Peace Gone Wild

A Mother's Day in Portland

2007-05-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Some from CodePink Portland -

(Cristy, Karen & a very somber Me)

On Mother's Day, over 75 people lined up along a park and golf course near Portland, Oregon.

They held no signs of protest, they didn't chant or sing - they were silent.

(my son kneeling next to a VFP 72 buddy)

Around their necks were the faces of the dead due to this illegal occupation and slaughter.

Many were faces of Iraqi children.

This incredible, active woman has been arrested so many times.

Cristy and Terri watching a Cop come over

Cop wanted to know who "was in charge of us all"... we said we were in charge of ourselves.

We are MOTHERS and we stand for PEACE!

Mothers of the world unite... don't let our children be killed or turned into killers.

I Hate the War

2007-04-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Portland Protests

Riot Police/Police Riot

2007-03-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

Portland, my home, was terrorized Sunday several times. Not by foreign "terrorists". Not by drugged out hippies.

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But by the police force.

Our city is beautiful, but our police are ugly.

One Riot Caught by the Oregon News

Before the march even happened... the Peace Community of Portland worked with the City, the Portland Police Bureau and others to ensure safety and peace. We asked that there be no horses or riot gear as those are intimidating. Bikes were okay and that there'd be hundreds of Peace Keepers to help keep things from escalating.

This is what the "force" chose to do Sunday instead.

The police presence was so high that one might say that they seemed to be marching along side of the protesters, as if they themselves were participants in the dissent.

But in reality, they were escorting the marchers just as if they were escorting prisoners to other destinations within their jail.

And this photos is especially interesting. Notice the FINGER IN AN UP AND READY POSITION?? That is called WEAPON DRAWN.

On Portland Indy Media Activism/Action site thie below was needed...

"Injured/sprayed yesterday?

Contact the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center (NWCRC) at 503-295-6400.
But Most Importantly: have the injury documented by a medical professional (if you don't have access to one, call the street medics at 503-233-3194).

If you can't get in to see someone today, have a friend take a picture of the injury (if it's visible such as bruises, cuts, etc.) Use a film camera, if possible. It holds up better in court.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), please call the medics, they will direct you to resources that can help."

An eye witness account speaks to the "peacekeepers":

"Towards the end of the march a group marched towards Burnside and were stopped infront of Carl Greve's by the police. There was massive use of pepper spray initially. However, once things had calmed down and the police were in their alignments it continued to happen. A woman was standing 4 feet away from the police line of for officers chanting "This is what a police state looks like" she was not flipping the police the finger and she was not using any profanity. She was not asked to move, and she never made any attempt to get closer to the police line. She made no gesture of violence, or of any other kind. She just stood there chanting "This is what a police state looks like" when an officer randomly sprayed pepper spray in her face. After the prick police assholes payed out $300,000 for excessive pepper spray force for another protest and promised it wouldn't happen again, guess what, IT DID. To the organizers of the protest YOU CAN NOT TRUST THE POLICE. They lie, they manipulate, and deceit is one of their main character traits. I keep hearing from the organizers of these marches that they are cooperating with the police, but this cooperation is still harming the people protesting. This woman was on the sidewalk, chanting, standing still, she was acting in a non violent fashion, and it didn't matter. You wore t-shirts saying peacekeeper, you failed to do so, and a citizen who was abiding by the law and excising her constitutinal rights had to pay the price. "

I can only hope that people will realize that the revolution is here. Now. And will hit the streets and join us.

How many others have to be hurt and arrested?

How many humans have to die?

You can hear the scatter gun during the first video at the 1:35 mark.
The people on the left side of the street between the two buildings, still bustled in and stopped, all ducked. And in that instant we all KNEW...

Fucking KNEW! that no matter what... we are all prisoners to the police force. That they are the tools of this corporate sponsored, tolerated terror Regime.

Ever hear people screaming due to the pepper spray?

We can march and march till they arrest us.

But they can't arrest us all. Sadly it's going to take all of us to stop this war and stop this madness.

I'm angry right now but I hear so many say, "you march for me"...

NO! I don't.

You didn't hear the scatter guns. You didn't hear the riot police from the paddy wagons running your way.

You weren't ducking down next to me saying, "oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit".

It's all just settling in. I'm angry, scared, shocked and... proud that I was there. It took me 24 hours to even talk about this with my husband. But he had already known about the riots and figured I hadn't been close or that I had to sort it all out first.

See, I don't like to scare my loved ones. They go through enough as it is.

They always ask me before I leave, "who is going to march with you?" "Who is going to be there with you?"

Will you? Next time?

Portland's Peace Rally

2007-03-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Portland, Oregon. March 18th, 2007

Slightly sunny day in Little Beirut.

Some anarchy, some nudity but mostly peaceful.

Marching, street theatre, action alerts.

Here is just some of what I saw.

There's our Katie!!!

