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The Easter Thread: Resurrection and Hope
It's Sunday morning as I write this and it will be written while we drive over to Larry's (Will's) college with an easter basket, just because I miss his childhood, and the girls' as well. Easter was always a freebie, because it took so little work, there was chocolate, and we were going to do a Seder at some point anyway, being a modern 21st century ecumenical family, with so many roots there was no point in sorting them out. We just celebrated...everything. Chocolate was always involved, down to the chocolate macaroons for Passover.
It's been quite a week here in Lake Bushbegone(soon)but notsoonenough. Last weekend was the Iraq Vets Against the War Winter Soldier testimonies. Did you catch them? Of course not, no one covered it! And yet, the Washington Post managed to cover the small band of twenty war lovers outside the three-day site of testimonies, and a disruptive peace activist, without addressing any of the testimony whatsoever.
But WE can know what was stated, wept over, longed for, and ripped from memories too painful to share openly: http://ivaw.org/.
I was especially struck by Adam Kokesh's testimony because this young man has learned a great deal about presenting his story in a clear and compelling way. But truly, all of the videos are affecting and enraging.
On Tuesday, I participated in a ceremony to restore the Constitution to its rightful place in the hearts and minds of the government. hahahahahah. It was a lovely experience of chants, solemn walks, singing, poetry and invocations. We began by a fountain that sits at the corner of 6th St. Constitution, and Pennsylvania, in a triangle of shrubs and quietude. The fountain has all the signs of the zodiac around it (several of the founding fathers were masonic deists, so the references make sense). It is also directly across the street from the new Newseum, the museum of the media, whiich is set to open in this new location in a few weeks.
On the front of the Newseum, in large typeface, is the First Amendment, which we sang:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It was nice that the Newseum folks remember the text of this arcane document, but we could think of several ways in which that promise has been broken lately.
photo cr. Sarah L. Voisin, Washington Post
We then strolled over to the National Archives, the HOME of the Constitution, the Declaration of Indepenedence and one copy of the Magna Carta. Gael Murphy quoted Abraham Lincoln as she invited the better angels of our nature to RISE UP. A giant and quite beautiful Constitution preamble was unfurled, held up by 18th century costumed college students and led by Tighe Barry, who created it (Tighe is dressed in a pink Marine outfit in the photo, above). Black tape that covered the words of the first amendment was ripped off to reveal the soaring language beneath. Then it was off to/for Justice.
At the Department of Justice, Jesselyn Radack spoke and led a call-and-response with the crowd to return the spirit of Justice herself to the building and those who work inside. Jesselyn's voice rang with authority because few know better then she how shunned Justice has been by those sworn to uphold her.
We moved on to the IRS where Jodie Evans spoke of the neew for taxes to go for the common good, the common wealth. We placed the Constitution on the ground and put items in it that were to be donated for that common good, a sort of 21st century potlatch ceremony. Those who put down items picked up other items, included were small copies of the Constitution, dollar bills,a copy of Jesselyn's book, The Canary in the Coalmine, jewelry, beads, etc.
The group them marched along the street with the Constitution, Lori Perdue leading the singing and reading a poem. But by then the DC police had caught wind of the democracy rebellion that was going on: woemn in the streets! A giant Constitution! POETRY! and they decided that we needed an escort of pollution-delivering motorcycles spewing exhaust in our faces. They revved and they spat out fumes until we all had headaches and felt nauseous. Not, mind you, as nauseous as those in the marketplaces of Baghdad feel on a daily basis. But enough to dampen the spirits anyway.
And then on Wednesday, a day of actions that began with our car as peace taxi. Eventually we ran into the Vets for Peace and the Iraq Vets Against the War marching from the National Museum of the American Indian to the Archives building, where four IVAW members climbed up on the portico, perched overhead of the entering crowds, holding an upside-down American flag. They had a bullhorn and they told the crowd that they were not disrespecting the flag, but showing its distress. One of the four was Adam Kokesh (see above) and he told the story of being in an elite military group in Iraq that soon developed the motto "We care so you don't have to."
Bill Moyer showed up with the Constitution (his is bigger than Tighe's, and signed by ordinary Americans at the bottom) and the Chain Gang heads and several of us jumped up to display that Constitution, with all those signatures. Only one man waiting in line did not seem to gat it, shaking his head the entire time as if to say, "Do not enter in my brain, information. Please do not allow the truth to render my beliefs inaccurate."
So today, on this holiday of resurrection and spring's awakening, as you spend time with your families and as much chocolate as you can take in, I share with you the crying need for far more resurrection and hope than we are likely to get, but encourage us all to share the good news that hope lies in truth-telling. Get some today.
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Karen, this is such a good piece that I don't know where to start. I've watched Adam Kokesh so many times that I feel like a groupie. He has such a no nonsense-goodness when he tells that we are good people who have been sent to do bad things. That our governments are doing it again.
