[Peace-discuss] letter to n-g

[Al Kagan]

Meg,

I think it would be easier for you to send this as an individual.  That 
is our usual mode of practice.


On Jul 10, 2005, at 10:35 AM, blue2 at net66.com wrote:

> Hi AWARE Discuss,
> Below is an unsolicited response to the two letters I saw in the paper 
> this week.  If you all don't mind my including the "we" in this 
> response, I'm willing to send it out.  As I'm not on the discuss list, 
> I don't know if you've all agreed on a response already.  If you'd 
> prefer I only represent myself, let me know.
> Best,
> Meg
>
> Editor,
> Ah, the trouble with visual images.  How is it that a uniformed former 
> soldier carrying a sign that says “where’s the money for veterans’ 
> benefits” can only be interpreted as an anti-war statement?  How is 
> the clear message in support of our veterans missed?
>
> The theme of this year’s parade was Caring for Our Community.  The 
> AWARE float highlighted “Billions for War = Pennies for Our 
> Communities.”  Statements supporting living wages, affordable health 
> care, housing and peace certainly fit with my idea of a caring 
> community.  Where is the controversy?  In the symbols we used?  Those 
> symbols are misused by our government every day.
>
> AWARE doesn’t have a budget for fancy graphics and orchestrated 
> sound.  We only have a desire to share things we see about our society 
> that we don’t see reflected in the “liberal” press.
>
> People say they don’t want to deny us our right to free speech but 
> wish we wouldn’t speak.  How does silence protect our freedoms?  If we 
> don’t use our rights, how will we ever know when they are gone?
>
> One float in front of your eyes for less than five minutes on one day 
> made you uncomfortable.  The kind of caring community I wish to live 
> in thinks of the rest of the world’s discomfort the other days of the 
> year, too.
>
> I’m proud to be part of a community that has an engaged populace.  We 
> welcome your participation and hope we can all move beyond symbolism 
> someday very soon.
> _______________________________________________
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> Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
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>

Al Kagan
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61820
USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax 217-333-2214
akagan at uiuc.edu
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