Eighty March In Silence

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of the war and occupation of Iraq. A group of us, connected with the Corvallis Alternatives To War, along with a sponsoring student group, organized a silent march and die-in. We started along the northeast edge of the OSU campus, marched past the campus business zone and onto the Quad in front of the Memorial Union (the MU). We had 80 people marching, most were dressed in black, many carried signs.





Our intention was to look and feel like a funeral march. We wanted to march slowly, solemnly and deliberately. So Joe lead us with a slow, single beat of his drum. Kris and Rich followed with the banner they made in 2004 and have used for the marches each year since then.




I love this Abbey Road/Peace March photo of Courtney's.





As we were marching I was remembering when Medea Benjamin, founder of Code Pink, spoke at the Corvallis Library recently. She said only in the U.S. is marching in the streets considered old-fashioned, something from the 60's. In the rest of the world it's how they effect social change--they pour out in the streets and stay there until something shifts. Americans sit at their TVs or computers and think things are going to change, and become disheartened when they don't. I have to say I agree with Medea. Probably nothing is going to happen until there's a critical mass out there saying NO.





As we gathered in front of the MU, a student named Alia read our statement of purpose:

On 19 March 2003 the U.S. attacked and invaded the sovereign nation of Iraq.
We stand in silent protest of the despicable Iraq war and occupation.
We grieve for the hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly taken.
We object to the hundreds of billions of dollars spent to kill and destroy.
We deplore the arrogant indifference of the Bush administration to international law and human rights.
We refuse to succumb to the fear propaganda perpetuated by our government.
We call for an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq.
Join us.

With that Joe struck a couple of beats and everyone laid down on the sidewalk at the entrance of the MU. A couple of us stayed standing and handed out copies of our statement of purpose and answered questions as people walked up.

At first I thought it would be too long to have people lying there for 15 minutes. That concrete is mighty cold this time of year. But it actually turned out to be just the right amount of time. From talking to Courtney and others later, I can see that we all settled into the parts we were playing. After a bit of time my mind quietened and I felt a hint of what it must be like to have your family or your village dead or dying all around you. It especially hit me when I saw Courtney lying there next to my friend Laurie and her husband John. (Just before I left yesterday for the march, I read an article about a recent tragedy when an Iraqi family of 16 were all killed.)





After 15 minutes Joe struck his drum twice and everyone got up. We formed our line single-file and resumed our march through campus, past the library and dorms, and back to our starting point. One woman suggested we form a circle and have a moment of silence together, which we did, before we disbanded. As I looked around that circle I saw so much heart, compassion, sadness, strength and determination. I felt really proud to stand with these people.






This is our community and people I have come to love and appreciate. Every town has people like these--ones who care passionately about life and others, ones with hope and vision, ones who get out there and speak out and do whatever they can, even though it's never enough. But this is our town and our people and I feel quite lucky to have landed here.

This morning the local paper, the Gazette-Times, put us "above the fold"--two big color pictures on the front page--one of Joe leading the march and one of the die-in. And a good long article, and a sidebar about our upcoming community march on Saturday. That in itself feels like a little victory--whenever we get that kind of coverage in the mainstream press we've got to jump with joy.

Now let's see what we can do about ending the war! See you in the streets,

Valori

Ben, Monkeys, Sasha and Joanna

How danged cute can a kid be? I know you are asking yourself that because that's what I say every time I see him.




We have a routine whenever Ben's here with us at night. It includes a bath (a word we can't say until it's time, or we'll hear "agua, agua, agua" again and again). This boy likes his baths. He must get it from me. I always loved baths, even had a baby in one. But that's another story.




By now you are seeing that there's a family theme to this posting. My mom is nearing the 300 mark on the number of sock monkeys that she's made. In 1999 she and my dad moved from Pacific Grove to Fredericksburg, TX, and the next year she started making monkeys. She's sold some but mainly she gives them to family shelters, people with new babies or sick children, and any child who inspires her to ask "Would you like a sock monkey?"





She also knits children's caps, so then the monkeys get matching caps. You would think she'd have a house full of monkeys, but all she's got left are the ones in these photos. The rest are spread around the world--hopefully all in loving homes.





And who you may ask is that--burrowed into our comforter?! Surely not the cat we said would never sleep with us. Yes, the cat for whom Courtney and I both act as cat butler. It's almost a full-time position--opening and closing the sliding glass door every few minutes until she tires of that game and takes a nap. When she's outside and wants in she raises her little paw and taps urgently on the glass, meanwhile glancing nervously over her shoulder. It's dark woods and danger out there. So we open the door and she leaps in quickly, makes a dash to the food bowl, wolfs down some grub and returns to the door--ready for more adventure.




All around us there are continuing signs of early spring. So much to be grateful for, and at the same time, so much suffering and sadness in the world. The other day at work several of us were talking over lunch about building strawbale homes. A couple of people talked about their neighbor who had been working on her house for years. A day or two later we learned that she had just died--fell off while working on the roof of her house.

