tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46660465363546675752024-03-23T11:17:13.258-07:00Ashland Peace BlogThis site is dedicated to the men and women who are willing to give their lives in service to their country. The purpose is to make an attempt to change the course of history and end all war.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-76258057952564328532011-09-12T04:13:00.001-07:002011-09-12T04:13:29.616-07:00A Poem Worth Reading<b>A Moment of Silence</b><br />
<br />
Emmanuel Ortiz<br />
<br />
Before I begin this poem, I’d like to ask you to join me in a moment of silence in honor of those who died in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001.<br />
I would also like to ask you to offer up a moment of silence for all of those who have been harassed, imprisoned, disappeared, tortured, raped, or killed in retaliation for those strikes, for the victims in Afghanistan, Iraq, in the U.S., and throughout the world.<br />
And if I could just add one more thing…<br />
A full day of silence… for the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have died at the hands of U.S.-backed Israeli forces over decades of occupation.<br />
Six months of silence… for the million and-a-half Iraqi people, mostly children, who have died of malnourishment or starvation as a result<br />
of a 12-year U.S. embargo against the country.<br />
…And now, the drums of war beat again.<br />
Before I begin this poem, two months of silence… for the Blacks under Apartheid in South Africa, where “homeland security” made them aliens in their own country<br />
Nine months of silence… for the dead in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where death rained down and peeled back every layer of concrete, steel, earth and skin, and the survivors went on as if alive.<br />
A year of silence… for the millions of dead in Viet Nam —a people, not a war—for those who know a thing or two about the scent of burning fuel, their relatives bones buried in it, their babies born of it.<br />
Two months of silence… for the decades of dead in Colombia, whose names, like the corpses they once represented, have piled up and slipped off our tongues.<br />
Before I begin this poem,<br />
Seven days of silence… for El Salvador<br />
A day of silence… for Nicaragua<br />
Five days of silence… for the Guatemaltecos<br />
None of whom ever knew a moment of peace in their living years.<br />
45 seconds of silence… for the 45 dead at Acteal, Chiapas…<br />
1,933 miles of silence… for every desperate body<br />
That burns in the desert sun<br />
Drowned in swollen rivers at the pearly gates to the Empire’s underbelly,<br />
A gaping wound sutured shut by razor wire and corrugated steel.<br />
25 years of silence… for the millions of Africans who found their graves far deeper in the ocean than any building could poke into the sky.<br />
For those who were strung and swung from the heights of sycamore trees<br />
In the south… the north… the east… the west…<br />
There will be no dna testing or dental records to identify their remains.<br />
100 years of silence… for the hundreds of millions of indigenous people<br />
From this half of right here,<br />
Whose land and lives were stolen,<br />
In postcard-perfect plots like Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee, Sand Creek, Fallen Timbers, or the Trail of Tears<br />
Names now reduced to innocuous magnetic poetry on the refrigerator of our consciousness…<br />
From somewhere within the pillars of power<br />
You open your mouths to invoke a moment of our silence<br />
And we are all left speechless,<br />
Our tongues snatched from our mouths,<br />
Our eyes stapled shut.<br />
A moment of silence,<br />
And the poets are laid to rest,<br />
The drums disintegrate into dust.<br />
Before I begin this poem,<br />
You want a moment of silence…<br />
You mourn now as if the world will never be the same<br />
And the rest of us hope to hell it won’t be.<br />
Not like it always has been.<br />
…Because this is not a 9-1-1 poem<br />
This is a 9/10 poem,<br />
It is a 9/9 poem,<br />
A 9/8 poem,<br />
A 9/7 poem…<br />
This is a 1492 poem.<br />
This is a poem about what causes poems like this to be written.<br />
And if this is a 9/11 poem, then<br />
This is a September 11th 1973 poem for Chile.<br />
This is a September 12th 1977 poem for Steven Biko in South Africa.<br />
This is a September 13th 1971 poem for the brothers at Attica Prison, New York.<br />
This is a September 14th 1992 poem for the people of Somalia.<br />
This is a poem for every date that falls to the ground amidst the ashes of amnesia.<br />
This is a poem for the 110 stories that were never told,<br />
The 110 stories that history uprooted from its textbooks<br />
The 110 stories that that cnn, bbc, The New York Times, and Newsweek ignored.<br />
This is a poem for interrupting this program.<br />
This is not a peace poem,<br />
Not a poem for forgiveness.<br />
This is a justice poem,<br />
A poem for never forgetting.<br />
This is a poem to remind us<br />
That all that glitters<br />
Might just be broken glass.<br />
And still you want a moment of silence for the dead?<br />
We could give you lifetimes of empty:<br />
The unmarked graves,<br />
The lost languages,<br />
The uprooted trees and histories,<br />
The dead stares on the faces of nameless children…<br />
Before I start this poem we could be silent forever<br />
Or just long enough to hunger,<br />
For the dust to bury us<br />
And you would still ask us<br />
For more of our silence.<br />
So if you want a moment of silence<br />
Then stop the oil pumps<br />
Turn off the engines, the televisions<br />
Sink the cruise ships<br />
Crash the stock markets<br />
Unplug the marquee lights<br />
Delete the e-mails and instant messages<br />
Derail the trains, ground the planes.<br />
If you want a moment of silence, put a brick through the window<br />
of Taco Bell<br />
And pay the workers for wages lost.<br />
Tear down the liquor stores,<br />
The townhouses, the White Houses, the jailhouses, the Penthouses<br />
and the Playboys.<br />
If you want a moment of silence,<br />
Then take it<br />
On Super Bowl Sunday,<br />
The Fourth of July,<br />
During Dayton’s 13 hour sale,<br />
The next time your white guilt fills the room where my beautiful brown people have gathered.<br />
You want a moment of silence<br />
Then take it<br />
Now,<br />
Before this poem begins.<br />
Here, in the echo of my voice,<br />
In the pause between goosesteps of the second hand,<br />
In the space between bodies in embrace,<br />
Here is your silence.<br />
Take it.<br />
Take it all.<br />
But don’t cut in line.<br />
Let your silence begin at the beginning of crime.<br />
And we,<br />
Tonight,<br />
We will keep right on singing<br />
For our dead.<br />
<br />
Emmanuel Ortiz is a third-generation Chicano/Puerto Rican/Irish-American community organizer and spoken word poet. He is the author of a chapbook of poems, The Word Is a Machete (self-published, 2003), and coeditor of Under What Bandera?: Anti-War Ofrendas from Minnesota y Califas (Calaca Press, 2004). He is a founding member of Palabristas: Latin@ Word Slingers, a collective of Latin@ poets in Minnesota. Emmanuel has lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Oakland, California; and the Arizona/Mexico border. He currently lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the “buckle of the Bible Belt,” with his two dogs, Nogi and Cuca. In his spare time, he enjoys guacamole, soccer, and naps.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-37315140037965903332011-03-21T03:18:00.000-07:002011-05-03T12:45:55.452-07:00Peace Activists in AfghanistanThese posts are the first three days of a trip to Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here in Wisconsin where I live, we get very little news about either of the wars our government wages across the globe. I was taken by the lack of any real news about our latest war in Libya. I guess the Obama administration takes it one step further than George W. Bush, and that is to totally hide what the government is doing instead of just cloaking it as goodwill.<br />
<br />
Being active in the important business of the day for peace, I get many e-mails from various outlets. One in particular is a daily log of a peace activist that is traveling right now in Afghanistan on a mission of peace. His name is Steve Clemens.<br />
<br />
I know Steve, I have met him a few times over the years. Last time we hung out together was the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul in 2008. Steve is a regular participant at a weekly action in Eden Paririe for Alliant Technoligies, the old Honeywell Corporation that manufactures deadly depleted uranium weapons and ammunitions.<br />
<br />
I think very highly of the character and resolve of Steve's works and will post his daily reports from his peaceful visit to Afghanistan here on these pages.<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 1 <br />
<br />
By Steve Clemens<br />
<br />
<b>Three Powerful Perspectives on Afghanistan by Steve Clemens. March 18, 2011</b><br />
<br />
I couldn’t afford to give in to jet lag after my arrival in Afghanistan this morning after 3 flights and layovers totaling 40 hours before reaching my floor space in a Kabul office of a small nonprofit human rights organization formed by some very dedicated Afghan women eight months ago. I did nap for about an hour before Hakim showed us a new five minute video he had just created from yesterday’s historic peace walk through the streets of Kabul.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was a group of more than 20 international nonviolent peace activists and at least a dozen Afghan counterparts that crowded into the 12’ x 16’ office room and overflowed into the adjoining space. After a few minutes for introductions and several more for logistics and a look at the proposed schedule for our week here, Hakim, the mentor, translator, and prime mover of the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers (AYPV) begins to share about yesterday’s historic event.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
About 40 Afghan young people, primarily in their teens and early 20s donned bright blue scarfs and carried banners as the inter-ethnic group marched from the Iranian Embassy to the Embassy for the United Nations in the busy area of central Baghdad. [I’ll hopefully be able to post the video of the walk after I return to the US.] Hakim shows us the video before explaining that “ ‘Peace’ is a dirty word to Afghans”. President Obama won the ‘Peace Prize’ in 2009, the same political leader who has increased the level of foreign military occupiers (both uniformed armed forces as well as ‘contractors’ and other mercenaries under the pay and control of the Pentagon or US State Department). “Peace” is the term used (or more accurately, abused) by everyone to excuse or justify anything. Many, many Afghans have been killed in the name of “peace”.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“We have had non-stop occupation and war; Afghans can’t trust each other because of decades of war”, Hakim tells us. We get a lot of ‘lip-service’ to the causes of peace by others – but then they ‘don’t show up’, he continues. “How do we restore hope; how do we begin to build up trust?” He observes there is not a culture of questioning here in Afghanistan (at least out loud, not in public). “War mongers have misused the word of peace” – to the point there is no trust. It is left to us, foreigners, who must encourage Afghans to find their own voice, this trained Public Health medical doctor from Singapore tells us. He started working in public health with refugees first in Pakistan and then accompanied them back to the Bamiyan area of central Afghanistan 8 years ago when he decided his role to encourage and nurture the ideals of the local young people was more pressing and in line with his deep commitment to Gandhian nonviolence then his medical practice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“It is easy for politicians to talk about peace – but nothing is working here. Violence is a failing strategy. Every family here has someone who has been killed [in these wars]” – if not in the immediate family, then certainly in the extended one. There is no clear plan by any leader that is nonviolent he laments but goes on to say that there are only two leaders that these young people trust: Malalia Joya, an out-spoken woman activist, and Dr. Ramazon Barshardost, a humanist Member of Parliament who states categorically “It is wrong to kill” but is readily dismissed by many of his compatriots as “the mad (crazy) one.” Joya tells these young people, “If you truly walk this path [of peace and nonviolence], you will be killed one day.” We are told that the US government has just refused to give her a visa to come to the US for a planned speaking trip that was to begin next week. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Three years ago at a college in Bamiyan, Hakim led a 3 month workshop with students and their conclusion was “Peace is not possible in Afghanistan” – so, what do we do? He helped organize an effort to get an inter-ethnic group to live together for a semester and 16 students did. However controversy arose near the end of the time and Hakim started receiving death threats. He spoke to the “authorities”, he traveled from village to village, meeting people and listening. A group of boys coalesced and he helped supervise them in building a peace park in Bamiyan. The boys did a 7 day vigil to try to deliver a peace message to Obama. They recently sent gifts of some things they made to Pashtun people in Kandahar. A gift from some Hazaras and other ethnic tribes to Pashtuns stunned the recipients. “I can’t believe that there can be such love” was one of the responses Hakim heard. [Please go to the AYPV website to learn more about them.]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Zahra Mobtaker, an amazingly strong, 23 year old Afghan woman who spoke out during the peace march shared with us next. As the director of Open Society, a nonprofit working to empower Afghans –“helping ordinary people overcome their fears to give voice to their experiences”, she is focusing on human rights and democracy. She said they quickly found themselves very much alone. They sponsored a festival to help their fellow citizens overcome their fear and speak the truth. She has displayed photos of victims of the wars in gatherings to facilitate conversation about the reality of today’s Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This tiny (25 members) but bold non-profit has helped form a singing group with the intention of bringing a message of peace through song– especially to the many illiterate in the rural villages. They support their work primarily through their own personal funds – recognizing that their “aims might be sidetracked” by outside donors. This is often the reality of many NGOs here in Afghanistan – especially those getting the predominance of their funds from US AID, the UN, or other funding mechanisms tied to governmental agencies or large bureaucracies. (Note: this Open Society has no connection to the George Soros organizations which also take the Open Society moniker.) This group just operates in Kabul and Afghanistan. Open Society has also used film-making as a vehicle for peace and change. “The Night of the Cartoon-makers” used cartoons drawn on walls of public places, including mosques, as an educational tool. They were pleased that many of the cartoons have been “protected” by the people from defacement- a sign of the growing empowerment the group strives for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
They are also using web blogs (www.opensociety.af@blogspot.com) and yesterday’s march was their first public partnership/ joint venture with the AYPV. “Thank you for coming to this exceptionally frightening country”, she told us. We felt her warmth and welcome and we are so grateful for her courage and eloquence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our heads and our hearts were already full before the country director from an [unnamed] NGO (non-Governmental Organization) dropped in to meet with us. He was pleasantly surprised to discover one of the international peace delegates he was to address included a Maryknoll priest who he had worked with in Cambodia many years before! The speaker had just joined this work in Afghanistan two months ago and is responsible for their program in 3 of Afghanistan’s northern provinces, Bamiyan, Herat, and Ghor. This organization has a long history in this country and focuses on 4 main program areas: an agriculture-based program in Herat which primarily works with girls and women developing sustainable methods; community-based education with a focus on girls; watershed management featuring gravity-flow spring management and work to prevent run-off and erosion; and emergency work with an aim to transition to sustainable development. This last program entails road construction and road snow clearance, especially the mountain passes which are cleared by shovel under a cash-for-work plan. One critical pass on the national highway between Herat- Bamiyan – Kabul must be cleared in a timely fashion to allow any traffic to flow, getting supplies to remote areas.<br />
<br />
This NGO maintains a strict policy and reputation for not proselytizing and they don’t use any armed guards. Their director talked with dismay about the almost complete failure of the US/NATO military forces and privatized “contractors” (he said we call them ‘Beltway Bandits’ referring to the corruption in Washington, DC) to rebuild needed infrastructure. He said the saying among NGOs is “where progress begins, the Taliban ends”, referring to the on-going struggle against forces of fear and repression. However, what this group has observed is with every contract with US AID (Agency for International Development, the “foreign aid” arm of the US State Department), funds are siphoned off in kick-back style payments, even in the written agreement itself. He recommended we read Descent Into Chaos by Hamad Rashad about this practice and lamented that he sees a “perfect storm of US AID, “contractors”, and local corruption” as a spiral leading to frustration, despair, and a culture of corruption which infects most things happening in Afghanistan. <br />
<br />
A lot to think about on my first day in the war zone.<br />
<br />
<br />
Steve Clemens<br />
<br />
steveclemens@gmail.com<br />
www.mennonista.blogspot.com<br />
<br />
<br />
A video of a Peace March posted by Steve in between Day 1 and Day 2:<br />
<br />
<b>Hakim and the AYPV and Open Society's Peach March in Kabul this week mentioned in my blog</b><br />
<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedQzWck7xc<br />
<br />
<br />
Day 2<br />
<br />
By Steve Clemens<br />
<br />
<b>Day Two in the War Zone: Planting Trees, Burning Candles by Steve Clemens. March 19, 2011</b><br />
<br />
In the morning we walked in groups of five for about 30-45 minutes through our area of Kabul en route to our morning activity. I awoke at 4 AM to use the bathroom and when the call to prayer was broadcast from the nearby mosque about 40 minutes later, I knew it was time to get up because the dogs on the street also joined the chorus. The city is fairly dirty (what does one expect in one of the poorest countries in the world which is at war with the world’s largest military machines?) and the traffic has no street lights or road striping so the cars switch invisible lanes as the pedestrians dodge and move between them.<br />
<br />
Vendors crowd the sidewalk selling fruit, live chickens, freshly butchered meat, nuts, beans, and a multitude of other items. We travel in groups of 4 or 5 – always escorted by one of the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. I know I shouldn’t have favorites - they are all so wonderful and helpful – but I can’t help but respond most to 13 year-old Gholami, the youngest and smallest of the 8 who have joined us for several days. We walk in small groups so we blend in a little more than if we all walk together. About half of the International Peace Delegation is staying at a hotel, others of us are sleeping on the floor in the office building of a non-profit organization that has joined with AYPV in inviting us. After walking down two main streets, we branch off into what seems to be a side street which more resembles an alley with an open sewer/gutter on one side. As cars or trucks pass us they blow their horns so we can step aside.<br />
<br />
Vans come by with other delegates from the hotel and we are offered rides but Simon and I prefer to walk with several of the boys, enjoying the sunshine and “fresh air”. Actually, the air is often quite polluted with fumes from older, untuned vehicles. We walk purposefully and deliberately so as to not draw undue attention, despite our pale complexions. (Simon, from Australia, is fairer-skinned than me.) Since most of the others arrived before us, we missed part of the presentation at the private school which was our destination.<br />
<br />
Lena, the teacher who addressed our group at the school, was a young woman who described the school and answered our questions. We had “one cup of tea” (we could have had more if we wished – even 3 Cups of Tea) but were told what Afghanistan needs is not more money to build schools but rather to have teachers properly trained. Having school buildings does no good without trained teachers. And teachers have to be paid a wage they can live with. The public school teachers are not paid enough and often have class sizes of 50-70 students – an impossible situation to help students learn at the grade school level. This private school had 20-25 students per class and it appeared to me at the recess time that the predominance was girls at this school.<br />
<br />
When asked about whether the US military is needed for security, both the school’s principal and the teacher quickly said they wanted the US troops to leave. Lena added that “we need to make peace by ourselves” – it is not something that can be imposed from the outside. She continued, “Instead of waging war [here], the US could concentrate on education instead”, using the incredible amounts of money to train teachers.<br />
<br />
The AYPV had picked this school for the tree-planting opportunity as a way to symbolically celebrate the New Year which would begin two days hence on the first day of Spring. Afghans are about to begin Year 1390 – their calendar, like that it many other Muslim-dominated nations, is dated from the time of their Prophet Mohammad. Students at the school drew or painted pictures of trees as an art project to celebrate the tree-planting event in their schoolyard.<br />
<br />
Before we moved to the schoolyard to plant the trees, Hakim and the AYPV boys recited a poem they wrote the night before, “We Need a Different Tree” – a moving statement of choosing peace over war. It lamented how “power and privilege oppress the people – it is perfected in war. … Why would an Afghan mother want a tree that kills? … War is not a tree we want to plant – so, if we wish to live without war, we need to plant a different tree.” Then 55 trees, almond, poplar, plum, apricot, and apple, were placed in the already-dug holes provided. A local man pruned them after they were planted and watered. As we finished, the children were let out of the classrooms for recess/exercise and they were enamored at the visitors to their school; some loved posing for photos, other avoided our cameras.<br />
<br />
The school principal announced that the garden/schoolyard would be re-named “The Friendship Garden.”<br />
<br />
The van ride back to our office space –like all rides in the Kabul traffic – was another adventure. Just when you think the driver will hit a bike rider or pedestrian, scrape an on-coming car or one that you are passing, the brakes are applied or the steering wheel turned to prevent the accident. Any insurance agency would have to be crazy to cover someone for collision –although I don’t seem much beyond very close calls. It makes rush hour in the Twin Cities look positively relaxing. <br />
<br />
Next on the day’s list (after a light lunch) was to drive to the Emergency Medical Hospital for civilian war casualties operated by an Italian NGO to donate our blood. (Ironically, I was told in Minneapolis before I left that I will not be able to donate platelets for a full year if I travel to Afghanistan due to threat of malaria – even though the threat doesn’t arrive until May, long after I’ve left.) My group had some difficulty getting a taxi to the hospital so we missed most of the tour and discovered that they only needed O negative blood that day. Two of us met that requirement but Kathy, who was one of the two, was asked to wait a couple of weeks since she gave at that hospital only several weeks before. She will donate again before she returns to Chicago in a couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
Returning to the office, we had a convoy of 5 huge armored tan vehicles of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) pass us. Even though there were no US markings, it is clear to everyone who is in sight that these behemoths are the dinosaurs of the crumbling American empire – unfortunately still very deadly in its decline.<br />
<br />
Later in the afternoon, we walked to the 3rd Eye Photojournalism Center, the host organization for the candlelight vigil in remembrance of the victims of war. A stunning gallery of wonderful photos taken from all over Afghanistan graced the walls of the four rooms and a table with candles encircling a banner reading “For the War’s Victims” in both English and Dari. After a few moving talks and the reading of the names of the 7 boys who were killed earlier this month in one of the northern provinces, the AYPV boys lit candles and passed them to all of us and we observed 2 minutes of silence in memory of all of war’s victims. Many of us felt tears welling up knowing that two of the boys present had lost their father to the Taliban several years ago. I am amazed at their courage and commitment.<br />
