Ashland Peace Blog

A Poem Worth Reading

2011-09-12T04:13:00.001-07:00

A Moment of Silence

Emmanuel Ortiz

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.
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.
And if I could just add one more thing…
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.
Six months of silence… for the million and-a-half Iraqi people, mostly children, who have died of malnourishment or starvation as a result
of a 12-year U.S. embargo against the country.
…And now, the drums of war beat again.
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
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.
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.
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.
Before I begin this poem,
Seven days of silence… for El Salvador
A day of silence… for Nicaragua
Five days of silence… for the Guatemaltecos
None of whom ever knew a moment of peace in their living years.
45 seconds of silence… for the 45 dead at Acteal, Chiapas…
1,933 miles of silence… for every desperate body
That burns in the desert sun
Drowned in swollen rivers at the pearly gates to the Empire’s underbelly,
A gaping wound sutured shut by razor wire and corrugated steel.
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.
For those who were strung and swung from the heights of sycamore trees
In the south… the north… the east… the west…
There will be no dna testing or dental records to identify their remains.
100 years of silence… for the hundreds of millions of indigenous people
From this half of right here,
Whose land and lives were stolen,
In postcard-perfect plots like Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee, Sand Creek, Fallen Timbers, or the Trail of Tears
Names now reduced to innocuous magnetic poetry on the refrigerator of our consciousness…
From somewhere within the pillars of power
You open your mouths to invoke a moment of our silence
And we are all left speechless,
Our tongues snatched from our mouths,
Our eyes stapled shut.
A moment of silence,
And the poets are laid to rest,
The drums disintegrate into dust.
Before I begin this poem,
You want a moment of silence…
You mourn now as if the world will never be the same
And the rest of us hope to hell it won’t be.
Not like it always has been.
…Because this is not a 9-1-1 poem
This is a 9/10 poem,
It is a 9/9 poem,
A 9/8 poem,
A 9/7 poem…
This is a 1492 poem.
This is a poem about what causes poems like this to be written.
And if this is a 9/11 poem, then
This is a September 11th 1973 poem for Chile.
This is a September 12th 1977 poem for Steven Biko in South Africa.
This is a September 13th 1971 poem for the brothers at Attica Prison, New York.
This is a September 14th 1992 poem for the people of Somalia.
This is a poem for every date that falls to the ground amidst the ashes of amnesia.
This is a poem for the 110 stories that were never told,
The 110 stories that history uprooted from its textbooks
The 110 stories that that cnn, bbc, The New York Times, and Newsweek ignored.
This is a poem for interrupting this program.
This is not a peace poem,
Not a poem for forgiveness.
This is a justice poem,
A poem for never forgetting.
This is a poem to remind us
That all that glitters
Might just be broken glass.
And still you want a moment of silence for the dead?
We could give you lifetimes of empty:
The unmarked graves,
The lost languages,
The uprooted trees and histories,
The dead stares on the faces of nameless children…
Before I start this poem we could be silent forever
Or just long enough to hunger,
For the dust to bury us
And you would still ask us
For more of our silence.
So if you want a moment of silence
Then stop the oil pumps
Turn off the engines, the televisions
Sink the cruise ships
Crash the stock markets
Unplug the marquee lights
Delete the e-mails and instant messages
Derail the trains, ground the planes.
If you want a moment of silence, put a brick through the window
of Taco Bell
And pay the workers for wages lost.
Tear down the liquor stores,
The townhouses, the White Houses, the jailhouses, the Penthouses
and the Playboys.
If you want a moment of silence,
Then take it
On Super Bowl Sunday,
The Fourth of July,
During Dayton’s 13 hour sale,
The next time your white guilt fills the room where my beautiful brown people have gathered.
You want a moment of silence
Then take it
Now,
Before this poem begins.
Here, in the echo of my voice,
In the pause between goosesteps of the second hand,
In the space between bodies in embrace,
Here is your silence.
Take it.
Take it all.
But don’t cut in line.
Let your silence begin at the beginning of crime.
And we,
Tonight,
We will keep right on singing
For our dead.

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.

Peace Activists in Afghanistan

2011-03-21T03:18:00.000-07:00

These posts are the first three days of a trip to Afghanistan.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Day 1

By Steve Clemens

Three Powerful Perspectives on Afghanistan by Steve Clemens. March 18, 2011

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.

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.

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”.

“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.

“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.

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.]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A lot to think about on my first day in the war zone.

Steve Clemens

steveclemens@gmail.com
www.mennonista.blogspot.com

A video of a Peace March posted by Steve in between Day 1 and Day 2:

Hakim and the AYPV and Open Society's Peach March in Kabul this week mentioned in my blog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uedQzWck7xc

Day 2

By Steve Clemens

Day Two in the War Zone: Planting Trees, Burning Candles by Steve Clemens. March 19, 2011

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The school principal announced that the garden/schoolyard would be re-named “The Friendship Garden.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Steve Clemens
http://www.mennonista.blogspot.com

Day 3

Day 3 in the War Zone: Creating Peace Via Skype
Day 3: Creating Peace Via Skype by Steve Clemens. March 20, 2011

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Some Truths About Muslims, Christians and Jews

2010-07-22T03:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a wonderful article researched and written by a blog friend. She calls herself Mauigirl. Have a Look HERE

This article is written with factual information, backed up with references, and not just another liberal opinion about Muslims and the Islamic threat worldwide.

I urge you to enlighten yourselves.

Peace.

Losing in Afghanistan

2010-07-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

I 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.
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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Peace to all.

Losing in Afghanistan

By Marjorie Cohn

Huffington Post

July 6, 2010

Here is the article from the Huffington Postblog.

Last week, the House of Representatives voted 215-210 for $33 billion

to fund Barack Obama’s troop increase in Afghanistan. But there was

considerable opposition to giving the President a blank check. One

hundred sixty-two House members supported an amendment that would have

tied the funding to a withdrawal timetable. One hundred members voted

for another amendment that would have rejected the $33 billion for the

30,000 new troops already on their way to Afghanistan; that amendment

would have required that the money be spent to redeploy our troops out

of Afghanistan. Democrats voting for the second amendment included

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and nine Republicans. Both amendments

failed to pass.

The new appropriation is in addition to the $130 billion Congress has

already approved for Iraq and Afghanistan this year. And the 2010

Pentagon budget is $693 billion, more than all other discretionary

spending programs combined.

Our economic crisis is directly tied to the cost of the war. We are in

desperate need of money for education and health care. The $1 million

per year it costs to maintain a single soldier in Afghanistan could

pay for 20 green jobs.

Not only is the war bankrupting us, it has come at a tragic cost in

lives. June was the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. In

addition to the 1,149 American soldiers killed in Afghanistan, untold

numbers of Afghan civilians have died from the war - untold because

the Defense Department refuses to maintain statistics of anyone except

U.S. personnel. After all, Donald Rumsfeld quipped in 2005, “death has

a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.”

There are other “depressing” aspects of this war as well. As Gen.

Stanley McChrystal reported just days before he got the axe, there is

a “resilient and growing insurgency” with high levels of violence and

corruption within the Karzai government. McChrystal’s remarks were

considered “off message” by the White House, which was also irked by

the general’s criticisms of Obama officials in a Rolling Stone

article. McChrystal believes that you can’t kill your way out of

Afghanistan. “The Russians killed 1 million Afghans and that didn’t

work.”

He and his successor, Gen. David Petraeus, likely disagree on the need

to prevent civilian casualties (known as “Civ Cas”). McChrystal

instituted some of the most stringent rules of engagement the U.S.

military has had in a war zone: “Patrol only in areas that you are

reasonably certain that you will not have to defend yourselves with

lethal force.” Commanders cannot fire on buildings or other places if

they have reason to believe civilians might be present unless their

own forces are in imminent danger of being overrun. And they must end

engagements and withdraw rather than risk harming noncombatants.

McChrystal knows that for every innocent person you kill, you create

new enemies; he calls it “insurgent math.” According to the Los

Angeles Times, McChrystal “was credited with bringing about a

substantial drop in the proportion of civilian casualties suffered at

the hands of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and its

Afghan allies.”

While testifying in Congress before he was confirmed to take

McChrystal’s place, Petraeus told senators that some U.S. soldiers had

complained about the former’s rules of engagement aimed at preventing

civilian casualties.

According to the Rolling Stone article, Obama capitulated to

McChrystal’s insistence that more troops were needed in Afghanistan.

In his December 1 speech at West Point, the article says, “the

president laid out all the reasons why fighting the war in Afghanistan

is a bad idea: It’s expensive; we’re in an economic crisis; a

decade-long commitment would sap American power; Al Qaeda has shifted

its base of operations to Pakistan. Then,” the article continued,

“without ever using the words ‘victory’ or ‘win,’ Obama announced that

he would send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, almost as

many as McChrystal had requested.”

Both Obama and Petraeus no longer speak of “victory” over the Taliban;

they both hold open the possibility of settlement with the Taliban.

Indeed, Maj. Gen. Bill Mayville, chief of operations for McChrystal,

told Rolling Stone, “It’s not going to look like a win, smell like a

win or taste like a win.”

The majority of Americans now oppose the war in Afghanistan. Fareed

Zakaria had some harsh words for the war on his CNN show, saying that

“the whole enterprise in Afghanistan feels disproportionate, a very

expensive solution to what is turning out to be a small but real

problem.” Noting that CIA director Leon Panetta admitted that the

number of Al Qaeda left in Afghanistan may be 50 to 100, Zakaria

asked, “why are we fighting a major war” there? “Last month alone

there were more than 100 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan,” he said.

“That’s more than one allied death for each living Al Qaeda member in

the country in just one month.” Citing estimates that the war will

cost more than $100 billion in 2010 alone, Zakaria observed, “That’s a

billion dollars for every member of Al Qaeda thought to be living in

Afghanistan in one year.” He queried, “Why are we investing so much

time, energy, and effort when Al Qaeda is so weak?” And Zakaria

responded to the argument that we should continue fighting the Taliban

because they are allied with Al Qaeda by saying, “this would be like

fighting Italy in World War II after Hitler’s regime had collapsed and

Berlin was in flames just because Italy had been allied with Germany.”

There is also division in the Republican ranks over the war.

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele made some gutsy

comments about the war in Afghanistan, saying it is not winnable and

calling it a “war of Obama’s choosing.” (Even though George W. Bush

first invaded Afghanistan, Obama made the escalation of U.S.

involvement a centerpiece of his campaign.) Steele said that if Obama

is “such a student of history, has he not understood that, you know,

that’s the one thing you don’t do, is engage in a land war in

Afghanistan? Everyone who has tried, over 1,000 years of history, has

failed.” Interestingly, Republicans Lindsey Graham and John McCain

slammed Steele and jumped to Obama’s defense. Rep. Ron Paul, however,

agreed with Steele, saying, “Michael Steele has it right, and

Republicans should stick by him.”

Obama will likely persist with his failed war. He appears to be

stumbling along the same path that Lyndon Johnson followed. Johnson

lost his vision for a “Great Society” when he became convinced that

his legacy depended on winning the Vietnam War. It appears that Obama

has similarly lost his way.

Marjorie Cohn, a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, is

immediate past president of the National Lawyers Guild and deputy

secretary general of the International Association of Democratic

Lawyers. She is co-author (with Kathleen Gilberd) of Rules of

Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent.

See www.marjoriecohn.com.

Marjorie Cohn

Professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Posted: July 6, 2010 07:58 PM

Again, I offer Peace.

Watch This Video

2010-01-28T12:10:00.001-08:00

This video exposes some not commonly heard truths about what is really happening in Gaza and how Palestinians are persecuted. Spread the truth around.

Peace.

Veterans For Peace National Leaders Arrested in Protest

2009-10-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Call and write your elected officials. Tell them you want an end to war.

This e-mail sent to me as I am a member of Veterans For Peace.

Date: Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Dear Colleagues,

VFP President Mike Ferner, Vice President Leah Bolger, and Treasurer
Ken Mayers were all arrested in front of the White House today while
standing vigil over three mock coffins draped with US, Afgan, and Iraq
flags. Other VFP members arrested included Mike Hearington, Jim
Goodnow, Tarak Kauf, Tom Palombo and Louis Wolf. VFP Executive
Director Michael McPhearson, along with Colonel Ann Wright and members
of the capital area VFP chapters also supported the protest. The VFP
members were among 65 arrestees who included Kathy Kelly, Liz
McAlister, and Cindy Sheehan among others. All those arrested were
taken to the National Park Police Headquarters, booked, and released.
They now have 14 days in which to reappear at the National Park Police
Headquarters either to pay their $100 fines or to obtain a court date.

Along with Veterans for Peace, a broad range of affinity groups, such
as the Atlantic Life Community, Witness Against Torture, Veterans for
Peace, World Can’t Wait, and Activist Response Team had members
arrested. Other groups fully endorsing the action and participating
were Peace Action, Code Pink, the War Resisters’ League, and Student
Peace Action Network.

The protest called for withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan,
ending the illegal bombing with US drones, including neighboring
Pakistan, and the closing of the Bagram prison and ending indefinite
detention and torture. We called for an end to these wars and
occupations, including that of Iraq, so that our resources can be used
for life-sustaining actions including the funding and the rebuilding
of Afghanistan’s and Iraq’s infrastructure and medical assistance to
Afghans and Iraqis, in addition to poverty reduction programs in the
United States and world wide. We continue to call for accountability
for those who have committed war crimes.

Kenneth Mayers
Veterans for Peace - Santa Fe
Wage Peace!
--

We're Still at War

2009-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

I 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.

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 HERE.

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?

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.

Write the White House:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Or Call:

Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

TTY/TDD

Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121

To get a hold of your Congress Representative and Senate, go HERE.

Think on this: It might more important to be pro peace than anti war.

Peace to all.

Still Seeking Peace

2009-09-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

Remember the Fallen.

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".

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.

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 Here.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peace in Our Future

2009-02-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peace to all, always.

The Future of Peace

2008-06-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

I 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.

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.

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.

We will attend the Veterans For Peace National Convention in August, and join the large massive protests scheduled for the Republic National Convention.

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.

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.

Peace and Love to All, as all life is Sacred.

Ashland Peace Vigil, One Year and 15 Weeks, April 29, 2008

2008-04-29T16:52:00.001-07:00

Today 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.

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.

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.

Peace to All.

Ashland Peace Vigil, One Year and 12 Weeks, April 8, 2008

2008-04-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

The 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Here's the picture from last week, April 1, 2008.

In the snowy Spring the people still held fast to the mission at hand, That mission is Peace.

Ashland Peace Vigil, One Year and 1 Week, January 22, 2008

2008-01-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

It 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.

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.

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.

Here's her letter:

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.
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.
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?"

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.
Godspeed.
Jennifer

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:

Soldiers’ Mom is for Peace

Thank you for the Peace Vigil and those who stand for peace!
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!
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.
He was correct, however, when he lashed out the words “freedom doesn’t come free.”
Kathy
Ashland

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.

Peace to All.

Ashland Peace Vigil Week 52, One Year on the Corner, January 15, 2008

2008-01-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

Some of the Peace Vigil contingent. Click on the pictures to enlarge them

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.

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.

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.

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.

Standing for Peace.

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.

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.

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.

Two of the faithful, standing for Peace.

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.

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.

Cold and windy this January day in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Week #51 January 8, 2008

2008-01-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

little Peace Gracie has grown. She will be 1 year old on 1/20
Here's how she looks now:

"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.
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.
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
This is a copy of the letter "Elder" Pat wrote to send to the local paper:

To the editor:

This is to the jeering male in the mini-van re the
peace vigil on the post office corner Tuesday evening,
January 8th.

Of the three women standing there one Mother has two
sons in the military, both on combat duty, one in Iraq
and one in Afganistan. One Mother has a grandson
serving his third combat tour (one in Afganistan, two
in Iraq). One Mother is the wife of a combat Vietnam
veteran.

Just what are you jeering at?

Patricia J. Ortman

These are the monthly death counts just since we began our vigil:
Jan-06 62
Feb-06 55
Mar-06 31
Apr-06 76
May-06 69
Jun-06 61
Jul-06 43
Aug-06 65
Sep-06 72
Oct-06 106
Nov-06 70
Dec-06 112
Jan-07 83
Feb-07 81
Mar-07 81
Apr-07 104
May-07 126
Jun-07 101
Jul-07 78
Aug-07 84
Sep-07 65
Oct-07 38
Nov-07 37
Dec-07 23
Jan-08 8

HOW MANY MORE? WHO PROFITS, WHO DIES

Peace Vigil # 50, January 1, 2008

2008-01-03T02:12:00.000-08:00

I 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.

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.

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.

In the meantime, peace to all in the universe.

Iraq Moratorium

2007-12-29T05:03:00.000-08:00

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.

The Iraq Moratorium, found HERE, 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.

Go to the National Website 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.

This story, is about our own Iraq Moratorium Rally in a town close to where I live, Hayward, Wisconsin.

How We Got 80 People Out In A Small Wisconsin Town

dennisforim ~ 12/26/2007 06:25 CT
[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.]

How did we do it? Over 80 people in Hayward, WI, population barely over 2100?

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.

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 .......

BUT UNITE AND BE A FORCE - the only kind that will get politician's ears - on EVERY THIRD FRIDAY!

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.

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.

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.

Here are some pictures from last months Rally in Hayward, courtesy of Paul Mitchell.

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.

The crosses were provided by a local Veterans For Peace chapter in Northern Wisconsin.

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.

Peace to All in the Universe.

Peace Vigil # 49, December 25, 2007

2007-12-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother. May we have Peace for all in the Universe.

Impeachment Update

2007-12-19T14:51:00.000-08:00

Impeachment 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.

Anyway, My pal Fran 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.

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.

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.
Iraq Moratorium #4. Check it out.

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil # 48, December 18, 2007

2007-12-18T16:12:00.001-08:00

The 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.

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."

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.

I made a new pole for my American Flag. It is much easier to handle than the old one.

Not very exciting, but I guess that's okay. It's better to have a mundane protest than to be shot at or something.

Peace to All

Peace Vigil # 47, December 11, 2007

2007-12-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

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

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

I responded, "I did, thank you"

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

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

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil # 46, December 4, 2007

2007-12-04T17:43:00.000-08:00

L to R, Barb, (Mrs. Spadoman), Pastor Pat, Pat the Elder and Spadoman with the American Flag.

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.

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.

Pat the Elder. She will get to see her Grandson soon as he is getting a visit away from Iraq for Christmas.

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.

Shutterwi 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.

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.

Yours Truly sitting to aleviate the sciatica pain.

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil # 45, November 27, 2007

2007-11-27T15:43:00.000-08:00

There 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.

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.

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.

A good time was had by all as we talked and the hour went by quickly despite the cold.

I posted an article about the Republican National Convention on Round Circle. URL is on the side bar. Have a look.

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil # 44, November 20, 2007

2007-11-20T15:34:00.001-08:00

The 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.

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.

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.

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.

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil # 43, November 13, 2007

2007-11-13T18:41:00.000-08:00

Today'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peace to All

Pledge For Peace

2007-11-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

Go HERE to sign the pledge for peace.

Go HERE to see the Voters For Peace web site.

This pledge request page came in an e-mail to Mrs. Spadoman from Voters For Peace.
Here is the entire e-mail:

November 8, 2007

Dear (Mrs. Spadoman),

As the election year approaches it is more important than ever to expand the number of peace voters. Please take this one action step: Find three people to sign the VotersForPeace pledge. Send people to http://www.votersforpeacepledge.us/ to sign the pledge.

The occupation of Iraq rages on. This week 2007 became the deadliest year for U.S. soldiers; and a report by the Red Cross/Red Crescent highlighted the millions of internally displaced Iraq refugees - over 60 percent children - and two million Iraqis who have fled the country. On top of all that a British report confirms a Johns Hopkins study - more than one million Iraqis have died since the U.S. military attack.

Further, several recent reports including reviews by the Congressional Budget Office and the Government Accountability Office put the cost of the Iraq War as greater than Vietnam and Korea combined! Spending has increased from $8 billion per month to $15 billion. Before the war began in 2003, the Bush administration confidently predicted that the conflict would cost $50 billion. Lawrence Lindsey lost his job as a White House economic adviser after suggesting spending might reach $200 billion. Now, the CBO estimates that by the time Bush leaves office $1 trillion will have been spent.

And, the Democrats in Congress are ready once again to give the administration a blank check to continue the war. Recently, the top three Democratic presidential candidates said they could not promise to remove U.S. troops by 2013.

When you send people to sign the peace pledge, also, urge them to visit our merchandise page and order tee shirts, bumper stickers and lawn signs so you can spread the word - peace voters demand peace candidates. Tell your friends to do the same. See http://www.votersforpeace.us/merch.html.

To entice your friends to the web page you can tell them about some of the recent news we've been publishing there. See the examples below.

Your donation to our efforts would be greatly appreciated and carefully used to send the message of the power of peace voters to politicians so they know that peace voters are organized and will be among the most important group of voters in 2008. Donations can be made on-line here.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kevin Zeese

Executive Director

The following articles can be found on the Voters For Peace web site.

New Report: "A Climate of Conflict" the Links between Climate Change, Peace and War
A new report released ahead of the IPCC (12-17 November) lists 102 countries at risk of climate change related violent conflict and instability and calls for an immediate investment in adaptation. To read the rest of "Climate Wars. . ."

Independent Journalist Dahr Jamail: End the Catastrophic Occupation
Dahr Jamail's is an independent journalist whose MidEast Dispatches are essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what is happening in Iraq. Dahr Jamail's current book, Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq, can be purchased on-line or in book stores. To read the rest of the Dahr Jamail interview . . .

