Peace--Before Another Mother's Son is Lost

Last night, over 1500 sites in the US held a candlelight vigil in honor our men and women in Iraq. Held at Cindy Sheehan's suggestion, Moveon.org and True Majority.org sent e-mails throughout the country for activists to sign up and participate in the event.

I was not able to attend the one in Urbana, but I am guessing more people showed up than signed up. Peaceful anti-war movements capture the imagination more because the anger is not masked, but brought out in a positive manner. To see some newspapers which featured the vigils on their front pages, click here (courtesy of the DU).

Here is a picture from the Alberqueque vigil, supplied by someone at the DU. I thought it was touching. This person was one of 250 who lined the streets, mainly in front of a church. It was reported that one passerby yelled at the protesters "you don't know what it's like to lose anyone in the twin towers!" I don't understand how anyone can see the connection between 9/11 and the war in iraq, but there are enough citizens who bought into the administration's disengenuous reasons for going to war with Iraq.



Pete Seeger's song "Where Have all the Flowers Gone" from the 1960's, is timeless. I'm reminded of it as our soldiers continue to die each day in the war. UPDATE: Joan Baez joined Camp Casy last Sunday and gave a concert. Here's a link to the video of her rendition of "Where Have all the Flowers Gone." It will make those of you who are older reminescent or perhaps sentimental.

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Gone to young girls, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone to young men, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone to soldiers, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

And where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, a long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

And where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, every one!
When will they ever learn, oh when will they ever learn?


(Photo by Mandel Ngan, courtesy of truthout.org)



The modern day version of this song is expressed by a group called Greenday, and the name of their song is "Wake Me Up When September Ends." The video is more powerful than the words. Click video on the website and choose the appropriate bandwith for viewing.