When I read her obituary I wished that I had known her. I was so impressed with how she lived her life, that I'm sharing this description of her, a total stranger to me, but a woman loved by many mutual friends:

Joanna Karl was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 18, 1951. She received a degree in mechanical engineering at UC Santa Barbara.

In 1986, Joanna moved to Portland, Oregon, to work at Metro (Portland area’s regional government). She completed a master’s degree in environmental engineering in 1993.

An accomplished woodworker, she built harps, banjos, and hammered dulcimers, among much else. She also made clothing, outdoor gear and beautiful quilts, most of which she gave away as gifts to friends and family. She enjoyed photography, collage, and other graphic arts, most of which, again, she gave away. Gifts were wrapped in beautiful used fabric.

Joanna loved outdoor activities such as hiking and cross-country skiing and frequently took backpacking trips with her friends and loved contra dancing.

In an autobiographical sketch written in 1993, Joanna wrote, “I try to live simply, respect life, and to impact the natural environment as little as possible. I attempt to be consistent between my personal belief system and my lifestyle choices, [including] vegetarianism, bicycle commuting, and war tax resistance…I am also an activist…(hopefully) teaching by example…It feels good when someone seeks me out for information or to excitedly report on their own lifestyle changes.”

To a rare degree, Joanna truly did walk her talk. And she did it with a big smile!

In 2001, Joanna and her friend, Peace [John] Helm, purchased a dilapidated house in south Corvallis. Their plan for rebuilding the house included strawbale insulation, earthen plaster, sustainably harvested lumber, recycled metal roofing, and an adobe floor with radiant heating. Friends and neighbors joined in the project at a number of work parties. Joanna died on Friday, February 29, when she fell while working on her house.

Joanna is remembered as an exceptionally warm, generous and loving friend to many. Joanna’s loving heart, wide smile, and outspoken concern for the earth will be greatly missed.

Because Joanna was so widely known and loved, many different memorial celebrations are being held. Among them:

On Saturday, March 8, a tree planting in Joanna’s memory will be held at Kings Valley Gardens anytime after 10:30 a.m. They plan to plant 300 trees for habitat, clean air and beauty. Bring a shovel and memories to share.

A celebration of Joanna’s life will be held at the First Congregational Church on Sunday, March 9, at 5:00pm, with a vegetarian potluck at 6:00 p.m. A special memorial contra dance will begin at 7:30 p.m. If at all possible, please ride your bicycle. If not, please carpool.

A simultaneous celebration of Joanna’s life will be held on top of Mt. Tabor in Portland. Donations of money or time in Joanna’s name may be made to the War Resisters League (www.warresisters.org), or to any organization which supports peace, social justice, or a healthy environment.

But the very best way to honor Joanna’s memory is to be generous and kind, ride your bicycle...and smile!

Well, thanks be for Joanna's life. I feel grateful just to know this much about her through these memories. And I'm setting my intention to follow that good advice and honor Joanna's memory.

Happy beginning of spring,

Valori

The Wheels Of Justice Rolled Through Corvallis

Long, long ago--maybe in 2003 or 2004--the Wheels Of Justice bus tour came through Monterey, and Courtney and I were part of the organizing effort to get them there. It was lots of work, arranging their public appearances and all the details of food, housing, etc, for the people on tour. But well worth the time and effort. It was a great experience, and so I have this fondness for the Wheels Of Justice. That's the only way I can explain my temporary loss of good judgment and volunteering to arrange their time in Corvallis, with only two weeks notice.



But at least it all worked. They arrived in Corvallis on Wednesday morning, having spent a couple of days in Eugene, and before that four days in Portland. The tour has been on the road-- visiting US towns and cities, campuses and faith communities--for eight years now, with different speakers coming and going. But they always have on board a speaker who has recently been to Iraq and one recently back from Palestine.




Here we are at their first stop, the Corvallis Multicultural Literacy Center. (I'd love to do an entire blog entry on the CMLC. It's a beautiful and amazing place and, at no charge, we can use their living room and kitchen for events like we did Wednesday noon.) Closest to me is Mike Miles, from Luck, Wisconsin, a Catholic Worker and long-time peace activist. He ran for Congress on the Green Party ticket in 2004 and 2006, and fared the best of any third party candidate in the country. He founded the Anathoth Community Farm, a center for the study of nonviolence, community and sustainable living. He's been to Iraq three times in the last decade and to Israel/Palestine recently. He's been doing anti-war and anti-occupation work for a long time, got his facts together, immediately connects with people, listens well and enjoys conversation.

In the red sweater is Mazin Qumsiyeh, a Palestinian-American, born in the Shepherd's Field, near Bethlehem, to Christian parents. He splits his time between the US and Palestine. He's been on the faculty of Duke and Yale. And served on the Executive Committees of almost every organization dealing with Palestinian human rights. His third book, which we bought a copy of and I highly recommend, is titled "Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human Rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle."

The human rights work is Mazin's passion, but his other work is as a medical geneticist. Before their presentation at CMLC, Mazin was anxious to get online and check his emails. He was waiting for a man's test results and needed to respond asap. The man did indeed have terminal cancer and a very poor prognosis, and that was weighing on Mazin as he prepared to talk about the realities of living under occupation in Palestine--what that has meant for his family, his village, his people. But to meet him and talk with him you would never suspect what hangs on his shoulders--he's completely warm, open and kind, and extremely focused and intelligent.