Voters for Peace Board Member Ann Wright Barred Again From Canada
Voters for Peace Project Board member Col. Ann Wright (Ret.-U.S. Army) was detained by Canadian customs officials at Ottawa International Airport Thursday while en route to meet with members of Parliament. Col. Wright had been invited by MPs to participate in a forum addressing post 9-11 civil liberties violations titled "Peacemakers Without Borders." This is the second time in less than a month Col. Wright has been stopped by Canadian officials on her way to peace movement events. To read the rest of Ann Wright detained . . .

One Hundred Thousand March for Peace
Organizers estimate that more than 100,000 people joined protests Saturday against the War on Iraq and Washington's warlike threats against Iran. Major demonstrations were held in 11 U.S. cities, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Jonesborough, Tenn., Philadelphia, Orlando, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Boston and a number of smaller cities as well. To read the rest of March for Peace . . .

Peace Voters Demand: No War No Warming
A breakthrough demonstration was held that brought together the peace and climate change movements. No War No Warming was a project instigated by Voters For Peace's founding executive director Linda Schade and culminated this Monday. To read the rest f No War No Warming . . .

Take the VotersForPeace Pledge! "I will only vote for or support federal candidates who make a speedy end to the war in Iraq, and preventing any future war of aggression, a public position in his or her campaign."

Peace Vigil # 42, November 6, 2007

2007-11-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Today was pretty cold. 31 degrees. A stiff wind out of the Northwest, right off Chequamegon Bay. We moved about 60 feet to the East and used the large Post Office building as a wind block. It also put us under the street lights a little more. It was dark by the time we finished at 5:30 p.m. When we started, it was dark but not night time dark. It was overcast and seemed like we started late. I guess that's how it will be for a while. Dark when we start and night when we finish.

We had 8 people show up and stand for peace. Another man we knew walked by as he went to the Post Office lobby to mail something. He patted many of us on the back and thanked us. We heard many horn honks and got many waves, thumbs up and peace signs. I saw one man shake his head when he looked at us. I can't imagine what is going through someone's head that says that peace is a bad idea. Oh well, those that are against what we stand for don't ever want to discuss it. But as I may have mentioned in an earlier post. They thought about the war for a moment. They were exposed to people who are asking for peace.

The other news was that we talked about how we can have a big demonstration for when we have a one year anniversary. This is week 42. Only 10 more weeks and it will be one year since we started the Peace Vigil in Ashland, WI. There is talk of having a goal of 100 people standing on the corner. Pastor Patty said we can use the church basement for a meeting after that weeks vigil. I offered a spaghetti dinner. Another offered a speaker and some musical entertainment. We'll see. We have plenty of time to plan it. The sad thing is that we pretty much know that there will be one year that we have been standing here. We know that they won't end this war any time soon. And in reality, we should have been standing for almost 5 years. That's the shame of it.

Until next weeks Vigil. All hope lies with you and your actions. Peace starts right in your own heart and your own life. How you treat people, how you love. How you forgive. How you accept others and not simply tolerate them. If the world around you is a peaceful one, and we all do that, there will at least be some peace in a turbulent mixed up world. We need to show the world that those that want to have war don't speak for all of us.

Peace to All. Namaste. Mitakwe Oyasin

Passing on a Great Idea

2007-11-04T05:12:00.000-08:00

I got this in an e-mail from a good friend. This sounds like a very good idea.

Whatever your stance on the war.......

When you are making out your Yuletide / Holiday / Christmas / Chanukah / Kwanzaa / Thanksgiving / Seasonal card list this year,

Consider including one or more to the following:

A Recovering American soldier
C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Add a picture of something you are thankful or grateful for.

Lives in the Balance

2007-11-04T05:09:00.000-08:00

This old Jackson Browne song is very poignant today.

Have a read of these lyrics:

I've been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that you've seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war

And there's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs

On the radio talk shows and the T.V.
You hear one thing again and again
How the U.S.A. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends--
These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally can't take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire

There's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
Where we can't even say the names

They sell us the President the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they're never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire

Peace Vigil # 41, October 30, 2007

2007-10-31T00:57:00.000-07:00

The weather was great today. Well into the 60's and sunny with a slight breeze. The past three weeks have been rainy and windy. The change was a relief. Traffic on Main Street was busy today from start to finish.

We had 11 people show up and four kids and one dog. That's 15 all together. Not all of them stayed there for the full one hour, but the fact that they come and stay for part of the time is a good thing. The owner of the Black Cat Coffee House was out and about and she stopped by. She has before. This time, she had her small son with her. He must be three or four, something like that. She explained to him that we were all out here because we wanted people to be nice to each other.

There were quite a few people, I noticed today, that were shaking their heads or frowning. I saw one guy give us the finger and another called us "Morons". More disapproval than I have noticed in quite a while. But we also had so many horn honks, thumbs up and waves they would have been too hard to count. Pastor Patty had five in a row at one point. Of course she is holding a sign that says, "Honk For Peace"

Always amazes me that someone would call names to people that don't agree with them about a political government policy. They must have such a great repore at home with those in the household. If A Veteran, (I was wearing my Vietnam Veterans Cap), with an American flag, exercising his first amendment right is a moron, then imagine the name calling attacks the wife gets when she watches a TV show he don't like? Or better yet, cheers for the other football team? Oh Man, I bet sparks fly over there.

When I first started the Vigil, over 9 months ago, I would get such a sick feeling in my gut when someone would shout us down or flip us off. Now, I accept it. It has been quite a growth experience for me personally. I just realized that these people who hate and yell names are the reason there is war. At least they get to see that some folks don't want it and they can't do anything about that, either, just like we can't do anything about them and their attacks of name calling.

Otherwise, that's it for another week. A nice warm day. But I got the winter gear unpacked from storage and ready for the cold and snow. I hope it is adventurous this year, as in asshole deep drifts and sub zero temperatures. I can see the 55 gallon drum burn barrel with broken up pallets flaming away as we rub our mitten festooned hands over the licking flames, all the while stomping our Sorel pac boot clad feet on the snow packed sidewalk. Ahhhh Yes, just like the old Teamster days when we went out on strike in 1973, or was it 1972? I don't remember, but we did, down in Chicago.

Peace to all. Thanks for stopping by.

Peace Vigil # 40, October 23, 2007

2007-10-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Here we are, 40 weeks into it. We passed the nine month mark. I have to be perfectly honest. When I started this thing, I wasn't thinking long term. Now, I know I am in it for the duration. Not only the duration of this war and our call for peace, but for the duration of my life here on the Sacred Earth Mother, as there will always be a need for protest to cry out for all those whose cries are muted by the empires of greed.

On the Siren's Chronicles, there is a good article about greed and the energy companies in cahoots with futures trading and how we the people feel the brunt of this greed. Check it out HERE. It is also listed on my side bar here and at Round Circle. Incidently, The Siren's Chronicles feature a wide variety of thought provoking subjects by a plethora of writers.

This week on the corner, it was windy. Out of the North at this time of the year in this climate means wind chill factor. It was downright cold. The actual temperature was around 50 degrees. It had been raining, but it did not rain during the Peace Vigil.

We had four people who stood out there for the whole hour. We had others that come and go. One was a Episcopalian Priest named Ward. He has always supported us from a far as his schedule never allowed him to be with us physically. This vigil, he was there. There also was a man that walked up to us and asked us if we wanted a cookie. He didn't have any with him, but he would have walked the half block to the Black Cat, (the local coffeehouse), and bought as many as were requested. He gave us his support.

Another man approached me as I stood some 20 feet away from the others. I was carrying the American Flag. He asked me if I was protesting the others. I told him that I was with them, we just didn't stand toe to toe every minute of the hour. He left without other comment. Not sure if he was for us or agin' us. Doesn't matter. He was subjected and exposed to our request for peace.

The total, then, of supportive people on the corner was eight. But we have become such a fixture in Ashland, that the motorists start honking their horns in support of our efforts when they see us unloading the signs from the car. This is positive. many people go out of their way to slow down and wave with thumbs up or peace signs along with the horn honk. I was told that someone saw one motorist give us the finger.

In the post from last week here on Spadoman"s Peace Blog, a commenter mentioned our first amendment rights. That is, to be able to stand on the corner and say what we want to. I guess in that vain, we are also standing for our rights, at least one of them, as we stand for peace every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Winter is coming. It's gonna get cold and be wet with slush or have snow covered sidewalks. I sometimes wish I didn't make such a proclamation that I would stand for peace until this war was over, but your support on these pages and the support of the people is worth it. We all feel we are doing something. In the words of the Elder, Pat, who stands most every week no matter what the weather, "We have hope".

Now go to Neo-Resistance, a blog by someone named naj. It will teach many of you about the real Iran and Iraq. If you are anything like me, you might find this point of view enlightening. Much of it gives reasons and explantions that we, as Americans, who are sheltered from the real news of a far away land, need to help us understand the world situation. I strongly urge you to go through the posts and read the dialogue created in the comments by the blog owner and others.

Peace to All Mitakwe Oyasin Namaste

Peace Vigil # 39, October 16, 2007

2007-10-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is number 39, nine months into the Peace Vigil, over four years into the war and an eternity of war and mans inhumanity to man overall.

Nine people showed up on a rainy day in Ashland. It was warm enough, in the 60's, but had been raining all day. The actual drops let up late in the afternoon and the protesters stood on wet pavement, but were dry.

No instances to report other than a nice man apologizing that he didn't have any cookies for us as he thanked us for being there and asking the town and the world for peace.

Maybe an editorial later, mid week. But for now, the report about the Peace Vigil has been made.

Peace Vigil # 38, October 09, 2007

2007-10-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

The weather was very windy and blustery. The temperature said 47 at the bank, but with the wind, it seemed much colder. Seven people withstood the conditions and attended this weeks Peace Vigil.

A young man walked by and chose to cross Main Street right where we were standing instead bof at the crosswalk at the corner. He waited at the curb, and just when the roadway was clear and he started to walk across the street, he said to one of the protesters, "You're not an American unless you put down that flag." He was speaking to Mrs. Spadoman who always holds the flag with the peace sign in white on a light blue field.

When he got to the business destination across the street, he looked back and said loudly, "They brought down our buildings."

When he returned to public view, I confronted him and calmly said that I am a Veteran. I have seen war first hand and that I thought I fought for the rights of all Americans to have their own opinion. I went on to say that I thought that is what freedom is.

The young man said he wasn't talking to me, but the person with the peace flag.

The whole ordeal made absolutely no sense.

Other than that, the usual horn honking and waving throughout the whole time of the Vigil. It was cold. We all pretty much know that we will probably have to stand on that corner throughout the winter. We wondered if any newly elected, (or selected, which is the case right now), president will actually call an immediate end to the war in Iraq. We all had our doubts that it would end quickly no matter who got elected. We thought that none of the people running for the office that said they would end the war were even being considered by the bought and paid for media. A sad commentary for our system of government and the capitalistic bent for which it seems to stand.

Peace to All

Constitution Day

2007-10-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

This e-mail about Constitution Day came to me a few weeks ago. Constitution Day was this past September 17th, a Monday. I know so little about this “Day” that I don’t know if it falls on the 17th each year, or if it a Monday each year. To be honest, I am not familiar with it.

The friend who sent it has sent me many thought prvoking e-mails on a wide variety of subjects. This one made me think about our Constitution. Are we really losing our rights like this article suggests? Are we really sitting back and allowing this to happen simply because we are not immediately confronted?

I’d like to print out this article. It is long, but I found it to be interesting reading, if not the outright bold truth, about our rights here in America.

I invite anyone who cares to, to respond to any line item, subject or statement. I want to hear what you think about our freedom and our Constitution.

You readers from foreign soil, American citizen or not, please weigh in as well. I respect your comments and observations.

I do not know the name of the person or persons who wrote this. I have not gone to any of the websites or looked up any of the references stated in this article. These are not my feelings and opinions. But I do relate as “in agreement” to much of it. I’ll expound my thoughts later. My interest is to hear from you.

I will attempt to cross post this article at The Siren's Chronicles.

Constitution Day September 17th

As we go out to celebrate our freedom this Constitution Day Sept. 17,
let's go over a few things to make your celebration a success.

Do not claim that freedom of speech gives you the right to wear a Tee-shirt that the government doesn't like.
They can put you in jail.
If you are a REALLY BIG criminal you will get a Presidential pardon. You will have no such luck if you are just a border patrol agent doing his job.

Tidy up you house before you leave in case it is searched while you are out.
You used to have the right to freedom from search unless a search warrant is issued. Now the police can come into your home, and take whatever they want, and not tell you until 2 weeks later, if they tell you at all.
They don't even have to knock on the door before they barge in.

Don't use any illegal fireworks in your celebration. It is for your own safety. And the founding father's implemented a government to protect you from yourselves. Didn't they? Besides, fireworks are explosive devices and you might be considered a terrorist with weapons of mass destruction. And although the government can't find any in Iraq, you can rest assured they will find them in your car trunk. But don't worry, getting arrested, imprisoned indefinitely without formal charges, and a 5 year wait before the secret tribunal trial per the Patriot Act is a breeze. It's that secret summary execution that should make you nervous.

Make sure you are buckled up in your seat belts, there will be roadblocks and checkpoints to make sure you comply. It is for the children. Have your papers ready as you approach the holiday police checkpoints.

If you are an airline employee, lighten up for the holiday, you can always look for a job tomorrow. Maybe you could transfer over to a Federal Airport Security Screener job.
Big demand for those jobs and you don't have to be smart.

If you are a Haliburton employee, then celebrate:
You probably have a raise coming from the Iraqi contract windfall.

If celebrating on any public property,
make no mention of religious ideals.
Government is a god there.
You will be apprehended.

ALSO, do not hold any religious observances in "your home"
without checking with the zoning administration,
to see if "your home" is properly zoned for church activities.

ALSO by careful not to violate any ordinances against "group assembly".
Do not put up any patriotic signs in front of "your home"
without checking with the zoning administration,
to see if "your home" is properly zoned for billboards.
The term "your home" is used to refer;
not only to homes that are rented on a monthly basis,
from another subject;
but also to homes that are rented on a yearly basis,
directly from the government agent, in the property tax division of your county.
If you make any improvements,
in preparation for your fully government authorized gathering,
make sure that you get permission from the real owner of "your home". The correct government agent, to grant this permission,
will be in the "building permits" section.

Don't criticize the President, or other government officials;
you might be in violation of the Patriot Act and considered a possible terrorist.

Don't mention the Constitution in any district court,
or you could be held in contempt.

If your children get out of line this holiday,
do not discipline them,
or they may be kidnapped by the Dept. of Social Services
and held hostage until you sign a confession,
receive approved psychological therapy,
and are deemed acceptable.

Show compassion this Constitution Day by bringing an illegal immigrant to your celebration, or by hugging a tree.

If an election is occurring in your locality within the next 90 days, do not talk about or publicly support any candidate, as that is no longer lawful. Keep your mouth shut.

If an officer asks to search your vehicle at the "seat belt" checks, do not be belligerent and demand a search warrant.
Standing up for your fourth amendment rights is anti-social and not in tune with the new American way.
Are you with Al Quada or something?

Do not get upset when the searching officer will not help you pick up your belongings that he has strewn all over the highway as he searched your vehicle.
It is not in his job description
and complaining will get you charged with obstructing justice.

Keep your guns at home.
You are not going hunting and besides,
what on earth do guns have to do with Constitution Day?
Better yet, turn your guns into the authorities to let them know that you are a true patriotic American.
You still have the right to carry a gun if you have a license,
but that will soon be gone if the United Nations passes their measure making carrying a gun illegal.

Better yet, just STAY at home.
BUT do not assume that you are safe,
because you are at home.
If a government bureaucrat shows up at "your home",
he will probably be flashing a badge at you.
This makes him look like a constitutional law enforcement officer.
He may even be armed.
Do not ask to see a warrant,
and then tell him to leave if he does not have one.
They will put a siege around your house.
If you do not come out soon enough,
they may invade, with guns drawn,
or even set your house on fire.
For more information, do a Google search using keywords like "Symbionese Liberation Army", "Philadelphia MOVE group", "Gordon Kahl", "The Order", "Robert Matthews", "Covenant of the Sword and Arm of the Lord", "Randy Weaver" , "Branch Davidian", or "Elian Gonzalez".

If you are counting on you congressman to protect you,
understand that the average congressman is ALSO afraid to resist.
For more information, do a Google search using keywords like "George Hansen", "James Traficant" or "Larry McDonald".

You used to have the right to privacy.
Now they have cameras everywhere watching you.
If celebrating at the mall you are probably safe as the mall is now monitored by hundreds of surveillance cameras,
watched by federal security forces.
Don't! do anything that you wouldn't want them to see.

Bring lots of cash with you,
there will be many taxes, fines, and fees to pay as you celebrate your freedoms this day. Of course there is an undefined amount of cash that is "too much". If you have more cash on you than someone with a badge thinks you should have, it will make you look like a drug dealer and the cash will be confiscated. Even if you're not charged, you will have to prove your innocence before you see your cash again. In fact, you might have to put up a bond of 120% of what was seized just to get the opportunity to attempt to prove your innocence to get your own cash back. See comments below on "civil forfeiture" laws.

Do not leave home without your driver's license,
social security card, birth certificate, welfare card, Medicare card, medical records, W-2 Form, and two others forms of ID. You may be asked for them at the police checkpoints.
Better yet, get micro-chipped, and avoid the hassle of carrying around your papers. Bring your library card, the FBI may ask you for it. But do not complain. As soon as the "Real ID Act" is fully implemented you will not have all of this inconvenience. You will be required to carry one card that has a magnetic strip storing every bit of your personal and private information.
Of course any state has the right to refuse to comply with the REAL ID Act. However, that state will not receive any highway funding from the federal government, funding in every area will be cut, and residents using the old licenses will not be able to open bank accounts or credit card accounts, obtain loans or mortgages, obtain student loans, attend a public college, apply for food stamps, enter any federal building or courthouse, receive a federal income tax refund, receive social security benefits, or fly on an airplane. Of course you will still be expected to pay the federal income tax that funds all of the above, in order to avoid having "your home", and anything of value found in "your home", sold at public auction.

Do not put any "anti-government" bumper stickers on your car. Especially not anything about the right to keep and bear arms. Police have been trained by the FBI in "bumper sticker profiling".
This attracts their attention at the check points, and makes you look like a terrorist.

With regard to "bumper sticker profiling" you should be especially aware of the fact that "They will get my gun, when they pry it from my cold dead fingers" is no longer mere semantics. At WACO, and at RUBY RIDGE,
we learned that they WILL kill you to take your guns

ALSO, be careful not to have any unauthorized THOUGHTS.
There are now serious penalties for "thought crime".
Be aware that "civil forfeiture" laws make it possible to take anything that you own, by alleging that it was "intended" to be used for the commission of a crime. This could include transporting, or storing, a gun.
If "civil forfeiture" proceedings are initiated against you,
then you will have the burden of proof,
to show that your thoughts were in compliance with government standards.

Get to know some politicians, and bureaucrats, so that you might be able to head off the taking of your private property to be given to private developers for the "public good".

If traveling by air, this Constitution Day,
do not give the airport screeners a hard time.
They are feeling you up, and molesting your daughter, and wife, for the security of America. If you complain you could be arrested. You don't support Bin Laden do you?

Keep an eye on your fellow Americans as you celebrate this Constitution Day Sept. 17. If you see anything suspicious, take notes so that when you get home you can call and report them to the Homeland Security Office.
And remember you are not a nosey snitch, you are a great American Patriot.

Do not mention the signers of the Declaration of Independence this Constitution Day Sept. 17.
Mentioning these white subversive terrorists is not popular and could get you in big trouble.
Besides what do these guys have to do with the Constitution Day anyway?

Do not leave home without one or more little plastic American flags made by political slaves in Communist China.
Make sure you have one flying from the antennae of your vehicle.
You don't want to seem un-American do you?

Do not take a copy of the Declaration of Independence with you as it advocates the overthrow of tyrannical government.
It is a terrorist document and will be confiscated at the holiday police checkpoints.
Same advice for the Constitution.

And remember, as you leave home for your Constitution Day outing, that the second you stepped out of your door that you probably broke hundreds of federal, state, and local laws that you are probably unaware of.
However, if you tow the line, you will not be charged.

If arrested you used to have the right to a jury trial,
and to be told what you have done wrong,
and appointed council.
Now you can be labeled an "enemy combatant" or terrorist,
and be placed in jail with no trial, no lawyer, nothing for as long as they want.
For more information, do a Google search on "Jose Padilla".

Don't even think about taxes on this great day.
The 50 per cent government confiscation of your income at the threat of imprisonment or at the point of a gun should not even cross your mind as you revel in your freedom.
After all, April 15th is a long way off.
With a little effort,
maybe we can get our taxes down to one fourth of our income;
like the amount that the feudal serfs paid to their masters.
And whatever you do, do not let on that you really know that true freedom died a long time ago in America, just have fun for the day and then go home and stick your head back in the sand and pretend America is not becoming a fascist police state.

If you have a few decades with nothing better to do,
study up on "administrative law".
Laws are now made by the unelected bureaucrats,
in hundreds of "administrative agencies".
If you are charged with violating one of these "laws" you will not get a trial by a jury of your peers.
You will be tried by the agency that made the "law" and made the charge against you.
If you appeal this "conviction, " your appeal will also be heard by the administrative agency that "convicted" you.
How likely is it, that they will decide, that they were right?