<br />
At dinner afterward, I had a great conversation with Zahra, yesterday’s moving speaker from the Open Society, deeply moved by this 23 year old women who refuses to wear the veil except when she is outdoors. She has many questions for me – why I came here, what do I think about Afghanistan, what other Americans think about the war, … . I’m sure we will have several more conversations before our week’s end.<br />
<br />
Having gotten up before dawn, I was very grateful for the air mattress and sleeping bag at 9 PM. I am so grateful for so many friends who have supported me/us on this pilgrimage/journey for peace.<br />
<br />
<br />
Steve Clemens<br />
http://www.mennonista.blogspot.com<br />
<br />
Day 3<br />
<br />
Day 3 in the War Zone: Creating Peace Via Skype<br />
Day 3: Creating Peace Via Skype by Steve Clemens. March 20, 2011<br />
<br />
We were told to expect the AYPV boys at our office lodgings at 4:30 AM because the Global Day of Listening was scheduled to begin by 5:30. They arrived a little late because they had been on the phone to others around the world since 10 PM last night. The plan for today was to continue the conversations over Skype connections on the internet. We rented a local internet café for the day but it wasn’t schedued to open until 8 AM so the conversation across the ocean(s) began with just telephone conversations.<br />
<br />
Scott Shaeffer-Duffy from a Catholic Worker Community in Massachusetts helped begin the dialog as his wife, son, and daughter all joined in to talk with Hakim and the youth seated around our table in our office /“hotel”. We had a few technical glitches but everyone was engaged despite the long night and the early morning. Different members of the International Peace Delegation were asked to send greetings to their friends at home as part of the listening project. I signed up for 7 AM and actually joined the conversation at 7:30, sending greetings to the peace community in the Twin Cities where it was 10 PM on the day before. The young people asked me to tell them about groups I was part of in Minnesota so I described our weekly Wednesday vigil at Alliant Techsystems (ATK).<br />
<br />
The connection is relevant for our friends in Afghanistan since this Minnesota-based war profiteer has made landmines and cluster munitions, two of the scourges of war which continue to plague civilians long after the conflict ended in certain regions of the country. I also mentioned the new weapon used by the US Army in Afghanistan, a combat gun that “shoots around corners”. Hakim asked if this was the XM-25 and I said that was - its new name and it’s “roll-out” was happening now in Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
Abdulai asked me about whether I was hopeful about change coming after vigiling for so many years at ATK. This 15 year old boy is wise beyond his years. He had previously said that he feels tired of trying but said we need patience – and, if it doesn’t happen in his lifetime, the struggle is still worth it. I told him I shared his sentiment: if ATK doesn’t end it’s production and sale of indiscriminate weapons, it is still important for my own integrity to continue our protest at the corporate entrance because I have to act on my values. Even if change doesn’t come to ATK, change does come in my life and my heart.<br />
<br />
The boys were very engaged in the conversation even though they had been doing this conversation across the table and around the world via cell phone and Skype for more than 9 hours before I sat down with them. After our conversation lasting 30 minutes, the whole group of us took a ½ hour break to move down to the internet café to continue the conversations around the world over Skype.<br />
<br />
They talked with Sami Rasouli in Iraq (about his and other Iraqis experience with the US war machine) and Media Benjamin and Ann Wright in Washington, DC before both of them left for a trip to Quantico to protest the inhumane treatment of whistle-blower Bradley Manning. They talked with people in Australia, a guy in Laos (who told the boys of the legacy of unexploded bombs from the Indochina War), someone in Poland, and many other groups from the US. I listened to their conversations but also used the time to send a few emails to my friends and family to reassure them I was safe while engaged in this important work of peacemaking.<br />
<br />
Patrick suggested we use part of the afternoon to go shopping with our new friends Zahra and Asif (to help translate/negotiate and to show us where to go). As if to show that even shopping in Afghanistan can be an adventure, our van driver was stopped by the police for driving the wrong way on a certain street since the other street was closed. (There were no signs indicating it was one way.) Patrick and I sat quietly in the van as both Zahra and Asif got out to engage the police as more and more surrounded our vehicle. While the other two negotiated, our driver was instructed to turn around in an impossibly small space. Driving conditions are a complete nightmare without the police stopping you.<br />
<br />
After about 15-20 minutes, our two defenders came back to the van and said, “We’ll walk from here.” As we got to the sidewalk, Zahra assured us the driver wasn’t in serious trouble. She told me later that the policeman wanted a cash bribe. She told him she was a journalist and if he demanded money, she would print his name to expose his corruption in her newspaper. He withdrew his request. For a country where women have been marginalized, it is so refreshing to see a determined feminist here. She was no slouch in negotiating a fair price for the rug Patrick bought but she hesitated and was puzzled when I told her I wanted to buy a scarf for my wife. Here is a woman who is determined to be “unveiled” whenever possible, why would her new friend want his wife to cover her head? I laughed and told her Christine would only be wearing it around her neck! Besides, she’s the breadwinner in our family – while I’m out trapesing around the world in search of peace and justice.<br />
<br />
After we returned, she shared her concerns with a couple of us about our safety here in Afghanistan. (I hadn’t known she had just received threats a week ago and I’m sure that added to her caution for us. She was concerned about the security of the area where the hotel some of the other delegates were staying at – noting that the main entrance was neither guarded nor locked. Anyone could walk into the building. She also expressed concern about a group of us traveling to Panjshir, a province north of Kabul, past Baghram Air Base and site of the notorious prison where the US had detained so many earlier in the war. Apparently they’ve just built a new detention center a few hundred yards away so they can claim not to being holding people in that shameful place.<br />
<br />
After returning to re-join the young peace volunteer and their indefatigable mentor, Hakim, for several more hours, most of we westerners left to go to bed at 10 PM, leaving Kathy Kelly and a few others to finish the international dialog at midnight – 26 hours after they started! As is the custom this week, we walk back to our home-base in small groups, always accompanied by one of the Afghan youth. And here I thought that some of my work was to accompany them! They are such a blessing and inspiration to us.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-7638029169547398982010-07-22T03:44:00.000-07:002010-07-22T03:48:19.640-07:00Some Truths About Muslims, Christians and JewsHere is a wonderful article researched and written by a blog friend. She calls herself Mauigirl. <a href="http://mauigirlsmeanderings.blogspot.com/2010/07/islam-true-threat-or-right-wing.html">Have a Look HERE</a><br /><br />This article is written with factual information, backed up with references, and not just another liberal opinion about Muslims and the Islamic threat worldwide.<br /><br />I urge you to enlighten yourselves.<br /><br />Peace.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-51925065986329291122010-07-08T04:03:00.000-07:002010-07-08T04:14:57.068-07:00Losing in AfghanistanI have been neglecting this blog. Not because I don't care about Peace any longer, but the action that was started in Ashland over 4 years ago has ended and I don't live there anymore. I moved away and the people stopped standing for Peace.<br />Not much I could do about that situation. I live in another part of the state now and I haven't started a similar action here where I live, yet.<br /><br />Currently, I'm about to start a support group to help returning Veterans readjust to life away from a war zone. A tall order, bnut I am glad to attempt to do something.<br /><br />I came across this Huffington Post article and decided to post it. Make up your own mind, but the bottom line for me is there is still war being waged by our government and it needs to stop now, no matter which party is in office. I am sad that the changes that seemed to have been promised from the Obama administration about ending the war(s) didn't happen and sound like they won't happen very soon.<br /><br />Might have to start that Standing for Peace vigil here in River Falls, WI after all. Anyone interested in joining me in spirit or otherwise?<br /><br />Let me know if you are. In the meantime, read this, then write letters everyday to the President, your Senators and Congress representatives. Tell them you want the wars to end immediately.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><blockquote>Peace to all.</blockquote></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Losing in Afghanistan<br /><br />By Marjorie Cohn<br /><br />Huffington Post<br /><br />July 6, 2010</span><br /><br />Here is the article from the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-cohn/losing-in-afghanistan_b_637140.html"> Huffington Post</a>blog.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Last week, the House of Representatives voted 215-210 for $33 billion<br /><br />to fund Barack Obama’s troop increase in Afghanistan. But there was<br /><br />considerable opposition to giving the President a blank check. One<br /><br />hundred sixty-two House members supported an amendment that would have<br /><br />tied the funding to a withdrawal timetable. One hundred members voted<br /><br />for another amendment that would have rejected the $33 billion for the<br /><br />30,000 new troops already on their way to Afghanistan; that amendment<br /><br />would have required that the money be spent to redeploy our troops out<br /><br />of Afghanistan. Democrats voting for the second amendment included<br /><br />House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and nine Republicans. Both amendments<br /><br />failed to pass.<br /><br /> <br /><br />The new appropriation is in addition to the $130 billion Congress has<br /><br />already approved for Iraq and Afghanistan this year. And the 2010<br /><br />Pentagon budget is $693 billion, more than all other discretionary<br /><br />spending programs combined.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Our economic crisis is directly tied to the cost of the war. We are in<br /><br />desperate need of money for education and health care. The $1 million<br /><br />per year it costs to maintain a single soldier in Afghanistan could<br /><br />pay for 20 green jobs.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Not only is the war bankrupting us, it has come at a tragic cost in<br /><br />lives. June was the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. In<br /><br />addition to the 1,149 American soldiers killed in Afghanistan, untold<br /><br />numbers of Afghan civilians have died from the war - untold because<br /><br />the Defense Department refuses to maintain statistics of anyone except<br /><br />U.S. personnel. After all, Donald Rumsfeld quipped in 2005, “death has<br /><br />a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />There are other “depressing” aspects of this war as well. As Gen.<br /><br />Stanley McChrystal reported just days before he got the axe, there is<br /><br />a “resilient and growing insurgency” with high levels of violence and<br /><br />corruption within the Karzai government. McChrystal’s remarks were<br /><br />considered “off message” by the White House, which was also irked by<br /><br />the general’s criticisms of Obama officials in a Rolling Stone<br /><br />article. McChrystal believes that you can’t kill your way out of<br /><br />Afghanistan. “The Russians killed 1 million Afghans and that didn’t<br /><br />work.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />He and his successor, Gen. David Petraeus, likely disagree on the need<br /><br />to prevent civilian casualties (known as “Civ Cas”). McChrystal<br /><br />instituted some of the most stringent rules of engagement the U.S.