Seriously Pissed Off Grannies from the Surge Protection Brigade. Yes, the rocking chairs are still being held by the cops. Just one of the many action tents put on for the community.

A little dude giving us all the Peace sign.

First protest I've been to where the sidewalks were mostly empty and the streets were packed.

God's creatures with weapons. Ironic for me.

Portlandia... she's always above me at marches.

Support the Troops; give them Halliburton Stock

Religous Left.

All around this statue, children had written messages of peace and hope in chalk.

I think my later diaries about today will be more focused.

Street Action.

Community Action.

Crowd/March itself.

Later.. my unraveled ramblings thoughts.

But it sucked having to have another Peace March. Hopefully we won't have to do this again next year.

Stop the NEXT WAR NOW!

This Is What Democracy Looks Like?

2007-03-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

Oregon Overkill
Portland Peace Rally 3.18

Let Us In!

2007-02-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

Last night, both Oregon Senators Gordon Smith (R) and Ron Wyden ("D") were at KGW station studios for a live televised "Ask Your Senator" town hall. This was an invitation only town hall meeting and apparently no one from the Peace Community was invited. We didn't think it was right that the Senators were unwilling to have a discussion with their constituents unless they were invited and their quetions pre-screened.

(we weren't supposed to enter the driveway or approach the building)

So we greeted the audience members with their Free Speech Tickets and tried to get the Senators to come out and hear us.

I apologize for the poor photographs. It was a dark and crappy night. At least 30 - 40 protestors arrived banging pots ala Molly Ivins style, members from several peace groups were there. CodePink Portland, Veterans for Peace, No War Drum Corps, Washington County Peace Vigil, Civic Resist, members of the Surge Protection Brigade, the Lone Vet and others.

Senators Smith and Wyden refused to come out. Like chickenhawks.

KGW has an employee who came out several times to tell us where we could and could not stand. He told me not to take photographs of the building as it was a private building. Then he took a photograph of me and called police. KGW should alert it's employees that they are NOT TO TOUCH PEOPLE. The man got in my face so I got back in his... with a fucking bull horn.

LET US IN!

Apparently KGW didn't find any of this newsworthy, their van drove by but didn't stop. The ticketed audience didn't seem very happy either.

(Karen being escorted from the entrance)

I got up to the entrance and windows and started taking photos...

Look at all the "happy" people inside with their free speech tickets...

I was warned twice by KGW that I would be arrested. They called the police and they arrived. I asked that they, as Peace Officers and servers of the community, to please ask the Senators to come out and talk with us. The "cop" laughed and said, "No".

No one was arrested. No one was heard.

The media and the politicians aren't going to do a damn thing about this illegal occupation and a war for greed and corporate profit and political power.

It's up to us.

Sen. Smith targets Peace Activists

2007-02-15T11:52:00.000-08:00

Senator Smith once told greiving parents of a dead soldier basically to just wait and they'll see that Bush was right and they were wrong for protesting the illegal occupation.

He then has flip flopped and said that the war may be wrong.

Now he has changed his tune again and supports a Surge. So people were arrested for refusing to leave the lobby till Smith flip flops back again.

Tomorrow "C" and "T" of CodePink will enter again. I'm forwarding on this email from our action email.

"Happy Valentine's Day Massacre of Peace People's Lobby Rights,

You've heard the old joke that starts, "A master's student, a legal secretary and a hippie peace professor walked into a Senator's office..."

Whoops! Joke's on us. Turns out all we had to do was walk to the public elevator--never made it to the office--and we were halted by one security guard, with half-dozen more on the hoof toward us. We were going to US Senator Gordon Smith's office to offer our opinion, in person and in writing, that the Republican Senator from Oregon ought to live up to his brave proclamation for peace that he gave on the Senate floor way last December 7, when he said he was at the end of his rope with this war. Rhoda Moore, Kerry Bassett and I had only one request, that he promise to vote against the supplemental war and occupation spending bill.

Instead, we were asked to leave the 12-story office building because our presence was "a disturbance to the other tenants."

Gosh, that was our intent. Guess we succeeded.

Oh, they meant that thinking at all about the war is disturbing, I suppose. Disturbing enough to prevent those who looked suspiciously like peace people from even entering the elevator.

We talked for an hour or so. We assured the security people, and the representative from Smith's office who came down to talk with us on the brick outdoor plaza, that keeping peace messages out of Smith's sight and office environs was only going to disturb more of the tenants in the end. Since the building is on private property (PGE), one of our secondary goals is to drive a wedge between PGE and Smith by making it more costly to have him as a tenant. Smith's rep, Andrew Over, categorically denied that we were being kept out at Smith's office request and, upon further questioning, even denied that the Smith people had any input into this decision.