I hope this message gets past the Department of Home land Insecurity approved internet filter.
How else can they protect us from unauthorized thought?

Now go out and celebrate your freedom,
and have a great Constitution Day!

=====

HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISORY
This transmission screened prior to receipt by addressee pursuant to applicable sections of the USA PATRIOT Act.
The Patriot Act is constitutionally illegal, but was signed into law takes away your rights and turns them into privileges, which the government can grant or take away at will. If you remember we were told that this would just be temporary. Now it has been made permanent. But no one protested did they?

You used to have the rights to not be spied on by anyone while on the phone or the internet.
You also used to have the rights to your bank records being held private.
Now the government can just go through your bank record data and monitor your financial transactions without question and without even telling you.
------------ ------
Now go out there and celebrate your freedom, and liberty,
and have a great sanitized, politically correct, and government approved and authorized Constitution Day!

Do you wish that the government would read the Constitution?
Just e-mail it to a few of your friends.
The snoops, who are reading your e-mails,
are the ones who need to know what the Constitution says.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe
they are free.
Our forefathers are crying.
Our forefathers are angry.
Our forefathers are loading their muskets and heading for The Green.
America..... ...Wake the hell up.

There will be many people coming out to celebrate this Constitution Day when they should be out protesting the rights they have lost. We need to get those rights back.
And for those of you who say
"Why should I care I have done nothing wrong."
This just shows how much you value your rights!
The government loves people like you.
They can take away even more of your rights and you will just go along with them without speaking out.
You deserve to lose your rights because you didn't appreciate them when you did have them.

If any of the above concerns you visit:

www.jbs.org
and
www.thenewamerican. com

Note:
No trees were harmed in the sending of this message.
No baby seals were harmed in the sending of this message.
No whales were harmed in the sending of this message.
The sending of this message did not require testing on animals.
The sending of this message did not damage the environment.
Wishing everyone the best Constitution Day Sept. 17 ever.

Declaration of Independence Facts:

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed
the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the
British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their
homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the
Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56
fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine
were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated.
But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well
that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton
of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from
the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay
his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the
British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He
served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding.
His possessions were taken from him,and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton. At the battle of
Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr, noted that the British General Cornwallis
had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged
General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and
Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties
destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few
months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was
dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his
gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in
forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a
broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution.
These were not wild-eyed, rabble- rousing ruffians. They were
soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they
valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they
pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on
the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each
other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you
and me a free and independent America. The history books never told
you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't
fight just the British.

We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own
government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but
we shouldn't.

So,take a few minutes while enjoying your Constitution Day Sept. 17
holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for
the price they paid.

Remember: Freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by
please sending this to as many people as you can. It's time we get
the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Constitution Day has
more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom,
go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.
- Samuel Adams

Oh, I forgot to mention.....

2007-10-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

At yesterdays Peace Vigil, one of our regulars, Pastor Pat, had her Mother visiting from Minnesota. This wonderful dignified outspoken Elder joined us on the corner. She held the sign that said, "Honk for Peace!" I tell you, she had command of that sign and that corner. I saw her this morning in the Black Cat Coffee Shop. She was till excited about her taking part in the Vigil. It was an honor to be joined by this delightful woman.

It was also Ghandi's birthday. Each year, the group Mrs. Spadoman belongs to in Minneapolis, hold a special protest at the Alliant Technolgies in Edina, MN. The Edina office of Alliant, called ATK, is the headquarters for the corporation that manufactuires depleted uranium weapons. Mrs. Spadoman missed this year. If you remember, the past two years she has been arrested with a simple act of civil disobedience. Since she missed this years special day of activism to honor the great and peaceful Gandhi, I am posting this piece that was sent to her from one of the people involved in the group at Alliant. By the way, Alliant is found in the side bar of this blog. Check them out to see what is happening in our region and generl news about depleted uranium weapons. DU, as it is called, is the Gulf War "Agent Orange". Killing and causing disease to millions of civilians and soldiers of both sides not only in the time of war, but many years agfter the war is said to be over. With war, it is never over.

Here's the article:

Why Do We Focus on ATK?
By Steve Clemens, Gandhi’s Birthday Action, October 2, 2007

They make illegal weapons
They profit from war and death
They sell their weapons all over the world
This is their World Headquarters

1. Illegal Weapons:
According to the Laws of War and International Humanitarian, weapons which fail to discriminate between combatants and the civilian population are “indiscriminate” and, therefore illegal to be “manufactured, sold, stockpiled, or used.”
Anti-personnel landmines – ATK is one of the leading manufacturers of landmines in the U.S. since it’s spin-off from Honeywell and has recently bragged about developing two new versions of “smart” ones called the Spider and the Matrix. Anti-personnel landmines have been declared illegal by Treaties although our country has refused to sign it. Since more than 80 nations world-wide have signed the Treaty, it is in effect.
Cluster Bombs- ATK is one of only two manufacturers of the CBU-87, an air-dropped cluster munition used in both Afghanistan and Iraq by the U.S. Military. International Law experts state that a “dud rate” of greater than ½ of 1% would make this weapon “indiscriminate”. The cluster bombs ATK makes have been shown to have a “dud rate” of between a low of 5% and as high as 30% - and, as such, have been specifically mentioned in United Nations Resolutions as illegal because of their indiscriminate nature. Although the term used is “dud”, unexploded cluster bombs litter the landscape and explode for decades to come – often killing children and farmers.
Depleted Uranium Munitions- The use of waste product from the enrichment of uranium, the hard, dense, yet still radioactive –and a toxic “heavy metal” to boot – depleted uranium bullets and artillery shells have been used in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans. Although difficult to prove scientifically, it is widely believed to result in cancers, birth defects, toxic poisonings and other deadly health maladies in both the civilian population and can affect the troops that use these weapons as well. Again, like cluster bombs, depleted uranium weapons are specifically outlawed by a UN Resolution.
“The Gun that Can Shoot Around Corners”- (XM25 Air-Burst Assault Weapon) – Designed to explode beyond walls or other objects without being able to “see” what is behind them. Is it a combatant – or a child? What will happen when “criminal elements” in our society get a hold of them and use them against the police? By it’s very nature it is indiscriminate.
Critical Components of Rockets and Missiles Designed to Deliver Nuclear Bombs- The rocket motors for the first-strike Trident Submarine nuclear missiles as well as the land-based Minuteman III nuclear missiles are made by ATK. These are weapons which, if used, can lead to a nuclear holocaust or the end of human life on this planet.

2. Profiting From Death:

Profits have soared since 9/11
ATK is the largest supplier of ammunition to U.S. Military –worth protesting even if it is not illegal.
Convicted of price-fixing by the U.S. Government! (AeroJet and ATK colluded to keep the prices of cluster bombs high by agreeing not to bid against each other.)

3. Selling Weapons All Over the World:

According to their own website, ATK has sales representatives in 60 different countries and sells to BOTH SIDES in some conflicts.

4. World Headquarters Are Here:

Housed in this building are the key decision-makers for this corporation. They bear a particular responsibility for the choices they make regarding what this company makes and sells. They are the ones who can choose Peace Conversion with no loss of jobs.

Please go to www.alliantACTION.org for more information on this Merchant of Death and the creative ways we have tried to nonviolently resist it.

Peace Vigil # 37, October 2, 2007

2007-10-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

Like last week, it was dry when we started the vigil, but raining when the hour was over. The wind out of the South was brisk enough to keep the flags flying. It was around 70 degrees. This was the first week of the newly established meeting time, 4:30 p.m.

We had 11 people show up today. Many horn honks and waves, peace signs and general approval for our message. I did see one man give us the finger and another man stopped his car in the middle of the street and rolled down his window to say something to us. He said, "You know people died so you idiots can be out here doing this?"

I've heard this kind of stuff before. I immediately thanked the man for calling us names. He drove off.

I came to a realization some time ago. This man just reinforced my realization. It is evident that there is war in the world, there is hatred and violence, largely due to the fact that many people are willing to "attack" others if they don't believe the things as they believe them. If someone disagrees with them, they are more than willing to be totally intolerant and not accept another persons point of view.

In this case, this man, a total stranger, was willing to attack us, by name calling, because he didn't want us to have a different opinion about being involved with the war in Iraq than he had. Willing to attack, with words this time, but willing to attack another human for what they think. The man who flipped us off was willing to attack as well with his gesture.

You know, I'd have no problem with someone stopping and engaging us in a dialogue and telling us how they think. I can still think what I want and hope that I could convince them that the way I thought was a better way to think about things, in this case, the war in Iraq. I want to believe that I would not call another civil person a name or gesture to them that I am hateful.

Even though the horn honks and waves and support out numbered the gesture and name calling at a rate of at least 60 to 1, I get upset that another human would attack. I get so mad, in fact, that I want to attack them. I want to shake them and find out why they won't accept the the fact that another person might think differently than they do. I'm not mad that they have a different opinion than I do. Like the guy said, people have indeed died so we can be free. Too bad he thinks we are idiots if we exercise that right our Veterans fought so bravely to secure.

Oh well, nothing I can do about it. I want the war to end. We that stand on the corner on Tuesdays want the war to end and our troops to come home. I'll be back on the corner next week with my American flag, the one I fought for.

The women that came last week and held the pro life banner didn't show up today. No one knows if it was a one time deal, or if they will be back. We'll accept their point of view. But if they come back, we will ask them if they will cooperate and keep the issue a single word, peace, and not dilute the Peace Vigil with other issues.

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil #36, September 25, 2007

2007-09-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

Fall was in the air today. At the start of the vigil, it was breezy and around 65 degrees. By the end of the hour, the wind was blowing hard and the temperature had dropped considerably.Quite a bit of cloudiness as well. Two of the participants were prepared. One with gloves and the other with earmuffs. Go figure. Must be locals.

There was a good turnout. Thirteen adults, one kid and a dog. One of the vigilers had a trumpet. I happened to have my kazoo in my pocket. We did an impromptu version of the always patriotic America the Beautiful. The trumpeter was a member of the Wisconsin based NukeWatch. NukeWatch was having an event in Ashland this evening. They joked about how we had the vigil as a reception for them. We were proud to tell them that we do this every week.

Another attendee was a woman from out of town who was thinking of moving to Ashland from Minnesota. She saw the postings for the vigil and decided to attend. Glad other progressive thinkers might want to move to Ashland.

We got a lot of horn honks from people. I neither saw nor heard any negative responses to our efforts today. Two women, who have never been to the vigil before, showed up with a large sign. The sign said, "Peace begins in the womb". I have always asked that the peace vigil stay on one issue. Peace and an end to war. Since our country is involved with a war in Iraq right now, it is pretty much understood that we want the war in Iraq to be over and the troops deployed back home.

I didn't say anything about their sign. I wondered to myself whether I should do anything or say anything. The main thing I see is that the message might be muddled if a passerby thinks it's an anti-abortion demonstration. I didn't say anything and will seek input from other attendees and see what they think. It is a public forum and free speech is still a right as far as the people involved are concerned. I wouldn't try to enforce a request that dictates what kind of signs anyone brings, even if it was pro war. What do you think?

Next week, we'll start meeting at 4:30 PM instead of 5:00 PM. This change will have us out there when more traffic is moving downtown in Ashland and also take advantage of the daylight available as Fall turns to Winter.

We talked about whether or not our demonstration is doing any good. All agreed that we must continue. After the dwindling numbers at Summer's end, it was good to see our average was building again. We just wish we wouldn't need to be out there at all.

Peace to all.

Peace Vigil # 35, September 18, 2007

2007-09-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

I missed yet another Peace Vigil. That's three in a row that I haven't attended. I was on the road for tow, then at the dentist office for this one. Mrs. Spadoman did show up along with Reverend Pat, "that guy who comes by all the time" and a young woman who has returned to campus for the Fall term. Four people all together.

The weather was warm, but there was a steady rain. In fact, it had rained all day yesterday. There is no doubt the weather keeps some vigilers from attending. I saw this same thing happen in Duluth. The Veterans for Peace, Chapter 80, has been doing a similar vigil on a major intersection corner for some time to voice their displeasure with our country being at war. The last time I was in Duluth on a Wednesday, the day they chose to demonstrate, there were only two people.

I understand and have no judgement towards who or how many come. I just know I want to continue and I will be there unless I am off living life and can't make it. I want to believe that this is what's happening with our numbers of attendees right now. I will go to the college this week and put up some new flyers and solicit the students. I'll also make up new flyers to post on the bulliten boards around town and try to get a public service announcement in the paper.

Speaking of the paper, the other Pat of out group wrote a letter to the editor. Here is her letter:

President George Bush has figured out how we can have
"guns and butter." Remember that saying from Lyndon
B. Johnson during the Vietnam war? Johnson could have
probably gotten away with it but he had the draft
which meant a lot of human sacrifices (even in some
cases effecting the elite and the rich) so therefore
the American people said "enough already! Stop? Then
we had a majority.

Now, GWB, with a minority of support can keep this
Alice in Wonderland war going, ad nauseum! After all
the Chinese, among some others, are paying for it.
Only one problem exists, they want their money back
with interest. So who will pay? why, our children,
of course, and their children and their
children......This generation gets off scott free.
Just one little catch, 3,781 American military killed,
27,848 wounded, some grievously. Just a few of our
young people that ostensibly didn't have anything
better to do than join the military and offer up their
souls and bodies for this country. It is too bad
their nobility isn't honored for a noble cause.

Why is Osama bin Laden still running free and able to
make his taunting little messages every Sept. 11?
Could it be that he is serving a useful purpose by
providing a handy little smoke screen for the real
reason why we are in IraQ? There were no Iraqi
bombers on the 9-11 planes. Most of them were Saudi
citizens. Why are we not holding them accountable?
Saudi Arabia is NOT a democracy but a monarchy whose
constitution is the Qur'an and is governed by Islamic
law. We suck up to them as if they are the ones
wearing the white hats!

If you feel upset by this war please join the peace
vigil which is held every Tuesday evening (5-6 p.m.)
on the corner of the Ashland post office.

Pat Ortman, Ashland, Wi

P.S. And before anybody jumps to conclusions my
family has done it's share in every war, including my
grandson who is now serving his third combat tour.

I'm not sure when it will be published, but I'm sure it will be. The Ashland Daily Press does a good job of publishing all letters to the editor.

We'll continue to march on Tuesdays. The time will change one time in the next week or so and start at 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM instead of 4 to 5:00 PM. The Post Office closes at 5:00 PM and traffic dies, and since we stand virtually in front of the Post Office, we'll try to get a half hour of busy last minute postal customers. It will also start getting dark earlier and earlier. By December, it will be pitch black by 5PM.

Peace Vigil # 34, September 11, 2007

2007-09-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

Six people showed up for the Peace Vigil on this date. There was also a small puppy dog in tow. The weather was warm enough, but very windy. It was hard to keep hold of the peace sign flag. Spadoman will return soon. If not next week for vigil number 35, then for sure th following week for vigil number 36.

Thanks for stopping by. Keep working for peace.

You Don't Have To See Them To Know They Are There - Week 33 9/4/07

2007-09-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

Today's vigil was minus Spadoman in body, but not in spirit. As it approached the 5 o'clock hour, I pulled up in the family mover, the "mystery van" loaded with my daughter and grandchildren. Jumping out of the van, the two older kids went to the back to unload the flag and signs. My daughter was unloading the baby from her carseat to the stroller. Lilly was lagging in the backseat. Anxious to get to our post we moved along, and still Lilly was doing something in the van. When she exited the van she was holding her hands out away from her body, fingers closed, we knew this could only mean that she was holding on tightly to the invisible hands of her two friends Noni and Jacob. As time went on other vigilers arrived, a young man walking down the street stopped and engaged us in discussion, formerly a self-professed "hawk" he told us how he couldn't support this war now. Another young man, a freshman at Northland College, saw us as he explored town and came over to thank us for being there and said he will join us in the future. Traffic was light, but enthusiastically honked, waved and showed us the peace sign. In all we were 10 visible people and 2 invisible ones. I choose to count Noni and Jacob because they are as real as the spirits of those who believe in Peace and can't stand with us in person.
Spadoman and I will be out of town for the 9/11 vigil time, maybe Noni and Jacob will take our place. If you believe in something it can be.

I want to take this opportunity to share one of my favorite writings, what a great world it would be if everyone observed these rules.

Everything I Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten - Robert Fulghum

Share everything
Play fair
Don't hit people
Put things back where you found them
Clean up your own mess
Don't take things that aren't yours
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody
Wash your hands before you eat
Flush
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you
Live a balanced life-learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some
Take a nap every afternoon
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we
And then remember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK

Peace Vigil # 32, August 21, 2007

2007-08-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

Just got home from Peace Vigil number 32. 32 weeks on the corner. So many horn honks and positive waves from folks now that they seem to be used to us. A woman who is normally not in town on Tuesdays happened by and stopped to thank us for "doing this", as they say. She went back to her car and brought us some fresh fruit, pears and plums and an imported high end chocolate bar!

Another man, driving a pickup truck, stopped and told us that bush and cheney need to be impeached. When one of us told him we all abreed, but that the thrust bof this vigil is peace, he responded by saying, "I know. I know".

The weather has been gloomy all day. Cloudy and in the 70's. We had a good rainfall last night. We had seven adults and three kids for a total of 10 people on the corner today. One m,an who stands with us quite often, walked by, but didn't stop. Maybe this week he';s for the war. But I swear last week he was against it.

We'll keep going. I am leaving town and will be gone for about three weeks. People will still stand at the corner for the Peace Vigil. Maybe someone will report. I'm sure someone will. When I return, I'll recruit some vigilers at Northland College as they are arriving for the Fall Semester which will start soon. We'll also start our vigil at 4:30 PM and go until 5:30 PM in about three weeks. The days will be getting shorter and the Post Office is busier, (more people to see us).

Take Care everyone. Spread Peace in some way.

Congressman Speaks about Iraq

2007-08-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

This is a letter I receieved from my Congressman, David Obey, of the 7th District in Wisconsin. I had written the Congressman with questions and comments about my concern with America's policy in Iraq. Here is the letter, word for word.

August 10, 2007

Dear Mr. Spado:

Thank you for contacting me about the mess in Iraq.

AI think my record on this issue is crystal clear. I voted against giving the President authority to go to war in the first place because I was concerned that by doing so, we would be walking into a quagmire with no decent way to get out. I have made it quite clear that I believe our military attack on Iraq was the biggest foreign policy mistake in history, not just because it has tied us down and cost thousands of precious American lives, but also because it has destroyed our influence and our ability to affect events in that region for decades to come. It has also resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

I was the first person in the House of Representatives to call for the resignation of then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his deputy Paul Wolfowitz because of their myopic incompetence. I also believe that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign because he has presided over a Justice Department which has twisted itself into a pretzel trying to justify American use of torture-a decision that is not only immoral but threatens to make it easier for others to justify the torture of American soldiers.

Last November, the American public made clear they wanted a change in policy in Iraq. Since then, we have been trying to provide just that, but we are operating with very narrow margins. Democrats now control the House of Representatives, but by just a handful of votes. In the Senate, a body of 100 people, we have only 50 democrats because Senator Johnson fell victim to a stroke. That means we are ten votes short of being able to end filibusters and send anything to the President. The hard cold fact is that we will need another highly successful election in order to give us a working majority in the Senate. Until that happens, it will be a minor miracle if we can lay anything changing the direction in Iraq on the President’s desk. Nonetheless, we are trying.

In April, I sponsored legislation that set a timetable for withdrawal of American troops from combat. We passed that legislation through the House and the Senate--a minor miracle, given our lack of effective control of the Senate--but the President vetoed the bill.

To override that veto, we needed two-thirds of the House and Senate to concur. We didn’t get it because Democrats don’t have two-thirds of the seats in the Congress.

We then tried again to send another proposition to the President which set out a series of conditions for the Administration and the Iraqi government to meet before funding could continue. But that proposal failed in the Senate. At that point, we ran out of options for using the 2007 Fiscal Year Supplemental appropriations bill to force a change in Administration policy because that fiscal year is almost over.

Speaker Pelosi and I then met with the Administration and offered to eliminate all other provisions in the legislation if the Administration would accept meaningful benchmarks and timelines for ending our involvement in the Iraqi civil war. They flatly refused.

At that point, the Congress passed legislation that required the Administration to provide a report to Congress spelling out what progress the Administration has made on 18 different benchmarks on their Iraq policy., designed to separate fact from fiction. That report, which we received in mid-July, demonstrated that the Administration and the Iraqi government are failing to meet more than half of them.

That report has helped us pick up a handful of Republican votes in the Senate and two more Republican votes in the House on legislation to change course in Iraq. After receiving the report, the House passed legislation sponsored by Representative Skelton (which I cosponsored) that would require the President to begin withdrawal of American troops from Iraq within 120 days. That legislation passed by a vote of 223 to 201. 219 Democrats voted for it while 10 Democrats voted against it. Four Republicans voted for it and 191 voted against it.

We are hoping that that legislation will pass the Senate so that it can be sent to the President. But, as you can see, if the President vetoes the bill, as we fully expect him to do, we are still far from having the votes we need to override his veto. The question is not whether the House Democrats have the backbone to force a change in Iraq policy; it is whether we the votes!!

We have tried every way known to man to force a change in policy in order to end this stupid war, but the hard cold fact is that there are only two ways to end U.S. participation in that civil war. The first will be if enough Republicans feel the heat from their constituents to quit supporting the President’s futile policy and vote to change it. The second will be if the next election gives us enough additional Democrats in the House and Senate to override Presidential vetoes or gives us a nw President who is willing to change Iraq policy.

I was in Congress during the Vietnam War. It took more than 31 different approaches over a period of longer than five years before we were able to get enough votes to end American support for that war. Unless the public gives us a lot more help in the next election, we could be faced with the same long, drawn out, frustrating prospect.

Congresswoman Pelosi, our new Speaker, pulls those of us in the Democratic leadership together virtually every week to talk about how we can hasten the day when we will be able to achieve a change in policy. She could not possibly be doing more than she is doing and neither could I. I am as tired as you are of the President’s stubborn refusal to recognize that he has made a huge mistake and that his policy is ruinous to American interests and American values. That is a price that all of us are paying because we have a President who does not have a clue about how to minimize its disastrous consequences. The price of his myopia is falling most harshly on the military families who are bearing the burden of this war.

Let me assure you we will continue the fight, not because we love to fight, but because we love America and what it is supposed to stand for and we detest the Presidents policy and what it has done to our ability to be a constructive force in the world.

Thank you again for getting in touch and thank you for caring.

Sincerely,

David Obey
Your Congressman

Peace Vigil # 31, August 21, 2007

2007-08-22T04:18:00.000-07:00

Another Tuesday passes by. Lower numbers for the death toll of US troops. That's suppose to be a good thing, but tell even one family that their son or daughter has been killed and it's still too many, let alone the eight that died from the time of Vigil number 30 to number 31. People just don't get it. "Only eight got killed this week" isn't acceptable because it's not 30. Of course, as you know, we're not even broadcasting the number of civilians that get killed by anyones hands or the number of casualties that die enroute to the German hospitals and USA hospitals, those that are killing themselves when they get home or those that work for the contractors over there. These numbers are harder to find. But it is all death and destruction.

The news of the war is stifled by election news. Talk about anything else except that there is still a war going on. Well, we know there is a war going on and we stand and remind folks once per week is all. We hold our signs for peace. Nine of us yesterday. Nine adults, four kids and a puppy named Roan, who was on a leash.

A man walked over and joined us from the Black Cat Coffee Shop not one block away from our chosen corner. He told us he was from Waukesha, a city near Milwaukee, down-state from here. Everything is down-state from here since we live as far north as you can be. He said he was in town and saw the small poster telling of the weekly Vigil and wanted to join us. Another man, a few minutes later, came by. He was from Washington State. He told us that he attends a similar event where he lives. He thanked us for our efforts. Another couple, tourists, called out their approval from across the street as they passed our group.

We get plenty of support. Plenty of honking horns, waves and peace signs. Now, poeple we know drive by and around the block to honk and wave. I saw one guy give the "finger" from the back seat of a car. A Fuck You because we are against the war. I wonder if it was george bush. For that seems to be the general attitude that he pushed forth about his brand of politics in his administration. Probably not him. Why would he come to Ashland? There are no up-and-coming Republicans here. This is a Democratic stronghold, a liberal area. We have David Obey and Russ Feingold. These guys think like we do.

I got a great letter from Congressman Obey the other day. I don't have a scanner. I will try to get it posted here. You can read from the mouth of a Congressman what he feels is the problem in the House and why the majority of Democrats can't seem to get anything done. He claims they are trying and I believe him. I'll try to get that letter in here soon.

The weather was a bit glomy yesterday. Warm, around 78 degrees, and a little drizzle on and off throughout the Vigil. But generally okay. No one melted from the moisture and we stood another week for peace.

Peace Vigil # 30, August 14, 2007

2007-08-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

Another week passes by, another Peace Vigil here in Ashland, WI. Another 20 US soldiers dead, countless lives torn apart by war, Iraq still in turmoil. Nine people stood on the corner today. Nine. Many mnay horn honks of support. One middle finger and one loud yell of, "Get a job!", which is a favorite. Makes me laugh every time as I have worked a lifetime already and am retired.

The weather was nice today. A breeze to cool us and keep our flags waving, the clouds shielded us from the hot summer sun. Temps down in the 80's. A nice older couple pulled up to the curb. The woman got out of the passenger side as the man held his position at the wheel. She applauded us for our efforts as she asked for directions to a local eatery. She told us that her husband has been against this war from the start and supports us too. I saw the "Semper Fi" bumper sticker of the ex-Marine as they drove off towards their destination.

Another man walked up to our group. I have seen him before. He joined us and grabbed a sign out of the back of my pickup truck. I always carry extra signs for those that show up without one. This particular man claimed to be a Veteran. In the past, he didn't stick around very long. Today, he stayed through the whole Vigil.

I also saw the man that offered me the one-way ticket to Iraq and the casket a few weeks ago. I wrote about him in the piece I wrote that was printed as a commentary in the local Ashland Daily Press. I made eye contact. He offered no further comments to me or our group. One of the regulars is a minister. I told her that I saw the man. She said, "Good, now we know who he is so we can pray for him.". That is a true statement of a peaceful person. There are still some around.

Peace Vigil # 29, August 7, 2007

2007-08-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

More information about this poster at the end of todays post. Check it out!

Today's Peace Vigil was a good event in many ways. But first, it is always a sad event in the first place. It's sad because it is nessessary to have to march o our towns streets to call attention to the death and destruction that is war and show others that we want it to end in the hopes that others will realize that war is always for naught.

Great weather. 80 degrees, a nice breeze kept the lags out away from our heads, but not hard to hold onto. Bright sun. We had a visitor from The Northland Anti-War Coalition, Carl dropped by from this local Peace organization out of the Duluth/Superior area to join us and thank us for our work. He also turned us on to a couple of major events coming up. Check out this link and read about the Strike Day, September 21st and the Regional Rally in Chicago in October.

Besides Carl standing with us on the corner, we had 14 other adults come and carry signs. One woman, I didnnot get her name, made a batch of the mnost beautiful, best tasting ginger snaps I've ever experienced. Nice to have a treat available. We also had our resident "Pats". The minister and the elder. Both of these women get attention from the people passing by either by waving or by saying hello.

Mark was there with his Don Quixote windmill style streetsign for peace, and Darl showed up. He'd been feeling ill. We were glad to see this Korean War Veteran standing with us asking for peace. As a group, we spread out along the sidewalk and had horns honking and people waving their approval from the start of the Vigil, a little before 5 PM, until we dispersed right around six.

We talked about the National event in Washington DC on September 15th. A massive march to end the war. Here's the contact information about that. It's put on by The ANSWER Coalition.org. Mrs. Spadoman and I are serious about going to this one. The possibility exists to drive the van and have room for a few passengers from Ashland, or to pick up along the way. E-mail to talk about it.

Another weekly Vigil done. Plans for next Tuesday are in place barring a miracle vote in the house and senate that bush can't veto, so, we'll be here next week.

Keep working for peace, and Thanks.

Peace Vigil # 28, July 31, 2007

2007-07-31T16:33:00.001-07:00

Another week passes us by. Another week with our country at war. More killing. More devastation. More bullshit and lies from an administration that keeps dealing death to the world in the name of peace. I am physically and emotionally sick from it. I pray and send positive energy to the world.

This week, the temperature at the bank said 100 degrees. It was probably only 96 or so. The electronic sign sits facing the summertime sun. Still hot for Ashland, Wisconsin where it's usually cool on the shores of the Great Lake Superior.

We had 5 people show up for todays Peace Vigil. Two people in cars stopped and opened the window of their air conditioned vehicle to wish us well and thank us. One man walked across the street to shake our hands and say thanks. Many horn honks, waves and peace signs flashed at us. Many from the out-of-town travelers visiting our area which is common during summer months.

I was called by a representative of the Northland College public radio station and will do a live interview about the Tuesday Peace Vigil on air soon. I'll list the stream information when that happens. I hope i can be a good spokesperson about our efforts.

Eight women were walking across the street from us today. They waved and flashed peace signs and yelled out their approval. I yelled back to them and asked them to give us five minutes and come and stand with us. They did. I found out they were a group of women who go on a bicycle trip each year together. This years trip brought them through Ashland. They gave us a break and held our signs and stayed for at least 15 minutes. We talked about the issue of war and we told them about out regular Tuesday routine.

I'll count them as participants since they carried signs and this brings us up to 13 for the day. Not bad for a 100 degree hot sun drenched day. Nothing compared to being in full combat gear in 120 degree temps with blowing sand, bullets, bombs and lies being thrown at us. We had luxury in comparison.

Lastly, I have some pictures of a new sign that was given to me by a good friend and Vietnam Veteran Brother named Jim. The sign is a banner from The Peace Company. You can call them at 1-800-455-5355.

The banner has "Peace" written in many languages. Arabic, Chinese, English, Sanskrit, Russian, Hebrew and Latin along with a rainbow colored Peace Sign and the Dove of Peace.

Enjoy the pictures. Spread peace to all you come in contact with. It starts with us as individuals.

Peace Vigil # 27, July 24, 2007

2007-07-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

With Spadoman out of town, I loaded the signs and trusty Peace Flag and headed to town on a hot and humid day. It was difficult to leave the breeze that was blowing off Lake Superior and the cool shade of the northwoods to stand in the blistering sun at the corner of Chapple and Main St. The bank was flashing the temperature at 85 degrees, but it felt much warmer. The American and POW/MIA flags that fly over the post office were laying limply against their pole. I knew that our troops in Iraq and Afganistan endured endless heat and I had nothing to complain about, I was wearing shorts not full battle gear, I wasn't far from my loved ones and I didn't have to worry about IED's or bullets.
At 5 o'clock I stood alone, Peace Flag unfurled and my sign that announced today's Iraq casualty count -3,637. Soon "Grandma Pat" came with her pink sign that simply says "Peace". She has another sign she usually brings that shows her Grandson, deployed in Iraq and his beautiful young daughter, that sign asks "How many more?". Our other Pat showed up, it was her birthday and she wanted to be there as part of her "special day". Her favorite sign was made by our daughter, by request, it says "Honk for Peace". This Pat likes to encourage participation by the passers by! Soon that same daughter showed up with the 4 youngest grandchildren, they ran to the van to get their signs and soon birthday Pat had them waving at everyone driving, walking or riding bikes by. Her theory is that who can not respond to the children. She was right! We always get the honks, thumbs up and peace signs for people, but today they were waving like it was a parade! It was beautiful and fun. An hour had past quickly and with dinner to make and the desire to get some air moving around us, we reluctantly went our separate ways, but not before we sang the happy birthday song.
We were a small group, but knew we represented many.
Thank you for standing with us in spirit.
May Peace prevail on Earth.
Barb

Peace Vigil # 26, July 17, 2007

2007-07-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks the weather has been brutal for standing in one spot on a corner in any town. Thunderstorms and driving rain one week and sustained high winds with gusts to 50 miles per hour the next. This Peace Vigil had perfect weather. 85 degrees and sunny. A very light breeze.

24 people came to the Peace Vigil today amid much horn honking and waves and peace signs from the passersby. Many strangers who had read the commentary in the local Ashland Daily Press had decided to see what was going on. An older pair from 200 miles away came from Minneapolis and stood with us as they took a day away from their vacation cabin on the lake. They said that maybe they'd be there again next week. Another local couple and man that came alone said they read the commentary and didn't know this was going on. Some old faces who have set the Vigil aside for a while and remembered that they needed to be here. Even some folks we didn't think were interested showed up.

The idea for the Peace Vigil was incubated in the Black Cat Coffee Shop, just yards away from where we stand. The owner, her name is Honore, walked up to me and engaged me in conversation and thanked the group and was glad the Black Cat was there for such ideas. As she couldn't stay for the entire hour, she left her business work for some moments to stand with us.

All in all a good event. We'll continue doing it. But sadness did befall us after a while. You see we were glad that there was great support for our cause and actually looked at this 26th week as a celebration. We were hit with the reality that we are still here and no end is in sight and we can't quit as we committed ourselves to this cause. It was sad that we are still here asking for peace. Maybe we'll make some headway soon as the Bush administration is under fire from all fronts, Democrats and Republicans.

Write those letters. Now is the time to do it. While they're going through the discussions about troop withdrawal. Write them and tell them you want this war to end.We love our troops and want hem home. We want to let the Iraqi people iron out their differences without telling them who to put in office. And we gotta tell Lieberman that we don't want to bomb Iran, either.

Thanks for your support. May Peace prevail on Mother Earth.

Published!

2007-07-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

A commentary was printed in todays Ashland Daily Press about our Peace Vigil.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007, marks the 26th week, or six months of this local grass roots event here in Ashland Wisconsin.

Thank you for your support. May Peace prevail on Mother Earth.

Mid-Week Update

2007-07-13T03:03:00.000-07:00

This next Tuesday, July 17th, is an important day for he Peace Vigil. It marks the 26th such Vigil, six months of standing on the corner for an hour each Tuesday. I have been out and about, as they say up north, and am asking folks I know to try real hard to have a good turnout. Sounds like we might have quite a crowd on hand. That would be nice if we had a strong showing after the letter-to-the-editor I just wrote to the
Ashland Daily Press about our endeavor.

I'll include a copy of the letter in this post along with a few pictures of the people of the Ashland, WI area over the past six months. I have heard from the editor in an e-mail and she says she will try to publish it before Tuesday. I realize there is so much to say and that my tactics for peace are not the only way to handle it, but this is my way of fighting back.

As the Pentagon Papers showed about Vietnam, the truth will eventually catch up with this administration and hopefully jail time will follow. But for now, we stand for peace.

I want to thank the many people who come over and read about our efforts here in Ashland. Some day, maybe one of you will be traveling and will stop by and join us. You know that offer of a place to crash and a cup of coffee are still on the table.

Here's the letter:

This Tuesday, July 17th, marks the 26th week that we have been doing the Peace Vigil in Ashland. For six months we have gathered with our signs that ask for a peaceul world and stand at the corner of Chapple Avenue and Main Street for one hour from four to five PM.

I started this Vigil as an idea that I had to do something and make my own statement about my feelings for the war. The war had been going on for almost four years and I needed to make the statement that I’d prefer we weren’t at war in Iraq. I’d prefer that our country be at peace. The idea of a weekly one hour vigil came to me as I have seen this done in other cities and towns across America.

Each week, no matter what the weather, we have a number of people gather for the vigil. We have averaged around 14 people per week. There has been as many as 29 at one time and as few as 6. The weather has ranged from cold blustery snowy conditions to oppresive heat and humidity. We’ve endurred high winds, thunderstorms and everything in between.

We have no club, organization or meetings. It is no group tied to a National association. Rather, we are people who freely and willingly gather each Tuesday to ask that our country consider peace and an end to war. There are a few small posters around telling of the event, but little else. We do have a blogsite where each week is journalized and updates the number of people that come to the vigil and the weather conditions. It can be found at http://jspado.blogspot.com

Our message is simple. Peace. We do not dilute our message with other issues. No one is blaming anyone for the war, no one is asking for someone’s head to roll. No impeachment, abortion, immigration, social, moral or economic issues are presented, just a vigil for the war to end and our troops to come home quickly.

We’ve seen many people over the six months of being out there. We get many horn honks and people waving at us. Many flash the peace sign or thumbs up telling us they approve of our efforts. We have seen some thumbs down gestures and the middle finger salute as well.

One time, a man walked up to me from behind. He told me that the Koran, the holy book of the Muslim people, states that there are only two kinds of people in the world. These are Muslims and dead people. He went on to offer me a one-way ticket to Iraq and a casket. I wonder what would happen if he was a dark skinned Arab man saying that to a combat infantry Veteran on the streets in this Nation. Terrorism, perhaps?

Another time an active duty soldier stopped and flashed us his ID card. He told us he didn’t like what we were doing. He didn’t stick around long enough for any explanation. I’ve also seen some people drive by and shake their heads in disapproval of our efforts. But the vast majority support us with positive reinforcement.

My only thought is that the naysayers look at us and stereotype every single one of us as far left wing extremests protesting the war and standing against our government and our soldiers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As a combat Veteran that served in Vietnam, I know the true cost of war and want this war to end. I believe this to be the utmost support for the soldiers, to have them be brought home. Our signs say “Peace”, or “Honk for Peace”. They remind the public of how many of our troops have died in this war. One sign, written and painted by a seven year old says simply, “Peace Please, Thank You”

Those that don’t support us when we are on the corner, and those that show signs of hatred, intolerance and anger, might be missing the message. They aren’t reading the signs or engaging anyone in a serious dialogue about what we are doing. Surely all people want peace. Don’t they? Even if a person thinks the war needed to be fought and believe in it’s causes, don’t they want it to end?

I invite anyone who wants to join us. Republican, Democrat, Independent, whatever. We simply ask that you keep the issue singular. Peace, an end to the war. An end to the death and destruction. To stand for peace is apolitical. We are not all Democrats or left wing liberals. We are young and old. We are Veterans, Mothers and their children and working people. We are Americans being free to express their views on the public streets of our city.

If you can’t join us, tell us why we should continue to keep killing without any attempt at diplomacy or calls for any kind of cease fire. Explain to me why war is better than peace and why it is wrong to stand up and carry a sign asking for peace. Tell me why it’s acceptable that a stranger can come up to an American citizen and threaten him with a casket and spout off the readings of the Koran and not be arrested.

Peace to all.

Joseph Spado
Ashland, WI

Peace Vigil # 25 July 10, 2007

2007-07-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

I literally just walked in the door from today's Peace Vigil. The wind is relentless here and blowing steady at 25 mph and gusts to 50 mph. It's cool for this time of year, but not cold, temperature was 65 degrees. Mrs. Spadoman was holding the 3'X5' Peace Sign Flag on a five foot stick. It was all she could do to stand upright. The sign I hold is on a stick as well. The wind bent my sign, so I ended up placing the stick on the sidewalk and holding the sign.

There were six people total today, with just two of us lasting the whole hour vigil. It is summertime and many people are traveling and away from home. The students from local Northland College are also gone until Fall, so our numbers are down. But I understand that this might be the case as the summer weather is in full swing.

People are visiting Ashland, Wisconsin and Lake Superior as well. We got horn honks today from Louisianna, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin,m or at least people driving cars with those above mentioned states license plates. The people in the car with Iowa plates stopped and asked us about our vigil and gave us a blesssing for doing what we do.

Next week, Tuesday, July 17th, is the 26th week of our Peace Vigil. Six months. I plan on putting in a new poster at the coffee shop to remind folks we're still out here. I will write an op-ed piece or a letter to the editor to the local Ashland Daily Press to recap the highs and lows of this endeavor.

The bottom line now is that we still continue to stand for one agenda at this Tuesday event. Peace. And an end of this war, and end to war of any kind. Still no name calling or dilution of our message by the introduction of other problems with this administration. Not that they don't exist, but we all believe that keeping the message simple and straight forward, we will unite and get something accomplished.

At times it seems dismal. The drum keeps beating in Washington and the war goes on. People are dying. Lives are changed forever. But for an hour on Tuesdays, we spread peace in a small town in Northern Wisconsin.

Peace to all.

peace Vigil # 24 July 3, 2007

2007-07-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

A very nice turnout today. 21 people showed up. One of our regulars, a gracious elder woman who carries a sign that shows her Grandson and his daughter, and asks that he gets to come home safe and alive, had her niece and Grand niece from way down south in Indiana show up in her place as she traveled west for a wedding. Another regular made a new sign. A great four sided affair. I'll post a picture next week as no one had a camera today.

The weather was great. 75 degrees, a slight breeze, hazy sunshine. Many people honking horns and waving at us. I didn't see any negative stuff like fingers, (half peace signs) or thumbs down today. One guy gestured "what", with palms up and a quick shaking of his head. I can't say that it's negative because I ask myself that often about this terrible war built on lies. I ask, "What are we doing this for?"

Last night, on Democracy Now, there was a report about the Pentagon Papers. You know, the paper trail that exposed the United States Government and their lies that held us in Vietnam. It sounds so much like Iraq. If history repeats, we have a long time to be standing on the corner holding a peace vigil. Let's hope and pray and work hard to get an end of this one. Take a look at this report at the Democracy Now website. Look for the program that aired on July 2, 2007.

The main point about the Pentagon Papers from long ago is that Mike Gravel, the former Senator from Alaska and current presidential candidate as a Democrat, didn't worry about his political future when it came to exposing the truth. Today, there doesn't seem to be any elected official willing to take a political risk. They all continue to allow this administration to lie and put themselves above the law. Until a Senator or Congressperson rises up and stands for the truth, we'll be in this war. Or maybe it's the money. Maybe it's just hard to turn down the millions that are being made on the lives of soldiers and civilians.

Please, I urge you all to do all you can do to end the war.

Peace to all.

Peace Vigil # 23 June 26, 2007

2007-06-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Eight people showed up overall. Must be many people busy and away during the summer months. The weather was very warm and humid. The sky was black when the vigil started. Thunder and lightning sent people scattering to the nearby coffee shop, but two people stayed out throughout the entire storm. It stopped raining and people came back to the corner from the coffee shop. Spadoman should be back by next Tuesday.

Peace Vigil # 22 June 19, 2007

2007-06-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Twelve people showed up. The numbers down a bit. Many people are busy and traveling during the summer months. Quite a breeze out of the south made the signs hard to hold on to. The temperature was up around 90 degrees. Spadoman is out of town on the Crow Creek Motorcycle run and will return by June 30th.

Peace everyone.

Peace Vigil # 21, June 12, 2007

2007-06-13T04:02:00.000-07:00

No pictures. I apologize. We'll definately have to take some next week unless they miraculously end the occupation war in Iraq and send our troops home. You know, mourn the dead, heal the wounded, end the war. But I'll take some pictures next time.

The weather was gorgeous. A perfect 76 degrees with a slight breeze to cool us in the bright sun on this cloudless day. WE had 11 adults and four children. A couple of the children were older kids, but still kids, 12 and 14 years old. I'll make the count 15 total for week number 21.

A man walked up across the grass from behind us. He came right up to me. I don't know why he came up to me. Maybe because I watch my back and turn around often and when he approached, I happened to be checking the rear of our "platoon".

The man was pretty big and dressed in farmers overalls. He handed me two pieces of paper. Both had a printed message and he muttered something to me as he handed them to me that they were for anyone who wanted to read them. I glanced at them and saw the first sentence and it said something about space aliens in 1947. I read the message after he left and it turned out to be a bad attempt at humor which slammed Democrats. I was a little excited as I thought here was some information that might make some sense about the war from the other respective. But alas, just berating others and no substance towards peace.

He went on to tell me that there were sodiers that didn't appreciate what we were doing here on Tuesdays in Ashland. I calmly told the man this, "All we are asking for is an end to the killing and destruction. We want the sodiers to come home, safely."

The man told me that the Koran says that there are only two people in the world, Muslims and dead people. He went on to tell me that he would buy me a one way plane ticket to Iraq and a casket.

I pointed to my Vietnam Veterans cap, complete with regalia, and told him, "I shed blood so you can have your opinion and I could have mine."

He went on a little more about Veterans honking horns. All the while this was going on, many cars that passed were honking their horns. He turned and left the same way he arrived, from behind the vigilers. I walked up to Mrs. Spadoman and told her what had happened. Pat, a minister who stands often with us, overheard me. They both said that I handled things very well.

To be perfectly honest, I am so damn proud of myself that I didn't raise my voice. I didn't get angry. I was calm and steady and stood for peace in actions and words. Ten years ago, I might have had quite a different confrontation. But the healing has helped and now I can stand tall and be proud of who I am. I thanked the man for stopping by. Should I count him in the tally?

Otherwise, an Elder named Pat was there and an Elder named Darl. Both in their 70's and both regulars. Pat has a Grandson deployed and wants him home safe. David was there, another regular. Two other women stopped and held signs. Marsha was there, my friend Steve from the St. Paul coffee shop. A great bunch of people asking for peace. I wonder why that man came up to me?

We'll continue to meet at 5 PM on Tuesdays on the corner of Chapple and Main in Ashland, Wisconsin.

May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother.

Peace Vigil # 20, June 5, 2007

2007-06-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

We have arrived as a force in Ashland, Wisconsin. Our Peace Vigil was mooned today by a young man. I'm not sure how to count this as "for" or "against" peace. But it was attention paid to our group of concerned citizens that continue to stand on the corner once per week for peace.

The weather was great. Around 70 degrees and a slight wind. The signs were easier to hold on to with the slight breeze than when the gales blow in off the Great Lake Superior. The sun was shining brightly as we assembled for week number 20. The group with no name and no organized order drew 23 adults and six children for a total of 29 people. That is tthe moist we have had since we started.

Here is the raw number. The total number of people who have come since we began on January 23rd of this year is 296. The average number of people is 14.8. Close enough to 15 for me to make a call. We get 15 people per week to come out, unorganized, not called and reminded, but who make the effort every week to stand on a street corner and ask for peace in our time.

Mnay folks bring children and Grand children. The oldest is a 75 year old Veteran from Korea. The youngest was a two month old baby girl who we nicknamed Peace Gracie. (You can see her picture on the side bar).

No one brought a camera to chronicle the 20th week. When I look back at the old posts, aside from the snow and the clothing that has been slowly peeling away as the Spring turns into Summer, we all look the same. The signs are the same as we hammer away at one main issue, Peace.

My favorite was drawn by a seven year old boy named DJ. His says, "Peace, please...Thank You"

May Peace prevail in our time for all of Mother Earth.

Teach Your Children

2007-05-31T04:28:00.000-07:00

This was taken last Tuesday at the Ashland Peace Vigil on May 29th. This is Yoody. She wanted to carry the peace flag. Her style was to run and have it wave fully unfurled so all could see the peace sign.

We are glad and fortunate, we feel, that our Grandchildren prefer to join us on the corner doing a vigil for peace rather than be somewhere else.

Last nights kitchen table discussion revealed to all of us that we can't roll over and allow the war to continue, but rather we stand for the good reasoning that might bring the killing, death and destruction to an end.

If not for ourselves, if not for Mother Earth, if not for those serving and experiencing the horror, then for the children. Yoody is three. She has never been alive when the country she lives in was not at war. She wasn't told or directed to carry this peace flag. She grabbed it and wanted to run with it and see it fly. Maybe she knows something we don't know. I hope so.

Peace to All. Peace in Her time.

Peace Vigil # 19, May 29, 2007

2007-05-30T04:31:00.000-07:00

The whole day it threatened rain. Sometimes cloudy, then a little clearing, but always hot and muggy, like a storm os coming and will clear out all the oppressive heat and humidity. It was 86 degrees at 5:00 PM when we started standing on the corner holding our signs. I was in total comfort as I had just finished a reflexology appointment and my feet felt like they were walking on air.

The vigalers trickled in and at the end, we had 15 adults and four children. 19 people in total, no dogs or other pets. Countless horns honking in support. One guy yelled, "booo" at us is the only negative thing I saw or heard. Still a lot of apathy, but this week seemed to have so many wave peace signs and honk horns.

Pat, one of the people who comes often, (She's the one who made the Peace Hydrant), waves at everyone and challenges them to wave back. She likes to get them to wave, get them involved. I didn't bring the Peace Hydrant again this week because it was very windy again. Besides, it's big and bulky and taking up space in my garage. I may have delegated it to the back wall, a place where nobody goes. I'll dig it out next week and put it over the fire hydrant. I'll have to have someone stand on the flaps if it's windy though.

Next week is week 20. A marker of sorts. I will update a spread sheet after next weeks vigil and see our average and temperature range. I've mentioned it would be nice if everyone brought just one person with them for a big showing next week. We'll see what happens. There is also talk about getting at least 6 cars to drive around the block constantly and honk their horn as they pass us by. But maybe in an interest of conserving gasoline, we might not do that. I do have a motorcycle, I'll think about it.

I'll look for a story in the weekly Lake Superior Sounder next Saturday. They came out, took some pictuyres and asked some questions, but it was on the day they send to the publisher. The new issue comes out this Saturday and might have a story about the vigil. The interviewer kept asking what the name of the group was. We kept telling him that there is no group. We are all concerned citizens just with the same thought for peace and an end to war and that we meet once per week for an hour at 5:00 PM on the corner of Chapple Avenue and Main Street in front of the Post Office.

Come join us some day. Someone will put you up, or you can stay at a flea bag Mom and Pop or a high end place overlooking beautiful Lake Superior. I've always offered to buy the coffee and that still stands.

Maybe some pictures later in the week. I didn't take any, but someone was there with a camera. I'll see if I can get a few shots and post them.

Peace to All.

Peace Vigil # 18, May 22, 2007

2007-05-23T04:16:00.001-07:00

I was out in the area earlier in the day on Tuesday. A friend of mine and I went in a search for some local fish from the Great Lake Superior. When we left Ashland, the temperature was 86 degrees. There was a strong wind blowing from the South and you could feel the sticky humidity in the air.

We traveled North along the Western shore of Chequamegon, (pronounced Che-Wah'-May-Gon), Bay. We turned towards the West when we reached the top of the bay and followed Wisconsin Hwy 13. As we got further and further West, we noticed a temperature change so drastic it had us wondering if the was some kind of malfunction with the new GMC's navigation and climate reporting system.

The thermometer showed 46 degrees, a drop of almost 40 degrees, and it was abrupt. This was near the town of Herbster, located on the South shore of the Lake. As we navigated a County Road back overland, the temperature quickly rose up to 73, then 78, then back into the 80's by the time we got back to Ashland.

At the time of the Peace Vigil, Five o'clock PM, it was 89 degrees at the M&H Bank thermometer and the wind was ferocious out of the South. Clouds had begun to form and we wondered if anyone was going to venture out for fear of getting drenched when the rain starts.

Our count ended up at 22 adults and 2 children, no dogs or other animals. A great improvement over last weeks group. But since there is no organized group or name for the assembly, and we're all just individuals that meet and attempt to send our mesage for Peace, I think that the whole experiment is quite remarkable.

We had many of the usual "regulars" show up, but also many of the routine vigikers were not there. Instead, there were many new faces. People who have not been on the corner before. One woman, and I never got her story, came out for the first time and was holding a sign that someone had handed to her. The man who drove her sat in the car parked close by across Chapple Avenue.

Another small group of young women were busy tying black pieces of cloth to clothesline. Each piece of cloth symbolized the death of an American soldier. There wasn't 3422 pieces of cloth, the death toll of American troops since the war began, but the number of black strips numbered how many had been killed so far this month, May of 2007, and there were 80.

This display was brought out into the eye of the people as it had been a private and personal display that was hanging on the back yard clothesline of a concerned Ashland citizen with the deaths of the day marked by the hanging of a silk flower between the rows of black cloth strips.

Some names were read and "Presente" was the response. I don't know how many names were read. The whole group, usually bantering back and forth as we stand for peace and wave and acknowledge the onslaught of horns honking, thumbs up and Peace signs, stood in slience with heads bowed, not because we were told to, but because we wanted to, naturally.

As you know, we stand in the middle of town in front of the Post Office. A Veteran friend of mine who was there yesterday and I were talking. I looked around and amidst the signs asking for peace and the large Peace Sign Flag that is always there on Tuesdays, I noticed no American Stars and Stripes. I said that I thought someone should display the American Flag, but then I remembered that right behind me, on the corner, was the largest flagpole in the City of Ashland, standing in front of the Post Office. Our colors were well represented.

We took a couple of pictures. I'll post them here. But soon, we might have some real newspaper photos to post and an article. The Lake Superior Sounder, a weekly local newspaper sent a reporter out to the corner yesterday. The Ashland Daily Press also sent a photographer. I'm not sure if we'll get any press, but there might be some attention paid to the Tuesday Peace Vigil soon. In the meantime, enjoy the pics.

Peace to All. And thenk you for your part in bringing and end to war.

Peace Vigil #17, May 15, 2007

2007-05-18T03:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry that this is so late in posting. I left town immediately after last Tuesday's Vigil and just returned to a computer terminal to report about the event. There were eight people total that attended. There were two who came and stayed the whole hour. The other six came and went throughout the time. The most at any one given time was five people. Those numbers are a big slump from the number of people we have been having.

The weather was a culprit to be sure. Monday brought a drastic drop in temperature and a thunderstorm complete with hail. Badly needed rain, but not enough of it. Tuesday it continued to be moist, but not really raining. ore like a light mist on and off again all day. The temperature didn't get over 50 degrees. In fact, the weather service reported 47 for the high on Tuesday. The relentless wind from the Northeast, picking up the cold and moisture off the big lake kept us clutching our signs with both hands and the giant peace sign flag that Mrs. Spadoman carries was wrapped around her more than once.

We still had many who gave us thumbs up, peace signs and honked their horns. One man came up and thanked us, as he had before, and offered us nuts from a can of mixed nuts he bought just to be able to offer us something. Another man riding a bicycle stopped and also said "Thank you" for being on the corner every week. We heard one car load of dissidents telling us to kill all the rag heads. There was no one that had or offered any intelligent discussion contrary to peace.

Myabe if the weather gets sprimg-like and all warm and fuzzy, the people will come again and we'll have tose 25 plus people out there on a Tuesday afternoon. War is not warm and fuzzy. The war raged on when our weather got cool and uncomfortable for an outdoor gathering. War is always uncomfortable.

Keep doing whatever you can do to bring peace. If you don't do it in the world, in Iraq, do it in your heart and with the people you are in contact with. Peace is the way.

The Best Peace Activist Group

2007-05-13T04:12:00.000-07:00

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. there is a weekly tabloid/advertiser freely distributed newspaper that most everyone goes to see what's playing at the movies or the theater, which band is playing at what venue. The low down on the trndiest restaurants and where to find a lover for an hour, a day, a week or a lifetime.

This publication is called, "The City Pages". They also have some in-depth reporting and restaurant, music, book and entertainment reviews. Every year, they publish "the best of". It is a series of places around the Cities, as Minneapolis and St. Paul are called by most folks, that are said to have or be the best at what they do.

The categories are the usual, best breakfast, best lunch, best car wash. But they are also sometimes obscure like the best cup of coffee under one dollar or the best manequin display in a retail store. This year, a category was named as The Best Protest Group. The winner, none other than Alliant Technologies protesters. The same ones that have been mentioned here on Spadoman's Peace Blog. Mrs. Spadoman has been on the protest trail with this bunch. She's been arrested twice with them. Cahgrges dropped both times.

I guess I thought it was cool that the group my wife protests with is the best one in the Cities. Here's the article:

Alliant, Best protest group.

I'll be out on the corner Tuesday at 5:00 PM for the weekly Peace Vigil. I'll hopefully post the happenings soon after. Upcoming is week 17. After 20 weeks, I'll do a statistical data entry and we'll analyse the numbers. Maybe, if we pray hard enough, we won't have to be there asking for peace and asking for an end to the madness of war.

Peace to all.

Peace Vigil #16, May 8, 2007

2007-05-09T04:58:00.000-07:00

We weren't in the huge numbers of people yesterday on the corner. There were only 12 of us. Three children rounded out the number to 15. The weather was bright and sunny and warm. Close to 80 degrees. No new faces. Everyone there had been there once before at least. I did have one man who teetered down the street towards us from a local bar. He j-walked across Main Street and walked right up to me. I was standing close to the middle of the group.

He looked at me and said, "Vietnam Veteran, eh?" I replied that indeed I was as I pointed to my baseball cap that said those words. He said that he was too. He stood there, slightly off-balance, I'd say from the activity he enjoyed just before walking over to us from Tim And Sandy's. I told him "Thanks for serving and welcome home." I offered my hand to shake. He shook my hand and asked me where I served in 'Nam'.

"I was with the 25th Infantry Division in 1969. CuChi, TayNihn, Northwest of Saigon." I replied. He told me he was on a ship in the Navy, He mentioned the name, but I didn't get it. He saluted me, or maybe it was the flag draped coffins on the sign I was carrying. I saluted him back and he wandered off. He didn't say anything about the war in Iraq or peace. But looked like he was trying to find peace this day in his own way.

That Vietnam Veterans hat I wear when I go to the Vigil is my trump card. Many times I see an old timer with a similar cap on as they drive by slowly and stare at the people assembled. In my opinion, I believe they are thinking that these are protesters against our country. I feel as though they want to say to "love it or leave it". They see an opposing point of view and hate it. At least that's how I feel they are thinking. No one ever confronts us. And the ones that wear the caps, like mine, drive off in silence because I don't think they dare come up to a combat Veteran and tell them thay can't think like they want to. We Veterans paid the price for freedom of speech, at least the little we have left.

But the real speech was sent to me in an e-mail from a friend yesterday. She is not a Veteran. She doesn't have a background that has shown her that war is terrible. She seems to just know it is a bad thing and wants it too end. I feel she had decided that her life will be spent with her country at war. This is what she said to me:

"35,000 more folks on tap to go to iraq. feeling a little sensitive today. i looked up at the beautiful blue sky with the newly green tree across the street waving in the breeze- and it was peaceful and beautiful- and all i could think was- i wonder if any iraqi women look up into their sky and miss their beautiful green tree waving in the breeze against a blue sky. i just want to live in peace and live a happy life. that isn't a certainty anymore. the way of life i envisioned for myself isn't going to come to be- because of politics. we are in the fight of our lives and our way of life- from our own people. there isn't anywhere to run and hide like i want to. i guess all we can do is keep fighting and live each moment. hope the folks in france know what they are getting. i wish them luck."

A paragraph defining the rest of the life of this human spirit. Sad. Sad to know she might be right. None of our lives will be the way they were envisioned. We might be fighting against those in our own country until we are dead. I am willing to, but don't want to. I wrote her back that I have already realized this to be the case and that I'm making peace around me in small piles. Hopefully it will spread to others and they'll tell two people and they'll tell two people and so on, Peace will spread in pockets of life all over the world.

In any event. We stood on the corner yesterday. A small group of people, and asked the world for peace. Many people honked their horns and waved, flashed us a peace sign and gave the thumbs up. I didn't see one person give me the finger. Maybe I quit looking for them. Like the noise a tree makes when it falls in a silent deserted forest, if I don't see one, then maybe there aren't any.

Sorry, no pictures. Just some thoughts. Peace to all.

EXTRA EXTRA May 5, 2007 March for Peace

2007-05-07T03:55:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, May 5, 2007, The local chapter of the Northland Anti-War coalition held a peace march here in Ashland, WI. The group is organized out of Duluth, MN. There is a chapter here at Northland College. People who wanted to march for a show of soloidarity against the war assembled at the Sigurd Olsen Institute building on Northland's campus, and marched down Ellis Avenue to Lake Shore Drive. Then one block West to the Band Shell.

At the band shell, people who wanted to, spoke out, read passages from books or their own poetry. Music was played in a sing-a-long fashion. Then, a few snacks were served as the attendees hung around and got to meet a few new people.

Some of the folks from the Tuesday Peace Vigil were there and joined the Northland College students, and the others from Duluth who took part in this march. The group mustered about 30 people. Other than the march up Ellis Avenue, there was not much exposure to the general public unless they wanted to come to the bandshell and sit and listen. It was a blustery day and there wasn't much foot traffic around. No one stopped and parked and came over to see what was happening, at least not that I saw.

I did make a short announcement about our Tuesday Vigil. And one person asked for the e-mail address and the URL for this blogspot. I got one from them as well. I have posted it on the side bar and I will list it Here in the text as well.

There was a little confusion as the name Northland Anti-War Coalition would make some believe they were affiliated with our own Northland College, but the organization is more in reference to the "North Land", and the college has their own chapter.

In any event, it was a show of people speaking out and asking for peace and an end to this war. Small groups in small towns. Larger groups from the larger metropolitan areas. One voice, hopefully getting louder and louder, to bring the changes we need for a less violent society and peace in our lifetime.

Do something active to work for peace. Write your elected officials often. Attend marches and protests when you can. Give a buck or two to an organization that supports how you think. If you're a right wing thinking person and looks at every war demonstration as "against" what you believe in, maybe you need to look at the bigger picture. I mean, even if you think we needed to go fight in Iraq, wouldn't you want it to end and the killing to stop?

May peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother

Peace Vigil #15 May 1, 2007

2007-05-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

The weather couldn't have been more cooperative. Sunny again today, and when we started the fifteenth Vigil for Peace in Ashland, Wisconsin, the wind was blowing hard out of the Northwest. It was barely into the affair and the winds became light and variable. Before that, the signs were being stressed and blown pretty much out of the hands of many of those assembled for the purpose of asking a world for peace.

Personally, I started out with my sign well before the 5:00 PM starting time. Others quickly joined me and we had a good bunch on the corner by five. For the third week in a row, there were over twenty people here for the Vigil. Twenty two to be exact, with two small children and a dog. No, not the same dog as last week, and yes, the same children. Both my Grandchildren by the way.

Last week we had the same count, and the week before we had 24 with 4 kids and a dog. We also added a noise function this week in honor of May Day. There were two drums, two harmonicas and a kazoo. The drums kept beating in short spurts of rythm, the harmonicas and kazoo not quite as much. No one took the reigns and sang out very much, although we did do John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" for a few bars.

The signs were plentiful. Four of the assembled rode their bicycles to the Vigil. It would be a hard chore to ride and carry a sign in the wind today. Those that rode bikes used a sign from the surplus we had assembled in the back of my pickup truck. Sorry, but the 'Peace Hydrant' visible last week was not in use because of the wind. When the wind did subside, I guess we all forgot to go get the old hydrant peace aparatus out of the truck and onto the hydrant! Some were mentioning the close resemblance to an outhouse.

Little Peace Gracie wore her new hand me down peace shirt. We are to believe the shirt says peace in Arabic, Jewish and English. We are firm believers in heeding the words of Crosby, Stills and Nash. You know, "Teach Your Children Well". Live like you are peacful and instill this in them and they'll have this trait for life. At least we hope and pray this is the case. It's a tough world out there. In the case of my nearly three year old Grand Daughter, it is a shame that she has never had a moment of her life when the country she was born into was not involved actively in a war.

The Mayor of Ashland was there again today. Not for the full hour, but he did drive by twice and honked his horn in approval twice before he finished his errands and joined us. Many more horn honks than fingers, and still a lot of apathy. It was great to see folks looking at their steering wheel to find the horn button so they could honk at us. The waves and peace signs also exude a nice feeling. When someone gives us the finger, we all say it doesn't bother us, but I know, at least in my case, that it does bother me. I want people to see that we're just asking for the killing to stop. I want them to want it to be over too. We'll just have to keep trying to remind them that war is a terrible thing and that we're here on the corner to remind everyone that at least a few people from Northern Wisconsin feel that way.

May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother. May the horror of war end soon. Enjoy the pictures of the good people of Ashland and surrounding communities. They represent all Americans.

Pertaining to Peace

2007-04-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

The article that follows my writing in this post was from a local newspaper in Edina, MN. Edina is the home of ATK, or, Alliant Technologies. A large producer of depleted uranium weapons. Depleted uranium keeps killing long after the bomb has been dropped, causing illness and disease for decades.

Mrs. Spadoman used to protest regualarly at ATK every Wednesday morning. Since we moved 200 miles away, she doesn't go as often to the protests. But when she is in the Minneapolis area and it is a Wednesday morning, you'll find her there. She has been arrested twice and both times the charges were dismissed.

Now, the parent company wants to buy land and build their own building in a suburb not far from where they are now leasing space for their headquarters. the article will fill you in.

In the meantime, these people who protest at places like these, that make the weapons that kill, weapons of mass destruction, are heroes. Fighting for peace comes in many ways. Trying to stop making bombs is one way.

Lastly, I really like the "stance" of the city where the new office might be built. That they don't care what the company does, they want the new building and the new taxes I guess. They don't judge the morality of the "operators" of the business. Kind of like the Germans that ran the ovens, don't you think?

ATK considering move from Edina to Eden Prairie
BY LYN JERDE and Mike Schoemer - SUN NEWSPAPERS
Wednesday, April 18, 2007

An Edina company that is the frequent target of peace protesters is putting out feelers for a possible move to Eden Prairie, according to Eden Prairie City Manager Scott Neal.

Neal said Monday that a proposal for Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) to build a new four-story, 100,000-square-foot building in Eden Prairie's Golden Triangle area is "still in the proposal stage."

City officials have known for "a couple of months" about the possibility that ATK - which has 50 facilities in 21 states, but does only administrative work in Edina - was considering a move to Eden Prairie.

A proposal from TOLD Development Co. has been with city staff for about two weeks. It typically takes at least 90 days, from the time of presentation to the city staff, before any development proposal to come before the Eden Prairie Planning Commission, Neal noted.

The company employs 15,000 people worldwide, but about 275 jobs would be impacted by the potential move of the headquarters.

Company representative Brian Grace said ATK had no comment on the possible move, saying nothing had been signed at this time.
Edina City Manager Gordon Hughes said he, too, had heard "through the grapevine" that the administrative offices for the munitions maker could be moving. In addition to ammunition, ATK produces rocket technology, some of which is used by NASA.

Neal put the word out about ATK in an April 13 entry on his weblog at www.edenprairie.org.

He said in his blog, and re-emphasized in a conversation with the Sun-Current, that the city has no plans to offer any kind of incentives, such as tax-increment financing, to attract ATK.

"The city is conservative about the use of incentives, especially for businesses considering relocation from nearby cities," Neal said.
ATK is in the news frequently as the target of peace protesters, who claim that the company, by manufacturing systems used for weapons, encourages violence and war - a claim that company officials deny.
An organization called AlliantAction holds a weekly vigil Wednesday mornings near the headquarters at 5050 Lincoln Drive, Edina. Twice a year, the group also organizes "large action" protests that attract hundreds, and typically result in dozens of citations for trespassing. The most recent such action was in October. Edina Police issued 78 citations at that event.
In 2005, the city of Edina passed an ordinance to make trespassing a petty misdemeanor, similar to a speeding ticket - which meant that only bench trials would be held when the citations were challenged. Previously, those who were cited were charged with a misdemeanor under state statutes, resulting in the city expending time to prosecute the alleged violators, and for them to contest the charges in front of a jury.
Hughes said, at the time, that it would be fair to say that the ordinance was written with the ATK protesters in mind.

"It has certainly worked well in this instance," Hughes said. "I wouldn't say that Edina is the city that invented this process. Other cities have certainly categorized trespassing as a petty misdemeanor. I think it has definitely helped streamline the criminal proceedings in the wake of demonstrations."

Hughes said the city attorney does have the authority to prosecute an egregious trespassing incident as a misdemeanor, allowing for harsher penalties in those sorts of situations.
The ordinance was challenged soon after it was passed, Hughes said. A state appellate court handed down a decision in favor of Edina's right to create the ordinance.
ATK is a tenant in its Edina building. A relocation to its own building would give the company an opportunity to fortify its property with such protests in mind.

The proposed Eden Prairie location for the new headquarters is at the intersection of Valley View Road and Flying Cloud Drive, in the Golden Triangle, where the primary land uses now are office and light industrial. The proposed size, according to Neal, would be slightly larger than the approximately 90,000 square feet that ATK now occupies in Edina.

The land is currently guided for office use, Neal said.

However, much of the Golden Triangle - though not necessarily the area where the ATK headquarters is proposed - is envisioned to combine residential and business, with the idea that a light-rail system might someday serve the area.

In considering any proposed development, Neal said, the kind of business that proposes to locate in the city is not the primary concern of city staff members.
"From our standpoint on regulation, we don't judge the morality of the operators," he said. "We only look at whether the operations are within our code. And there's no question that they can do what they want to do here."

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2007/04/25/news/ed19atk.txt
ere's the article:

Peace Vigil #14, April 24, 2007

2007-04-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

This is the soon-to-become-famous Peace Hydrant. A large box created by Pat. It covers the fire hydrant and looks like another protester standing for peace on the corner. Some said it could double as a latrine??!!

The weather was beautiful by any standard today. Around 60 degrees and sunny. The wind was breathless. We started Peace Vigil # 14 at 5:00 PM with just a few people. Actually, these few people were on the corner some time before the specified 5:00 PM starting time.

More folks filtered in and the grand total for the day was 22 adults, 2 kids and a small dog. Although I must admit to being a yellowdog Democrat myself. That is, I’d vote for a Yellow Dog before I’d vote for a republican.

I consider having over 20 people out for the Peace Vigil a great triumph, especially over 20 two weeks in a row. People are excited about the prospects in Washington with bush’s showdown and threat to veto. We clamor for Congress to stand fast and not back down from the job they were elected to do, and that is to get an end to this war and get our troops home.

The Mayor of Ashland, Ed Monroe, showed up again today. This is the second Vigil in a row and the third overall that he has attended. He carried a sign while he was there. In the past, he had hung around and talked with people, today he hoisted a sign. When he left, someone said to him something about running for Governor. Mr. Monroe said, “Don’t bet on it.” Maybe he knows something about the job.

I personally didn’t see any “half peace signs”, and no one reported any negative activity. Many many horn honks and waves. Maybe it was the large box that was cut to fit the fire hydrant. Made it look like a monolith for peace. People spotted it and started honking and waving.

Over all, a feeling of peace from at least one of the participants. A young man named Bill told me he felt a good feeling about the togetherness that the group has while we’re out there. I suggested that it was the forces of the universe working on us as we stood between the bright sun to the west and the little-more-than-half moon to the east. I pointed to these orbs and made the giant peace sign with my arms. He considered this as a reason. I believe it as one.

I added another site to the side bar. This one is called VoteVets. Vote Vets is a group of people who have served in Iraq and tell their stories. They support Senator Reid in his attempt to stop this war and they are adamant about noninvolvement in Iran. Please take a look as well as the other new link, The Department for Peace, also listed on the side bar.

Next Tuesday is May Day, May 1st. We decided that whoever wanted to, could bring musical instruments. Drums, Kazoos, whatever. We’ll make some noise in honor of May Day.

On May 5th, at 3:00 PM, a March for Peace will start at Northland College here in Ashland and march to the band shell downtown. This Peace March is said to meld the group of young people at the college and the Tuesday at 5 PM Peace Vigil group into a large force. Sounds like a good idea. Many of the Tuesday group will march on May 5th.

I’ll try an update later in the week. Feel free to comment or come to Ashland and join us some day. Tell us about your marches and vigils, we’d like to hear about them.

In the meantime, Peace to all. Thanks for all you do. Enjoy some pictures of Peace Vigil # 14 below.

Some of our signs. Many folks bring more than one for those lost souls that don't have a sign to carry.

Long shadows at 6:00 PM, but with May and June soon upon us, the sun will be high in the sky for a few months soon.

Some of the fine folks who Vigil for Peace on Tuesdays at 5 PM in Ashland, WI

More of the gathered froup standing for peace.

Peace to all. Peace, Please, Thank You.

Mid Week News and Tidbits

2007-04-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, during the Peace Vigil, a woman who attended the Vigil and stood with us was nearby when I mentioned to another Vigaler that I had received a letter from Congressman David Obey. Obey is the Wisconsin District 7 Representative. That is our district here in Ashland, WI.

I write Rep. Obey a lot. The answer I received from his staff was directed very personally to my concerns,m which are, to end the war in Iraq. When I was telling of the letter received, this woman I mention told me that Rep. Obey called anti-war protesters "idiot liberals". She went on to berate our Congressman about saying this. I hadn't heard this before and I challenged her to give me the details of this outrage. She couldn't produce the circumstance, but insisted that Rep. Obey said this. She made it seem like he said this about everyone who protested the war.

I haven't had a lot of time, but I did some research just now as I sit and read e-mails and eat some breaklunch, (yes, I know, brunch, but I had leftover ribs and a bowl of cereal! Breaklunch), and I found out that Rep. Obey did say these words, but taken in the context of what he meant, he did not say that "ALL" war protesters were idiots.

Anyway, I found This Article and it explains a lot about what and why Congressman Obey said what he said. I agree with this writer and the assessment of the situation.

The lesson I learned from this example is that I will make an attempt to know my facts before spewing forth venom, and to be fair, I will do this with information that pertains to the Left and the Right.

For example, george w bush, (non capitalization intentional), did say "mission accomplished", and then kept dropping bombs and fighting in Iraq allowing our soldiers and Iraqi civilians to die. Rep. Obey thought that a group of war opponents went too far in addressing their grievances.

Otherwise, it's a nice Spring weekend in Ashland. We'll see you on Tuesday after we meet for Peace. By the way, any of you who would like to attend and stand with us, you are welcome to do so. Always a sofa or something to sleep in and a cup of coffee at the Black Cat on me.

Peace to all. Enjoy the sunset.

Peace Vigil # 13, April 17, 2007

2007-04-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today's Peace Vigil in Ashland, Wisconsin was great in a lot of ways. At least as good as something that calls for the end to war, killing and destruction could be. My prayers ask for next weeks vigil to be canceled and not needed. But since we need to stand and show that we want a peaceful world, this weeks display was heart warming.

Twenty Four adults and four little kids. 28 People! 28!

The people just kept coming. Old standards, new folks, new signs, old signs. The Mayor came to the Peace Vigil again and told us he was proud of us. One of the teachers from Northland College. Some students from the college as well. We have been wondering where the college students were hiding. Some were there today and there were reports that much is going on “on campus” to promote peace.

The day started cloudy and a little drizzle. Cool as well with a breeze off the Great Lake Superior. By afternoon, the clouds had cleared and the sun was shining brightly. By 5PM, under a cloudless sky, the people met and pronounced their stand for a peaceful world.

Under some direction from my daughter, my Grandson painted a sign. The message is so simple. “Peace, please, thank you”. A first grader could have written it. Oh, that’s right. He is in first grade.

I am so proud of this community.

I heard of only one report of someone who drove by and yelled something derogatory. So many horns honking, friendly waves and peace signs flashing, I didn’t notice anything that remotely resembled dissent.

I’d also like to mention that in my recent trip to California, Mrs. Spadoman and I had a couple of good experiences pertaining to peace. First of all, we met a fellow Blogger and Peace Activist Bluegrrrrl. It was such a pleasure to meet someone in person that fights the good fight thousands of miles away.

The other experience was to meet up with an old friend from years gone by. We find that she, too, is working hard for peace. She told me of a site that she wanted me to visit. She is involved with The Department of Peace. Her approach to Peace is the same as ours here in Ashland at the Tuesday Vigil. The positive approach, asking for peace and keeping the issue to Peace and not diluting the subject with other issues. I have linked this site in my side bar as well as here in the text. have a look.

Enjoy the pictures. Work hard for Peace. We are all related in this fight and as Brothers and Sisters we can pray for an end to war.

I've usually taken photos of the gathered Vigilers from a view facing them. Here is the crowd from behind. Peace Everybody!

Peace Vigil # 12, April 10, 2007

2007-04-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

Please excuse me again as I did not make this twelfth Peace Vigil. Mrs. Spadoman was also absent, the first she has missed, the second for me. We are doing some traveling and are in sunny Southern California. We will be on the road tomorrow, 04/11/07, and headed for Wisconsin.

There was a Vigil in Ashland, though. As reported to me by my daughter, Alyssa, over the cell phone network, 17 hearty souls were on the corner, carrying signs and asking for peace and an end to war. A testimony to the community. I am sorry I missed the vigil, but am damn proud of the folks that stood there in 35 degree, unseasonably cool, weather.

While traveling, we had the pleasure of meeting another who works for peace very hard here in California, Bluegrrrrl, of "Out of the Blue" blog fame. We had coffee today and met eyeball to eyeball for the first time. It was a pleasure and an honor for both myself and Mrs. Spadoman to meet a fellow peacenik.

This is a short post, I know. Please forgive the brevity. I will update on issues of peace when I return to my regular habitat on the shore of the Great Lake Superior. In the meantime, thanks for all you who stood for peace today in Ashland, and those of you who work for peace everyday.

Peace Vigil # 11, April 3, 2007

2007-04-04T05:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no camera out at the Vigil today, but this gives you some idea of the weather.

It was cold when we started, right at the freezing mark, and colder when we finished. The bank thermometer said 22 degrees. The wind that was off Lake Superior from the Northeast switched and was blowing hard right out of the North. When I got home, the windows that face North and look at the lake were rattling and that end of the cabin was having a hard time keeping warm.

Needless to say, all this cold had snow with it. About 6-8 inches of heavy wet late season snow that felt like ice pellets coming down and stuck to your clothing like glue spikes. Our signs and flags were blowing all around and would knock us off balance a time or two.

We still managed eight people. Two were new and had never stood at the peace vigil with us before. And although the traffic was thin because of the severe weather and people hustling home rather than stick around town in the late afternoon, we still got plenty of horn honks. They still far out numbered the derogatory remarks and gestures.

The tree limbs were heavily laden with wet snow just before we went to the Vigil.

One of the negatives was one I’ve never heard before. We were told, “fuck you, faggots”. Now I don’t know about you, but one of the greatest peace songs ever written started out with the words:
“Everybody’s talkin’ bout fagots. fagots” Of course. “Give Peace a Chance”, by John Lennon. Another one of the prophets the people killed because he was changing lives, you know, like Jesus and MLK.

So, to be called a fagot was pretty cool. Another car load of young kids flipped us off. I didn’t pay that any mind as I just didn’t take them as sincere.

Bill brought us a pan of baked goods from the senior center where he works. Left overs from a bake sale. Kaelene was there, our resident letter-to-the-editor writer, Barb, Mark and myself. The new folks were a man named Frank. Served in Germany in 1971. Vietnam era Veteran, the local high school Spanish teacher, Anne, and Julia, a young woman interested in peace.

We got cold out there today with the wind and the blowing snow. Not many people were out to see us, but some did and we kept the Tuesday Peace Vigil alive and going.

Plans are to call the editor of the little weekly paper in town called the Lake Superior Sounder. Thay can be found at http://www.lakesuperiorsounder.com. (sorry, tried to link it in text, but it didn't work) Jared Glovsky, the editor, had told one of our peace vigilers that he wanted to do a story about our efforts here. We’ll check in on that.

Thanks for coming here and reading about us and our weekly activities. Feel free to come and join us some time. Coffee available and I’m sure someone will offer a place to crash. If you can’t come, I understand. Hope you’re doing something where you live to work for peace, just one little thing each day.

Peace to all

Peace Vigil #10, Tuesday, March 27, 2007

2007-03-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

I didn't make the Vigil this day. I was on business in Duluth helping a friend. But there were 14 people out on the corner with their signs. The weather had been warm, near 80 degrees on Monday, But Tuesday found it much cooler, closer to 50 degrees, and the North West wind made it feel quite chilly.

No pictures were taken, so I have none to show you. Barb was there and other regulars, Mark and Marc, David and Marsha, Pat, Kaleen and her two friends. A few new ones as well. Folks that have been talking about coming that made it. Colene from Washburn. A delightful Elder named June. Curtis, a friend of mine. All in all, growing numbers and the spirit is taking hold.

Later this week, another letter that was published. Here is the letter:

Young people need to act

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

— The Declaration of Independence

These are the founding words of our nation; a declaration of independence written by the founders of this country. These words have since been forgotten, but not by everyone. Here in Ashland, a small yet fiery group of citizens, of patriots, come together every Tuesday afternoon, and voice their message. It is a simple message, a message of peace, an end to war. The message may be small but it is great, few can argue or protest against it, for peace is a beacon for common ground.

As a local of this area and part of the youth population, I have observed the seemingly strong voice of my generation. Many of these voices come from Northland College. This would lead to the natural assumption that the majority of these protesters are youth — high school and college students — those who are and will be most effected by the lack of peace on a national and global level. But no, rarely, if ever is there a young person there.

Why is this? Why are our mothers and fathers of the community more vocal and showing more concern for our future than we are? Perhaps it is because our past generation has experienced the victory of protest and the power of their own voice. Maybe they realize the consequence of silence more than we do.

Either way, it is time our generations to join together, it is time for us to take responsibility for our own future, the torch must be passed and the fire must be stoked. The voice of the people must not die. We have seen the power of our local community. We have seen it in Washington; we have seen it in Georgia at the School of Americas, now it is time to see it in our own community. We all have dreamed of peace, and now it is our time to make it real.

Kaeleen Ringberg

Ashland

I applaud Kaeleen. She is steady and ready to stand with us as we ask for a peaceful world. It was printed in the opinions section of the Ashland Daily Press on Tuesday, March 27, 2007. She is quite a gal and we all appreciate her being there with us on Tuesdays.

All in all, another week, andother vigil. We'll keep them coming. There is a project in the works to "trade" vivits to other protests and vigils like ours and attend those held in other parts of the area and ask that they attend ours. Sort of like hopping from one protest to another. But we're all on the same page, right?

Peace to all. Thanks for your support and for stopping by.

Mid Week Update

2007-03-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

This coming Tuesday, March 27th, will be the tenth Peace Vigil in Ashland, WI. Time does fly by. We hope something drastic will happen and we won't have to be out there, but as for now, there is a core group of individuals that will attend, most weeks, hold their signs and wave at people who drive by and say hello to those that walk.

No one confronts us directly. Those that flip us off or give the thumbs down never stop by to discuss their opposition. And still, the funniest thing said to any of us is the tried and true anti protest protest mantra, "Get a Job!"

I did get one phone call from someone asking for more information about the Vigil. I'll answer that call today and see if I can recruit another body for Tuesday.

We are all puzzled. There is one regular from the college in town. This is Northland College here in Ashland. It is a Liberal Arts College with emphasis on Environmental Studies. I like to think of the students as "people of our ilk", yet, only one shows up. There is a Peace and Justice Studies program and courses there. There are posters up on campus. I am confounded as to why there aren't any more students that come over for an hour and ask for peace.

I am feeling that when I get a little time, I'll go over to the college and ask around, maybe I'll find out why there doesn't seem to be any interest in asking for and end to war.

In the meantime. We are doing it. You are with us and we stand for those that support our efforts. I thank you. We all thank you. Your Nation thanks you for your continued support.

Now go out and do something, some little thing and one little thing more to keep the fact that we are at war and people are dying and struggling and suffering and we want it to end.

May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother.

Peace Vigil #9, Tuesday, March 20, 2007

2007-03-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

Today had us thinking Spring because of the great sunshine, but with the wind still coming off the Great Lake Superior, the temperature cight us all trying to keep warm. Almost everybody that showed up, and there were eleven of us today, were underdressed. The wind is switching around and slowly starting to warm things up a bit, but it was a chilly March afternoon at the Vigil.

As was usual, many horn honks and peace signs, waves and thumbs up. I only saw one finger, (half a peace sign, Barb calls them). The Mayor, Ed Monroe, elected under a non determined political party here in Ashland, walked from City Hall, a half a block away, to the Post Office. We stand just 100 feet from the front door of the United States Post Office. Hizzoner went to deposit some mail or something, then came our way and joined our group for about 15 minutes. He told us he liked what we were doing and got into an involved discussion with one of our regulars about bush and his politics. Seems like our Mayor leans our way. It was good to have another person stop and talk with us and agree that Peace might be an answer.

After the Vigil, most of us retire to The Black Cat Coffeehouse, a short distance away, and chat a few minutes. A man was working on some paperwork and when I walked by, he asked if I was one of the people who had been carrying signs across the street. I said that I was with that group. he thanksed me and told me that he was from Drummond, WI. He told me that he didn't have a winter coat, so he chose to stay inside, but said that next week, he would be out there with us.

All in all, it was a good day. We turned some heads, got the Mayor to align with us and recruited another for the future. We ask for peace. We want an end to the death and destruction.

Thank you for stopping by. Do all you can do to help bring this war and all war to an end. Spread peace in your own life as you live it. Do some little thing, then do one little thing more, to bring peace.

Peace Vigil # 8, March 13, 2007

2007-03-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

This is what the sky looked like moments after the March 13th Peace Vigil had ended. Just thought it a peaceful view and how ironic that we can see peace all around if we look for it.

We had some nice weather. Temperatures up into the 50's and a slight breeze. Thjat wind off of :alr Superior can be brutal even when Spring weather is here. But we sure appreciate those cool breezes off the big lake when it's 95 degrees and humiod in the middle of July and we got 77 Sunny Cool degrees blowing at us from the North.

The nice weather in combination to the newspaper article had people out in good numbers. We had 16 people out standing for Peace for this particular Tuesday Peace Vigil. We have never had mre than 11 before.

This is Mrs. Spadoman with her "Peace" flag.

One man stopped his car, got out and offered dry roasted peanuts to all of us as he to;ld us he just couldn't stay, but appreciated our efforts. Another woman who had business at the Post Office stopped by and spent a few moments of her busy schedule to just say that she agrees that the world needs Peace.

An elderly woman saw us and went home and made a sign and came back to joion us and spent the rest of the hour along with our group. Still another woman saw the group and pulkled over and stayed with us while others explained to her what the vigil was all about.

This is David. He is a regular attendee of the Peace Vigil.

All in all, a very good day on the Tuesday corner. We all were hopinh that something would happen thaty would make us not have to be there, but the end of it doesn't look like it's in sight. But we must remain vigilent.

Here are some pictures from Vigil Number eight.

This is Alyssa, Spadoman's daughter with her companion, Onawa, and one in the stroller.

Peace to all. Come join us sometime. Make an adventure out of it.

Here's the group right about 5:00 PM in Ashland on March 13th. Nice sunshine and good spirits on this corner in town.

We Got Press!

2007-03-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

This is the link to the newspaper article published in the Saturday/Sunday edition of the Ashland Daily Press that tells about our weekly Peace Vigil. Go HERE to read it.

There was another picture on page eight of the paper that featured yours truly, but that is not available on line. Anyway, we got the press we wanted for our vigil. The weather is getting warmer and we are hoping people come and stand with us. My offer for coffee and a place to stay are still open. Come join us some time.

Peace to All.

Newspaper Article

2007-03-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

It seems the powers that be at the Ashland Daily Press have decided to write a piece about the weekly Peace Vigil that goes on on the streets of Ashland on Tuesday afternoons. I'd love to link you to the article or post the article along with the pictures that were published, but it was in the weekend edition and is not available on line and I don't have a scanner.

In any event, it was a short article, on the front page and continued on page eight of the Saturday/Sunday Ashland Daily Press. I can't say if they publish the weekend edition on-line at all. I'll try to get it on here in time. As many of you know, I've been very busy lately.

The weather is warming up and the long range forecast looks like Tuesday will be warmer and less snowy that the last. Maybe the article will get the attention of more people and the participation will surge. That would be better tham a troop surge for sure.

We've had around thirty different people. When we have 10 on the corner, it is not the same ten every week. I am pleased that the numbers have been steady and that people are joining me in this effort to let our feelings be known in our own town, that some of us want an end to war. We want peace in the world. We want the killing and the devastation to stop.

Thanks for visiting the Peace Blog. Stop by and carry a sign for peace if you're in Ashland, Wisconsin on Tuesday. I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

Peace Vigil #7, Tuesday, March 6, 2007

2007-03-07T05:07:00.000-08:00

This event is being called the "Peace Vigil" or the "Vigil for Peace" now. Since we don't actually "march" anywhere and just mill around the intersection in town, we worded it differently. We also had a piece published in the Ashland Daily Press. Not a lead story, but in the Community Events section, the Peace Vigil and the times and dates is listed. It went like this:

A Vigil for Peace is held every Tuesday, from 5 - 6 p.m. at the corner of Chapple Ave. and Main Street in Ashland. Everyone is invited. This vigil is for the single issue of showing that there are people that want an end to war. Contact 685-9687 or e-mail mananna@centurytel.net or go to http://jspado1.blogspot.com for more information.

Yesterday was cold and snowy. It was around 20 dgress with no wind. We started the Vigil an hour later than we used to. This new time started yesterday. We used to go from 4PM to 5PM. When we first started meeting, it was dark at 5PM. Now, with the daylight being of longer duration, we started meeting at 5PM. Many folks have told us that they have work commitments that make it impossible to get there at four.

We did get a couple of newcomers and the participants totaled 10 again yesterday. A woman from the newspaper came by and asked some of us to speak into a tape recorder and took some pictures. We are uncertain as to whether there will be a news article about our vigil.

Many horn honks and waves yesterday. No one saw anyone flip us off or give the thumbs down. I'm sure there were some that did, we just didn't see any. Plenty of folks giving us the thumbs up. I am encouraged when I see a couple of new faces each time. I certainaly understand that everyone that comes can't come every week. It is good to have a steady number of people out there in the cold holding this Vigil for peace.

Hard to argue with that message. Peace. That's all we say. We want peace. We ask for an end to the war. People who disagree aren't really reading our signs or bothering to ask us what we're doing. We are simply saying that we want peace. We want to killing and death to stop. Our group purposely keeps it a single issue. We ask that all other issues be left at home. We'd love to blast this administration for all the trouble they have caused in the world, v but we simply go on from here and ask for peace.

Last week the sign said there were 3160 United States Military deaths since the Iraq war started. Yesterday's count was 3185. Twenty five in one week. That number will never ever go down. We want to stop it right there and not see years and years of war to make a point and have another war memorial wall with 58,000 names on it. The toll from Vietnam was more than that and as you know, that doesn't count those that die enroute to the hospital or on the operating table or after they come home and commit suicide or drink and drug themselves to death from reliving the trauma.

Deaths from suicide of the spouses left at home, the broken marriages and failed financial dealings are side effects as well. War takes a large toll. We haven't even mentioned the "other side". The Iraqi people that want some peace and are caught in the middle of war with no recourse. Nobody really wins anything. I wonder why negotiations or talks or cease fires are never mentioned. Does anyone know why that would be a bad thing? To stop the killing and see if anything could be done?

I'll have a mid week update. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and reading about the Tuesday peace Vigil in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Peace March # 6, February 27, 2007

2007-02-28T06:10:00.000-08:00

The weather was warmer then it has been. Up into the 30's. The snow storm we had over last weekend that dumped a foot of snow was there, but cleared from the streets and sidewalks of Downtown Ashland. There was no breeze, but also, no sun. After five Tuesdays with bright sunshine, this was the first week since we started that was totally cloudy. It was damp. The dampness in the air gave more than one of us a chill.

We had 10 marchers this week. Most are regulars, a couple new ones. Still wondering where the college students are. Usually they come out in force for peace marching. I know there have been notices around the campus of Northland College in Ashland.

After the march, manmy of us went to the Black Cat coffee shop. There was one of the college students. One of the regulars, Kalene, she was working. Good excuse, I thought. She wanted to be on the street, but had to work. She did vow to make sure the event was well posted at the college on numerous bulletin boards.

Next week, we will be marching at 5:00 PM instead of 4:00. We are told that many folks can make it after work and thet 4:00 PM was just too early. When we started the march, it was dark by 5:00, that's wahy we started at four. So, the word is out., The posters printed and re distributed and we'll see as time passes by if we get more people to come and march for peace on Tuesdays in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Incidently, if any of you out of town folks reading this want to come, you have free lodging and eats at my place. Just a thought. I realize that most folks don't think like I do and jump up for a road trip opportunity like i do, but if you're of the mind, come on over. E-mail me, I'll give you all the details.

A couple of mundane stories to tell. I'll save them for the mid week update. In the meantime. Please do all you can do for peace. Do one little thing more than you have been doing, one little thing. It just might be the one thing that makes a difference.

May Peace Prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother. Peace to ALL!

After Today, Change of Schedule

2007-02-27T08:48:00.000-08:00

For the information to all, and especially to my local readers, there will be a Tuesday March for Peace today at 4:00 PM at the usual place, in front of the Post Office on Chapple Avenue and Main Street in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Starting NEXT WEEK, Tuesday MARCH 6, 2007. The Tuesday Peace March will begin at a new time.

5:00 PM until 6:00 PM

The March will take place in the same place but at a new time to accomodate people who have work schedules that don't allow them to make it earlier.

Please make note of this. I have posters if you'd like one, please e-mail or call me and I'll send one to you.

Thank you

Peace March #5, Tuesday February 20, 2007

2007-02-21T05:48:00.000-08:00

Another Tuesday has come and gone. We held another Peace March in Ashland, WI at 4:00 PM. The weather sure was different than the first four marches. Temperatures were in the upper 30’s and touched above forty by late afternoon. With a soft southwesterly flow to the slight breeze, we found ourselves lined up on the sidewalk with jacket unzipped for a little while, until the sun went behind a building.

Yes, much more peaceful weather to take up our signs and stand on the Cities steet corner. We had twelve people in attendance, 9 that stayed from end to end and three that came for part of the march and left. I count it as a dozen. We discussed that with the sun staying higher in the sky, the new daylight savings time that has us changing clocks ahead on March 11 and the fact that many that say they want to come can’t make it because of work, we will start the month of March and move the time from 4:00 to 5:00 PM for the first Tuesday Peace March for the first Tuesday in March of 2007. That would be March 6th. February 27th’s march will remain at 4:00PM.

Once again, many horn honks and waves of approval. Many peace signs flashed at us. Thumbs up. People some of us know, some were strangers that gave us their approval. The approval far outweighing the finger, I saw one, and disapproval. Two people spoke out to us. One told us that war and killing is part of life. Another was an active duty serviceman who flashed us his Military ID card as he told us the “We don’t like what you’re doing.”

I thanked him for serving us. I told him I know how hard it is to me a soldier. He wanted to be angry instead of discuss anything. He asked if gets a prize with his ID card here at this “party”.

How I wished he would listened to our message. How I wish he had looked at our faces and seen my hat that tells him I am a combat veteran. How I wish he could explain to intelligent people how wanting killing to end was bad for anybody.

They can’t, and they won’t. because this one soldier will tell you that “we” don’t like what the protesters are doing when we ask for peace and an end to war,

I corrected him and said, “you don’t like what we’re doing here, but not every member of the military agrees with you. You don’t speak for everybody. Besides, we have the right to disagree with you, don’t we?”

He acknowledged that we do have that right, but before he spewed forth the age old I am the soldier and you’re free because of me line, just like vile prick double U said the other day that “Money trumps...um...peace”, I pointed at my cap. My service and being a disabled veteran trumped his spiel. He drove away.

Still, even though the honks outnumbered the fingers, the apathy still outnumbers the honks. Still many people ignore the marchers. But we stayed on the corner. We were there for one hour and people are getting the idea that there is a war going on.

All our signs asked for peace or an end to war. No mud slinging epithets to the administration. No mention of other issues like Brittney Spears shaved head or the lies we were told in 2003 after the shock and awe started. Just peace. Stop the killing of human beings.

No change in plans for next week. We’ll be there. If you want to join us, give me a call or an e-mail. We can put you up for a night. Maybe we can do some ice fishing before the march.

By the way, these photos were taken by Shutterwi, a Veteran and a good friend who has a blogsite filled with delightful photographs depicting nature and life at its best in and around Ashland, WI. Check it out.

May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother.

2007-02-19T13:04:00.000-08:00

Pam has an interesting post today. You have to see this.

The leader of the free world actually says in public that the almighty dollar sometimes trumps peace.

This is deplorable. This is why people are being killed all over the world and specifically in Iraq right now. So the commercial interests bush talks about, can have more money.

I have held the dead lifeless bodies of my brothers in my arms and can tell you that they spent their hard earned dollars. They gave them the money that bush so riduculously says trumps peace.

I'll march tomorrow. Anybody joining me? Tuesday at 4:00 PM. Look for the report of Peace March #5 as soon as I can get it on line. We were all to bring one person with us this week. We had 10 least week, we are looking for 20 tomorrow. Hopefully more.

Do all you can do to end the war. Then do one little thing more, please.

May peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother.

Peace March # 4, February 13, 2007

2007-02-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

Today was the fourth March for Peace. This weekly march takes place every Tuesday at 4:00 PM and runs for one hour.

Today's march had 10 people in attendance. Two of the people were new and had never been to any of the previous Tuesday marches.

It was cold again, but also sunny again, even after the weather forecast called for snow flurries in the afternoon. The sun shone brightly and the temperature was 14 degrees ABOVE zero. I stress the above zero because we have had a stretch of below zero temps over the past couple of weeks. Today's march took place with temperatures eleven degrees above last weeks. There was hardly any wind blowing. This, and with the sun shining again, it was comfortable to be out on the street.

The sign held in the picture at the beginning of this post is being held by my friend Darl. Darl is 74 years old and has been diagnosed with a problem with his prostate, probably cancer, his second bought with it. I admire his courage. He could very well sit at home in this cold weather. But he chooses to hold a sign and ask people to consider bringing the troops home. He feels that this would be the ultimate support.

Once again, horn honks and waves outnumbered the thumbs down and the fingers by a very large margin. And apathy outnumbered the horn honks and the waves by an equally large margin.

Many of the people I have talked to over the past few weeks that said they would be here didn't show up. I don't know why. I do not judge. People who need to come are there.

Not much else to say about this weeks march except it took place and everyone who too part was non violent. The message was that we want an end to the war and that we want the world to be at peace.

Later this week I'll try to call a few people and get more posters out in an attempt to get a larger crowd to gather for peace in Ashland, Wisconsin, Tuesday at 4:00 PM.

Tomorrow is Tuesday Already

2007-02-12T03:42:00.000-08:00

On the corner of Chapple and Main, Ashland, WI, Marching for Peace.

Since I've been away from home since Friday last, the week seemed shortened. Tomorrow is Tuesday already and it will be time to March for Peace again at 4:00 PM. Last week was really cold, this week, the forecasters are saying a high of only 12 degrees and some snow flurries are possible. That might end that run of bright sun shine we've had on Tuesday afternoons.

It seems there are a core group that will be there. We are all trying to get more folks to come. When others who are sympathetic to our cause see us around town or at the coffee shop, they always tell us why they didn't make it to the Tuesday Afternoon Peace March.

I never know what to say. I don't want to be in the position as teacher or Dad and that I must exonerate them and accept their excuse. Each individual needs to decide whether or not they are suppose to be there. They don't let me down by not coming. They let themselves down.

I might say, "We had a good turnout for as cold as it was, hope you can make it next time." This is pretty generic. What I am really thinking is this, "You know, if you lazy bastards get off your lazy asses, then we'd have a large enough group there every week and they can't ignore us and we'll get people to know that we're trying to get the war to end."

I won't ever say that and to be honest, I do wish more folks would come, but I'd never say that and I don't think this way. The reason is that I was one of those lazy bastards for many years. I did nothing. I made excuses. I went on living my own life and didn't think I could make a difference.

Well, I don't know if we're making a difference, but Cindy Sheehan is one person and she is making a difference. It might inspire one more somewhere to do some little thing this day that helps steer ourselves to peace.

The bottom line is that even if you don't make the march. If you practice peace in your daily affairs and live like a peaceful person in this crazy world, you are doing something. These actions spread peace probably better than a march down Main Street.

Keep up the good work. I'll see you tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a picture of Pat trying to stay warm last week.

May Peace prevail on the Sacred Earth Mother.

Peace March # 3, February 6, 2007

2007-02-07T01:37:00.000-08:00

This is Pat trying to keep warm while she carries the Peace Flag at the Tuesday at $ PM March

It was cold to be sure. Temperature at 4:00 PM, march time, was three degrees. But we had another sun drenched march on the streets of ashland, Wisconsin. The wind wasn’t blowing too awful hard, so it wasn’t as harsh as yesterday when we had minus thirty five degree wind chills with a high daytime temperature of eight below zero.

There were seven in attendance for the whole hour, with five others that came and stayed a while and carried signs. I thought the numbers would drop off because of the cold, but they stayed steady, with a few new faces included. This made things look promising.

I truly believe that the cold weather did have an effect on the turnout. I can’t and won’t judge anyone that decided, or didn’t even think about coming. You have to be pretty determined to make plans to stand outside for an hour in this cold snap. I wish I hadn’t made the commitment to march myself.

We congregated on the corner this week and not so much walked back and forth in front of the Post Office. There was a question as to whether or not we were getting into the way of people who were just doing their errands and mailing stuff. It didn’t seem as busy today, again maybe the cold weather, but we were visible, a mass of just a few people, all with signs and a peace sign flag waving.

Horn honks and waves far outnumbered the thumbs down and fingers, but apathy won out over the horn honkers and wavers. Still, hopefully someone we didn’t know about noticed a few people who had something to say about ending the war.

I especially like the people who emphatically give the peace sign or wave the thumbs up while honking their horn. I want to believe that each marcher represents many people who just can’t be there or don’t join in the marches.

Of the nay sayers, someone yelled “Get a job!”. I always wondered what that had to do with anything. One man walked up and told us, “You should go wave those flags in Iran.”

I asked him, “Is it warmer there?” There was no reply.

Personally, I wonder if it does any good, to march against the war. Then I come away with the idea that it does no harm. Can anyone really argue that to stop killing people is a bad thing? Can anyone in their right mind say “let’s keep killing” is their choice as opposed to let’s not kill any more people?

Anyway, another Tuesday under our belts. Thank you marchers and supporters.

What We Decided

2007-02-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

I have talked with all but one of the original bunch that were present when we decided on a weekly Peace March here in our hometown of Ashland, Wisconsin. All but one favored keeping our Peace March, that we hold every Tuesday afternoon at 4 PM, focused on one subject, that is an end to war, and to maintain a non violent posture throughout the hour long march.

I appreciate those that commented and gave your opinions when I posed this question in an earlier post. The outcome of those here mirrored your opinions.

We printed up a short "guideline" sheet that we will hand out to those that attend the Peace March. Here is a copy of it:

Tuesday at 4 PM Peace March
General Information and Guidelines

A group of individuals in Ashland, WI have started a March for Peace. It takes place for one hour each week and commences at 4:00 PM every Tuesday at the corner of Chapple Ave. and Main St.

The consensus of the core group of planners feel that the interests of Peace and an end to the war are best served if all who attend follow these guidelines. We ask that you:

Please keep signage to the one major issue, or single purpose, of Ending the War or for Peace. We feel that to have more than one issue being considered will dilute the overall message that we want to raise, that is, we want Peace.

Please Keep this Protest March Non-Violent by not confronting others and refusing to return assaults, verbal, like name calling, and physical, like hand gesturing, or starting any type of assault against anyone.

When a few of us met this morning at the Black Cat coffeehouse and discussed the issue, one wanted to know what would happen if someone attended and did not want to stick to one issue or was violent.

I responded that as far as I was concerned, I would do nothing but ask the person to adhere to the wishes of the consensus of the originators of the march. Other than that, I would do nothing. If other participants wanted to say something to the person or persons, that would be up to them.

Sounds like a chicken shit way to run things on the face of it, but that's the way I decided to handle it. To make if a free event, I will not be party to any kind of censure. I believe that we will ask people to handle themselves in a non violent fashion and stick to one main issue and not carry signs that dilute the peace issue that we bring forward at the Tuesday Peace March.

It's very cold here in Northern Wisconsin. Wind chills of over 30 degrees below zero. Tomorrow's march will be a true test of the faithful. Everyone that shows up will be well bundled up to be sure. But it's just an hour. We all can make it for one hour.

You won't recognize me, but I'll be the one with a sign.

Peace to all. Please do all you can do to end the war, then, do one little thing more.

A Veteran's Dilemma and Jonathan Schulze

2007-02-02T05:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had a dentist appointment. My dentist is at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis. It's 200 miles from where I live. There is a closer VA facility, 167 miles, but that's not where my records are. There are a couple of clinics closer still, but they don't have dental facilities. I don't have insurance to go to a dentist in private practice in my community. I am on a fixed income and can't afford to just go and pay for services that I need.

I feel fortunate to have health care. Even though it's a long drive to get there, I have health care and I must tell you, the VA does as good a job as any other HMO as far as outpatient care goes. That's my opinion. I thought about this yesterday as I was riding in a van provided by Douglass County Wisconsin Veterans Services.

You can catch the van at the Hardee's parking lot in Superior and Hardee's allows the Veterans to park there all day. The van leaves at 5:45 AM and gets you to the VA by 8:30 AM. Everyone has to wait for the last appointment to be over before we can ride home. Yesterday, the van didn't get back to Superior until 7:00 PM or so, then I had to drive the 65 miles to Ashland and home. It was a long day. But still, the ride is provided for $12.00. A lot cheaper than buying gas. It runs every day, M-F.

I thought about the men riding in the van yesterday. They all receive their health care from the VA. They are doing what they told me they would do when I was nineteen years old and in the Army. They said the VA will take care of you for the rest of your life, and they are. Trouble is, what it took to get it so I could get the care in the first place. A virtual nightmare.

I had to prove everything. When and where I was in the service. How much I owned in assets. If I had any other insurance. The really tough part is proving that your injuries or condition was caused by something that happened while you were in the service.

If you went in and said, "I have a mental problem and I want some help", and you are on the rolls as receiving health care, there is no problem. If you went in and said, "I have a mental problem and it was caused by my service", it's a whole other ball game. In the first case, they examine you and test you and see if you have a condition. In the second case, it's your responsibility to prove whether or not you have a condition. That's how it was for me.

As I sat in the waiting room waiting for my dental appointment, I read the local Minneapolis newspaper. There was a story about a Marine, along with two family members, who went to the VA Hospital in St. Cloud, MN and said he was thinking of commiting suicide and he and his family members thought he should be admitted. They turned him away and told him that there were 26 others ahead of him. He killed himself a few days later.

Read the story HERE. I'l list the URL because Blogger has not been allowing my links to work lately:

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/963363.html

This is a classic story about the system of the health care for the Veterans. Not any betrayal about the fine individual people who care for us when we walk through the door, but rather the bureaucracy we face to get funding for operation of any VA facility. The waiting times to make appointmets which is some times months. The procedure for giving prescriptions. The list goes on and on.

Yesterday, when I went to the dentist, there was a problem. Someone had made a mistake and my appointment was not on the computer screen. In their words, I didn't have an appointment. I know I did have an appointment and I traveled over 200 miles to get there and go to it.

I was seen by the Chief of Staff for the Dental Department. Then, I saw another dentist and had some X-rays. Then had some work done on a troublesome tooth. (By the way, they are going to give me a bridge for the four teeth I've been missing on the bottom for four years, and make me a partial for the one they pulled on the top last October).

You can be sure the word went out in the Central Region, and maybe in all of the VA that we better not turn away any more Veterans. That suicide made them look pretty damn bad. There is absolutely no excuse to be turned away when you are pleading for your life.

How does this relate to a Peace Blog? Simple. No War and the Marine wouldn't be dead from suicide brought on by the horrors of war that he couldn't control. No War, and the VA wouldn't be so overcrowded and unable to provide services to all who enter the buildings. No War and there would be more money and even better services for those that went before us into combat.

I was treated better than they had to treat me this time, and for a tooth, because they were under pressure, under scrutiny. Give it a month or so, It'll get back to normal. Long waits, mistakes in scheduling, broad generalized service, treatment of symptoms and no wellness programs. As for yesterday and my experience with receiving top notch class AAA service, all I can say is that I hope every Veteran gets that kind of service from now on, then maybe the Marine didn't have to give his life in vain.

Honor the Dead
Heal the Wounded
Work for Peace and End the War

Today I honor:

Jonathan Schulze
United State Marine
Semper Fi, Mac

We Have A Problem

2007-01-31T18:31:00.000-08:00

This Peace March on Tuesdays started just a little over a week ago. A few of us were talking in the Black Cat Coffeehouse about the world situation, namely, the War in Iraq. I said I needed to do more as an individual to help try to end it. Some sort of protest over and above writing letters to Senators and Congresspeople.

I made a pledge to start having a march for the end of the war once per week as I've seen in other places. I thought Ashland needed to have peace marches more often that the rate at which they were taking place. I said I would be on the corner once per week and I would start next Tuesday at 4:00 PM and stay out there for one hour each week.

My idea was received by a few others that said that if I did that, they would join me. I said I was going to do it. My plan was to make the issue only one issue, the WAR. I wasn't interested in blaming or trying to turn people away from other issues pertinent in America and/or abroad. I wanted to focus on one issue. I wanted an end to the war, I wanted our country to be at peace.

We have marched two times now. I carry a sign that asks onlookers to do something to help stop the war. A couple of the others that heard about the march and wanted to partake in it brought signs that were political and against the war, but also raised other issues. One passerby thought we needed to stop abortion and we shouldn't be protesting war, go figure.

The problem is this: Do we march to end the war and that is our only issue? Or do we march for any issue anyone wants to carry a sign for?

I believe that the common ground of 'end the war and return to peace' can bring many people together. I also believe that raising many issues in a march such as this distracts from the ending the war issue and doesn't do a lot to bring people together. I feel some who are against the war, but not against all republican policies, might join in if the issue was one thing, ending the war.

Another says that if they didn't cause trouble and there wasn't bloodshed and fighting, the Vietnam war would never have ended. He says that he would fight if confronted. When someone yells at him, he yells back. When someone flips him off, he flips them back.

Maybe we need to become a company or corporation and organize and lay down guidelines. Maybe our experiment needs a leader that will, with the help of interested parties, write these guidelines.

As it is now, we are unorganized and anything goes. One guy had a sign that said "Get rid of the King". Another said "Impeach Bush". Others were, "End the war" and "Really Support the troops. Bring them Home". Many of us are peaceful and want to peacefully demonstrate. We would lie still on the ground and wait to be carried away if we were arrested. Completely non-violent.

I ask you to give me your opinions. What should we do? What kind of protest march for peace should this be? Should we call a meeting and elect or pronounce a leader? Should we keep the protest at one issue, peace? Or should all the issues be
on-the-table?

Please help me out with your opinions. Please do not use this comment section on this post to mount your own protest, but rather use it to help guide us towards a decision on how to proceed with this peace march. If you need more information in order to help us, please ask in comments or e-mail me. The address is on my profile.

Thank you for your consideration. I will be back Friday as I am going out of town until then. Thank you for coming to this sight. Thank you for helping us.

Peace March # 2

2007-01-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

Bundled up to combat the cold of Northern Wisconsin in Winter, these folks are marching for Peace.

It’s Tuesday. The second Tuesday Peace March took place today at 4:00 PM on the sidewalk in front of the Ashland, WI Post Office and City Hall Building on Main Street. We had ten marchers show up this week. That’s an increase from seven last week, which was the inaugural weekly march for peace.

The weather was a bit colder. Thirteen degrees farenheight with a stiff thirteen mile per hour breeze which came right off the Great Lake Superior. We were bundled up good today. Wool socks, mittens, scarves, goose down parkas. Ashland received about three inches of fresh snow last night. That had been cleared off the sidewalks so the footing was good. It was very sunny again this week. With the new snow and the bright sun, low in the winter sky, it was bright and felt warm when you stood with your back to the west and you blocked the wind with your hand held sign.

Of the seven people we had last week, four of them returned. The other six people then, were newbies. They brought their own anti war signs. I felt it was a good turnout seeing as it was very cold with that minus six degree wind chill.

We had more honks and waves of approval than we did fingers and downward cast thumbs. We did have two separate instances of people who were verbal and made comments to a peace marcher that was against our efforts. One older man, a Korean Veteran, was called a “pussy” by a man who passed him as he carried his “support the troops, bring them home” hand held sign.

Another man told us as a group that to stop war, we needed to stop abortion. One marcher confronted him and tried to start a dialogue with the man. He said something to the effect that the marcher wasn’t even a Veteran. I was wearing what I call my ceremonial baseball hat, the one with all the pins, and said, “I’m a Veteran.”

He came over towards me and asked me if I was pro life. I answered him that I didn’t want any more killing of anyone in the Iraq war. His argument was that if we don’t stop at the beginning, which he explained as meaning stop abortion, then it was no use to try and stop war.

I didn’t want to argue other issues. I just said that I wanted the killing and destruction of war to cease. He waved his hand at me with a gesture of, “get out of here.” I kept walking with my sign which had pictures of flag draped coffins coming home from Iraq.

We lasted an hour, then retreated to the Black Cat Coffeehouse, a half block away, to warm up with some hot coffee. An interested community member who did not join the march bought a cup of coffee for seven of the protesters.

All in all, it was a good event. Some of the people who said that they would come didn’t, and some people who just heard about it showed up and marched. As last week, Shutterwi, our own local photographer, took a few pictures and saved our efforts for prosperity.

As we talked in the Black Cat, we all spoke to our choir and decided that was okay as long as you got the others to “sing”. Does anyone reading this have a similar weekly event in their town? Please tell us about it. Now, enjoy the pictures.

Huddled more this week than last,the temperature had droped to a cold windy 13 degrees F.

The scene at Peace March # 2, January 30, 2007, Ashland, Wisconsin.

Peace March Weekend Report

2007-01-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

I didn’t make it out to any of the Peace Marches that simultaneously went on while the main march was going on in Washington DC yesterday. I’ve been pretty sick and laying on the sofa for the most part of the last three days. But I did see where C-Span was going to have live coverage of the march, so I watched it on TV.

Hard to say from the cameras that were panning the crowd how many were there. The commentator, when the broadcast was over, said there were several thousand people.

Actor Timothy Robbins had some good things to say. Jesse Jackson, Medea Benjamin, the founder of Code Pink, also spoke up against the war in Iraq. Jane Fonda was one of the dignitaries on stage.

The caption at the bottom of the TV screen simply said, Jane Fonda, Actress. But I remember her being so much more than that when the Vietnam war was going on. She was an activist to end that war 35 years ago just as she is now. I was angered at her way of doing things back then. Many thought that she was siding with the North Vietnamese, the very people that our government told us were the enemy.

After my combat duty in Vietnam, I decided, like Utah Phillips said, “After Korea, I decided not to let anyone tell me who my enemies are,”

Jane Fonda has been consistent with being against war, that I can say for her. And with some forgiveness on my part, it’s not hard to listen to what she has to say about this current war. The difference this time around is that she now wears the insignia of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War and if she is practicing what she is preaching. She is now Honoring the Warrior and Not the War.

Otherwise, as Peace Rallies go, this was pretty normal. Speakers making their poignant comments, thousands carrying signs, all wanting an end to war. I couldn’t help but notice that even though there were many people there, I saw no sign of any major media coverage and didn’t see any political leaders showcased as either speakers or even being in attendance.

In fact, C-Span went right on to a Town Meeting in Iowa where Hillary Clinton was speaking. This is one of her first appearances as she is planning on a run for the White House in 2008. The question and answer period after her short speech answers some questions in what I would consider a good way, and in others as not so good.

For instance, she says she will fight now as a Senator and in the future if she gets elected President, for Universal Health Care, continued total funding for Veterans Benefits and Education. She didn’t answer questions about the 22,000 troop surge or the war.

She told of the 1993 Health Care programs put forth during the Clinton years in the White House, and that this current administration has cut back on these and many others, like Veterans Services. She mentioned the No Child Left Behind program and lambasted it because it is driven by test scores. She claims that a test score is a point in time general guide that doesn’t take into consideration the individual student, their learning style, background, socioeconomic status and environment. I agree with all of that.

Teach your Children

My problem is that I feel that if our country being at war is not the first priority of a politician, they aren’t worth any consideration. Men and women dying must be more important than any other issue. And it makes perfect sense to me that 500 billion dollars would fund a lot of programs that the American people seem to be asking for to get the balance of rich to poor to look more like a bar instead of a slope.

When Hillary was asked about troop surge from a Veteran of the first Gulf War in 1991, she told of the terrible situation that we have because we have to fund the VA every year and overall, we’ve lost funding dollars, and how this is wrong. But there was no response to “the surge” or the war in general.

I wonder what part of America she is seeing. I wonder if any of our elected officials are willing to stand up and just call for an end to it. Maxine Waters has. Kucinich has. Looks like they have the same problem in the legislative branches of government that we do in the private sector. Not enough showing up to make a difference that can not be ignored.

There is a guy on the blogs and I read his comments around a few sites I visit. He once commented about the war, ‘I looked out my window and I didn’t see anything so I don’t worry about the war.’ or words closely to that effect.

I hope and pray the tanks don’t ever rumble up our own driveways. I hope and pary we can be strong enough in words and actions to make a difference now. Keep up the hard work.

Democracy Now with Congressperson Maxine Waters

2007-01-26T04:21:00.000-08:00

Congesswoman Maxine Waters of California had some good things to say the other day. She was on Deocracy NOw with Amy Goodman. She speaks to the issue of war and doesn't skirt around it like has been the norm since the State of the Union Address.

I especially like the fact that she mentions politicians are not willing to risk their political careers to take a stand. She has invited. in somecases challenged, other Congressp[eople and Senators of both parties to march in this Saturdays Peace March and Rally in Washington DC.

Overall, I like Democracy Now to get some stories that you won'y hear on network bought and paid for TV. This is a good example. Please CHECK THIS OUT.

Mid Week Update Peace March # 1

2007-01-25T05:41:00.000-08:00

Walking for Peace with the warm sun on our backs

Two things of importance happened while on the first march for peace last Tuesday. Right at the beginning, around 4:00 PM. A young woman was walking her gog across the Street. She recognized me and crossed over in the middle of the block to say hello. Her name is Karen and she is s reporter for the local newspaper, The Daily Press. She was off work, but stopped by to see what was going on.

She herself is a peace activist and told me that she would be there to walk and carry a sign next week. She also mentioned that she would want to do a story for the paper about the project. I asked her to let it evolve for a few weeks and see what happens. Maybe hundreds will start showing up, or maybe the cops will tell us to get a parade permit. Who knows?

In any event, Karen will join us next week and will be taking notes. At some point, she will write a story about our grassroots attempt at marching for peace. She'll probably bring her dog.

Another person stopped by. This woman is a part time professor at Northland College in Ashland. She teaches Peace and Justice Studies. We have been in contact via e-mail and she said she will be there as a citizen participant next Tuesday. She also will get the word out on campus and she "knows" there will be students that would want to march every week.

Today, I will create a flyer to post on public bulletin boards around town and at the college. I will also have some post card size information cards printed to pass out. Others are spreading the word around town. I have some good hope for this project. I want there to be too many people showing up that we can't be ignorred.

There's my mid week update for Peace in Ashland. Someone mentioned a name of our organization. That's just it. There is no organization. People are told that something is going on, and people show up. Simple to do something that way.

I hope someone is inspired to do one little thing more, to take one small action more, in their own life to end the war.

May Peace prevail; on the Sacred Earth Mother.

Picture from the Peace March #1

Peace March #1

2007-01-23T16:00:00.002-08:00

Today is Tuesday, January 23, 2007. This was the first Peace March that I know of, here in Ashland, Wisconsin, that was held without some kind of sponsorship from an organization. This was a true grass roots effort. People talking about the fact that they feel so helpless in our attempts to end the war.

I personally felt that I must make an effort to do something more than the occasional letter to the Senator or Congressperson from our State. I decided on this Peace March strategy. I said I would march, carrying a sign that asked for peace and an end to the war, once per week at a prescribed time.

I have seen this done in other cities. The Veterans for Peace have such displays in Duluth. They meet once per week on a busy street corner in the downtown area and hold signs of protest. I wanted to start something like this in Ashland, WI, where I live.

I announced this endeavor at the Black Cat Coffee Shop one morning last week. I decided to start my march for peace on Tuesdays at 4:00PM. Today was the first one. Peace March #1. I will attempt to journalize on these pages what took place and add almanac comments and pictures, when we have them, as well.

Today was a sunny afternoon in Ashland. The temperature hovered around 20 degrees. A slight wind out of the Northwest off Lake Superior. The sun sure made it feel pretty good. I started at 4:00PM with this hour long march because right now, in this hemisphere, it gets dark right around 5:00PM. As the weeks and months pass, the daylight will gain and we'll always be in daylight as we march. I pray that we won't need to be out here for many months and that the end of the war will come sooner rather than later.

I say "We", because I announced the march, but others, through only word of mouth, showed up. There were seven of us at one time. Not bad for the first attempt with no fanfare or advertising.

I carried a sign that I made at home. Another carried a 3' X 5' Peace Sign Flag. Still another had a hand held sign. One fellow was passing out copies of the Declaration of Independence and has commited $10.00 per week for copying fees to continue this practice. Two others just showed up and stood on the corner and waved. Lastly, a good friend brought his camera and took some photos. All these wonderful shots were taken by Shutterwi, make sure you check out his wonderful Northwoods photographs at his blog site.

We have begun. A few folks in a small town, doing something to hopefully help end the war. If we have convinced one person to write a letter or speak out, we are successful in our minds.

Honks, thumbs up and waves were plentiful. I tried counting but quit as I was overwhelmed. I did see one man shake his head in disgust when he looked at me with my sign. I had one other report of a thumbs down by one of the other marchers, Noone reported getting flipped off.

We are proud Americans today. Here are some pictures from Peace March #1 in Ashland, WI.

On the corner of Chapple and Main. Beautiful ice covered Lake Superior in the background.

One of the hand held signs held by a 73 year old Korean War Veteran

The Veteran walks for Peace

Today Starts it.

2007-01-23T06:06:00.001-08:00

Today, Tuesday, at 4:00 PM, I will start my march. I will carry a sign that will send the message that I want the war to end immediately. The date is January 23, 2007.

I will do this for one hour, every week, every Tuesday at the same time. I already have promises from friends that say they will join me. I also have had fellow bloggers tell me they are with me in spirit. This is all good. But I still implore all of you to do just one little thing more than you have in the past. Call a Senator or Congressperson, e-mail or write to them. Carry your own sign. Send some organized trustworthy peace group a few dolloars, even a buck. There are some listed on my sidebar that I have found to be worthy of our trust. Do one thing new everyday. Do it.

I am not a hero. I am not trying to get publicity. I can't do that by myself. But as the groundswell continues to grow, sooner or later there will too many to ignore. Then the tide may change. We must keep trying, we must all do just a little bit more.

I'll post pictures of my marches as time goes on. I'll blog what is said to me and my responses. I know I'll get many honkers and wavers in approval, but I will get the finger a lot too. I am thick skinned and it will not bother me. I'm not Catholic, but maybe I'll make the Sign of the Cross to them or a simple Peace sign with my fingers and a smile.

Inside, I will pray for each person that shows their weakness and would prefer war over peace. I will be tolerant and practice this. I will be forgiving and practice this. I will be cold because it's freakin' 20 degrees and the wind is blasting off the Lake Superior, but I'll be there. Please join me, somehow, someway, in spirit, in the flesh.

Look for our bumper sticker and pin-on button campaign to begin in a few weeks. You can show and tell everyone where you stand on the issue. Except, of course, if you stand on the side of the people who want to be at war. You'll have to get your buttons and pins eleswhere. Mine don't have much leeway when it comes to the "other" side of the proverbial aisle.

I'll have my cell phone with me. Call me if you want and wish me well. (715) 209-0241) I'll be on the sidewalk in front of the Post Office and City Hall in Ashland, Wisconsin. It is between Chapple Avenue and Sixth Avenue West on Main Street.

See you there.

Peace and Namaste..... Mitakwe Oyasin We Are All Ralated

Thomas Paine and Common Sense

2007-01-20T06:47:00.000-08:00

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

These are Paine's words from the beginning of a series of speeches and essays that he wrote about the plight of the colonies and our fledgling country breaking away from the grip that England held upon them.

Many of the things that Paine writes about have meaning to us now, 231 years later, because what it seems that the current government is doing to the people similar things.

This light reading for the weekend. I invite you to the site where all of Paine's works are archived. THIS SITE has the essays and articles of Thomas Paine. His most famous was "Common Sense", but he wrote wa series of articles over a period of time called "The Crisis". I invite you to read at your liesure.

The point of this exercise is to hopefully let the reader see that the public citizen holds in their own hands the toolds to affect change.

As this reverts to my goal here at this Peace blog, I hope it inspires some to take more action and help stop the war.

A New Direction

2007-01-19T03:11:00.000-08:00

I've had it. My whole life has been changed because of this current administration in Washington and their policies. We are in a lie of a war, we are losing our rights and liberties, we are leaving our children and Grand children an enormous debt and it is not good at all.

When I was asked if the current world situation and America's involvement with it had affected me, I had to think about it. I knew I had thought of it, but how much had it affected me? After some serious reflection, I know the answer. A LOT!

I have had many anxiety attacks worrying about our troops, the Warrior men and women , who are putting their lives on the line for our society simply because we ask them to. I have had many a sleepless night thinking of what I can do to help end the war, all war, and bring our troops home to safety. I have depression. I have anger issues. I have decision making problems. I snap out at people. I seem to feel like there is no way to fight the proverbial City Hall.

Well, I'm back. I was a leader of soldiers in Vietnam. We were under the same siege that our brave and honorable soldier Warriors are under right now. Our mission back then was to sit around and make sure things were secure by being guards of the roads by day, then being attacked by night. The same people that did your laundry by day tried to kill you in the darkness.

The mission in Iraq is largely the same. Drive around in a HumVee and get shot at or blown up. There is no direction.

Ok, some may disagree. The bottom line is this: We are in a war. Even if you think that we were suppose to go over and attack Iraq and it was for some reason of goodness, you should want it to be over. Every human being, every American should want the killing of all people to stop. It is dead wrong to not want an end to war, fucking period!

I want an end to it. I believe to get an end to it we must make sure people are aware of the magnitude of the atrocity of it. The pain, the destruction, the outright sickness of killing for killings sake. That's all it is you know. Killing for killings sake. War is death and suffering. I think that too many people in America, where the war isn't being fought, where bombs are not dropping, don't think about it and therefore don't do anything to try to get it to end.

My personal mission is to let people know that there is this death and destruction going on and besides people in other countries of the world having to deal with it, our own sons and daughters are there and they deal with it too. It affects us all.

Starting Tuesday, January 23, 2007. I will mount a simple informative vigil in my home town of Ashland, Wisconsin. I will carry a sign that will remind people that there is a war going on. I will walk from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the sidewalk in front of the library and City Hall along Main Street, between Chapple Avenue and Sixth Street. I will do this every Tuesday at the same time.

Anyone who wants to can join me, but I will be there, every week, for an hour. I will just be there, ever present with my sign that simply reminds the good people of the town where I live that there is a terrible thing happening in the world. I hope this action will make one other person realize that we must do all we can do to stop the killing.

Peace rallies are great. Veterans for Peace and Women in Black. The School of the America's protests. Granny's for Peace. Code Pink.All of these organizations are fighting to end the war. But they are not here in my town once per week with their message. I will be.

In the future, I will post commentary and articles here. I will add links to organizations that have information and offer opportunities of involvement. I will try not to blame and ostracize our leaders. If you don't have a bad opinion of them at this point, so be it. But you still should want the war to be over, don't you? You still should want the death and destruction and pain and suffering to be over, don't you?

You see I've been there. I've seen burned bodies. I have the blood on my hands. I have held my brothers lifeless dead bodies in my own arms and read their names on the famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC. It is not a tourist destination. It is a monument to destruction and death.

To some degree, the people whose names appear are spared this second go'round. They gave their lives already. In Iraq right now, the number of reported dead American troops is somewhere around 3000. In Vietnam at one time there were 3000 of our folks killed. It ended with over 58,000 names on that Wall.

Please do all you can do to end all war. Then, do just a little bit more.

Please come by and visit here. Please comment with what you're doing to help end the war. Please try to motivate and support. Give me and the readers your ideas. Do more. Do something. Do all you can do.

Real sacrifice is happening over there. Real sacrifice has been given. Shake out the fruit jars. Donate spare change, a dollar will do, to the organization you choose that will speak to the end of war. Take action.

Lastly, the Lakota people have a saying in their Native tongue, It is, Mitakwe Oyasin. It means, "We Are All Related". I think this means what happens and what is done by one, is happening to and done by us all.

May Peace prevail on the Great Mother Earth. Can I get an Amen?