Please join members of the Walpole Peace and Justice Group on October 11th in Boston for a peace march and rally to stand up for peace in the Middle East and calling for an end of the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and to bring our troops home now. The march is on the anniversary of the day Congress approved the “Iraq War Resolution” in 2002 that granted the Bush administration authorization to invade Iraq. The march and rally was organized by a broad regional network of anti-war, human rights, and peace and justice groups. It is calling for:
- Stop the wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan
- Money for jobs, education, healthcare and housing - not for war and occupation
- No sanctions or attack on Iran
- Stop the racist scapegoating of Arabs and Muslims
- Stop the assault on human rights and civil liberties
The rally starts at 12:00 noon at the Boston Common at the corner of Beacon Street and Charles Street. After a 2 hour program of speakers and musicians, there will be a march to Copley Square and back to the Boston Common. More information can be found at the Oct11 web site, http://www.oct11boston.org
You are invited to join us to go into Boston via the commuter train from Walpole. We will be taking the 11:01 AM train that will arrive at Back Bay Station at 11:38 AM and South Station at 11:45 AM. The fare is $5.75 each way. Trains leave Boston at 5:20 PM, 7:20 PM, 9:20 PM, and 5 minutes later from Back Bay. Parking should be available at the top of the station. Look for us on the platform.
This march and rally is an opportunity for us to speak out against this disastrous “preemptive war” that was started using false pretenses. This war was totally unjustified and has resulted in the deaths of over 4,150 U.S. solders and up to 1,000,000 Iraq civilians and has destroyed much of Iraq.
Next Speaker Series: Claude Anshin Thomas on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at the Walpole Public Library, 7:30 PM
Claude Anshin Thomas is the author of the best selling book “At Hell's Gate.” In this talk Claude recounts his dramatic coming-of-age story and spiritual odyssey as well as offering his profound insights into suffering and violence, and how we can end them in ourselves and in our world. Claude Anshin Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he received numerous medals, including twenty-seven Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. Today he is a monk in the Soto Zen tradition and an active speaker and Zen teacher, traveling the world speaking about war and teaching meditation. He also leads peace pilgrimages through war-torn and war-scarred places around the world. Claude is the founder of the Zaltho Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes peace and non-violence.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Documentary Film on School of the Americas
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group will show the documentary film, On The Line, at the Walpole Public Library on September 16th at 7:30 PM. On The Line is an inside look at the people behind one of the largest nonviolent movements in America today: the movement to close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC, a U.S. Army school that trains Latin American soldiers. Why should the school be closed? Many of it's graduates have been involved in some of the worst human rights abuses in Central and South America. The rape and murder of four U.S. nuns, the killing of six priests, and the murder of Archbishop Romero in El Salvador are just some of the more familiar atrocities for which School of America graduates have been responsible.
The movement to close the school of the Americas was started by Fr. Roy Bourgeois in 1990 when he founded the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) and along with 9 others fasted at the gates of Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Since then, over 225 people have been arrested for performing acts of civil disobedience at these demonstrations. They have collectively served more than 95 years in a federal prison and paid thousands of dollars in heavy fines. Many of those arrested are people of faith (ministers, priests, nuns); veterans, college students, grandmothers and grandfathers. In other words, people from all walks of life from all over the country have been moved by their conscience to do what they can to close this school that operates with our tax dollars.
After our country was attacked on 9/11, President Bush said that we need to shut down all terrorist training camps around the world. Come see why Fr. Roy Bourgeois responded that a good place to start would be Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.
The movement to close the school of the Americas was started by Fr. Roy Bourgeois in 1990 when he founded the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW) and along with 9 others fasted at the gates of Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia. Since then, over 225 people have been arrested for performing acts of civil disobedience at these demonstrations. They have collectively served more than 95 years in a federal prison and paid thousands of dollars in heavy fines. Many of those arrested are people of faith (ministers, priests, nuns); veterans, college students, grandmothers and grandfathers. In other words, people from all walks of life from all over the country have been moved by their conscience to do what they can to close this school that operates with our tax dollars.
After our country was attacked on 9/11, President Bush said that we need to shut down all terrorist training camps around the world. Come see why Fr. Roy Bourgeois responded that a good place to start would be Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Peace Vigil on Sat Sep 6
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is holding a peace vigil on Saturday, September 6, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the Walpole Common across from the Walpole Cooperative Bank, near the water trough. Note that we have moved the location of the vigil. The vigil will be held pending the weather and how tropical storm Hanna tracks.