<br /><br />military has had in a war zone: “Patrol only in areas that you are<br /><br />reasonably certain that you will not have to defend yourselves with<br /><br />lethal force.” Commanders cannot fire on buildings or other places if<br /><br />they have reason to believe civilians might be present unless their<br /><br />own forces are in imminent danger of being overrun. And they must end<br /><br />engagements and withdraw rather than risk harming noncombatants.<br /><br />McChrystal knows that for every innocent person you kill, you create<br /><br />new enemies; he calls it “insurgent math.” According to the Los<br /><br />Angeles Times, McChrystal “was credited with bringing about a<br /><br />substantial drop in the proportion of civilian casualties suffered at<br /><br />the hands of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and its<br /><br />Afghan allies.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />While testifying in Congress before he was confirmed to take<br /><br />McChrystal’s place, Petraeus told senators that some U.S. soldiers had<br /><br />complained about the former’s rules of engagement aimed at preventing<br /><br />civilian casualties.<br /><br /> <br /><br />According to the Rolling Stone article, Obama capitulated to<br /><br />McChrystal’s insistence that more troops were needed in Afghanistan.<br /><br />In his December 1 speech at West Point, the article says, “the<br /><br />president laid out all the reasons why fighting the war in Afghanistan<br /><br />is a bad idea: It’s expensive; we’re in an economic crisis; a<br /><br />decade-long commitment would sap American power; Al Qaeda has shifted<br /><br />its base of operations to Pakistan. Then,” the article continued,<br /><br />“without ever using the words ‘victory’ or ‘win,’ Obama announced that<br /><br />he would send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, almost as<br /><br />many as McChrystal had requested.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />Both Obama and Petraeus no longer speak of “victory” over the Taliban;<br /><br />they both hold open the possibility of settlement with the Taliban.<br /><br />Indeed, Maj. Gen. Bill Mayville, chief of operations for McChrystal,<br /><br />told Rolling Stone, “It’s not going to look like a win, smell like a<br /><br />win or taste like a win.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />The majority of Americans now oppose the war in Afghanistan. Fareed<br /><br />Zakaria had some harsh words for the war on his CNN show, saying that<br /><br />“the whole enterprise in Afghanistan feels disproportionate, a very<br /><br />expensive solution to what is turning out to be a small but real<br /><br />problem.” Noting that CIA director Leon Panetta admitted that the<br /><br />number of Al Qaeda left in Afghanistan may be 50 to 100, Zakaria<br /><br />asked, “why are we fighting a major war” there? “Last month alone<br /><br />there were more than 100 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan,” he said.<br /><br />“That’s more than one allied death for each living Al Qaeda member in<br /><br />the country in just one month.” Citing estimates that the war will<br /><br />cost more than $100 billion in 2010 alone, Zakaria observed, “That’s a<br /><br />billion dollars for every member of Al Qaeda thought to be living in<br /><br />Afghanistan in one year.” He queried, “Why are we investing so much<br /><br />time, energy, and effort when Al Qaeda is so weak?” And Zakaria<br /><br />responded to the argument that we should continue fighting the Taliban<br /><br />because they are allied with Al Qaeda by saying, “this would be like<br /><br />fighting Italy in World War II after Hitler’s regime had collapsed and<br /><br />Berlin was in flames just because Italy had been allied with Germany.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />There is also division in the Republican ranks over the war.<br /><br />Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele made some gutsy<br /><br />comments about the war in Afghanistan, saying it is not winnable and<br /><br />calling it a “war of Obama’s choosing.” (Even though George W. Bush<br /><br />first invaded Afghanistan, Obama made the escalation of U.S.<br /><br />involvement a centerpiece of his campaign.) Steele said that if Obama<br /><br />is “such a student of history, has he not understood that, you know,<br /><br />that’s the one thing you don’t do, is engage in a land war in<br /><br />Afghanistan? Everyone who has tried, over 1,000 years of history, has<br /><br />failed.” Interestingly, Republicans Lindsey Graham and John McCain<br /><br />slammed Steele and jumped to Obama’s defense. Rep. Ron Paul, however,<br /><br />agreed with Steele, saying, “Michael Steele has it right, and<br /><br />Republicans should stick by him.”<br /><br /> <br /><br />Obama will likely persist with his failed war. He appears to be<br /><br />stumbling along the same path that Lyndon Johnson followed. Johnson<br /><br />lost his vision for a “Great Society” when he became convinced that<br /><br />his legacy depended on winning the Vietnam War. It appears that Obama<br /><br />has similarly lost his way.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Marjorie Cohn, a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, is<br /><br />immediate past president of the National Lawyers Guild and deputy<br /><br />secretary general of the International Association of Democratic<br /><br />Lawyers. She is co-author (with Kathleen Gilberd) of Rules of<br /><br />Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent. <br /><br />See www.marjoriecohn.com.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Marjorie Cohn<br /><br />Professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law<br /><br />Posted: July 6, 2010 07:58 PM<br /><br /><br />Again, I offer Peace.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-6423522448291333102010-01-28T12:10:00.001-08:002010-01-28T12:13:16.126-08:00Watch This VideoThis video exposes some not commonly heard truths about what is really happening in Gaza and how Palestinians are persecuted. Spread the truth around.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kc9jz3j74Pc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kc9jz3j74Pc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Peace.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-33738349036290703412009-10-06T09:02:00.000-07:002009-10-06T09:04:07.125-07:00Veterans For Peace National Leaders Arrested in Protest<span style="font-weight:bold;">Call and write your elected officials. Tell them you want an end to war.</span><br /><br /><br />This e-mail sent to me as I am a member of Veterans For Peace.<br /><br /><br />Date: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 10:44 AM<br /><br /><br />Dear Colleagues,<br /><br />VFP President Mike Ferner, Vice President Leah Bolger, and Treasurer<br />Ken Mayers were all arrested in front of the White House today while<br />standing vigil over three mock coffins draped with US, Afgan, and Iraq<br />flags. Other VFP members arrested included Mike Hearington, Jim<br />Goodnow, Tarak Kauf, Tom Palombo and Louis Wolf. VFP Executive<br />Director Michael McPhearson, along with Colonel Ann Wright and members<br />of the capital area VFP chapters also supported the protest. The VFP<br />members were among 65 arrestees who included Kathy Kelly, Liz<br />McAlister, and Cindy Sheehan among others. All those arrested were<br />taken to the National Park Police Headquarters, booked, and released.<br />They now have 14 days in which to reappear at the National Park Police<br />Headquarters either to pay their $100 fines or to obtain a court date.<br /><br />Along with Veterans for Peace, a broad range of affinity groups, such<br />as the Atlantic Life Community, Witness Against Torture, Veterans for<br />Peace, World Can’t Wait, and Activist Response Team had members<br />arrested. Other groups fully endorsing the action and participating<br />were Peace Action, Code Pink, the War Resisters’ League, and Student<br />Peace Action Network.<br /><br />The protest called for withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan,<br />ending the illegal bombing with US drones, including neighboring<br />Pakistan, and the closing of the Bagram prison and ending indefinite<br />detention and torture. We called for an end to these wars and<br />occupations, including that of Iraq, so that our resources can be used<br />for life-sustaining actions including the funding and the rebuilding<br />of Afghanistan’s and Iraq’s infrastructure and medical assistance to<br />Afghans and Iraqis, in addition to poverty reduction programs in the<br />United States and world wide. We continue to call for accountability<br />for those who have committed war crimes.<br /><br />Kenneth Mayers<br />Veterans for Peace - Santa Fe<br />Wage Peace!<br />--Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-73040838996827596012009-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:002009-09-28T09:24:02.957-07:00We're Still at WarI was thinking lately about whether or not Obama promised an end to the war. I know he said that he would stay in Afghanistan and try to weed out the Al Queda and Taliban. He used the same word, "win", when speaking about Afghanistan. But I remember different talk about Iraq. A withdrawal, and a quick one. Neither seems to be happening.<br /><br />I did come across an article this last week that sounds interesting, and if true, might be a sign that this administration is thinking about taking a different approach in Afghanistan. You can read about this remarkable train of thought <a href="http://www.newser.com/story/69921/obama-rethinks-afghan-war.html"> HERE.</a><br /><br />The disappointment of so many that voted for Obama, as they saw him as an end to the war(s), is real. Personally, I'm waiting for someone to tell me what "winning" is in any war, let alone these wars we are involved with now. Do you win when all are killed? When all surrender? When their "side" puts down their arms?<br /><br />Write to your elected officials in House and Senate today. Call their offices. Write and call the White House and tell them you want an end to being at war. Fax them with a letter. Do it every day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Write the White House:</span><br /><br />The White House<br />1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW<br />Washington, DC 20500<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Or Call:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Phone Numbers</span><br /><br />Comments: 202-456-1111<br />Switchboard: 202-456-1414<br />FAX: 202-456-2461<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TTY/TDD</span><br /><br />Comments: 202-456-6213<br />Visitors Office: 202-456-2121<br /><br />To get a hold of your Congress Representative and Senate, go <a href="http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm">HERE.</a><br /><br />Think on this: It might more important to be pro peace than anti war.<br /><br />Peace to all.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-12811732505036181162009-09-08T00:09:00.000-07:002009-09-08T00:44:15.596-07:00Still Seeking Peace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b5lkgCCeo5pPXXWYiD70rJ1H2CUF7RkraPPYJr7rZW1zIEHAPUBvuxj5mESJ-_YtqhQOxDmzszsqLVJkwikwJl_gVYJiN4RJKW5qeN6UPnD-xTm1gRxMSv56hZKZQUD_mfC7Jx7pfTY/s1600-h/Fallen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b5lkgCCeo5pPXXWYiD70rJ1H2CUF7RkraPPYJr7rZW1zIEHAPUBvuxj5mESJ-_YtqhQOxDmzszsqLVJkwikwJl_gVYJiN4RJKW5qeN6UPnD-xTm1gRxMSv56hZKZQUD_mfC7Jx7pfTY/s400/Fallen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378999006365999586" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Remember the Fallen.</span><br /><br /><br />It's been a long time since I wrote on this blog. A long time since I checked it out. I see a few comments on the last post which was dated 02/11/2009. The one before that was over a year ago on 06/29/2008. I see the titles of these two posts are very similar. The first one, the older of the two, was entitled "The Future of Peace", then the next one, eight months later, was: "Peace in Our Future".<br /><br />Where was my head? What have I been thinking about? Puzzles me that I didn't see this when I was publishing. Puzzles me more that our country is still at war and no one is saying squat about it. Not the media, not MoveOn.org, not True Majority, not even Veterans For Peace or Iraq Veterans Against the War! Before the election of Obama to office, I was getting ten to twenty e-mails from these and other organizations a week, and sometimes that many in one day! I still get a few e-mails, but the subject line has changed. They have all grabbed on to another cause.