OK, then. This is an invitation to fax Senator Smith's office to tell them two things:

1. Tell the Senator to immediately promise to vote against any further funding for this godawful war.

2. Insist that the office be open to those who wish to be peace lobbyists. No one who has gone there has yelled (or even talked loudly), nor have we blockaded (yet), we haven't invaded any inner or private spaces, and we've been friendly to all.

I wish I could assert that we've never interrupted any of them in conversation, but we are working on our conversational skills, which are not perfect but are not illegal--or maybe they are."

Smith's office:

Phone: 503.326.3386

Fax: 503.326.2900

And if you'd like to learn more about being a part of this nonviolent civil resistance campaign, please visit the website: www.defundthewar.com

------------

This is such an outrage and I am asking that everyone flood the senator's office with faxes and phone calls demanding our right to lobby for peace. Thanks everyone!

I apologize for any errors. My computer is fritzing out. I'm trying to get this out and about because my loved ones are going in again.

Surge Protection Brigade

2007-02-10T11:44:00.000-08:00

"Wisely, the soldiers who staff the Broadway recruiting center closed up shop and barred the windows today, girding their loins and steeling themselves against the grandmothers' bloc who took the sidewalks out front. The recruiters gave some kind of hasty excuse to explain their absence, but the truth was obvious: They simply recognized that they were outnumbered and facing superior forces. (No one but the Portland Police Bureau is usually foolish enough to mess with grandmothers.)

I spent my lunchbreak there today, with some of the coolest grandmothers I have ever met. (And some grandfathers, and even some younger folks.) (Even one of my favorite people from the Native Youth Movement was there... so it was more of a grandmother, grandfather, grandchild sort of thing. Solidarity!) It was a somewhat larger crowd than I had expected, and the signs and colorful knitted hats and scarves were visible from way down the street as I made my way toward them. There was something really, powerfully inspiring about seeing the steel awning pulled down over the exposed windows at the recruiting office, and the apologetic little sign hastily taped up on the door, informing passersby that the office was closed. It was like looking at a white flag." - Taken from a member of Portland Indy Media.

What did you do once you knew?

Resisting

2007-02-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

The news says "hundreds gathered"...I've heard estimates from 3,000 to 5,000. Hard to tell for sure because we were in three different places over 60 acres of land or so and walking to and fro perpetually. More were arriving from all over the country.

By now you'd have to be living under an ant hill not to know who Lt. Watada is and what his stance is. It is important to keep his name in the limelight so that others can find the same support he has.

I urge you to go to couragetoresist.com so you can see the other names of the many who are counting on us to give them voices as well.

Lt. Watada is a leader in the Army. But now he is a leader of legions. His name is amongst many who have resisted. He is not the first... but I hope he'll be the last.
This photojournal will be in parts.

Part one... the turn out and signs.

The IVAW Deployed Bus - it was our shuttle.

Cristy from CPPortland spotted me right away.

It's SEAN fucking PENN!!! WHOOT!

leading up to the overpass

You can't get the full scope of how many were there. I wasn't even able to cross the overpass to get photos of the other side.

This was the exact corner me and Marianne were on last time. By ourselves.

Portland Pooches for Peace! Make Tacos! Not War.

Darrel Anderson of IVAW

Of course there were some Counter-Protesters: There was only these few. They were right next to a man whose son was killed in Iraq who was showing his support for Watada.

She's hollering at us as we pass by. She called me a "fucking bitch".

Next journal... the Puppetistas! :)

Surge Protection Brigade Arrested

2007-02-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

6 Grandmothers Arrested

For the third week in a row members of the Surge Protection which also includes members of CodePink Portland,l succeeded in shuting down the Army/Marine Recruiting office in Portland. today it partially reopened after six protesters were arrested.

On Friday, February 2, 2007 members of the Surge Protection Brigade in Portland, Oregon successfully blocked entrance to the Army/Marine Recruiting office on NE Broadway for two and a half hours. Emphasizing that many of them are grandmothers, they arrived at 7:45 AM with their rocking chairs. They rocked and stood in front of the three doors of the office, denying entrance to two recruiters and several visitors. At one point, frustrated recruiters physically pushed two of the protesters aside to squeeze through the back door. When two recruiters left to get breakfast they were denied re-entry and the accompanying police officer told them they would have to wait outside.

The police, after calling in enough reinforcements that they out-numbered demonstrators by about two to one, finally moved to arrest six of the grandmotherly protesters. They also took three rocking chairs into custody.

A group of protesters remained in front of the office for the remainder of the day. The office closed for several hours in the afternoon and recruiters finally called it a day a half an hour before the posted closing time when they grew weary of talking with two protesters who came in the unlocked door.

