Grannies for peace

18 grannies gathered in a courtroom yesterday to take the stand in their own defense. On trial for obstucting the entrance to an Army recruiting office near Times Square in New York, Grannies for Peace are hoping for much more than a place to rest. To the prosecution, this is a case of disorderly conduct. To the defendants, it is a test of the constitutional right to free speech, and the morality of war. I think these grannies are super-subversive (aside from the obvious) because they're challenging notions about who and what a peace activist is and are also complicating the way the judicial system sees protestors. Judge Ross has frequently looked mortified, squirming in his seat as if wondering how in the world he, of all judges, had the bad luck to be chosen to rule on the grannies' fate. Like the unfortunate Judge Harper in "Miracle on 34th Street," Judge Ross clearly recognizes that ruling against grandmothers — like ruling against Kris Kringle — could be political suicide, or at the very least make him a villain to grandchildren everywhere. I mean, who wants to put grannies in jail? These bitches rock and I only wish my granny were here to take part.