<br /><br />Health care reform is a noble cause for sure, but what happened about the war?I was under the impression that President Obama was going to start troop pull out of Iraq immediately after taking office. Now, not only are we still in Iraq, but efforts in Afghanistan have increased troop levels, and a recent report by General Stanley McChrystal, top General in Afghanistan, tends to favor the possibility of sending even more troops there. Read a BBC article <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8230017.stm"> Here.</a><br /><br />A fellow blogger recently wrote something that jogged me back into action. Her words spoke to me and told me to get on my horse and continue to parade about war. When this blog first came out, way back in January of 2007, I had had it with war and policies of the George W. Bush administration. Now, over two and a half years later, there has been no determination of any policy to end the war in either Iraq or Afghanistan. We have been fed the pablum and we are to be satisfied that Obama is honest and that since we overwhelmingly elected him, everything he does is going to turn out all right, including staying at war.<br /><br />That is pure bullshit! I'm not sure what I'm going to do right this very minute, but as you might see from the time signature of this post, I am awake in the middle of the night thinking about it. Some action will be taken. Letters to the elected officials with urgency directed towards the war(s) for one. Then the phone calls, e-mails and faxes to follow. Some sort of campaign to get people doing the same, with the same message, and although I know there are other issues out on the table, big issues no less, I will hammer home the idea that we must stop the killing and destruction and really put forth the effort for peace.<br /><br />Two of my Grandchildren have been alive while this country is at war. They have never known their country to be at peace. The debt from the war(s) is so devastating to our Nation's future. Add to the war funding, the bailouts of banks and how we'll pay for the health care issue, and there is virtually no end in sight.<br /><br />So, I'm starting over, or picking up where I left off. I'll keep you posted as to what action I will be taking. My ideas and plans might change here and there, but my focus won't. I protest the fact that our Nation is at war. I will stand somewhere for peace.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-11885436107683794752009-02-11T11:22:00.000-08:002009-02-11T12:10:04.492-08:00Peace in Our Future<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrrvvcacenoKlruXWbRlFHbkdp7O-lZcEK05e4Y4DmoO5YsfuP5yoKibFoVWXknKNiA-5pymFIs_GQxGaWgxkIap6E3JQlT4vGJ5SthAuotKbeSf382D-HG4gmCnFh7Q60VK8Pe01M2E/s1600-h/peace-sign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrrvvcacenoKlruXWbRlFHbkdp7O-lZcEK05e4Y4DmoO5YsfuP5yoKibFoVWXknKNiA-5pymFIs_GQxGaWgxkIap6E3JQlT4vGJ5SthAuotKbeSf382D-HG4gmCnFh7Q60VK8Pe01M2E/s400/peace-sign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301626841335646386" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Peace, how elusive. No one I know walks the world in total peace. Maybe Jesus did. Maybe other prophets. Maybe no one. We get angry at our fellow man and we judge others. We don't tolerate an erratic driver or someone, usually a friend, who makes a choice to live out a situation in their life that might not be to our liking or understanding.<br /><br />We achieve periods of peace. Sometimes we feel we are at peace when we are not thinking about the war or the shape the world seems to be in these days. We have peace when we aren't worried about anything. We think peace is something we can all have or should have at some point. On the larger scale, peace means that there is no more war. No one oppressing another Nation for reasons of religion or resources or power and control. No government passing laws that take away our freedoms, the very freedoms that we would fight for, that we would exchange peace for, to have and hold as our own. Can we have both? Freedom and peace? What is peace to one might be unfathomable to another and then the fighting starts and peace is broken.<br /><br />Quite elusive this peace. Any kind of peace. Many just live and don't create or try to create any type of peace at all. No world peace, no personal peace, no freedom, no justice. Then there are those that fight wars and tell the people it is for peaceful reasons and that by killing and control, there will be peace. This has proven to be a falsehood and has never worked. As soon as the surrender was signed at the end of World War II, the peace was broken and the cold war started. Examples of this behavior has been written throughout history.<br /><br />No, the only peace you can have is the peace you create in your own heart, your own mind. Live in peace and peace will find you. Even when you are oppressed, beaten into submission for your beliefs, you can have peace, but it is a hard path.<br /><br />The Ashland Pro Peace Vigil no longer is held on Tuesdays. I left Ashland a year ago and no one picked up the banner. I had to leave Ashland. I stand now and again for peace in other parts of the world, and there are those that still want peace in Ashland. They're just not visible on the corner on Tuesdays.<br /><br />I guess I was feeling that the Peace Blog has been neglected and I wanted to say something about peace. Inner peace, world peace, community and neighborhood peace, peace at home, peace amongst friends, peace over an issue. I'm going to try at attain all the peace I can and when I think or do something that does not harbor peace, I'll try again. I will hope to remember when my thoughts, words or actions would be not peaceful or instilled with peace. I'll pray for peace when this happens and ask the Creator, the Higher Power of my own understanding, to get me back on track and living peacefully when I succumb. I wish peace to all of you. <br /><br />Peace to all, always.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-36569867784616896582008-06-29T05:09:00.000-07:002008-06-29T05:18:09.627-07:00The Future of PeaceI personally have moved away from Ashland. I no longer attend the Tuesday afdternoon Peace Vigils there, or even know if they still go on. Some of the folks attend the once monthly Iraq Moratorium in Hayward. Some folks might be standing on the corner weekly in Ashland. I am sure that no one has changed their mind and now thinks that having a war is a good idea.<br /><br />As I was the appointed leader of the Ashland Peace Vigil, I feel a sense of responsibility for it, but then again, life calls and our family had to move away. It is hard to drive 200 miles every Tuesday to stand for peace when there are numerous opportunities to stand for peace right in my own "new" backyard.<br /><br />In the Monneapolis/Saint Paul, MN area we have a Peace March on the Lake Street bridge every Wednesday evening. My spouse, Barb, attends a vigil every Wednesday morning at Alliant Technoligies, a place where cluster bombs and other armaments are made.<br /><br />We will attend the Veterans For Peace National Convention in August, and join the large massive protests scheduled for the Republic National Convention.<br /><br />I devote my life to peace and for this great country to actually make peace and not war. These pages may be empty from Ashland, but the spirit of it all will live on somewhere else.<br /><br />If anyone from Ashland wants to continue with this blog, feel free to contact me and I'll give you the passwords for continuation of posting here. In the meantime, I'll check back from time to time with updates as to our peace efforts here in the Twin Cities.<br /><br />Peace and Love to All, as all life is Sacred.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-67858031907553733522008-04-29T16:52:00.001-07:002008-04-29T19:21:29.689-07:00Ashland Peace Vigil, One Year and 15 Weeks, April 29, 2008Today we had three people standing on the corner. I missed the past two weeks as i was not in Ashland. Last week, one person showed up, the week before, I don't know. I also don't know the weather the past two weeks, but today was a mild calm 55 sunny degrees.<br /><br />We all noticed that the horn honks and waves of approval were many. There was only one person who yelled his disapproval out his car window compared to the support we received and felt. We noticed that even the people who did not even look our way or seemed to be apathetic were less in number than the supporters.<br /><br />We also know we stand for many people who could not be there or were not there standing for peace. My spouse, Barb, is in St. Paul, MN working these days. She attends two vigils each Wednesday. One at ATK, the large corporation that makes the depleted uranium weapons, and at the Lake Street Bridge across the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. This one hour action has been going on for several years. Many folks work or can't make it or don't want to stand on a corner. They still want peace and maybe more have decided it's time to have peace. Time will tell.<br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-46715090159457697782008-04-09T03:10:00.000-07:002008-12-09T15:15:57.790-08:00Ashland Peace Vigil, One Year and 12 Weeks, April 8, 2008The Vigil continues. I am so proud of the people of Ashland. I took some credit for starting the Peace Vigil right around January 14th, 2007. We were sitting in our favorite hangout, The Black Cat Coffeehouse. A few of us were disgusted with the war and I proclaimed that I would stand on the corner for an hour each week and ask for Peace. <br /><br />Others followed and we started the grass roots action with a Vigil that stood on the corner of Chapple Avenue and Main Street, in front of the Post Office, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday. We did it for one year and one week. We averaged over eleven people each week. My spouse and I were there most every week, others too. Then, I made a commitment to participate in The Longest Walk, a walk across America in celebration of a similar walk that took place thirty years ago in 1978. I would be gone from Ashland. My spouse went to work, out of town, on a temporary assignment. That was in mid January of this year.<br /><br />Now I need to mention that this Vigil is strictly word of mouth and voluntary. There is no organization or club or political unit that calls folks or rallies participants. In fact, there is one lone flyer posted high on the bulletin board at the aforementioned Coffeehouse and that's it. Yet in our absence, the Vigil has continued. I recently returned home from The Longest Walk and went back to the corner for the first time since my return. I tried to make it last week, but a late season blowing snowstorm had me homebound with three foot high drifts covering the driveway. But a friend sent me this picture, (posted below), of the hardy souls that stood last week. Three of them. And this week, there were five people who showed up to work for Peace and an end to this war and all war. The weather was cool, in the thirties, and a stiff wind came out of the East off the cold still frozen Great Lake Superior.<br /><br />The Ashland Peace Vigil continues on Tuesday afternoons. I'll print a few new flyers and post them about town as soon as I get back from my current travels to Los Angeles. I'll be back by next Tuesdays Vigil. This is grass roots at its core. I am proud to be from Ashland, Wisconsin. I am proud to stand with these people and for the people who couldn't make it to Tuesdays Peace Vigil. Each week that we have stood there, the parade of cars with drivers and passengers waving, honking and flashing the peace sign grows. There are so many enthusiastic supporters., and only one or two dissidents. The supporters outnumber the naysayers at least 50 or 60 to one.<br /><br />Thanks for coming to these pages to read about our Peace Vigil. And my offer still stands. Anyone who reads this blog and comes out to stand for Peace with us gets a cup of coffee, or other hot or cold beverage of your choice, from the Black Cat Coffeehouse on me. If you need a place to crash, I'll give you that as well. In the meantime, Peace to all people as ALL life on Mother Earth is Sacred.<br /><br />Here's the picture from last week, April 1, 2008.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJn7sS5zaqMYW9WNStuBk5zQx8Cpl70bMi9oMHB0_VSKwZFOuHFhkMv0ZJQnFd9QwYp9F0cOoF53AUVnRAQjOFuN3JTbo1VcsOXh6Zz3dWAsEpn9PKOs9BU84fli6Ts8rgu0d3u4ydQY/s1600-h/protest040108.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJn7sS5zaqMYW9WNStuBk5zQx8Cpl70bMi9oMHB0_VSKwZFOuHFhkMv0ZJQnFd9QwYp9F0cOoF53AUVnRAQjOFuN3JTbo1VcsOXh6Zz3dWAsEpn9PKOs9BU84fli6Ts8rgu0d3u4ydQY/s400/protest040108.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187191310567140738" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">In the snowy Spring the people still held fast to the mission at hand, That mission is Peace.