The six protesters were released from custody between 5:30 and 6:30 and were greeted by a march from the weekly anti-war gathering in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Action at Recruiting Office, NE Broadway, Portland

Grandmas settled in rocking chairs

A Recruiter locked in

Protest dedicated to Molly Ivins

Grandmas rock; recruiter calls police

Reading the Portland Alliance

Recruiter pushes protester, Linda, at back door

Police tell recruiters they must wait to enter

For thrid week, office is shut down

Police warn protesters

Arrests begin

Martha arrested

Linda arrested

DeEtte arrested

Ann arrested

Pat arrested

Sara arrested

Oak rocking chair arrested

Chairs sent to jail

Protest continues

Youth celebrate closure

Sign speaks to public: CLOSED PENDING BUSH/CHENEY WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL

Recruiters lock doors and leave a half an hour before closing time

Closed for the day: In honor of Molly Ivins and 6 Grandmothers

Protesters released, Vet thanks Surge Protection Brigade

Weekly peace march greets released protesters

The end of a long day

Surge Protection Brigade

2007-01-22T10:19:00.000-08:00

Mission Accomplished for Today.

Written by Linda of CodePink Portland....

"Mission Accomplished for today," says the Surge Protection Brigade, as their planned protest at the military recruitment center in Portland, Oregon, on NE Broadway and 13th apparently caused the center to shut down for the day. The group gathered at the center this morning at 11:45 and stayed until 1:30.

One recruiter came to the center toward the end of the protest, saying he had paperwork to do. He refused to let them in and locked the door as a couple of the protesters tried to force their way in.

A group of grandmothers from the Brigade visited the office Thursday and attempted to dialogue with the recruiters. Many of the women's questions about the health and safety of recruits went unanswered, and the recruiters admitted that they did not offer any information to potential recruits about depleted uranium exposure or the risks involved in a tour of duty in Iraq.

The Brigade has chosen to protest at recruiting centers because we consider it criminal to tell half-truths and recruit our young men and women to fight in an illegal, immoral occupation. Sara Graham of the Surge Protection Brigade said, "One of my son's friends was killed in Iraq and another is changed irreparably; and the effect goes beyond those directly involved. All of our members know people who've been psychologically shattered by their experiences in Iraq."

Another member, Karen Saal Boyer, said a friend of hers who served in Iraq "experiences a lot of stress and sleeplessness; and the most stress he's experienced is trying to get help from the VA."

Of course, the Police have to stop by... That's my CP Sister, Linda in the pink scarf)

The Surge Protection Brigade is committed to escalating nonviolent civil resistance if our government is not responsive to the majority of American voters who want this occupation to end.

A Diary From a Year Ago

2006-11-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

I wrote this diary on October 20, 2005 on another blog. I've been wrestling with the same emotions ever since....

*YOU DON'T SUPPORT THE TROOPS*

This is really starting to hurt my soul lately.

I don't have a magnet or sticker on my car. I've been called names that would make you sick. I live in the Redneck part of a Blue State between "Bumfuck" and "You've Got a Purdy Mawf", California.

I've had some rather hairy scary encounters with some of these people who are going totally postal. Here's a snippet of another type of postal encounters.
Each morning I pin up another Whispering Campaign notice and as well as another "Bring Them Home Now" postcard on the USPS bulletin board that I received from Veterans For Peace at the UFPJ concert.

The gentlemen there treated me like I was a queen and gave me a stack of cards 2 or 3 inches thick that I carried all the way home to California. (Me meeting a new life-long friend, Jim Staro of VFP)

After some rather harrowing experiences with the Deliverance people around my county lately, most of which have never served a day in their life let alone served a hungry person a bowl of soup... I wasn't sure how a reunion would be with a certain young man I had watched grow up.

My young friend has been in Iraq since he turned 18. He spent 3 tours there. I was sure he had heard I had marched. I was sure he was told what a horrible person I am for not supporting Bush. I wasn't too sure if he would still like me. I wasn't sure of what I would or could say to him if we ever met.

As fate would have it... this is how we reunited.

Turns out I didn't have to say anything to him he had come up behind me as I was pinning yet another "Bring Them Home Now card on the board. Our eyes met. He just came up to me and hugged me. Then he cried. He came home after risking his life to find most of his friends and family hadn't even bothered to VOTE. He cried and said over and over again, "they don't care".

I've had people scream at me, call me names, try to rip flags from me... holding a Marine in my arms as we reassured each other and reunited... was almost like being in DC again. It was a "Welcome Home" for both of us to each other.

"If you don't support the War President you don't support the troops." What a complete crock of a mind fuck that is on American Citizens.

I dare anyone to say that the young man above doesn't support the troops. He was at the DC March. Along with hundreds of thousands of others who were there because they do support the troops. I dare anyone to say that Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, CodePink etc etc - do not support the troops. If one believes that then they are a blind fool.

Supporting the troops has NOTHING to do with one's dissent of this piece of shit President or fucked up Administration. In fact, if one actually did support the troops they'd be demanding answers from this government.

It's not just politics. It's also about HUMANITY.