We thank all those who joined us at the last vigil, especially those who traveled from other towns. We believe it is important to continue holding vigils calling for our country to withdraw all our troops from Iraq and bring them home. This war was started under false pretenses and has caused untold destruction and death. We mourn for all who have been killed in this war. We honor our service men and women and our veterans and believe the best way to support them is to bring them home.
The next speaker series will be on September 16, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Walpole Public Library.
We thank all those who joined us at the last vigil, especially those who traveled from other towns. We believe it is important to continue holding vigils calling for our country to withdraw all our troops from Iraq and bring them home. This war was started under false pretenses and has caused untold destruction and death. We mourn for all who have been killed in this war. We honor our service men and women and our veterans and believe the best way to support them is to bring them home.
The next speaker series will be on September 16, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Walpole Public Library.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Bill Moyers Interviews Andrew J. Bacevich
"As campaign ads urge voters to consider who will be a better "Commander in Chief," Andrew J. Bacevich — Professor of International Relations at Boston University, retired Army colonel, and West Point graduate — joins Bill Moyers on the JOURNAL to encourage viewers to take a step back and connect the dots between U.S. foreign policy, consumerism, politics, and militarism."
Video after the jump ...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Demonstration Not "Out of Bounds"
An editorial recently posted in the Daily Transcript:
"Walpole Selectmen took a step forward by approving the demonstration, but a step backward by censuring it. It would have been better to stay out of it and simply allow a local group to practice its Constitutional rights. Those who found the display offensive also have the Constitutional right to say so. Freedom of expression is at the heart of what America stands for and a governing body should respect that.
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group’s members only want to stop more of what they see as needless deaths. The last thing they can be called is insensitive towards those whose lives they are trying to protect."
"Walpole Selectmen took a step forward by approving the demonstration, but a step backward by censuring it. It would have been better to stay out of it and simply allow a local group to practice its Constitutional rights. Those who found the display offensive also have the Constitutional right to say so. Freedom of expression is at the heart of what America stands for and a governing body should respect that.
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group’s members only want to stop more of what they see as needless deaths. The last thing they can be called is insensitive towards those whose lives they are trying to protect."
Thursday, July 10, 2008
One Mother's Answer
Board of Selectman
Walpole Town Hall
att: Catherine Winston, Chair
A friend recently showed me a news item from Daily News Transcript written by Jeb Bobseine. The heading read "Selectmen call coffin display 'insensitive.'" Chairwoman of the Selectman, Cathie Winston said the display would 'only heighten the anxieties and fears of those residents with friends and family currently serving in the military.' As the mother of an army reservist who has served one year in Iraq and who will soon leave for another year long deployment in Afghanistan, I would like to disagree. I live with the knowledge of what my son's service in a combat zone as a medic and mental health worker means every minute of the day. I know what it is like to dread the knock on the door or the late night phone call. What is appalling to me is that the American people seem to want to forget this terrible war and the price we have all paid for it in life and treasure. When my son returned from a year in Iraq, he was depressed by the indifference of so many here at home to what was happening to our troops and the Iraqi people. Coffins and memorials to those who have died, a moment of attention paid to those who will never return to family and friends, are not ‘insensitive,’ they are reminders that we are ALL involved in this tragedy.
Every family I know who has lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan is disgusted by the executive order which does not allow a flag draped coffin to be shown on the news. I know a mother who was told to wait until after sundown to receive the body of her beloved son, because coffins of dead soldiers may not be off loaded from planes until it is dark!
I applaud Walpole for bringing a few hours of reality to your town common. If the people of Walpole find coffins distasteful, perhaps they should wake up and remember, there IS a war going on and we who shoulder it know what a coffin looks like.
Sarah Fuhro
Walpole Town Hall
att: Catherine Winston, Chair
A friend recently showed me a news item from Daily News Transcript written by Jeb Bobseine. The heading read "Selectmen call coffin display 'insensitive.'" Chairwoman of the Selectman, Cathie Winston said the display would 'only heighten the anxieties and fears of those residents with friends and family currently serving in the military.' As the mother of an army reservist who has served one year in Iraq and who will soon leave for another year long deployment in Afghanistan, I would like to disagree. I live with the knowledge of what my son's service in a combat zone as a medic and mental health worker means every minute of the day. I know what it is like to dread the knock on the door or the late night phone call. What is appalling to me is that the American people seem to want to forget this terrible war and the price we have all paid for it in life and treasure. When my son returned from a year in Iraq, he was depressed by the indifference of so many here at home to what was happening to our troops and the Iraqi people. Coffins and memorials to those who have died, a moment of attention paid to those who will never return to family and friends, are not ‘insensitive,’ they are reminders that we are ALL involved in this tragedy.