</span>Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-6742169772414148092008-01-22T17:12:00.000-08:002008-01-22T17:25:28.857-08:00Ashland Peace Vigil, One Year and 1 Week, January 22, 2008It was downright cold today on the corner. The temperature when we started was 5 degrees. With the Northwest wind, the wind chill was around 15 below zero. We all had our hoods pulled up over our necks as our backs were to the breeze today.<br /><br />There were three people at the Peace Vigil, and a fourth showed up a little later. We got a lot of horn honks and waves and peace signs thrown our way. No one saw anyone give a mean gesture. That doesn't mean there weren't any, it just means we didn't see any. <br /><br />There have been a couple of people who have e-mailed me with their input and observations about our Peace Vigil. This first letter is from a local woman that has lived in Ashland all her life and is raising a child here. Her name is Jennifer.<br /><br /><br />Here's her letter:<br /><br />I have not yet joined the Peace Vigil, I do however read your bog weekly. I find it appalling that you get jeers, fingers, and rude gestures for doing something you believe in. We in this country have a right to our beliefs and opinions and have that right to express them as we see fit. I dont know how you can keep yourselves quiet when those insulting people are driving by. That is probably one reason why I dont come. I dont want to embarrass any of you or myself. <br />I probably have passed a number, if not all of you on the street. I was born and raised in Ashland and still live here A wonderful quiet beautiful community to live. A place where I chose to go to school, to work and to raise my son. I do think we all are a bit sheltered living in this area, the local news is just that....local. As I said at times, watching the local news is like watching anything that happens north of Duluth and the rest of the world doesn't exist. I wonder how many people read about or see on other news channels just exactly what is happening to not only our soldiers but to other human beings in other countries. It sickens me at times.<br />I wish for peace on earth and good will toward men. My son is 11 now. I remember first of all 9/11. We were watching a cartoon I believe, but that doesn't matter, I do know a phone call I received that said the WTC had been hit by a bomb. I turned the channel and saw the second plane crashing. Tears immediately rolled down my face. First for the victims of the buildings, their families, the rescue workers. Then I started thinking about the inevitible repercussions. I remember talking to my son about the war. About the killings. About the homes that are being destroyed in Iraq and Afghanistan. About the families being torn apart here and in the other countries. He said "Why can't they just get along?" A simple statement. Something we learn before kindergarten. But here we are, years into this god awful senseless war. Years of families missing families. Years lost forever. Years of tragedy and torture. It saddens me. Yet I am proud. I'm proud of those in the military, both ours and those fighting with us. Yet, that question, "why cant we just get along?"<br /> <br />So, thank you for your blog. Thank you for standing on Chapple and Second Street for 1 year, 52 weeks. Thank you for doing what I cant do.<br />Godspeed.<br />Jennifer<br /><br /><br /><br />Another woman, who identified herself as having two sons in the military service, one deployed in Iraq, the other about to be deployed to Afghanistan, wrote a comment here on this blog some time ago. She has since joined the Peace Vigil. Last week, three women stood on the corner and were jeered at. Here is a letter to the editor written by Kathy. It appeared in our local Ashland Daily Press:<br /><br /><br />Soldiers’ Mom is for Peace<br /><br />Thank you for the Peace Vigil and those who stand for peace!<br />I stopped to thank the women who stood for peace at the post office corner on Tuesday evening, January 8. I thought I would just say thank you and leave. But I felt a comfort visiting with this grandmother of a combat soldier and the wife of a combat Vietnam veteran. The time went quickly, with many honks and friendly waves ... and then the “jeerster” came around the corner with his window down!<br />If he had stopped to talk to us I could’ve told him that my youngest son is serving his country in Iraq and that my oldest son will answer his call and deploy to Afghanistan this year.<br />He was correct, however, when he lashed out the words “freedom doesn’t come free.”<br />Kathy <br />Ashland<br /><br /><br />It is a great feeling to hear that we are supported by residents here in Ashland. It took a while, but I feel good being on that corner. I know we are standing there for those that couldn't make it or didn't make it. Maybe for those that are gone and have passed, they would have been there if they could be. We are standing for all of these people and for you. I know they will stand for us when we can't attend. Those that have stood before and weren't there today or any day didn't change their mind about peace, they just simply, for one reason or another, didn't come this day.<br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-54183378139663148692008-01-15T19:04:00.000-08:002008-12-09T15:15:58.652-08:00Ashland Peace Vigil Week 52, One Year on the Corner, January 15, 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZh9EiP9yzu1EmaRlXVuEyOk8w8BSp91ptgkr_Ng4JNcMUXUPAQY303R20F9xj7kT6ImJS32UbUkCNHdzlUhsG6Aaw2zZmn-mQtjas5M0nG1f-qXXoJEjlxvqbGK3WckBLnV0LGG2kuY/s1600-h/Peace1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZh9EiP9yzu1EmaRlXVuEyOk8w8BSp91ptgkr_Ng4JNcMUXUPAQY303R20F9xj7kT6ImJS32UbUkCNHdzlUhsG6Aaw2zZmn-mQtjas5M0nG1f-qXXoJEjlxvqbGK3WckBLnV0LGG2kuY/s200/Peace1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155905104980200146" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Some of the Peace Vigil contingent. Click on the pictures to enlarge them</span><br /><br /><br />Today, January 15, 2008, the Peace Vigil in Ashland marked the 52nd week, or one year, since we started standing on the corner for peace. We decided to give one hour per week towards letting others know that we want the war to end. There was talk of a way to mark this anniversary. No one seemed to come up with a way to make it special. No one wanted a celebration of the fact that concerned individuals chose to stand on a corner asking for peace. They stood throughout the cold temperatures of winter, the snow, the rain, the heat and humidity, the wind as well as the pleasant times when it would have been much more fun and fulfilling to spend time at home gardening or with family.<br /><br />It is sad and also not a reason to celebrate the fact that 3,923 of our fine service men and women have been killed to date, and hundreds of thousands of people have died, families broken, lives shattered and money wasted on death and destruction. We started the Vigil over three and a half years after the war started. Now, one more year has past, and soon, we will have been at war for five years. I heard one presidential candidate say he thought we’d be in Iraq for a hundred years and wouldn’t mind the prospect of it.<br /><br />So, we didn’t do anything special. We just stood there, carrying our signs that ask only for peace, our American flag and ourselves exposed to the cold damp Winter wind, all eight of us.<br /><br />It still mystifies me that in a years time, no one has engaged us in conversation, in a reasonable manner, and explained why they disagree with the idea of peace. We get many horns honking, exuberant waves of approval and the peace signs along with the occasional thumbs down, flipped middle finger and the ever popular anti demonstrator “Get a job” battle cry of attack out an open car window, but no dialogue. One person looked at me, the Vietnam combat veteran, carrying an American flag and called me a moron. I would like to think that a soldier, a warrior, would never say such a thing to a brother in arms who chooses to carry the flag of his or her country proudly as they state their opinion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtbrtHW5tlMk-Q4V-luioKuYX6Qn5AN_UgkxGy-aeax2Ol3hUuoEPUDGG3HqMJx-9ex2uA0aGRPR22-jb_3hgUBLR9TY2zJjRWpF97NkmLghgJBG0sUURmfypWrA7OEG6jcdpb2M913Q/s1600-h/Peace2+.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtbrtHW5tlMk-Q4V-luioKuYX6Qn5AN_UgkxGy-aeax2Ol3hUuoEPUDGG3HqMJx-9ex2uA0aGRPR22-jb_3hgUBLR9TY2zJjRWpF97NkmLghgJBG0sUURmfypWrA7OEG6jcdpb2M913Q/s200/Peace2+.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155905848009542386" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Standing for Peace.</span><br /><br />We asked, in the beginning, that participants keep the message to one issue. That issue is that we want peace in the world. We hold no signs, and haven’t in the year that the Vigil has been running, that demean any elected official, blame, wish harm to, ask for impeachment of, berate or lampoon the sitting president, or this current administration. We just say peace.<br /><br />Yet the few that wish to attack us with their words and gestures, don’t explain why they do so. As I’ve thought in earlier articles about this subject, they really don’t pay attention to what we’re doing and stereotype any demonstration that says the word peace as being against our troops and our government.<br /><br />We’ll continue on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. We’ll be on the corner of Chapple and Main Street in Ashland, WI. We’ll ask for peace. We’ll take what those that disagree with peace sling our way as far as the words and gestures. We’ll endure with a little more determination of what Mother Nature throws our way in the form of weather. We’ll be non violent and simply state our case in one simple universally understood word.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcihAoUhY7MAOZ-aTIVuCzJPgaGyp7F_ju_V67vd7NGylNBzbsD5HHpo7evsrrPPF1r7aPNuCeMwoP4RjwPORL8r2e90NYNmCpE7KXiPknxF3Q6U639etBuQC3RO6KDGW98dsIOUmIp9Q/s1600-h/Peace3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcihAoUhY7MAOZ-aTIVuCzJPgaGyp7F_ju_V67vd7NGylNBzbsD5HHpo7evsrrPPF1r7aPNuCeMwoP4RjwPORL8r2e90NYNmCpE7KXiPknxF3Q6U639etBuQC3RO6KDGW98dsIOUmIp9Q/s200/Peace3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155905564541700834" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Two of the faithful, standing for Peace.</span><br /><br />In the past year, we have averaged 11.3 people for every week of the Ashland Peace Vigil. That includes the eight we had there today. We had a higher turnout when the weather was warmer. When it got cold and the holidays were around, the numbers fell. The summertime saw the young college age people leave the area, some never returned. 588 people came to the corner during the year to stand and say they wanted peace.<br /><br />The Vigil will continue. I will be leaving Ashland for a while to work with another group that sends a similar message. I will not be on the corner for a while and I’m not sure if anyone will be. This action started and still is a non organized group of citizens that chooses to attend. There are no meetings, there is no club, no leader or organizer. It is simply a movement of concerned residents that want peace, and we wish peace to all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IES212_B41xQtBEZ1dC2lXZqOz2BkplQVM7Qe3fBe3FXOXT_2a8ousq43s8x9Squhe-P4dUG2hHzgKLxjaH9DJQROEGZhyPy-V0LotNEoFEssBsYAnyYofjddD48bzJmjCgmFt9_ndI/s1600-h/Peace4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IES212_B41xQtBEZ1dC2lXZqOz2BkplQVM7Qe3fBe3FXOXT_2a8ousq43s8x9Squhe-P4dUG2hHzgKLxjaH9DJQROEGZhyPy-V0LotNEoFEssBsYAnyYofjddD48bzJmjCgmFt9_ndI/s200/Peace4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155905998333397762" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Cold and windy this January day in Ashland, Wisconsin.</span>Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-76821543536207881122008-01-08T23:02:00.000-08:002008-12-09T15:15:58.808-08:00Week #51 January 8, 2008little Peace Gracie has grown. She will be 1 year old on 1/20<br />Here's how she looks now:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQdmrDCwp4Lqc4wI_IpHoaZLlendd_HVH434_s9FP1nZDv64_DS38tjC53cgmE6wUHGet9XafX-9OqibUwHBWKxGjiJKI-LEiPLTo4eKbu9iveLzAIMGZWs1NDDjp5mmvBd0MYNxgu5s/s1600-h/DSC00129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQdmrDCwp4Lqc4wI_IpHoaZLlendd_HVH434_s9FP1nZDv64_DS38tjC53cgmE6wUHGet9XafX-9OqibUwHBWKxGjiJKI-LEiPLTo4eKbu9iveLzAIMGZWs1NDDjp5mmvBd0MYNxgu5s/s200/DSC00129.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153382550428174914" /></a><br />"Mrs. Spadoman" reporting from the corner of Chapple and Main, Ashland, Wisconsin for January 8th, 2008. At the time of the vigil the death count was 3,911. Spadoman is out of town fulfilling a family obligation.