I was asked at Camp Casey DC if I had lost anyone probably because I couldn't quit the flow of tears as I walked along the white crosses. I started to say no. Another man corrected me and said that we ALL lost them. That all those Soldiers and Marines are OURS. THEY ALL ARE OURS.

Time Warp.... to another morning...

I got my friend in touch with Iraq Veterans Against the War just now.... I hope he can find some peace and support there...

Drove over to the Post Office and found that my young friend was waiting for me there. He didn't have my phone number and figured that I'd show up at some point. This struck me hard -- he was just waiting.

He had some pictures he asked if he could show me. Some were of where some of his pals had spent their last minutes. He said that at the time he thought their loved ones might want to know where they had died and so went back and took photographs of the areas.... but that he can't ever give them up or doubts anyone will want to see them.

He said that in the short time he's been home he's never felt "so far away". No one wants to talk to him about anything. Just me and his Dad but says he's worried about freaking out his Dad all the time. Gave him my number and said he could call anytime.

I mainly just listened. There were times when I was even able to make him smile a bit. I hope I did alright.

*I see a kid of barely 21 and he now looks like an old man when he tries to smile.*

No Apologies

2006-11-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

It seems that everyone is being excused and pardoned while so many others are gearing up for the real work to be done. Nothing has been "won". Nothing has been achieved. The killing is still going on. The evaporation of our rights to even be continues.

I have so much to say, share and show simply because nothing is over yet.

Lt. Ehren Watada still needs help. Iraqi children are still being orphaned or trying to pull what limbs they can of their former classmates out of the rubble.

Since I can't preface every diary or post of mine with "Grieving Military Loved One" or "Military Spouse/Sibling etc etc"... in order for my thoughts, opinions or work to end killing, murders, starvation, WAR to matter or count...

and since I have spent so much time and energy and put my ass on the line to promote IMPEACHMENT of WAR CRIMIALS and to support WAR RESISTORS...

and since I don't slap everyone with the label of IGNORANT or UNAMERICAN...

at this time, the only place I can now post or share is at MLW and these few personal blogs. Please know this decision was not a rash one.

There's just too much work that is being done by people I know, work with and support and apparently it goes against everything the green place I called "home" is now about.

It's a horrible sadness for me to leave there... but war is more horrible and allowing war criminals to go unaccounted for and to praise people simply because they lash out... with anger, hatred, fear and violence.

It's the same mentality I hear out on the streets and from Right Wingers: That since I'm not IN the military or have a loved one IN Iraq (which I have and still do but I don't use it as a ready-made excuse to undercut anyone else) that I shouldn't hold an opinion or even be out protesting.

The only way for me to ward off the crazy nuts due to my CodePink bumpersticker was to add another bumpersticker.

Somehow by adding the Veterans For Peace sticker (a signal of our military history/service) this made it "tolerable" for an American Woman to dissent against death, destruction and dictators without the continuous threats to her personal safety upon returning to her car after shopping or picking up her kids from school. I believe that says a ton for how this society still [doesn't] work.

People and friends have always told me to be careful and to conserve my energy for the battles I need to fight. Defending diaries is pointless to me. Defending War Resistors and insisting on Impeachment of this bloody Regime which has taken our rights and caused so much blood to flow... that is what's important.

Realizing that the safety of others is still in jeopardy due to this Regime and the apathy of so many when it comes to our Constitutional... hell our HUMAN rights... I see now that there isn't "Safety in Numbers". For me, the only safety I have is trying to remain focused.

War is wrong. I will not apologize for that idea.
War never solves anything. I will not apologize for that idea.
War is a waste of human lives and decency.

I will do everything I can to stop wars and killing.
And for that I do not apologize.

Yes, we're going to meet more resistance. Especially since so many feel that "we've won", "everything is peachy" and that "impeachment would be worthless".

I am ready to be arrested, injured - and for that I don't expect anyone to apologize.

After the Giddiness Subsides Dept.

2006-11-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

*Things to not forget when the partying quiets down:*

The VFP 72 (BOHICA's baby) constructed and maintains Peace Park in Portland, Oregon. The largest park for Peace in America.

1. Bob Gates is a crook, a liar, major scumbag who was at the very center of Iran Contra and Arms for Hostages. He cannot be rubber stamped by the outgoing lame duck Fascist-dominated Congress.

2. Donald Rumsfeld is a war criminal and should not be allowed to escape prosecution. There are legal moves being made right now in Germany to officially declare him, as Henry Kissinger was, an international war criminal subject to arrest and detention in many countries. There are documents available which identify Rumsfeld as directly running extreme Gitmo tortures and illegal extradition for the purposes of torture of a number detainees--in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions, to which we are signators. This man deserves to hang just like Saddam.

3. We still have on the books un-Constitutional laws which illegally retroactively indemnify the Bush war crime family from any prosecution from their heinous acts against Humanity. This would be like OJ passing a retroactive law making it ok for a Black man to kill 2 White people as long as he was only using sharp objects.