After their noon presentation, which was more of an informal conversation with the fifteen of us there, we moved the bus onto the Brick Mall next to the Memorial Union Quad. For the next couple hours Mike and Mazin, along with the bus driver Bill, talked with OSU student and faculty and staff. Mazin was especially skilled at flagging down the students, starting up a conversation, and then giving them a flier to their evening event. I think the students were drawn to his smile and his open attitude--very few ignored his invitation to talk.




From campus, the bus moved to downtown Corvallis and in front of the Benton County Courthouse. This, of course, is the site of the daily vigil that has taken place EVERY day since the war in Afghanistan started in October 2001. Never has a day been missed in 7&1/2 years. Mike and Mazin were quite impressed with that and agreed that it's probably the only daily vigil in the US. At least of that longevity.

That night they spoke at the Odd Fellows Hall, another great place we have free access to for peace-related events. Mike reminded us that, though we, like many other communities across the country, are preparing for the 5 Years Too Many marches and protests coming up soon, the war in Iraq actually started 17 years ago. In 1991, after 42 days of assault, the US military had effectively rendered Iraq to a pre-industrial state. Then with 12 years of sanctions (seige- warfare, he called it, nothing goes in and nothing goes out, and eventually the people succumb), over a million Iraqis were killed in the eight years that Clinton was in office.

Mazin gave an impressive slide show, starting with a slide of a young Iraqi girl crouched down and crying, covered in blood. He asked how many people had seen this photo and knew her story. No one in the room raised their hand, and this was a well-read crowd. This, Mazin said, is the power of media, to give the news or withhold the news. The story of that little girl is well-known all over the world, and especially in the Arab world, as is her picture. Her parents were on either side of her, in their car, when American soldiers opened fire and killed them both. After discovering their mistake, the soldiers apologized to her uncle.

Mazin went on to show covers of Newsweek magazine and other publications, on one side the US version and on the other side the international version. Over and over, the news of Iraq disasters or the tragedies of Palestinians living under occupation were omitted from the US version. What the rest of the world sees and what Americans see is quite different. And it seems quite well orchestrated.

But Mazin said what he sees, as they travel around the country, is people everywhere building community--in the midst of economic decline, climate change, prices and military spending up, employment and social structure funds down, home mortgage and healthcare crises growing --and people are organizing in their communities.

At the end of his presentation, which mainly focused on human rights abuses against the civilian population of the Palestinian Territories, Mazin asked why is the US sending $11 million per day to Israel, an affluent country? Is this the best use of our tax dollars and resources? He has an excellent website, www.qumsiyeh.org, which includes an activist training manual. Check it out.




And yes, that's the bus parked at our little casa. Bill the bus driver, a Vietnam Veteran and full-time, long-time peace activist (getting arrested the first day of the Gulf War, driving a bus regularly for the Pastors For Peace convoys to Cuba, etc) stayed the night with us. Brightened up the neighborhood a bit.

But they are truly rolling stones, gathering no moss, and were up and off early early Thursday morning to give presentations at the high school continuously from 7:40am to 3:40pm. These guys are danged saints (or maniacs, or both). They wanted to talk with students, and they got a chance to do that in Corvallis, so that feels like a little success in the big sea of work to be done.

In the morning, after they had left, I heard the geese and got to our bedroom window just in time to see a sky full of flocks heading west. I hurried to the other side of the house (luckily a short distance) and, through the bathroom window, watched as they continued their flight westward. It gave me great pleasure to see the natural world still operating by wisdom, in spite of us humans.

Good luck to us all, large and small creatures,

Valori

Ruby's Here! Hooray!

Courtney's son Jer has long been known to his friends as Spudde (long story). So it was only natural that when he and his fiance Pamela found out Pamela was pregnant, they started calling their baby "Tater Tot". But as the birth time drew nearer, Tater Tot became Ruby Alice.




Here she is shortly after 1:33 Sunday afternoon, February 24, weighing in at 7 lbs, 11 oz. She was born in Berkeley, CA, where they live. Ruby refused to come out on her own, and had to be helped out (by C-section). Already a little spitfire and troublemaker, she had wrapped the umbilical cord around her neck. Watch out, Jer and Pamela, it's only the beginning!





You can see that from the beginning Ruby was in good hands.




And beautiful from the start.




Lucky Ruby, she's been born into a family with lots of love. She'll be well cared for.




Plus she's got a sturdy dad. Jer figures that if the number of hours he's slept plus the number of cups of coffee he's had add up to eight, then he's fine. With an attitude like that, how can he go wrong?

Courtney's going to CA soon to see Ruby in person, so watch for more pics. The next ones will be of Ruby charming her granddad Courtney (aka Poppi). And hopefully some of Jer and Pamela getting to take a nap. Or sitting down to eat together without holding a baby. Or......(Stay tuned and see!)

Welcome to the world, little Ruby! We're glad you're here!

Valori