<br />It was a cold, damp day, the beautiful piles of snow have been reduced to ugly, dirty, pock marked lumps. The wind was just enough to keep the Peace Flag fully unfurled, so there was no wondering why we were there. "Elder" Pat and I were joined by Kathy, a lifelong Ashland resident whose two sons are in the active military, one currently in Iraq and the other soon to be deployed to Afghanistan. She is a proud and worried mother, you can see it in her face and hear it in her voice. I don't know what to say to people when they tell me they have a loved one serving. I'm thinking "I'm sorry", but that doesn't sound right, I'm not sorry that they have raised a child who is willing to serve their country, I'm sorry that they have to worry, to be afraid of unthinkable things because their loved one has been placed in harms way for a lie. To say "I'll pray for them" seems like shallow words too, and the Bob Dylan song "With God On Our Side" plays in my head. I do pray that there is an end to war and the horrors it brings. Maybe someone out there can help me out, is there a correct thing to say, are there words that can comfort - I don't think so. To say "I'm sure they will be okay" is dismissive of the dangers they face, and a lie, you cannot go to war and ever really be okay again. You can't even say, "they'll be home soon" because they keep getting sent back! I chose to not say anything and just give her a hug.<br />Traffic was brisk today, we had a lot of positive reactions, the usual apathy, one thumbs down and a man in a truck who rolled down the window and hollered something about freedom not being free. Like he had to tell that to this mother of active soldiers, the grandmother of a soldier in Iraq and the wife of a Vietnam Vet!!! He must be one of those ignorant people who think all who demonstrate for peace are dirty hippies or unemployed bums who hate and don't support our troops<br />This is a copy of the letter "Elder" Pat wrote to send to the local paper:<br /><br />To the editor:<br /><br />This is to the jeering male in the mini-van re the<br />peace vigil on the post office corner Tuesday evening,<br />January 8th.<br /><br />Of the three women standing there one Mother has two<br />sons in the military, both on combat duty, one in Iraq<br />and one in Afganistan. One Mother has a grandson<br />serving his third combat tour (one in Afganistan, two<br />in Iraq). One Mother is the wife of a combat Vietnam<br />veteran.<br /><br />Just what are you jeering at?<br /><br /><br />Patricia J. Ortman<br /><br />These are the monthly death counts just since we began our vigil:<br />Jan-06 62 <br />Feb-06 55<br />Mar-06 31<br />Apr-06 76<br />May-06 69<br />Jun-06 61<br />Jul-06 43<br />Aug-06 65<br />Sep-06 72<br />Oct-06 106<br />Nov-06 70<br />Dec-06 112<br />Jan-07 83<br />Feb-07 81<br />Mar-07 81<br />Apr-07 104<br />May-07 126<br />Jun-07 101<br />Jul-07 78<br />Aug-07 84<br />Sep-07 65<br />Oct-07 38<br />Nov-07 37<br />Dec-07 23<br />Jan-08 8<br /><br />HOW MANY MORE? WHO PROFITS, WHO DIESSpadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-57719905973958821082008-01-03T02:12:00.000-08:002008-01-03T02:22:31.231-08:00Peace Vigil # 50, January 1, 2008I must tell you that I am not sure if anyone came to the corner this week. I wasn't there. I was out of town with family and Mrs. Spadoman was with me. Pat the Elder, who told us that she'd see us there, called and left a message telling us it was too cold and she wouldn't risk trying to stand outside in such weather. So, I don't know if anyone was out this week and will put zero down for our numbers for week number 50 unless I find out otherwise. <br /><br />It was cold. minus 10 degrees wind chill. The war rages on so far this new year. I know it's early in the year, but it is s till a war. I know I spent a large part of the day on January first, talking about the war with people. I was at an open house and the past years political struggles and the war were first and foremost on peoples minds.<br /><br />At any rate, I will continue to stand on the corner on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. in Ashland, Wisconsin. It will be the corner of Chapple Avenue and Main street, in front of the Post Office. I wear my Vietnam Veteran cap and carry an American flag on a nine foot pole. When I got home last night, I saw the flagpole was moved and placed in another position on the back porch. Maybe someone came and used the flags and signs and there were people physically standing out on Tuesday, New Years Day. If so, fine. If not, well, we missed a week. I know many of us still feel the same about the war. That didn't change. We will continue next week on January 8, 2008 and count that as week number 51.<br /><br />In the meantime, peace to all in the universe.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-22605745889079572472007-12-29T05:03:00.000-08:002008-12-09T15:15:59.806-08:00Iraq Moratorium<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFQvwI51oeZ-wvJ-UWyvHSAxWb8c-axPQiVZx4axqIOfu_D-UQZ2po5-r5UnVaLLtMt5hG9eRTWOq6v9mxAIi6acOX9yo1K_8-fMtNufELPHZRp-WM-IKND8dmgjGuBMGOVM8xVW4GAk/s1600-h/sign+wavers+1Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFQvwI51oeZ-wvJ-UWyvHSAxWb8c-axPQiVZx4axqIOfu_D-UQZ2po5-r5UnVaLLtMt5hG9eRTWOq6v9mxAIi6acOX9yo1K_8-fMtNufELPHZRp-WM-IKND8dmgjGuBMGOVM8xVW4GAk/s400/sign+wavers+1Copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149382286608157106" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smiling faces of people showing solidarity for Peace at the Iraq Moratorium #4 in Hayward, WI, always held on the third Friday of each month. Check the site to where there is a rally in your area.</span><br /><br /><br />The Iraq Moratorium, found <a href="http://iraqmoratorium.org/">HERE</a>, at Iraqmoratorium.org, is a National campaign to end the war in Iraq. The premise is simple. Hold a Peace Rally every third Friday of each month. Sing on to pledge that you will do just that. Stand on a corner at a rally being held close to where you live and go there every third Friday.<br /><br />Go to the <a href="http://iraqmoratorium.org/">National Website</a> to see where rallies are being held close to your home. Read the blogs and stories posted on the National Site. See the pictures of the enthusiastic folks holding their signs and calling attention the wants of the people to end the war. <br /><br />This story, is about our own Iraq Moratorium Rally in a town close to where I live, Hayward, Wisconsin. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How We Got 80 People Out In A Small Wisconsin Town</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />dennisforim ~ 12/26/2007 06:25 CT <br />[Margaret Eggers Krause took time out on Christmas Day to send in these tips on how the folks in the Muskie Capitol of the World pulled off their very successful December 21 event.]<br /><br />How did we do it? Over 80 people in Hayward, WI, population barely over 2100?<br /><br />Get some publicity! Network with area groups. The other thing we did to achieve this was to think back to early on, when buses were headed to Washington... where are those protesters? Check other area groups, what are they doing? They all need to be re-invited... and told that, yes, there is a new urgency and drive to do something...and it starts with getting on the same page, on the same day. We promote that all groups use the Moratorium as their umbrella event. <br /><br />That is the beauty of the Iraq Moratorium... it is for everyone. We all want the same results; if some groups continue holding their vigils on another day... good, keep that up if you want to .......<br /><br />BUT UNITE AND BE A FORCE - the only kind that will get politician's ears - on EVERY THIRD FRIDAY!</span><br /><br />In Ashland, WI, about 60 miles North of Hayward, we have been holding a weekly Peace Vigil for almost a year now. In fact, we are in our 49th week. Just three more Tuesdays and we'll have a year. Hayward also has a weekly Peace Rally. It is held on Fridays at 4:00 p.m. Ashland's is Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.<br /><br />But the Iraq Moratorium is building momentum and there are rallies all across the Nation. Please check it out and join in. There is strength in numbers. The usual attendance in Ashland is around 10 per week, Hayward sees about 6. The Iraq Moratorium had 83 participants last time in December. The next Third Friday is January 18, 2008.<br /><br />Mark your calendars. January 18th, 2008. Make it a point to find out where the Iraq Moratorium #5 will be held in your area. Go to the site and make the pledge to give one hour per month to work for peace by attending the Iraq Moratorium Rally.<br /><br />Here are some pictures from last months Rally in Hayward, courtesy of Paul Mitchell.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPKApIU8VqOs7PEziwmoT5bBLLlBDwW9iBcH5mrqx7BrGOrFmYz-fqhK98Tx7xMqzyby7ObSJJ8405Hjvt-4D2YnnYEM7N0ddCKZR3vgAVsmrfMbJqtVT4hD77zIviVcDBGboefcooXo/s1600-h/sign+wavers+3Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPKApIU8VqOs7PEziwmoT5bBLLlBDwW9iBcH5mrqx7BrGOrFmYz-fqhK98Tx7xMqzyby7ObSJJ8405Hjvt-4D2YnnYEM7N0ddCKZR3vgAVsmrfMbJqtVT4hD77zIviVcDBGboefcooXo/s400/sign+wavers+3Copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149382484176652738" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Some of the fine folks braving the Ice, Snow and Cold to take part in Iraq Moratorium #4 in Hayward, WI. Mrs. Spadoman far to the left, holding the light blue Peace Sign flag.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Xw7ROwaGBJMlcOsBdqrg9UH_FxwNNK25rVKyRxJB6vhwI9g8UxHokfiWuTEkKQOd2DrXXv1qzNyjS9ElfGQOmWygjSZkV4IDC51X4EGAI3OkjU_SyVugWQmy2tsvQlNWAGKJZu2y78/s1600-h/sign+wavers+10Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_Xw7ROwaGBJMlcOsBdqrg9UH_FxwNNK25rVKyRxJB6vhwI9g8UxHokfiWuTEkKQOd2DrXXv1qzNyjS9ElfGQOmWygjSZkV4IDC51X4EGAI3OkjU_SyVugWQmy2tsvQlNWAGKJZu2y78/s400/sign+wavers+10Copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149382617320638930" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The crosses were provided by a local Veterans For Peace chapter in Northern Wisconsin.</span><br /><br />Consider looking into this and take action. It is at least something to continue to show the power that the people want an end to war.<br /><br />Peace to All in the Universe.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-62402389770105392632007-12-25T15:29:00.000-08:002008-12-09T15:15:59.981-08:00Peace Vigil # 49, December 25, 2007<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbTvSqxFUHInTNtN2PImtuHNhUn6_Y-QON_Z-DtcZAUetYKqhqZh_kFwXGex1wTlFnH_tE2E_gVFdzDEYRi4_l5O9g301W_g6477IZvdLF5fEyDfLxQeEFrq2LTGi49JMfp8METKDLzs/s1600-h/peacesign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbTvSqxFUHInTNtN2PImtuHNhUn6_Y-QON_Z-DtcZAUetYKqhqZh_kFwXGex1wTlFnH_tE2E_gVFdzDEYRi4_l5O9g301W_g6477IZvdLF5fEyDfLxQeEFrq2LTGi49JMfp8METKDLzs/s400/peacesign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148060398753663330" /></a><br /><br /><br />Christmas Day, 2007. There were two people at the Peace Vigil today. The weather was crisp. About 20 degrees. About an inch of new soft snow had fallen this afternoon, but had stopped just before the Peace Vigil started for the day. It was dark when we arrived and started standing on the corner. The days will be lighter and lighter as time goes on now, and we'll be standing in daylight soon.<br /><br />There was some discussion as to whether we should hold the Peace Vigil on Christmas Day. The stores and most traffic would not be out to see us. The streets of a small town like Ashland will be deserted. Yet, this day is probably the most important day to be out there. We talked and thought about the people who wished they could be with their families and couldn't be. I have complained about how we "do" Christmas and I don't particularly like much about it. The consumerism for sure really ticks me off. Nut there are those that still have traditional feelings about Christmas and this time of year generally with all the holiday gatherings and other religious traditions celebrated. There are those that are away and can't be home. We thought of them and sent positive energy out to them. There are also those that have war breathing down their street. Gunshots and bombs exploding daily in their lives. The aftermath of the war. Utilities that we take for granted, like clean water and heat in our homes, don't exist for some in a war torn place. So, it was every bit appropriate to stand out there on the busiest corner of town on a day when less than 1/10th of the usual traffic was present.<br /><br />We did quit a little early. We got there on time and started the Vigil at 4:30 p.m. But we left at 5:20 p.m. and gave ourselves ten minutes less on the corner today in honor of the Prince of Peace. Many folks that did drive by waved and honked. We saw more than one peace sign as well. And we proclaimed that we wanted a peaceful world. We wanted everyone to have the comfort that we had on that corner. The comfort of being where we wanted to be and knowing that we or our children were not in danger.<br /><br />May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother. May we have Peace for all in the Universe.