4. The United States currently has abandoned the rule of Habeas Corpus. This must be reinstated immediately.

5. We have legalized extradition of American citizens for the purposes of torture. This must end.

6. We have legalized torture and all manner of violations of the Geneva Conventions. This must end.

7. We have legalized un-Constitutional violations of privacy against Americans. This must end immediately.

8. Every Federal department and agency has been jam packed with corrupt corporate shills selling off our land, the very air we breathe, our water, our seas and our birthright to voracious multinational conglomerates. They harass broadcasters to kowtow to the hysterical whims of radical Religious nuts. Freedom of Speech has disappeared. The FDA is approving dangerous drugs with little or no oversight, and blocking safe drugs which violate the superstitious fantasies of radical religious lunatics. This too must end.

9. Science is under attack at all levels in America by religious fanatics with a huge sway over corrupt politicians. This too must end.

10. The Middle Class is under attack on all fronts by policies forged by elitist neocons which have long since run away and hid and disavowed their original policy input. Thus we have a kind of political V-Ger which lives on past its shelf life continuing to destroy without thought or reason.

11. The massive corruption in Washington can only be stopped by public campaign financing, and strict limits on spending.

It's exactly to the degree that the Democrats answer to these issues and many more over the next two years that our present exhilaration will be vindicated. As Han Solo said...

"Don't get cocky, kid!"

In fact, if 2 years from today we can point to ONE of the above getting crossed off the list, it'll be a $&%^%$#@ miracle. We only have a better class of politicians in place now, kind of like getting mugged by a better class of mugger. These guys will thank us for the nice watch.

--------------------

No nation can preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. -- James Madison, 1795

Full credit to my dear friend and hockey pal, Ken Melville. Photographs I've taken from along the way of a very strange year and a half.

I'd like to add:

Bring our Troops home NOW and get our War Resisters out of jail... NOW!

I'm still standing

2006-10-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

but my shoes are history.

Peace Vigil 9/20/06

2006-09-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

Peace Vigil 9/13/06
Peace Vigil 9/06/06
Peace Vigil 8/23/06
Peace Vigil 8/16/06
Peace Vigil 8/09/06
Peace Vigil 8/02/06

Washington County Peace Vigil 57th Week.
Beaverton, Oregon, 6:30 to 7:30
It's Raining, it's pouring
And George is still warring...

I share these photographs of the faces of those opposed to war and the Bush Administration because you will not see or hear of them on the news. They are your neighbors, your co-workers, your teachers, your students, your bus drivers. I want to share that they are you and I.

I hope to capture the energy of these peace vigils and more importantly the passion of the people. I hope to empower others to find their local vigils or create their own. To at least know that they are not alone.

...and many miles to go before I sleep...

Many miles to go before we all can sleep

Peace Vigil 9/13/06

2006-09-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

Peace Vigil 9/06/06
Peace Vigil 9/06/06
Peace Vigil 8/16/06
Peace Vigil 8/9/06
Peace Vigil 8/2/06

Washington County Peace Vigil 56th Week.
Beaverton, Oregon, 6:30 to 7:30
Cold, windy and getting dark
Celebrating their 20th Wedding Anniversary...

So we sang to them...

And the band played on

and on...

Danni and Wesley with the Peace Cranes

Peace Vigil 9/6/06

2006-09-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

Peace Vigil 9/06/06
Peace Vigil 8/16/06
Peace Vigil 8/9/06
Peace Vigil 8/2/06

Washington County Peace Vigil 55th Week.
Beaverton, Oregon, 6:30 to 7:30

Peace IS Strength

Peace Vigil 8/23/06

2006-08-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Delegation Relief Fund Action Alert

2006-08-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

My full diary and plea for help at MyLeftWing

My Pink Sister Cristy with Eman in March 2006

Thank you!

Imagine no religion

2006-08-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I saw "g-dly Bush Family Values people" in action again. An old homeless vet with a hook on one arm and a deformed hand on the other asked two men who were illegally parked in a disabled zone so they could unload their several coolers and laundry baskets of sand toys at a beach, he asked them if they had a spare sandwich. They hollered at him, "get a job", "take a shower". This was an old, disabled man who was carrying all he had on this earth on him.

They had a mini-van, I think it was just one of two vehicles they were unloading as it appeared to be two families. And the van had the "Support the Troops" magent, "W" schwag and of course the jesus fish thing. Basically the standard, "Attention Everyone: We're Assholes" bumper gear.

I went up to him and gave him some money and his eyes teared up. He grabbed me and hugged me. I went to my car and returned with some bottled water for him. He said, "this is like gooooooooold!" and then he said "G-d Bless You!"

I replied with words that just flowed out... "I don't believe in G-d, I believe in Peace."

I'm sure the other "gentlemen" were in church today.

CodePink Troops Home Fast

2006-08-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Geoff was later arrested that day along with a Raging Granny who insisted he should be free to march.

