I WISH FOR PEACE
(thanks Sleeky)

Been out demoing last night and today. Cant really expres how I am feelung. So sad, so mad, so worried, scared, brave, confused, loving my community, hating my "president"...

did I say it enough?

I WISH FOR PEACE.

All we are saaaaaying.... is give peace a chance, and put the bunnies back!

Well, a great weekend, even thougb it all feels somewhat in vain today.Sigh.

Saturday, we drove up to the city to the peace march, and it was a lovely day. The march was smaller than the last, and had a more urgenmt feel. I am having a lot of misgivings about the organization that sponsored it, International ANSWER
They seem pretty anti-semetic to me, (they wouldn't let Michael Lerner speak at their last demo) and also they seem to support Milosevic!?!?!?! Still was a good march, and I dont have to agree with people to see eye to eye on a specific issue I suppose. It was still an awesome day, complete with visits with my sister and beloved friend Charlotte (we are planning a sideline biz with babe-o-tanicals, Pagan andJewish themed stuffed toys. Little Torah Scrolls and Venus of Willendorfs and Green Men and Mezzuzahs! YAY!)

photos:

Rosie and Mandy and I in front of some banner (not ours)



Rosie and I in the crowd at Civic Center


So Sunday was both the realtor open house and the anti-war toy demo, the demo was great! Indymedia came, and 10 of us picketers were there with three kids, it was very good, we filed a formal letter of complaint and I will be speaking to the manager of the store today.

[Photos from Picket] [Picket Report]


Then last night we went to the candlelight vigil down at the lighthouse with my parents and our family friends Mary andf George. There were firedancers, which was very cool, it was pretty unorganized, which was ok. Some people sang and spoke... there must have been 200+ people there and it was only one of three vigils in SC last night.

The people don't want your war, Mr Bush.

(for a more eloquent elaboration on the former sentiment, see Michael Moore's most recent letter to Governor Bush)

Oh, and if you're wondering where to go to protest, check out :
United for Peaceor in Santa Cruz, the Resource Center for Non Violence.

Am I a real activist now?

So people are actually planning to attend my demo! Here's the story...

In short...

Protests are intensifying over the arrival of heavily armed soldiers at Kmarts, Walmarts, and Rite Aids around the country. The soldiers are not guarding the retail giants from attack. They are toy soldiers armed with assault rifles and machine guns, and they have replaced the traditional front-and-center chocolate bunny in children's Easter baskets. Whether the Christian holiday or the pre-Christian Ostara is your style, Easter is a holiday about life, birth, rebirth, joy, and above all peace.

In New York on Sunday, a 28-year-old mother was arrested at the Astor Place Kmart in downtown Manhattan. She was wearing a sweater fringed with cellophane grass, white pants, plush slippers, fuzzy white rabbit ears.

Amy Hamilton-Thibert, the 28 year old mom arrested Sunday, and other activists across the nation, are calling for demonstrations at every Kmart that is still carrying the baskets. Kmart corporate has decided to let each local store decide whether or not to carry the baskets, so our demonstration could really have an effect.

Join us, 3pm, Sunday March 16th (this sunday) outside the Kmart on 41st avenue in Capitola, just east of Highway 1. Bring your bunny ears, non-violent spirits, and creative signs!

Sponsored by Santa Cruz County Friends of Chocolate Bunnies.


(actually, *any* Kmart that is still carrying the things will do. List ok Kmarts here: Look for "Store locator" at bottom of screen)

It looks like lots of people and even some press are coming. Bring your bunny ears!

More info at:

http://www.webactive.com/pacifica/demnow/dn20030314.html
http://www.lionlamb.org/whatsnew.html
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0310/baard2.php

The Memory Hole is an incredibly interesting site about "holes" in the media, etc. Veeeeery interesting reading. Thanks as always to Tom Tomorrow for the fantastic linkage.

If I lived in SF and I was not a mom of a toddler:

Direct Action to Stop The War Before It Starts

There is a realtor open house today and a client open house Sunday. PLEASE Goddess, Whomever Else Might Blow The Lucky Real Estate Karma Our Way, let some one, anyone, want our house, love it, and pay us our money so I can get away from this craziness.

Thank you

snoccoli

My girl has suddenly grasped pretend play! It is SO CUTE! First time, she went a fished a dirty pj top of of the laundry, put it on her doll, brought her to me and said "shhhh... night night baby"! then, this morning, she was cooking with her new little wooden stove, and she was stirring and pouring etc! so I said "are you making broccoli?" And she said "Snoccoli! yes!" And then said it like 50 more times.

I love her.

Here we are with her Auntie (she said "Auntie" too! And "Grandma" this morning. Yahoo)

Military Recruiting Center Closed For Peace

This is what I did at lunchtime yesterday.... it was very cool, safe, kid friendly one could even say (there is a big courtyard in there)and it is easy to not get busted, they will only arrest ppl who stay near the door. Although no one was arrested yesterday and I don't know if anyone will be, they plan to go back and do it again every day this week and next. No weekends, but every week day, 12-2, CD at 1, at 41st and Clares.

I feel challenged to take my activism to the next level now. What's that? Can't get busted, someone counts on me!

Finally a day out with the new digital camera!

At the beach...



At the park...



And at Peace Friday! (or what we made it to of it, after BlueRoses and I satiated our urgent needs for organic childrens clothing and bagels)

My sister was the big Mr Rogers fan, not me. I really only liked the speedy delivery dude and the makebelieve parts. Mr R. himself kinda wigged me, though I did like some of the songs.

On the other hand, as an adut, I have really had an appreciation for Fred Rogers, the guy. The guy beyond the whole shoe-removal thing.

I don't really know if he was a progressive, per se, but he was certainly an advocate for children, for diversity, for respect and non violence. Some quotes to back me up here:

He understood that the airwaves belong to the people:

"We have to remember to whom the airwaves belong, and we must
put as much emphasis on the nurturing of the human personality
as we can"

Fred on non violence and children:

"Of course, I get angry. Of course, I get sad. I have a full range of emotions. I also have a whole smorgasbord of ways of dealing with my feelings. That is what we should give children. Give them ... ways to express their rage without hurting themselves or somebody else. That's what the world needs."

Fred on diversity of appearance:

"You know, you don't have to look like everybody else to be acceptable and to feel acceptable."

Fred on taking responsibility in your community and the world:

"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."

Thanks Fred. I hope I can learn a little something from you, after all, about loving myself, being kind to others, and taking responsibility. You were much cooler than I thought. I bet you believed in Heaven, too, so I hope it's really nice there.

--------------------------------------------------
On a completely different topic, I want to support MADRE. They send medicine (like life saving cancer drugs) and milk to children in Iraq. Maybe we should do a fundraiser?

Sheesh. In my gd spare time.

I CAN'T????


Where do you fall on the liberal - conservative political spectrum? (United States)
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