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<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>Stuart<BR> <BR>I don't have much experience with parades and/or floats, I don't particularly like the idea of a float, perhaps because I associate it with frivolity/triviality? <BR>I like the idea of marching as AWARE in concern for the 4th amendment which clearly is in jeapardy at this time, calling attention to it during the 4th of July parade is an opportunity to reach out to others, in the united we stand theme of supporting our constitutional right to privacy. <BR> <BR>Just my thoughts<BR> <BR>Karen Aram<br> <BR><div>> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:24:41 -0500<br>> From: stuartnlevy@gmail.com<br>> To: peace-discuss@anti-war.net<br>> CC: stuartnlevy@gmail.com; kmedina67@gmail.com; karenaram@hotmail.com; r-szoke@illinois.edu; cge@shout.net; thenewmoon37@yahoo.com; rohnkoester@gmail.com; m-taber@illinois.edu; occupycu@lists.chambana.net<br>> Subject: 4th of July - AWARE float (or sink?)<br>> <br>> Today, Saturday the 15th, is the postmark deadline for entering AWARE in <br>> the 4th of July parade.<br>> <br>> Again, the year's theme is "United We Stand, Proudly We Serve".<br>> <br>> Among the ideas suggested -<br>> <br>> - honoring our public servants (school teachers, librarians, ...) <br>> whose support is being ever further cut to feed our insatiable <br>> military/industrial/surveillance war machine, whose importance grows <br>> more and more difficult to question - thanks to Merlin<br>> <br>> - honoring our constitutional rights being dramatically violated, and <br>> constitutionally limited powers exceeded, by current government - thanks <br>> to Carl (see https://www.facebook.com/groups/305897426305/?fref=ts)<br>> (I want a sign, 'where's the 4th amendment on the 4th of July?')<br>> <br>> - even if we don't construct a float, we should carry a banner, as <br>> we did last year (thanks to Theresa and Rohn)<br>> <br>> There's also the prospect of the No More Jails entry from C-U Citizens <br>> for Peace and Justice and others, which will be in the parade this <br>> year. If we didn't have an AWARE entry, perhaps some of us would want <br>> to march with them. But even if we do our own thing, there'll be <br>> themes in common between protesting mass incarceration and protesting <br>> militarism / supporting constitutional rights, as Rohn points out.<br>> <br>> I started out composing this note feeling disheartened. Now I think we <br>> really ought to try again this year.<br>> If you're game to think further on this or help work on it, please write <br>> back.<br>> <br></div> </div></body>
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