This is a bit dated, but the strength and the passion is timeless.

Family. My family is the Peace Movement Family.

Peace Vigil 8/16/06

2006-08-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

""There isn't anyone here who doesn't support the troops," says Ben Fain, one of the vigil organizers.

The weekly gatherings began a year ago this week to support the efforts of Cindy Sheehan, who set up camp outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. Sheehan, the mother of a solider killed in Iraq, became the public face of Americans grieving over a loved one taken in war.

Since then, the Beaverton group has never missed a Wednesday, gathering at 6:30 p.m. through blistering heat, numbing cold and Oregon rain. " Oregonian Article: A vigil for the dead . . . and for peace

The Vigilers also showed support for Lt. Watada and raised over $400 for his defense fund.

My son, Wesley.

Ben, one of the wonderful Vigil Organizers

Most wore black to show mourning for a sad anniversary.

My family and our hockey buddy (his first vigil)

Phil Ochs, Woody Guthrie & The Youngbloods!

New friends. My husband, in VFP shirt, today was his birthday. He met another USN ET Vet. Both Veterans for Peace. One from Viet Nam, one from Gulf War... both standing for Peace.

This machine kills fascists!

Peace!

I, Atheist

2006-08-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

Me and Ray McGovern

2006-08-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

One of my heroes and he's wearing a CodePink t-shirt.

Yes, I'm blushing.

Pssst... Ann Wright took the photo, too. (pinch me)

Arlington NORTHWEST Memorial

2006-08-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago... I saw the Memorial EAST in DC.

UW Hub, Seattle, WA - August 2006 @ Veterans for Peace National Convention.

This is the area where Clousing came to announce his resistance.

Voter Registration... the irony...

Does Oil Addiction Triump Empathy?
are THEY the ENEMY? Stop the VIOLENCE!

Oh the people you meet...

My new family member, Mike from VFP. Camp Casey Crawford Chapter his shirt reads.

2006-08-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James Mcmurtry

Mission Accomplished, Bush

Didn't know I was UnAmerican

2006-08-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.sharedvoice.org/unamerican/

This video pretty much sums it up for me.

If this makes me "UnAmerican" or "Anti-anything"... so be it.

Rough draft but had to write it down.

2006-08-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

This is from my hockey post to my friends... Soon I will put this up in actual diary form with some amazing photos... but I wanted to get some of the words out while I recoup. I drove Katie to Seattle yesterday to attend the VFP National Convention. I'm still crying... good and sad tears. This is one of the most amazing things I've been to... been involved with.

Last night I net and rode in Ann Wright's car to go see Cindy Sheehan. I was hugged by Ray McGovern, kissed by Camilo Mejia, had lunch with Katie from CP National and Jeff Patterson, war resister and helping Lt. Watada) and surrounded by VFP's and met a new friend who is one of the many Iraq Veterans Against the War whose body is dying due to Depleted Uranium.

So many that were there... Mike from Dallas VFP and first to join Cindy at Crawford... he and I got along SUPER! He introduced me to the President of the Natl VFP, David. A Viet Nam Vet. We sat by Arlington Northwest Memorial for hours.

And I had a mother of a young man who died in Iraq tell me .... well that's private... but she didn't call me UnAmerican and she didn't think I was a dirty liberal. In fact, many there thought I was a little on the brave side. Many told me all their sons wanted was for someone to care enough to bring them home.

Diane Wilson and Medea couldn't make it because their hotel in Beirut was bombed and they had to get refugee shelter and missed their flight. Cindy was very very exhausted from the fast, the heat in Crawford and the flight and was unable for the first time to speak at the affair, she was taken to the ER, her body needed a rest... yesterday fliers had had a LONG day due to the "airline threat".

I am drained... I am still in tears, still in smiles ... and so completely rejuvenated. I truly needed the energy and the meet ups. I needed to sit next to men and women who KNOW this war and know it's all BULL.

Hey Bush and all his supporters... If this is such a noble cause worth fighting for...

THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO FIGHT YOUR OWN DAMN WAR.

Note to Truckee, you know what... I was talking with a Veteran yesterday about the "spitting image" in fact it was brought up alot by many speakers including one ex-CIA agent... I'm not so sure about my Dad's car being spat on. I think it's broken memory fragments - heck, I was a 3 yr old . He wasn't in uniform either. I would suggest that if you were spat on to PLEASE write to your local VFP and tell them of your experience because many there and many vets say the spitting on uniformed troops is a myth. Propaganda.

To the rest of you SlapShotter pals, thank you for putting up with me while I find my feet along this journey. I, too, can't wait for hockey... but moreso I can't wait for an end to all wars and killing. I went to the VFP Convention feeling a bit like an empty cup... and so many poured their souls into me. It's wild having people just come up and ask if they can hug you because their son in Iraq lost both legs, a hand and their speech due to a head injury... and they found support with the ladies in pink and VFP and IVAW.

