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TechnoratiAnti-War Grannies Challenge that Surge is Working
Only 11 of our military died in Iraq the past week? Break out the champagne! That's less than some of the weeks before the surge. Obviously, then, that means, as our government and our pundits are saying, that the surge is working. Therefore, let's throw another lot of GIs into Iraq. Maybe that way even less of our precious young brave ones will die. Perhaps in a year or two we'll reduce the death rate down to 3 or 4 a week.
But, wait, here's a novel idea. What would happen if we withdrew ALL our troops? Amazingly, NONE of our kids would die in Iraq. Has anybody in Washington done the math? It seems quite elementary to us grannies.
And, what about the Iraqi casualties, which we are told have been reduced to a satisfactory number? Just today, it is reported that 80 people were killed and many more wounded in battles in Basra and Nasinya on January 19. That certainly IS progress, especially when you add to it the 8 killed by a suicide bombing Jan. 16 and at least 10 in a mosque bombing on Jan. 17.
The New York City group, Grandmothers Against the War, decided to try and counteract the lie that the surge is working and that as a consequence U.S. voters no longer put the Iraq war on the top of their agenda. We decided to do something to impress upon the public that the occupation is still the most vital issue facing us, from which all the rest of our urgent problems flow. Health care, education, poverty, and housing dilemmas cannot be solved as long as we are pouring money down the Iraq drain. But, beyond that, we still have the imperative responsibility to save our troops by getting them out of a place they have no business being in and where they can solve nothing, as so tragically evidenced by this week's Iraqi death toll.
On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of our Grandmothers Against the War weekly vigil at Rockefeller Center, January 16, we grannies held a mock funeral procession through the streets of midtown Manhattan, startling passersby with our large numbers and the drama of our parade. Approximately 70 grannies and supporters walked slowly and silently in single file, some carrying open black umbrellas, New Orleans style, some carrying giant black balloons inscribed in white with the words, "TROOPS OUT NOW," and some carrying placards and banners. The procession was led by four grandmothers carrying two life-sized cardboard coffins, one draped in the American flag and one in a black shroud. One granny beat a drum every few seconds, adding immeasurably to the solemnity of the event. The troupe of marchers was backed up by a color guard consisting of Veterans for Peace who regularly participate in our weekly vigil at Rockefeller Center.The group marched from the Times Square Recruiting Station, where 18 of us grandmothers calling ourselves the Granny Peace Brigade were arrested and sent to jail in October 2005 when we tried to enlist in the military, to the site of the Rockefeller Center vigil on Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. There, we read for an hour the names of Iraqi and U.S. dead in Iraq, punctuated by a meditation bell tone after each person's name, age, and date of death was announced.
When the names were read, one of the women read a poem sent to the grannies by Yoko Ono, who couldn't join them on this occasion but who always strongly supports their actions. Then, as the St. Patrick's Church bell tolled at 5:30 p.m., the group observed a moment of silence before concluding the commemorative ceremony.
Only a small dent, probably, in the malleable public mind, which is all too easily manipulated by those who continue the occupation of Iraq for their inexplicable but undoubtedly heinous reasons, and those who abet them by not taking action we voters mandated them to take in the last Congressional election. But we grannies keep on keeping on in our mission to bring the troops home...now, and we won't stop until the last soldier or marine is out of Iraq.
America, please.....listen to your granny!
Joan Wile is the author of "Grandmothers Against the War: Getting off Our Fannies and Standing up for Peace," to be published by Citadel Press April 20, 2008
18 Comments so far
Show AllI respect the grannies, too. It's the politicians I have no respect for.
The grannies would be better served by RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think there is room for what these grannies are doing, and that every action is not necessarily going to be about changing "the hearts and minds" of the politicians, but sometimes about getting the people who walk by to think about what is going on. and perhaps to encourage the people who walk past to do something themselves. injecting peaceful acts into a culture of war disrupts the status quo, if only for a short while. but i think those moments are important. if an hour long vigil changes one person's attitude, i think that is an hour well spent. and i have spent a lot of time as an activist asking myself "where is our power? where can we exert some leverage and change a few things?" (more than an few). getting out into the streets and being disruptive, theatrical and passionate for peace will not answer the question completely.
also, not all of these women are grandmothers, but some of them are. and i was talking to one of them the other day who became tearful as she was talking about her new grandchild. because now she has to fight for the future so her grandchild can live a life that is safe and free. this is serious. in some ways the "listen to your granny" language disguises how for these women, this is serious. desperately serious and tragic. and they are out there to educate, inform, and raise awareness of what is happening in this world. i hold them with great respect.
"Boomers and gen x-ers should take a lesson!!"
A lesson about what?- shouting silly slogans in their air, while politicians out-do each other pretending to be deaf?
I will give the grannies props for doing something, but, they and we should hold no illusions about how effect their tactics are.
The anti-war movement has NO representation in congress. It will continue to have no representation as long as individuals keep voting for pro-war democrats and republicans.
To Joan Wile - Thanks for your info - I will check out the web site and see what I can find.
Tumbleweed. The Iraq war is no longer on US minds, not because of the problems at home, but because the surge and reduced casualties indicate to Americans that there is improvementT this is a signal to forget about it. Americans have to think of only a few things at once, more is too laborious.
