Guilford Peace Alliance Marches in Autumn Parade
an article by Barbara Keating

There was a moment last Saturday as I and another member of the Guilford Peace Alliance carried a lemon inscribed in black letters: "The US Patriot Act is a lemon", that I felt all was well with the world. My peace group was number 33 in the annual parade to herald the Guilford Agricultural Fair. We were surrounded by floats with sunflowers, fluffy fake sheep, a couple of live llamas, a realistic elephant, many black dogs (Guilford has a propensity for having black ones), never mind the school bands, fife and drum corps, boy and girl scouts of all ages.

The day was bright blue with patches of shade under the stately old trees around the Green. The eye was bombarded with vivid colors and happy faces. The participants of each of about 40 units of the parade were busy handing out candy and balloons or waving to the crowds who in turn, applauded. Nowhere did I see hear or smell the death and destruction of a foreign land where few Americans will set foot except while wearing body armor, carrying a powerful weapon and as we now know never returning alive. Nor, did I see depleted uranium shells which after they are spent will take awhile to affect the health of children who play around them.

My moment free from despair, guilt, and shame was brief, but it gave me hope that all can still be well with our world.

Note: The Guilford Peace Alliance is a 23-year old organization based in Guilford, Connecticut. Contact nedvare@ntplx.net for more information.

DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:

Can a small, grassroots response make any real difference


As a reader, you are invited to join in the discussion of this article based on any of the above question(s): just click on the question, read the previous comments and add a new reply. You may also enter a new discussion topic on this article - see bottom of this page.

Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed:

CULTURE OF PEACE IN EVERYDAY LIFE

LATEST READER COMMENT:

Another Peace Vigil

    In 1991, before and during the first Iraq war, a fair-sized group of citizens in and around Concord, Massachusetts demonstrated against the war at the town green and along a major highway.  Passing motorists were about equally divided between support and opposition to this demonstration.  Shortly after that conflict had ended, a few people decided to create a peace vigil which would bring attention to the human costs of war, partly motivated by the terrible destruction inflicted on the Iraqi people.  Vigil participants walk slowly in a circle around the town green, while two in rotation hold the poles of a banner which says “We walk with all who suffer because of war.”
    For a long time the vigil was held the first Friday of each month, from 8 to 9 am at the peak of the morning commute.  Hundreds of vehicles view the message since Concord Center is a crossroads.  All are welcome to join, and periodically one of the participants writes a letter to the local paper drawing attention to the vigil.  Since the current Afghanistan and Iraq wars, participants have decided to conduct the vigil every Friday.  Over the years there has been a gradual change in motorist sentiment – they are now expressing support by about 20 to 1.  We hear comments like “I would join you if I could.”  Certainly, for a couple of seconds, many people are led to reflect on the larger issues facing this country and the world.
    Quietly, there appear to be hundreds of these events all over the country.  Reports of vigils will inspire others to do likewise.  I strongly believe that small steps like this by a few people can have over time a large effect.>

This report was posted on November 18, 2003. The moderator is Tony.

If you wish to start a new discussion topic on this article, please copy the title of this article which is Guilford Peace Alliance Marches in Autumn Parade and its number which is 93 and enter this information along with your discussion question and a brief text on the new topic form.

A few stories are retained on the main listings if they are considered by readers to be a priority. If you have not already done so, please take the time to check a box below: should this article be considered as a priority?