Oct 28 2007
Crossposted from Daily Kos
Yesterday turned into a beautiful day in Chicago. It started out grey and drizzly, but by the time people met in Union Park, the rain had passed – and when people started to march, the sun came out.
Thank you to dmsilev for agreeing to go to the rally and march and I’m sorry we missed you to Got A Grip. We had the sign out, but we completely missed you.
Please join me over the fold for many photos.
Oct 26 2007
Cross-posted at Daily Kos
Hello out there! I don’t usually diary because as working mother of young children I am quite busy. But I really want ask this – is stopping the war a priority? I know there is a lot of compelling news today, but hope you will give this subject a moment of your attention. There are protests in 11 cities this Saturday and, on behalf of everyone who is planning to attend, I want to tell you – WE NEED YOU THERE!
http://www.oct27.org/
My sign for this protest reads – “Stop the war – for their children, and for ours” and I believe this. We have to stop this war for our children. We are draining the treasury, we are turning the world against us, we are causing pain and destruction – in their names – and they will pay for it. I shudder to think the kind of world they will grow up in.
Perhaps you will say that our energy is better spent combating global climate change – I say that protesting the war will help in this fight too. Not only by showing our politicians that we Democrats are no shrinking violets, but because going to a protest will make you an activist – one who is willing to go outside their comfort zone for what they believe in, and this carries over into other areas.
We complain and complain about our representatives continuing to fund the war. Are they spineless? We ask. What about all the alleged abuses and countless innocents living and dying in squalor? What about our soldiers PTSD who are abandoned when they return? Is our government evil? We ask. Do they have spines? We ask.
The truth is – we could ask each of these questions about ourselves. What are we willing to do to stop the war? We expect our representatives to stand up for us, but we will not even stand up for ourselves.
Do you think protesting is futile? Well, if it does no good it is because you are not there. That’s right! If you went, the protest would be a success! Because if you are going, that means that someone like you, somewhere else has seen the light and has decided to go. If everyone who is against the war marched, we could not be ignored any longer.
I am sorry for the negativity – I know a lot of you out there are going or have damn good reasons not to. I am discouraged because the entire group of mothers that I organized to march backed out. They are all against the war, but marching was not a priority. They are my friends, and I want to understand, but I don’t.
BTW – Bush and Cheney might be ignoring us, but do you think our own candidates are? Perhaps Clinton/Obama/Edwards/et al. are watching to find out what kind of supporters they’ve got. We need to let them know that we mean business – that we will not sit around and be fed on chocolate cream puffs while the world is burning down around us.
It is true that as one person we are each but a drop in the bucket. In these situations we cannot be more than that – and that bothers some people. But I say that this is pure ego and that to get things done sometimes we must move swarm-like with a crowd. If you want to express your own opinions loud and clear – go out and buy a piece of cardboard and write your thoughts in large, bold letters. You will be most satisfied when a like minded person gives you the “thumbs up” (or a counterprotestor gives you a different sort of gesture). And then march.
Please join us this Saturday at noon. For more information see http://www.oct27.org