Every family I know who has lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan is disgusted by the executive order which does not allow a flag draped coffin to be shown on the news. I know a mother who was told to wait until after sundown to receive the body of her beloved son, because coffins of dead soldiers may not be off loaded from planes until it is dark!
I applaud Walpole for bringing a few hours of reality to your town common. If the people of Walpole find coffins distasteful, perhaps they should wake up and remember, there IS a war going on and we who shoulder it know what a coffin looks like.
Sarah Fuhro
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Statement by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group - July 7, 2008
As members of the Walpole Peace and Justice Group we were taken aback by the Walpole Board of Selectmen’s public reprimand regarding the “Tribute to U.S. Military Killed in Iraq." We were surprised that the Board failed to first contact the Peace Group, instead acting to sensationalize the matter and detract from the serious intent of the Tribute. The Selectmen’s statement, coming from an official town board, represents a disturbing threat to the constitutionally protected exercise of free speech. We object to the Selectmen’s implication that we do not “embrace civility and decency.”
The Tribute consisted of wristbands with the name, rank, age, and date of death of each of the thousands of men and women who have died serving our country in Iraq. The purpose of the tribute was to honor these men and women and it was hoped that, for those who visited and viewed the display, this tribute would “personalize the terrible price in human life and the sacrifice so many families have made.” There were 4,098 wristbands as of the date of the display.
The Selectmen’s issue was what they referred to as the “insensitive inclusion of caskets or coffins.” The wristbands were transported in 82 cardboard boxes, 50 names to a box. After erecting the display we stacked the 82 boxes near the tribute. The visual impact of these stacked boxes reminded those present of coffins, adding to the recognition of the “terrible price in human life.” Black cloths were then draped on the boxes to give greater solemnity to the visual statement. Certainly we intended no disrespect. Families of fallen soldiers stopped by, found the names of their loved ones, and thanked us for the tribute. Other people who walked around the tribute and read the names were moved by it.
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group has great respect for the soldiers and military families who live with fear and loss and the devastating impact of this war. We do hope and pray for an end to the conflict and the return of our troops. It is in their behalf that we seek to raise the awareness and sensitivity of our fellow citizens and work for an end to the Iraq war. We urge people to direct their outrage to those who used deception in leading our country to war and to tell their government representatives to bring about a speedy withdrawal. We support our troops wholeheartedly in the call both to “bring them home” and give desperately needed aid to soldiers and families who have suffered the devastating injuries of war.
Walpole Peace and Justice Group
Madeline Champagne
Lois Czachorowski
Philip Czachorowski
Sheila Harbst
Barry Oremland
Paul Peckham
The Tribute consisted of wristbands with the name, rank, age, and date of death of each of the thousands of men and women who have died serving our country in Iraq. The purpose of the tribute was to honor these men and women and it was hoped that, for those who visited and viewed the display, this tribute would “personalize the terrible price in human life and the sacrifice so many families have made.” There were 4,098 wristbands as of the date of the display.
The Selectmen’s issue was what they referred to as the “insensitive inclusion of caskets or coffins.” The wristbands were transported in 82 cardboard boxes, 50 names to a box. After erecting the display we stacked the 82 boxes near the tribute. The visual impact of these stacked boxes reminded those present of coffins, adding to the recognition of the “terrible price in human life.” Black cloths were then draped on the boxes to give greater solemnity to the visual statement. Certainly we intended no disrespect. Families of fallen soldiers stopped by, found the names of their loved ones, and thanked us for the tribute. Other people who walked around the tribute and read the names were moved by it.
The Walpole Peace and Justice Group has great respect for the soldiers and military families who live with fear and loss and the devastating impact of this war. We do hope and pray for an end to the conflict and the return of our troops. It is in their behalf that we seek to raise the awareness and sensitivity of our fellow citizens and work for an end to the Iraq war. We urge people to direct their outrage to those who used deception in leading our country to war and to tell their government representatives to bring about a speedy withdrawal. We support our troops wholeheartedly in the call both to “bring them home” and give desperately needed aid to soldiers and families who have suffered the devastating injuries of war.
Walpole Peace and Justice Group
Madeline Champagne
Lois Czachorowski
Philip Czachorowski
Sheila Harbst
Barry Oremland
Paul Peckham
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