14 AUG 05: THE EVE OF BATTLE

Don't look now, but Columbus may have found its next "local icon" to represent the city around the world. But I admit it DOES seem strange to compare Eve Tidwell to the AFLAC duck....

Eve Tidwell has flown to Texas, in response to the Iraq war protest near President Bush's ranch by Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan. Hopefully in her zeal, Tidwell remembered her family's advice -- and took plenty of sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.

Eve Tidwell took homemade signs with her from Columbus to Texas, showing support for the U.S. military. It's straight out of her "God Bless Fort Benning" rallies - only this time she's taking on protesters who really don't seem brainwashed.

One of Eve Tidwell's signs says to Cindy Sheehan: "Your son is a hero, not a victim." Sheehan apparently disagrees, and wants a personal meeting with the President about it. But Sheehan talked with Mr. Bush last year - so shouldn't she get in line behind about 900 other military families?

Eve Tidwell says she's in Texas to show support for all U.S. soldiers - NOT to take on Cindy Sheehan. But let's be honest here: if you go there because of a protest and you're not part OF the protest, aren't you really taking it on? It's like entering a NASCAR race, but saying you don't want to beat Tony Stewart.

Eve Tidwell says everyone in the U.S. military volunteered to serve, including Cindy Sheehan's son. In Tidwell's words: "For whatever reason, we make choices." She should have heard the speaker at the church I attend this weekend - who noted Peter Jennings made a wrong choice to smoke cigarettes.

There was no word Saturday on whether Eve Tidwell's husband had joined her in Texas. Dr. Jack Tidwell stayed in Columbus Friday at his cancer treatment center -- so while his wife was radiating hope, he was using radiation on other things.

Eve Tidwell has a son-in-law serving overseas in the military. Dr. Jack Tidwell admits he's "tired of this fussing and fighting about the war." So am I - so would Jesse Jackson please fly to Iraq, and plead with the insurgents to knock it off?

The Tidwells believe protests near the President's ranch like Cindy Sheehan's demonstration is hurting U.S. military morale. Once that protest ends, maybe they can work on banning all national opinion polls....

A "Google News" search Saturday night found only one news outlet outside Columbus has mentioned Eve Tidwell's arrival in Texas - the Sacramento Bee. What does it say about her chances for success, when Fox News Channel isn't even mentioning her?

Saturday's Sacramento Bee reported Eve Tidwell canceled a New York trip to fly to Texas, and plans to stay there until at least Wednesday. Well, at least she's probably saving money on a motel room....

(Come to think of it, there could be another advantage in the Tidwell Texas tour. She can try to get a discount on Lance Armstrong cancer bracelets.)

The Sacramento Bee adds a busload of pro-military people from Dallas showed up near the ranch Friday, but only stayed about an hour. What does it say about supporting soldiers "for the long haul," when that bus only staged a quick strike?

I can't help wondering if Eve Tidwell traveled to Texas after seeing what happened last weekend in Opelika, at the funeral for Sgt. Christopher Taylor. Is this a "make-up trip" of sorts? Or will Tidwell start grass-roots rallies from coast to coast - and arrange for her former Columbus café to cater them?

There's one big problem with both demonstrations, by Cindy Sheehan and Eve Tidwell. Some skeptical TV viewers have seen all the Natalee Holloway stories - and think the cameras only are on these women because they're white.

No, I'm not kidding! I've had a spirited message board debate in recent days with people who suggest Cindy Sheehan wouldn't be on TV if she was African-American -- and shouldn't be on TV now because she's white. Apparently someone's skin color is more important than their family's blood..

Apparently for some people, you're disqualified from staging a demonstration unless it "reflects America." That means it must have a proper amount of minority representation. I don't know if these critics counted the number of white people at the Atlanta civil rights march last weekend or not....

As the dueling demonstrations unfolded, Fort Benning held a change of command ceremony. We bid farewell to Commanding General Benjamin Freakley - and we're thankful this is the Army, where no one dared to honor him by playing the disco classic "Le Freak" by Chic.

Now let's stand at ease for other announcements from the weekend:

+ A nearby business manager tells your blog Wild Bill's Party Shop on Buena Vista Road was robbed Saturday afternoon. That manager couldn't believe the store was held up in broad daylight. Maybe the crook checked weather radar on his computer, and wanted to beat the rain.

+ Plans were announced for an "Interfaith Hospitality Network" in Columbus. It will help homeless families, by keeping them in local churches and synagogues. Thankfully many churches now have padded pews - much more comfortable for sleeping.

+ Georgia Southwestern State University welcomed students to Americus, by giving all of them 20-minute prepaid phone cards. They're supposed to be used for calling parents - and if they're good with mathematics, they can ask for money ten times.

+ Columbus State University hosted not one, but TWO "Miss Georgia" qualifying pageants. The winners of "Miss Columbus" and "Miss Southern Rivers" both advanced, leaving sports fans in the audience frustrated. They don't want to wait ten months for a playoff....

+ Columbus High School baseball coach Bobby Howard led the East, in the "AFLAC All-American" all-star high school baseball game. Howard must have felt strange having Russell County players on his team - since for years, he probably considered Russell County in the West.

+ The Atlanta Falcons remained unbeaten in preseason play by bouncing Baltimore 16-3. I don't want to say this game was boring - but the highlight for me was radio announcer Wes Durham saying a player was "bearing down like a bad day."

(Did you see Philadelphia's Terrell Owens in the crowd at the Georgia Dome? First of all, you'd think his money-hungry agent would demand nothing but a SkyBox seat - and besides, didn't Owens turn down a trade to Baltimore a year ago?)

+ Instant Message to Davis Broadcasting: Why is next Friday's Carver-Spencer football game going to be on WOKS? Have you forgotten you have a sports-talk station now, for things like that?

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.35 a gallon at Marathon on Warm Springs Road.... Lance "Choco-Lunch" 10-pack sandwich cookies for 33 cents, all over town.... FREE fish left on the Riverwalk, at the stairs below the River Club (did it rain THAT much?)....

COMING SOON: What is that Brazilian thing in Phenix City?....

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