Mrs. Ski... thank you for taking my call yesterday... I didn't tell you... but I had just sat with a young IVAW woman whose brother also was in Iraq... he didn't think he was ever going to get back home due to several stop losses... so he killed himself. I just sat and listened to her while her hands trembled around the chain of cigarettes.

I went, not to go to the workshops, but to meet others. To hear their stories. To give a stranger a hug. So while others were in seminars, I was able to meet the people that needed to "get some air and take a break". I saw mini-documentaries being made on the spot. I saw people asking about others families who loved ones didn't return. Who was sick? Does anyone know if so and so is still around?

I saw a man show up... not part of the convention to say... he had decided to RESIST. I saw him surrounded by young IVAWs and older VFPS. They held a press conf today and he's turning himself in to Ft. Lewis in a few hours.

So I had to call you to hear your voice.

Peace Vigil 8/9/06

2006-08-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday, 6:30 - 7:30
Across from the Beaverton Public Library, Oregon

Poodles for Peace!

The Peace Vigil Organizer!

Petitions for Troops Home Fast!

Me and Wes

Remembering Hiroshima & Nagasaki

2006-08-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

The world still has 27,000 nuclear weapons, many still on hair trigger alert and more than enough to destroy the human race.

Although 187 nations, including our own, agreed at the 2000 UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference to take Thirteen Practical Steps toward the abolition of nuclear wopans, the US Administration now says that these steps are not in our national intererst.

The World Court in 1996 declared both the use and the threat of use of nuclear weapons illegal.

The US refused to let other nations even set an agenda at the NPT treaty Conference in 2005. This is identified as the major reason for the Conference's collapse and lack of forward progress.

1,403 Mayors around the world have joined the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, including Mayors of Portland, Ashland, Eugene, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, Atlanta and more.

Support demonstrations at the Trident Submarine Base in Bangor, WA which reportedly now has 1,998 nuclear weapons, almost certainly the largest concentration in the world.

Stop Bechtel and other corporations involved in nuclear war profiteering, Go to www.august6.org for a fact sheet and a list of ways to protest against Bechtel.

Join efforts to stop funding for new nuclear weapons. Join an organization working for the abolition of nuclear weapons such as www.disarm.org.

Most importantly, talk to your kids. Encourage them to question authority, empower their lives with action, encourage and educate while realizing they have much to teach us as well.

But most of all remember...

Hiroshima Day & Shadow Project

2006-08-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hiroshima, August 6 - 1945

Human shadows were burnt into sidewalks and walls in the first nuclear war.

The Shadow Project – 2006

61 years later, we chalk shadows on the streets of Portland, so that the blinding light of nuclear war is never seen again.

Hiroshima Day marks the anniversary of the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th, 1945. Over 200,000 people were killed by those two bombs. Since then, nuclear weapons have posed the single greatest threat to the survival of our species.

I'll be attending with my two kids and will return with photographs from the event.

The Administration has plans for increasing U.S. nuclear weapons programs and so we urgently need to remind Oregonians and our lawmakers of the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons. We cannot let the memory of Hiroshima fade and allow our leaders to make this grave mistake again.

The Shadow Project is political art, by the people, for the world. People all over the world will make chalk shadows on the streets of our cities, remembering the human shadows burnt into the streets of Hiroshima by nuclear bombs. We do this the week before Hiroshima Day, August 6th, with the hope of preventing nuclear shadows from ever being cast again.

Come to a Chalking the Sidewalk Session: materials, permits, techniques, and others to chalk with.

August 6 – Japanese-American Plaza – 4:30 pm – NW Couch & Naito. The half hour training will be followed by chalking shadows near the training site.

"The Shadow Project began in 1982 and was organized as an International Shadow Project from Portland in 1985 in 426 cities worldwide. The Cold War may be over, but with the lapse of treaties and nuclear oversight, and research to build new atomic bombs, the threat of nuclear disaster is closer than most people think. Recently our fears have been focused on terrorism, but the old terrors have not gone away." For information on the Shadow Project - www.ShadowProjectHome.org

Peace Vigil 8/2/06

2006-08-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 across from the Beaverton, Oregon, public library.

Danni with our sign from Ft. Lewis vigil.

Singing Songs...

and carrying signs...

Peace Mongers!!!

My son... watching and waiting for honks.

My daughter patiently sits with her sign...

Last week we received an email stating that there were 57 in attendance along with two profiles of sign holders. I'll try to include that information in later photojournals.

Hopefully people can see that it's just "We The People" out there as well as see how the vigils change throughout the year, the seasons and with media events.

Right now it's summertime, a firetruck rolled past us and honked, an old man drove by and flipped us off...

It'll be different in the rain. The heat. The ice. It's always different.

When the sun crawls down earlier... you'll see the candles.