When the General gave his report the 'Surge was working' I didn't believe a word of it! It's going to take a whole lot more than a pathological liar saying the surge is working through his FAVORITE MOUTH PIECE for me to believe it. Which is why Bush had the General announce it to the country. Because it wouldn't be believed if he (Bush) said it. I think the only people who do believe it are the 'right wing fools' who keep tagging after Bush hoping for a magical reprieve from having to face the music that they are ultimately responsible for the mess their leader is making. They aren't ever going to admit to anyone they were wrong anyway. People like that never do. So I don't know why anyone hopes for the impossible. That crowd I started tuning out years ago. But, you will have to admire them for their 'blind loyalty' to their Supreme Serpent! But, other than that. The Iraq War isn't at the front of everyone's minds anymore because we have such a mess here at home from years of neglect. That is growing by leaps and bounds. But, I do think Iraq is part of the frustration. A lot of people like me haven't completely forgotten about it. It's still at the top of our list. It's just we can't seem to do anything about it at the mess. We are trying to do something about the rest of it. Hoping beyond hope to be successful.
Go get them Grannies!
The Surge is Working?
More
BU__! SH__!
From the same Old Guys.
Lie, Lie, Lie
Then
Lie some more.
Who believes this
BU__! SH__!
???????????
This is for "grandma," who writes she would join us if she lived near us. If she cares to pursue this, I can help her find a grandmothers peace group in her area. She might go to the web site grandmothersforpeace.org and check out their chapter directory. They have them all over the U.S. and in some foreign countries, too. If that doesn't work, perhaps she would contact me directly throough Cmmon Dreams' good graces.
If the surge is working, that is the claim is of reduced conflict and casualties in the local vicinity of the green zone, it is because the patient is dying. The patient, being the peoples of Iraq, was never actually meant to be saved. The humanitarian results are disgusting. The US of I presence and success is only that of those exclusive fortresses, and brutal air power, whose strength is out-matched by the sickness of disorder everywhere else, and almost universal hatred of their presence and effects.
Good on the grannies, who have lives of experience and toughness, to show that real courage is not absent in the US of I. There is no real courage in bombing a third world country and its people to hell. A nations capacity for high tech annihilation is a measure of the small mindedness of its leaders. They have lost a capacity for real human interaction.
How come nobody ever remembers the polls where most of the Iraqis want us to leave. They believe it is CIA black ops blowing up car bombs in markets, trying to cause the 'civil war' thus the excuse we have to stay.
The Iraqis want us to leave.
Time to organize Common Dreams? This was published on Jan 20 about an event which happened on Jan 16. Common Dreams often prints an article after the fact. I love the Grannies and wherever they are beating the drum for decency, I support them but I could support them more if I knew about it ahead of time.
A small bulletin board listing events around the country and world would do much for Common Dreams readers.
We need to know and the mainstream media won't tell us. Common Dreams and other sites should tell us. All progressive sites should have a bulletin board.
Yay! Grannies! Four days late... but Yay Grannies!
The surge is not working. Factions are strengthening their positions, and using the US for that process.The US has been succesfully prevented from forming a credible government. There is no real reason to attack at this time. With time the US becomes weaker and vulnerable. The future hinges on Sadr. Will he go with the nationalists, or the Iranian allied Shiites? Who will the US support? What does the US get?
The Iranians are willing to give more than the nationalists, but I think
the US will attack Iran, side with the nationalists, create a mess and try to betray everybody and take over both countries when the dust settles.
Think of how peaceful it would be in Iraq if the traitors and thugs in washington d.c. were forced to live in baghdad.
I'm referring to Mayor Byrne when she moved into Cabrini Greens in Chicago. During her stay, there was not one gun related incident.
I truly believe that if G.W. Bush and Dick Cheney were set up in Baghdad, less G.I.'s would be killed. I truly believe this.
However, if the U.S. government was ultimately unable to control Cabrini Greens, just one set of projects out of thousands, how likely is it that they will be able to control a city, let alone a country, thousands of miles away?
I seriously believe that G.W. hates grandmothers and will do ANYTHING, like conduct a war for the express purpose of inciting the elderly.
How would you feel if YOUR actions let to protests by the elderly? I for one would try my best to placate them, for their own health, and the health of the nation.
These people are like gold.
Thank you "Grannies For Peace". My Grand Mother died 22 years ago, and as a teenager growing up during Vietnam, she was very much against the war. My Great Grandmother was active in the "Social Reform League" in the early 1900's. I know today my late Grand Mother would most likely be a member and participant of Grannies for Peace.
We need these Anti-War Grannies to link up with CODEPINK. Together they can be America's grandmas. And our Mom can be Cindy Sheehan. Put them all in the White House for two years and I'm sure this country will be back on the right track. There is plenty of evidence to show that our dads and our grandfathers have made a mess. These are the people who nurtured America. CODEPINK and the Anti-War Grannies are the ones who can save it. America must connect with its feminine side. The masculine side is committing suicide. Our moms and grandmas know that "surge" really means masturbation. And they will surely slap little George's hand.
Hoa binh
God Bless these grannies! I loved both of my grandmas when they were alive. I learned so much from them. Boomers and gen x-ers should take a lesson!!
Just remember, forextrader, that many of these grannies ARE boomers...
Congrats to the Grannies - I wish I lived nearer to them because I would surely join them.