posted January 19, 2003 08:38 AM              

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did anyone attending the peace rally(s) yesterday? a bunch of us travelled down to DC and it was AMAZING! easily 200,000 people believing in the ideals of peace on earth, brotherly -and sisterly!- love, everyone knowing we need to stop killing if we're going to survive as a whole, stop the BUSINESS of making weapons of mass destruction, stop letting business run our political agenda, stop making war the only solution and make it the last resort. proxieme, did you go, or anyone you know?

it was a really good time.

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posted January 19, 2003 10:59 AM              

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Yup, yup, did go.
I woke up a little late and got hooked onto the end, though .
You're right - it was very awesome.
This sounds goofy, but there was a really great "vibe" there. And I'm so glad it stayed peaceful - no one arrested by the Park Police, and I think only 2 by the DC police.
I've only been to one other protest (a counter-rally against some NAZIs that were marching a few years ago) - I decided a while ago that I wouldn't be one of those dips who protests for the sake of protesting (you know, "Dude! I'm like going to this totally righteous protest this weekend - I'm, uh, not sure what it's about, but it'll be so cool..."), so I decided that I'd only go to those that really struck a cord with me...and this one did
There's one today, too (put on by the youth and student chapter of the same org that put on yesterday's), but after talking to some people and reading the literature...well, I'm not sure how peaceful they're going to be, and I refuse to be part of a protest that's not peaceful - that only serves to muddy whatever message is trying to be sent and gives people a reason to disdain the activists.
There's been some action called for by the European chapter of International Action on Feb. 15th; I think they've decided on NYC - you going?

I'm actually hopeful, at least where the American people are concerned -
on Friday I drove up to Annapolis to visit my paternal grandparents, and my Grandfather...my Grandfather, a former Asst. Deputy Secretary of Defense...said that he is not in favor of a war with Iraq. His words (well, approx.): "If war's necessary, it's necessary, but I don't think that it is here. This is no reason for our young soldiers to die."

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posted January 19, 2003 07:12 PM              

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there totally was a great vibe at the protest! i know exactly what you mean... i'm glad that a lot of middle class adult career types were there, and with their families, because it shows that its not just some hippie stance to be against this war. one of my favorite signs was "main stream white guys for peace" accompanied by three large cardboard mainstream guy heads. very funny
i also liked seeing the vietnam vets protesting, because they know first hand what its like to be in a war you're not supposed to be fighting.
and i too dont like when protestors get violent destructive or even disrespectful. its impossible to convey to others your message if you can't be nice about it.
and if there is a big event in NY i probably will go, i'm about as close to NYC as you are to DC so there's no excuse.

glad to hear you went!!!

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posted January 21, 2003 08:57 PM              

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food is the only art that nourishes!

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