CODEPINK volunteer write about her first couple days in DC

friends, i am here in DC to take back the true reason for mothers day,
when Julia Ward Howe called on women to arise................

Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and
patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.


and so 25 or more women in a brownstone 5 blocks from the capital, lots
of lovely energy.
we started out this morning all decked out in pink to visit various
embassy's that were open to the public for the day. Our first stop was
Hillary's house where we rang the bell and invited her to our peace
fair tomorrow, of course we only spoke to someone deep inside the house
through the intercom but we sang a few songs and shouted out some thoughts
to her and on to the Danish embassy where we were greeted and
photographed with the ambassador. Media led a thoughtful conversation with
him and tried her hardest to get him to take a stand on the war, which
most Danes are opposed to but he being the diplomat he is paid to be
sidestepped the whole issue.
Next we marched through the street to the Italian embassy where we were
about 20 people back in the line to get in.. When we got to the front
of the line, all of a sudden the security was all a buzz and we were not
allowed in. No reason, 10 moms in pink and Zena 12. Denied access cuz
we were wearing pink, peace clothes. We tried to ask why and they
called the cops (7 cars ) and we were forced to leave or be arrested. we
of course were upset and walked down the line telling people we were
denied access because we were peace moms . Several people were very ugly
with their comments and while I was holding a women say no to war sign
about 3 feet from the line, a man came up to me and grabbed my face and
shouted get out" of here. I was completely shocked and scared that such
a sign caused so much outrage. He did not hurt me, rather totally
invaded my space. i left shaken and sad. Next we walked to a women's
Muslim fair where we were welcomed with open arms.
the rest of the day was spent at the house networking and making props
for the fair tomorrow.

and so all and all, the goodness of the CODOEPINK house far outweighs
the shame of the Italians.
peace and happy mothers day,

Allyson