Rolla Peace News
November 3, 2009
Dear Friends:
In this newsletter is:
1. THURSDAY NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE
2. ARMISTICE DAY BALLOON RELEASE IN MEMORY OF AGENT ORANGE VICTIMS
3. DID THE TALIBAN EVER DO THIS TO A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL?
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1. THURSDAY NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE
Our weekly noon vigils are on Thursdays. We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office THIS THURSDAY, November 5, (and all subsequent Thursdays until peace is established) from Noon to 1:00 PM. Please try to join us. The temperature is predicted to be in the mid 50s under sunny skies. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign.
2. ARMISTICE DAY BALLOON RELEASE IN MEMORY OF AGENT ORANGE VICTIMS
There will be a balloon release in recognition of those whose lives have been affected by agent orange at the south end of Lions Club Park at noon, November 11, Veterans Day (Armistice Day if you are old enough to remember the real meaning of this Holiday, the day when both sides laid down their arms and made peace after years of fighting "The War to end ALL wars". Bring orange colored latex balloons, as many as you wish, or just come to watch.
Agent orange was the dioxin laced defoliant which the US military spread copiously over much of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, 1961-1975. Agent Orange is thought to have affected 200,000 US troops and 3 to 5 million Vietnamese. It is known to be responsible for at least 16 serious diseases including Parkinsons, multiple cancers, leukemia, and birth defects. 400,000 Vietnamese are thought to have died of agent orange exposure and 500,000 children are thought to have been born with defects due to exposure, (click here) .
3. DID THE TALIBAN EVER DO THIS TO A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL?
On October 24 a 15 year old girl was gang raped in the Richmond California High School parking lot while many looked on and did nothing - some apparently even encouraged the perpetrators. I've seen some thoughtful writing about this, like Sandy Leon Vest's Savagery and Silence in the First World, (click here) ; but little about the increased militarization of our society and how it encourages violence, sexual abuse and voyeurism. (Don't forget those air-conditioned bunkers from which our brave boys and girls control the drones that drop bombs on women and children and wedding parties.)
We are quick to denounce the Taliban for its treatment of women; but I find it highly unlikely that an event like this could happen in a city ruled by the Taliban. Perhaps this is what people in Afghanistan and Iraq see, when we tell them we are bringing them democracy and they should strive to live like us.
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Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (links below my photo on upper left of home page).
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Wage peace,
Yusha
tom (at) tomsager.org
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