The upside down flag is an excellent symbol. Every time I read Jesselyn's name I shudder to think of how her life changed when she believed she worked for justice only to discover that injustice was the only thing that would protect her and her job.
Adam and Jesselyn, in totally different ways seem to share a disbelief that this was what their government had actually become.
What frightens me when I hear Obama and Clinton saying they will end the war is that they are consulting the wrong people. Clinton is just going to order the troops home on day 1. Obama is going to take a little time because he needs to find out from the Commanders on the ground how to do it.
Have any of the candidates heard from Adam Kokesh? He surely would be a great person to have on Obama's team. Or any of the vets trying to get medical care for PTSD? Please - candidates - take notice of the guys who've been sent to Iraq and returned missing a limb, a mind, a soul, a spirit. Those who've been sent and ordered to deny their own morality, are forever changed.
This is not a *war*. It is an invasion. It is a brutal assault on the Iraqi people and every day it gets worse, not better. And with every assault in someone's home suburb, a little humanity leaves the young soldiers gunning children and families down where they live.
Everyone has the right to safety within their own homes. Except the Iraqis according to the Bush Regime.
Woz,
I wish the campaigns would listen to Adam and Jesselyn. But campaigns are notoriously noisy places of adrenalin-filled crises, and one of the great downfalls of the Democrats has always been a failure to listen well.
It does not help that the media do not cover these touchstone moments. We do know the campaigns read the papers and surf the TV stations. But they cannot read what is not there.
Watch the beautiful event in Union Station on Tuesday--I did not write about it but it moved me immensely:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP4VhrKMEhk
(This a different version of the event from the one I posted in the Open Thread.)
Happy Easter/Nov Ruz/etc. to all! Eggs, bunnies, resurrection, hope, etc., to all!
Whan that Aprille
With her shoores soote
The droughte of March
Has pierced to the to roote
And bathed every vine in sich liquor....
Oh well, forgot the rest!
Peace, Love and Understanding!
Chuck in Houston
Happy Easter/Nov Ruz/etc. to all! Eggs, bunnies, resurrection, hope, etc., to all!
Whan that Aprille
With her shoores soote
The droughte of March
Has pierced to the to roote
And bathed every vine in sich liquor....
Oh well, forgot the rest!
Peace, Love and Understanding!
Chuck in Houston
karen - it has something to do with age I think. The slightest thing will start the flow of tears. It was the bald deaf guy chanting in sign language that did it for me this time.
We have to find a way to get Jesselyn, Adam, the Luceys (from Winter Soldier weekend) voices out to We-the-People and to Obama and Clinton. To withdraw as carelessly as we invaded would probably be catastrophic, but lets face it, no matter how it's done, Iraq is in much worse conditions than pre-invasion.
If we were truly on about democracy we would allow all Iraqi individuals to say stay or go and abide by their decision. Not Iraqi's like the Maliki of the West. Real families of plumbers, electricians, teachers, doctors.
But no - what do they know about what's best for them? No, we'll ask the Generals who don't even bother to consult with the likes of Adam Kokesh? They just consult with the leaders in the field. You know, the ones in the air conditioned offices, who come running out when there's a possibility of a person to beat up on.
And the CIC says that it's all been worth it. It's not just the 4000 coffins that came home - it's the walking dead without coffins that are a real concern. One's like the Lucey's boy. Those who were stripped of their souls in Iraq. Of course it's been worth it to the CIC. It's cost him nothing. NOTHING. Not even a very long jail sentence for his crimes. Not a child. Not a moment's discomfort. NOTHING.
GREAT piece, Karen! You certainly have your finger on the pulse there in Washington, DC. All we get out here are more corrupt local politicians and an occasional news blurb - like when Guv Bill endorsed Obama. Hmmm . . . wasn't Bill the Department of Energy Head under Clinton? (yes) Believe me - Bill is no dummy - he knows.
Hope all had a good Easter!
We did, ABQ. It was a nice day that ended with a conversation about next steps for the antiwar movement (not that we are in charge of it!). We have to find a way, however, to make sure that whoever is the next President shuts Guantanamo, restores habeus corpus, rebuilds the diplomatic corps, gets us out of Iraq, works hard with Iran, Palestine, AND Israel, builds support for healthcare for all, etc. etc.
We the people are gonna have to do it, I fear.
And in related news, we just hit 4,000 dead soldiers in Iraq.
But the surge is working...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE3_QFu7epQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWw2wSpbhcg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWw2wSpbhcg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mlJjBYllQY&feature=related
Here's to a Portland, Oregon Easter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMqRErUVt4A&feature=related
Chuck in Houston
Not only working, Karen. Worth it, according to the president!