saying. But they do it in a nice way.''
``I think these people have given a lot of thought to what their beliefs are. If something like this was done all over the country, the politicians would probably get a better understanding of how people are feeling.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
George Byrd was in for a surprise
Graphic
CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB