Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,801
Member is Online
|
Post by Brian on Apr 2, 2010 23:02:59 GMT -8
Traffic was light on Good Friday at the corner of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard in Montrose, Calif., and so was our attendance. Nine regulars came for the first vigil of the month. The kids who often pump up our numbers (and our spirits) were off enjoying spring break, as were the counter-protesters, presumably, since only three of them showed up.
Jeanne brought one of the best signs you've never seen for the artwork alone. The message: "Torture. It's So First Century." Roberta made a brilliant changeable sign -- I should have written down its elements to do it justice, but I was too excited about Anni getting my helium American flag balloon filled up again.
We're talking about having another Curveball vigil -- an additional gathering on a weeknight when the merchants' association doesn't expect us and therefore does not remove the flag from the Vietnam War memorial for us as it does every Friday. And there's also been talk of a 41st anniversary tribute to John and Yoko's Montreal Bed-In like we did for the 40th. Stay tuned to the Montrose Peace Vigil message board.
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,801
Member is Online
|
Post by Brian on Apr 9, 2010 23:00:41 GMT -8
Thanks to the addition of a young family of four towards the end of Friday's vigil, our count on the corner reached 11. If I count the two of them who were eating yogurt instead of holding signs, it would have been 13. Special honors go to Jim and wife Sharon who stopped to take part -- on their way to a wedding.
While we couldn't populate all three patches of grass, we continue to receive enthusiastic demonstrations of support from drivers and walkers alike. Roberta brought a nice stack of flyers to promote the Glendale Peace Vigil's screening of "Rethink Afghanistan" on May 7, which Anni and I will continue to hand out next week while Roberta's watching baseball in Oakland.
I should also plug the Montrose Peace Vigil banner hanging at the corner this Monday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. Bruce asked me to invite all of his message board friends to join him and Jeanne under Old Glory.
|
|
|
Post by Lindypoo on Apr 10, 2010 19:52:08 GMT -8
I just had a thought when I was reading your post. It might be an Idea for you at the corner. I was watching Nancy Grace Not a fan really. But at the end of the show she has lives to remember (Service Men) it really got to me that they are so young You might want to post some of thier pictures on your signs. It puts a face to what we are losing every day we are there.
|
|
anni
Administrator
Administrating Designer
Posts: 1,608
|
Post by anni on Apr 10, 2010 19:54:40 GMT -8
Absolutely brilliant, Linda! I'll have Brian get right on it.
|
|
|
Post by Lindypoo on Apr 12, 2010 9:00:24 GMT -8
I found a web site you might like to look at iraqwarheroes.com it gives a list of all that have been lost. As I scolled down I found Anderson Brian E. It also has there pictures. It might help with putting a face on your boards
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,801
Member is Online
|
Post by Brian on Apr 15, 2010 23:00:26 GMT -8
I found a web site you might like to look at iraqwarheroes.com it gives a list of all that have been lost. As I scrolled down I found Anderson Brian E. It also has their pictures. It might help with putting a face on your boards. I've been thinking about Linda's idea for the last few days -- it's so powerful. If we had photos of the men and women killed in Iraq among our signs at the Friday vigils, we'd suddenly be sending more human and less abstract messages about some of the true costs of this seven-year war. Still, I have to wonder if the sight of Fallen Heroes would upset our friends across the street, who think we're literally desecrating sacred ground because we set up near a Vietnam War memorial and its plaques naming the dead Crescenta Valley soldiers, most of whom were drafted. I would love to hear what you peace vigil stalwarts think about Linda's proposal to put "a face to what we are losing every day we are there."
|
|
|
Post by Sigrid on Apr 16, 2010 11:32:42 GMT -8
Linda's idea is a good one. I recall in the early days of the Iraq war -- Ted Koppel at the end of his news show ran photos & bio of dead U.S. soldiers -- it was quite moving. But... something was missing.
We need to represent some of the vast number of dead Iraqi and Afghani civilians whose families and families' homes and ways of living have been ravaged.
Other ideas?
|
|
|
Post by Jeanne on Apr 16, 2010 19:36:30 GMT -8
Linda's idea is a good one. I recall in the early days of the Iraq war -- Ted Koppel at the end of his news show ran photos & bio of dead U.S. soldiers -- it was quite moving. But... something was missing. We need to represent some of the vast number of dead Iraqi and Afghani civilians whose families and families' homes and ways of living have been ravaged. Other ideas? I think this would be a good thing to give form to. I checked out the website. They do have some information on each person who died. So the research is done for us; our role would be to take it from cyberspace to the streets. A few thoughts...it would be a memorial and therefore maybe not appropriate for our casual Friday vigil atmosphere. I think it would be better to set aside a special time for it. For example, a curve ball (with the flag) or Memorial Day in the evening with candles. I picture it silent or maybe Paige would want to say a few words. Another approach could be that we feature one soldier each Friday and learn as much about him or her and share it with passersby. We could do both. Brian, I guess I can picture some people getting mad at us for doing it. But what would that mean? If we were casual or irreverent, they would have good reason. But if we handle it seriously and sensitively, and don't impose upon or cover up the Vietnam memorial with Iraq victims, I can't imagine their argument. Sigrid, I agree about acknowledging all of the lost lives, but I'm not sure how to do that. I do think that that would really make some people angry and the accusations of treason would start flying. At Arlington West, they have crosses in the sand for Americans and huge lists of Iraqi deaths on panels. There were 90,000 when Roberta and I were there a few years ago. Those lives were every bit as precious as the Americans'. How do we convey that in our community in a way it will be received? Lots of food for thought here.
|
|
Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,801
Member is Online
|
Post by Brian on Apr 16, 2010 23:00:12 GMT -8
I want to rejoin the discussion that my sister Linda started after this interruption for my weekly vigil report. Many thanks to Sigrid and Jeanne for posting about her idea -- and for coming to the corner Friday, along with Tony. Roberta was out of town but Jim was there with his flag before 5:30. Anni and I brought her signs, and Mike was back with his. The highlight of the evening had to be the return of Cynthia's -- and Bernard's -- mother Linda, looking radiant and healthy again. There were just enough peaceniks to spread out on all three patches of grass. This month's attendance so far: - Apr. 2 - 9
- Apr. 9 - 11
- Apr. 16 - 11
|
|
|
Post by Lindypoo on Apr 17, 2010 9:30:58 GMT -8
I just wanted to point out. Where you stand every Friday night to protest the war is a Memorial to Vets. Yes it is designated to Vietnam vets. But it is a remembrance of all vets lost to war as I look at it. Why would it matter or anger anyone that you are acknowledging others that have lost there life in a war. And if it does to damn bad. Someone once said to me while visiting the Wall of Remembrance. "Just think if they were all still alive, how our country would be different. Fathers, Mothers, Children, Grandparents, Doctors, Teachers, Nurses,etc..... Here we have another generation losing out on that. Why can we not put that face on this war? Why not make a sign that said. Lets not Lose Another Life Like this ONE
(With a picture of a Fallen Soldier)
LETS END THIS WAR! OVER 4,000 AND COUNTING I wish i didn't live so far away. I would join my brother on that corner every Friday night and carry that sign proudly
|
|