More from the Brighton Twelve Corners War Protest
Here are my final stories from the war protest. You can read the first two posts here and here. Met Barbara - This was my first discussion and didn’t think to take a picture (oops). So again - the same questions why are you here and is it making a difference. Barbara has been politically active She started protesting during the Vietnam war - and discussed all parallels to this war and Vietnam. She says
The war is basically - creating more harm than good. The bottom line here is our intervention is a mask. The mask of helping others to further our imperialist agenda.
So here is someone close to being what society labels a Senior out there holding signs and actively involved in trying the change the countries course.
Then there was this husband and wife couple (Scott and Rose). The husband was standing with me as I was speaking to the counter protester (my next post). Both were active in the late 60s/early 70s. Again he felt compelled to do something. The way the country was going. His wife summed it up very nicely -
I have a duty to myself not to let anyone get duped again (referring back to the Vietnam War).
Is protesting making a difference. Well - for these people yes, it is. They are helping influence those around them and drawing strength to continue to do what they believe is correct.
Like Paul Harvey says - now for the rest of the story -
How did Barbara, Scott and Rose (in this post) along with these two women and these sisters get started in all of this involvement? The common thread amongst all was a sense of awareness brought on by family. Civic involvement started at home.
Met Cassie and Leah - a couple of 13 year old kids. I asked them what are they doing here? One replies my mom brought us. OK that is an honest answer. We chatted some more about what Iraq really means to them. the answer seemed to come back was lack of a sense of fairness. For the troops, the Iraqis, everyone involved. Then, I believe it was Cassie, makes this statement that stops me in my tracks.
Look - In social studies we just hear or read about this stuff. Now we are being a part of it.
From the mouth of children.
Look, this stuff isn’t complicated. Use your rights or lose them. Involvement starts young. If you look at the folks I mentioned in this or other posts - there is a little Cassie or Leah in each of them.
Related posts:
My 19 year old daughter and I went to the march in DC last Jan. Civic responsibility does start at home. All four of my kids are beginning to understand what a resposibility this really is.
Welcome to RT and keep up the good work.
[...] folks there was a counter protest at the Brighton Twelve Corners war protest/vigil. We’ve covered counter protests before. Remember when Cheney came to raise money for Randy [...]