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Grandmothers for Peace InternationalActivism > Other Granny Groups > Grandmothers Against the War |
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Grandmothers for Peace InternationalActivism > Other Granny Groups > Grandmothers Against the War |
When we stand up for Peace, we are being thanked by the earth underneath us, the sky above us, and the billions and billions of people on this globe who wish for the same. Our heart beats in unison with them, and with the children of the World, who wish not to be maimed or be orphaned. It is important that each one of us will stand up and be counted. It's time to do so. I am glad that grannies are making their voices be heard. I want them to know that I am with them. With my deepest love, in sisterhood,
Yoko Ono Lennon
July '07
Anti-war grandmothers throughout the United States are very discouraged lately about the chances of ending the war and bringing home America's grandchildren WHILE WE ARE STILL HERE. We wonder what's the matter with those schlemiehls in the Congress, anyhow, that they sit on their tushes and allow our kids to be cut down just as they are at the brink of their lives -- for no noble cause other than the delusions and egomania of the worst President in our lifetimes.
Those of us in the grandmothers peace movement -- Grandmothers Against the War, the Granny Peace Brigade, Grandmothers for Peace International, and the Raging Grannies -- have tried so hard over the last five years to wake up America and sound the alarm. We've hoped and even expected that our wisdom and our experience would have an impact on the public and also inspire the Government to do the right thing and end the slaughter. But, our efforts have seemingly been futile.
Though most of us are in our 70's and 80's and a few in our 90's, with limited strength and energy, nevertheless we've traveled around the country and to Europe to convey our message. We've marched long distances, withstood boiling sun and freezing temperatures during our vigils and rallies and some of us have even gone to jail to make our point. Although the public mood about the war apparently has shifted to a negative one, it doesn't seem to matter. Our elected representatives just don't get it, or lack the guts to do something about it, or both, and NOTHING REALLY CHANGES. Every day, American kids and Iraqi innocents die horrible deaths from a blood bath unleashed by our hapless attack on a sovereign nation intending us no harm.
Grandmothers our ages have endured so much in our lives. Our fathers and uncles went away to fight in World War 2, leaving us essentially fatherless for a few years, at best, and forever, at worst. I, myself, said goodbye to mine at the age of 11 and only saw him again, briefly, two or three times -- he was traumatized by his war ordeals and couldn't cope with being a husband and father any longer.
We had boyfriends and brothers die in Korea, children perish in Vietnam. We suffered through the McCarthy hearings, the Cold War and its concomitant atom bomb scares, the violent battle for civil rights, and so much more. But, NOTHING was as hard to bear as this monstrous debacle in Iraq. It is so pointless, so avoidable, so cruel.
What must we do to move our elected officials off their kiesters and get them to say, "No more"? "Not a single penny more to fund this atrocity. Wrap it up, and bring them home, NOW!" Cindy Sheehan is once again in the forefront of the struggle, after her brief hiatus, and has challenged Nancy Pelosi (such a disappointment, and a grandmother, yet) to bring impeachment proceedings to the House or face a challenge from Cindy for her Congressional seat. A little unorthodox, even a bit crazy? Maybe, but it's gotten to the point where we have to do the farthest out thing we can dream up to motivate that lazy, yellow Washington bunch to do what we elected them to do. That's the only reason many of them are there, after all, because we commissioned them to end the war.
There was a picture of Laura Bush on the front page of the New York Times this past Sunday wiping away a tear at the funeral for Ladybird Johnson. How touching. Yes, Ladybird was a nice woman, but lived a full and very long life. It was an occasion for some tears from those close to her, certainly, but not an occasion for deep mourning by the public at large. Ladybird was denied nothing in life, least of all her lengthy life itself.
I couldn't help wondering if Mrs. Bush sheds tears for each of the young soldiers and marines killed and grievously wounded EVERY SINGLE DAY because of her husband's catastrophic folly. I couldn't help wondering if all the coddled and protected men and women in Congress and the Senate shed any tears for those children they permit to continue dying and suffering far from home in an alien land they should not be in.
I know we peace grannies are crying for them, and we have such a little bit of time left in our lives to try and save them.
Joan Wile is the Founder/Director of Grandmothers Against the War and Granny Peace Brigade Times Square Jailbird. This article originally appeared on MichaelMoore.com.