You know those 20 aging hippies that have been standing on corners since before the Iraq war waving peace signs? They need your help - especially now, in light of what has happened.
Look, we didn't stop them from going to war and we didn't stop them at the polls, so I know you are thinking "what's the use?" I can give you a thousand reasons, but here are just a few:
1. Look at
http://www.indyvoter.org - if young people had been the only ones voting, Kerry would have won in a landslide. Where are you going to reach young people? In the streets! Please remember that there is a whole generation of eligible voters coming of voting age within the next two years. These kids are at the mall, at the movies and at a lot of other places where we hold vigils. Do we want reich-wing propaganda to reach them before we do? I don't think so!
2. A lot of Democratic non-activists are afraid right now. If they see the same 20 people standing there week after week, it will only seem sadder and sadder. If they see 30 people there next week and 40 the week after and 50 the week after that, they will see a vital growing movement that they want to be a part of. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem - apathy is not an option for 100,000 dead Iraqis.
3. It's healing creating community with like-minded people. No, not all of them are Democrats, but they share many of the same values and together we can be a force for change. To change the politics, we must change the culture - and the only way we can change the culture is to BECOME it!
If you have never attended a vigil, or if you used to attend before the war but have drifted away, please, please re-commit yourself to growing a vital community of people who promote peace, social justice and diversity. Please don't find something better to do this weekend. Please don't be discouraged. Please just come and join us :-)
PS - If you don't know who to connect with in your community, I will try to help. I maintain this page over at Citizens for Legitimate Government:
http://www.legitgov.org/peaceprotests.html and in the course of doing so, I scurry all over the web looking for actions and activists to connect with. I will find you a contact if I have to e-mail everyone in Bumf*ck Egypt to get you hooked up. Please PM me if you need help.
In solidarity,
Carol
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