It was frightening to hear those words being chanted over and over again by protestors in Ferguson, Missouri on Sunday.

                It was the one-year anniversary of the shooting of death of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager who was killed by police officer Darren Wilson in the small town near St. Louis.  It was an event that claimed news headlines over the last year; from the time Brown died, through the St. Louis County grand jury's Nov. 2014 decision not to indict Wilson, through the March 2015 decision by the U.S. Department of Justice clearing Wilson of any civil rights violations, to the preparation for Sunday's expected demonstrations.

                 March 2015 was the same month when two police officers were shot just outside of the police station where demonstrators gathered following the resignation of the city's embattled police chief in the wake of a scathing Justice Department report alleging bias in the police department and court.  The alleged shooter was a 20-year-old man who already had a warrant out on him because he was on probation for receiving stolen property and failed to report to his parole officer for the previous seven months. 

                Like a year ago, Sunday's demonstrations were once again marred by violence and on Monday officials declared a state of emergency in Ferguson.  It was prompted, in part, when police shot and critically wounded an 18-year-old man who they said was firing on them.  Videos clearly show the man holding a gun.  Police said the man was among two groups of young people who exchanged gunfire near peaceful protests on Sunday night.

                There was more looting, vandalism and break-ins, but not as bad as a year ago.

                It's a shame that a few thugs need to steal the message of the many peaceful demonstrators who gathered on the anniversary.

                On Tuesday heavily-armed members of a "patriot" group called the Oath Keepers showed up to add more uneasiness to the protests in Ferguson.  The group, reported to be all former military, police and first responders, pledge to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

                Then, on Tuesday night, came a video news feed that showed a group of protestors defacing and stomping on the flag of the United States.  A veteran of the Vietnam War tried to intercede to save "Old Glory."  It was show of bravery as one stood against many, but he couldn't save the stars-and-stripes from the furious crowd.

                That scene was followed by coverage of the demonstration showing scores of protestors passing among others shouting, "We're ready for what?  We're ready for war."

                We don't live in Ferguson, Missouri and most of us have never experienced what protestors and officials try to explain.  We know what we see and hear when it comes to us live via news channels.  We read, follow credited news accounts, and work hard to try and understand all sides.

                Then, chants of "We're ready for what?  We're ready for war" shock us back to what can really happen.

                It is exactly at that time when we need to remember that these racial warmongers, on all sides, do not represent anything close to the majority of the people.  These troublemakers mar the efforts of those who resolve to peacefully protest and work to make the United States a better place to live.