Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Peace Vigil # 47, December 11, 2007

We had six people show up today. Two of those folks didn't stay too long. One of them sang a John Prine song. I'll have to look up the name of it as it escapes me at the moment. Another stopped by to ask some questions, show his support, then left, Two of the others stayed for most of the hour, then left. they both gave reasons for leaving. That left Mrs. Spadoman and I. It was cold, around 20 degrees, and a slight breeze. It was partly cloudy. Since it gets dark when we start the vigil these days, it didn't matter if the sun was shining. But when the sun was down, it got cold fast.

Seems like a lot of the usual horn honking and peace signs and waves of support. I also saw one thumbs down, and another man driving a pickup truck yelled something out his window. I didn't hear what he said, neither did anyone else, but no one thought it was a positive comment. Another small pickup truck parked 1/2 block away and the driver put two American flags onto the back end of his truck. He drove the opposite direction, but went around the block. When he came up to the corner where we were standing, he rolled down his window and yelled, "I would be proud to go to war for my country!"

I responded, "I did, thank you"

I felt strange today. I felt like I was in the minority wanting peace.

A few more weeks and we'll have one year under our belts.
Honor the Dead
Heal the Wounded
End the War

Peace to All.

4 comments:

Blue said...

Hey Spadoman, some days are like that...more and more, the audiences are supportive, but some days the critics have the loudest voices. The important thing is that you're out there speaking up for peace.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your blog. I have followed it weekly since I saw your blog address in the Daily Press. My name is Kathy and I have two sons in the military. My youngest son Lee is now in Iraq. Pat, "The Elder" knows of me as we've conversed once. Here's a Christmas poem that I received and I'd like to share it on your blog.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round theroom and I cherished the sight.My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me,angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to awinter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, completedthe magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded bylove I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyeswhen it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Thenthesure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, and I crept to the doorjust to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of thenight, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddledhere in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, standingwatch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it'sfreezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,you should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, away from the cold and thesnow blown in drifts. To the window that danced with a warm fire'slight, then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to standat the front of the line, that separates you from the darkest of times.No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like myfathers before me. My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December,"Then he sighed, "That's aChristmas 'Gram always remembers." "My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam, and now it is my turnand so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, but mywife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile." Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, andblue... an American flag. "I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family,my house and my home." "I can stand at my post through the rain and thesleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with mysister and brother.." "Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall. So go backinside," he said, "harbor no fright,Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, give you money," Iasked, "or prepare you a feast?It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away fromyour wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you loveus, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we'regone, to stand your own watch, no matter how long." "For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you rememberwe fought and we bled.Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to youas you mattered to us." PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as manypeople as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.Service men and women for our being able to celebrate thesefestivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, whosacrificed themselves for us.

Thank you,
Kathy

I pasted the poem, so pardon the lack of spaces between the words.

Spadoman said...

Blue.... Good to see you. Hope all is well with you. Thanks for coming over here.

Anonymous Kathy.... Thank you for coming over to the Peace Blog. And thank you for that bit of poetry.
Wanting peace at these times has been a hard road to follow.
Some folks think that if you are against the war, you hate all military and think poorly of our troops. Others think that it is the utmost support to want our soldiers home and not have any more war.
As a Father, I know how it feels to stand by and see your children in harm's way. I also know the pride of being a soldier. I know how the whole thing can tear at a person.
I pray for all soldiers, all over the world, that war will cease and peace will prevail for all. Your sons are included in these prayers, always, no matter what they think.
There are many different ways that people may think they are showing their support. The bottom line is that we are thinking about the world, and all the people in it.
Thank you again for your thoughts and that poem.

Peace to All.

Mary said...

A whole year already! Way to go. I am proud of you. I agree w/Bluegrrrl. We all have to keep on speaking out. You are a shining example for us Spado.

Kathy-My son just came home from 15mos in Iraq. I stand with you as you wait for your sons safe return.