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-45156547621079504412007-12-19T14:51:00.000-08:002007-12-19T15:01:00.399-08:00Impeachment UpdateImpeachment of Vice President Cheney for lies that got us into this illegal immoral war is still alive. After a lot of bullshit and the Democrats not wanting to go ahead and try for impeachment, it all backfired. Sometoimes politics works that way. Think Pelosi was afraid to put it "on the table" because she knew she had gone ahead and approved torture? Just a thought.<br /><br />Anyway, My pal <a href="http://ramblings-fran.blogspot.com/2007/12/focused-on-impeachment-hres799.html">Fran</a> posted a lot of information on her blog. This single post can tell anyone how to write, call, e-,ail or fax your lawmakers and tell them to go ahead and start the impeachment investigations and hearings. So what if chain dick will leave office before it is finished. Let's hold a crook's feet to the fire and listen to him scream.<br /><br />Check out this post at Fran's. She put a lot of work into it. Even if you want to contact your public official for another issue, this is great information to have. Thanks for the hard work Fran.<br /><br />Also, this Friday, December 21st is Iraq Moratorium Day #4. It is the third Friday of every month. Check out their website to see what is happening in your city or town or neck of the woods, or you might want to start something of your own.<br /><a href="http://www.iraqmoratorium.org/">Iraq Moratorium #4</a>. Check it out.<br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-53107096894996379882007-12-18T16:12:00.001-08:002007-12-18T16:20:13.270-08:00Peace Vigil # 48, December 18, 2007The weather was damp and cool, not too cold and no wind. probably 20-25 degrees. Overcast when we started and a little sleet coming down, but it cleared up somewhat in the hour we were there and the sliver of moon was evident. A lot of traffic. many honks and waves. One guy gave us the finger.<br /><br />Three pedestrians walked by and stopped to chat a bit. One complimented the Peace Sign flag and wanted to talk about Global warming. Another just said we were doing a good thing. The third, a fellow named Bill who used to be there every Tuesday, just said he didn't know we were still out there on Tuesdays. He asked us to call him and remind him and he'll join us. He asked me to do that before and I have forgotten to call him. It was good to see him back around town. Bill asked whether ot not we will be out there next week. Tuesday is Christmas Day. I answered, "Yes, I'll be here."<br /><br />All in all there were on;y three of us doing the Peace Vigil today, and the three pedestrians. Another friend I talked to in the Black Cat Coffee Shop yesterday morning told me that she admired the fact that we stood there every Tuesday and appreciated it. That was nice to hear.<br /><br />I made a new pole for my American Flag. It is much easier to handle than the old one.<br /><br />Not very exciting, but I guess that's okay. It's better to have a mundane protest than to be shot at or something.<br /><br />Peace to AllSpadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-39490345371184775532007-12-11T16:31:00.000-08:002007-12-11T16:44:17.607-08:00Peace Vigil # 47, December 11, 2007We 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.<br /><br />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!"<br /><br />I responded, "I did, thank you"<br /><br />I felt strange today. I felt like I was in the minority wanting peace. <br /><br />A few more weeks and we'll have one year under our belts. <br />Honor the Dead<br />Heal the Wounded<br />End the War<br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-16752924618397223162007-12-04T17:43:00.000-08:002008-12-09T15:16:01.583-08:00Peace Vigil # 46, December 4, 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rq_LvkAXVAQDDM3M3jvrtdvRNqJG-DgaBn61TM59PdQHZSRd5XVFEYBedC0r-WBUQK9GqQC8_0oeKeKjuw5q_XDvpS-UKHSN21H1qUr3F9Lgs1T3bpcS4b7_b8M4s8QA4E3VA-iZ-hQ/s1600-h/protest46-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rq_LvkAXVAQDDM3M3jvrtdvRNqJG-DgaBn61TM59PdQHZSRd5XVFEYBedC0r-WBUQK9GqQC8_0oeKeKjuw5q_XDvpS-UKHSN21H1qUr3F9Lgs1T3bpcS4b7_b8M4s8QA4E3VA-iZ-hQ/s400/protest46-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140302720107260946" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">L to R, Barb, (Mrs. Spadoman), Pastor Pat, Pat the Elder and Spadoman with the American Flag.</span><br /><br /><br />We've had snow falling every day since the weekend and today was no exception. About four inches of real fluffy stuff today, and 5-9 inches more expected tonight. All this after a ten to twelve inch dump we had on Saturday into Sunday. It wasn't too cold as it was still snowing when we held the Vigil. It was around 20-25 degrees and no wind. That's what saved us today. When that wind whips up off the lake, we're doomed to freeze out there.<br /><br />And even with the inclement weather, we had ten people stand for peace today. Seven stayed the whole hour, three of them came and stood with us as long as they could. We also had an unusually high number of pedestrians stop and talk to us, and none of them were against our efforts. The first two people that walked by us made mention that they didn't like the war. Another woman, a jogger, was running and stopped to find out what we were doing. We find out dhe is in Ashland to attend Northland College and this is the first time in her life she has experienced snowfall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kPCEKGgYNHvpypPSPF2IgImmoFmFF6DjPX5GmJqJfrwTgsX0yg2RObj3ObrbWlGbhzxEk4Y3eTp19tsFf2zGJoSzVXTDsl9if2e5zG9DLl7t38JDMtBgsuuu-7jW3jFXJ03oc2Peq3c/s1600-h/protest46-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kPCEKGgYNHvpypPSPF2IgImmoFmFF6DjPX5GmJqJfrwTgsX0yg2RObj3ObrbWlGbhzxEk4Y3eTp19tsFf2zGJoSzVXTDsl9if2e5zG9DLl7t38JDMtBgsuuu-7jW3jFXJ03oc2Peq3c/s400/protest46-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140303072294579234" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Pat the Elder. She will get to see her Grandson soon as he is getting a visit away from Iraq for Christmas.</span><br /><br />Still another just stopped to say he saw us there and that he hoped we wouldn't freeze. We also got plenty of horn honks, smiles, waves and peace signs. I saw no negative gestures. It does get dark really early in the Vigil. Right about when we start it is dark. A couple fo us feel that we just don't see the negative gestures when it's dark and that we should think this way all the time and act like it doesn't ever happen.<br /><br /><a href="http://shutterwi.blogspot.com/">Shutterwi</a> took some pictures today. We haven't had pictures of the Vigil in a while. If you check out his site, you can see the student from Napa, CA enjoying her first snow. Those I post here are of the group and Pat the Elder as we stand on the corner in the beautiful winterscene. The other Pat, the Pastor, is wearing a Santa hat. This photo could easily be a holiday greeting card.<br /><br />Six more weeks and we'll have done this Vigil for a year. We will do as we did for the six month anniversary. Write letters to the editor of the local Ashland Daily Press and try to recruit more people for the Vigil.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX1d2UttKihCJ3DKCNG3xnM9bcd3sasZMIryIv-jP6NUoW5VRaTYHt_JWQMBmwj0wbe5jN8JU7lfpCoUck2t6b_RIOQCR8jHAOK3MlkdQRM0739n2gjwt3w0dHqH86WBuUI0gGuMVywU/s1600-h/protest46-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX1d2UttKihCJ3DKCNG3xnM9bcd3sasZMIryIv-jP6NUoW5VRaTYHt_JWQMBmwj0wbe5jN8JU7lfpCoUck2t6b_RIOQCR8jHAOK3MlkdQRM0739n2gjwt3w0dHqH86WBuUI0gGuMVywU/s400/protest46-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140303518971178034" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yours Truly sitting to aleviate the sciatica pain.</span><br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-3167532985034911442007-11-27T15:43:00.000-08:002007-11-27T15:55:44.867-08:00Peace Vigil # 45, November 27, 2007There were five hearty souls that took part in the Peace Vigil today. The temperature was at 8 degrees. It was very windy earlier, right off the lake, but when we started the Vigil, the wind had subsided. It picked up again, but not as fierce as it was earlier, and from a different direction and not off the lake.<br /><br />Many positive horn honks, waves and thumbs up from people today. One woman stopped and told us we were doing a great job and thanked us, another man, Rich, a City Councilman here in Ashland, gave me a strobe/flashlight to use as it is completely dark now when we start the Vigil.<br /><br />Going to see about getting a portable propane heater to have nearby to warm our hands when it gets cold like this. Also going to look into some battery powered peace sign lights or something, even though there is a street light close by shining on us, we'd like to be seen while there in the dark.<br /><br />A good time was had by all as we talked and the hour went by quickly despite the cold.<br /><br />I posted an article about the Republican National Convention on Round Circle. URL is on the side bar. Have a look.<br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-53347260574960102592007-11-20T15:34:00.001-08:002007-11-20T15:42:26.869-08:00Peace Vigil # 44, November 20, 2007The weather was very cooperative today. The forecast for the next seven days is snow flurries, snow showers and colder temperatures. Today was cloudy with a large mass of dark clouds to the East. But no rain or snow. The temperature was dropping as we stood there. It was not breezy when we started at 4:30 p.m., and about 44 degrees. By 5:30 p.m., it was down to 35 degrees and a fresh wind off the lake.<br /><br />We had six people show up and stand on the corner. One older gentleman, Al, who had started with us way back last january, came by today. I hadn't seen him in a while. He reported that he had a mild stroke and was recovering. He wasn't aware that we were still doing the Peace Vigil.<br /><br />Many horn honks and waves. Peace signs were flashed and thumbs up signs were seen. No one saw anyone give us the finger or thumbs down. But then again, it was nearly dark when we started the vigil, and dark as night when we finished. I will work on some sort of lighting. I'm thinking of the battery powered peace sign necklaces. Those will go nicely with the decorated holiday tree that the Post Office has set up on the corner, right behind us.<br /><br />I haven't had anyone comment in a while here. I guess I know that I have support for our efforts. Must not be any new readers. <br /><br />Peace to All.Spadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666046536354667575.post-75871093486091504482007-11-13T18:41:00.000-08:002007-11-13T18:58:30.138-08:00Peace Vigil # 43, November 13, 2007Today's weather was rather nice. In the mid 50's. Cloudy and a chance of rain. The rain held off and sprinkled after the Vigil was over for this week. The wind blew stiffly, and was radical. It seemed to come from three different directions. It was getting pretty dark at 4:30 when the Vigil started. By December and well into January, we'll be out there in the dark. But we do have a bright streetlight that shines on our signs, banners and flags as we stand for peace.<br /><br />A young man stopped by. He told us that he actually agrees with war in certain circumstances, but that this war was one that he felt should not be being fought. He is around forty years old, as he described himself, and he is a Marine Corps Veteran. He said he was in Iraq at one time, but offered no more than that.<br /><br />It was good that he stopped. He agreed that we all have an opinion and that we aren't going to all agree, but that respect for other people is of the ultimate importance. He is new to town. He complained about living here as he is from California and he thinks he's going to freeze to death in Northern Wisconsin. <br /><br />Other than that new face stopping by and spending most of the hour talking with us, there were eight people at the Vigil. Most all stayed from start to finish. We mentioned the idea of trying to have 100 people show up for the January 22, 2008 to make a strong statement. January 22nd will be the 52nd week, or One Year Anniversary of the Peace Vigil in Ashland, Wisconsin.<br /><br />I wasn't totally sure about what the young man told us as being the truth, but for part of an hour, he was exposed to our vision for peace. Earlier, the first car that drove by after I unfurled my American flag, gave me the thumbs down. The Peace Vigil started with a slightly negative edge, but ended on a good note when it didn't rain on us. We also received ample horn honks and waves and peace signs flashed at us while we stood on the corner.<br /><br />My thanks to all that work for peace. My thanks for those loyal Ashland and surrounding area residents that support our efforts. And my thanks to the men and women in service to our country. We support you and want you home and out of harm's way.<br /><br />Peace to AllSpadomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17781369901345409341noreply@blogger.com0