A Night At Jerry Rubin’s Table

Laurie Cohn
Mirtror contributing writer

   Since I began writing this column, I’ve been fortunate to talk to some interesting people. One of the few I’ve met face-to-face is Jerry Rubin. Oh sure, I’d seen him frequently at his bumper sticker-laden table, but I never stopped to chat. The night I met Jerry I was on my 5th date with a Republican, strolling the Promenade after dinner. It was the last time I would see the GOP man (Jerry subsequently taught me party affiliation is something I should always discover on the first date), but the beginning of a new friendship. Jerry and I hit it off instantly, and I knew as I walked away from his table we had bonded. 
   Months after our first meeting I took Jerry up on his offer to sit with him at his table. I wanted to observe the man in action. The first thing Jerry did when I arrived, my own folding chair in tow, was to leave. He needed some food and entrusted me with the task of stamping people with the non-toxic peace symbol and selling stickers. The hardest part was remembering the prices – 1 for $2, 3 for $5, and 6 for $10. He returned, with cookies from Wolfgang Puck’s, and when I asked the City Council candidate the important question of which cookie he preferred, Jerry admitted it was usually the raisin over the chocolate chip, but not always. To me this was meaningful information, especially since I didn’t know Wolfgang Puck’s had cookies at all. 
   Jerry is most likely the only political candidate left in Santa Monica whose main goal is "to plant seeds of peace in people." Being a hippie child of the 60’s I thought I knew all about the peace symbol, but Jerry taught me the real meaning behind it. "Bertrand Russell commissioned an artist to draw up a symbol for the campaign against nuclear weapons. . .One of the most nonfactual things that people have said over the years very fervently is that it’s a broken crucifix." Kids and adults alike came over all night long to get their hands stamped, and Jerry watched carefully as I followed his directions and applied just the right amount of pressure. For those that seemed amenable I rang a bell over the still-moist stamp, as Jerry had taught me, giving them an extra little peace blessing to take into the crisp fall night. 
   Jerry is interested in everyone’s ideas and opinions, and treats youngsters and elderly veterans with the same respect. That night he asked a mature teenager if the voting age should be lowered. The teen didn’t think so, as he didn’t think his peers would make good choices. Jerry, however, believes "we could and should lower the voting age now to 17. . .to involve more young people in a democratic process." As for the veterans, he is "very proud that I worked with the veterans in helping to get the veterans monument here. . .The only thing is we didn’t want it at the war cannon in Palisades Park. . .We felt that you need to honor the veterans, but not exalt the weapons of war. "
   There’s something endearing about having a potential City Council member who has gone through our court system in the same manner as any Santa Monica citizen with a ticket. Jerry has no complaints about the police who have done their job and given him tickets, only the law that dictates he should pack up his table and move every two hours. "I’m still in court facing a $1000 fine for 4 tickets [$250 per ticket] for being outside of the performer zone. Of course, I’m not a performer, I’m not required to get a permit, and the size of my table is in keeping with the 8’ x 4’ size of what’s permitted." 
   You will see Jerry Rubin’s name on the ballot November 7th, but unlike other office seekers, he wasn’t allowed to list his occupation, peace activist. Reasons I’ll vote for Jerry include his long-time devotion to Santa Monica, his dedication to the Alliance for Survival group, and his peaceful and nonviolent protests against a variety of causes including saving the Ballona Wetlands. He also began the vitally important Teddy Bears for Toy Guns campaign. In a society filled with "me-centric" people, Jerry remains the real thing, concerned with the welfare of others over personal gain. It’s called integrity, and is why I’ll be casting a vote for Jerry on election day. Maybe you’ll vote for Jerry, maybe you won’t, but at least stop by his table, have a little chat, and get your hand stamped with the peace symbol.