I hope you had a good 4th of July. I had a wonderful encounter with two young people on a march for peace and a reporter and photographer from the Chicago Tribune. Ashley and Mike started walking across America on their March for Peace in late May. These two young people are walking for everyone in this country. They want the war in Iraq to end, they want peace in the world and are concerned about other important issues. Read more at their website www.marchforpeace.info. Mike and Ashley, with amazing courage, have dedicated their lives at this time for the call for peace. I was deeply touched by their sincerity and purpose.
Bobbi and I had picked up their heavy backpacks and drove the packs to their resting place for the evening. On the way we stopped along their route and talked with Mike and Ashley and later shared a meal. We had heard about this March in the Denver Post on Tuesday and decided we wanted to meet them and be of support.
There was also a reporter (Colleen Mastony) and a photographer (Wes Pope) from the Chicago Tribune spending the day talking and walking with them and taking picture and filming. They had heard about this March for Peace and had come out to do a feature story for their paper. The two people from the Tribune had a real interest in what these two young people were doing and wondered why more people were not speaking up for peace?
I have wondered that too. Why isn’t America out demanding the end to this War? How come you and I and our leaders in Congress have allowed this war to even take place? The war in Iraq was totally not necessary and had nothing to do with the September 11th attacks. With a little exploring of the history of the prewar activities, you can see it was planned before Bush even became president. Check out, in my Another Viewpoint section of this Journal, the post on What Every American Should Know About Iraq by David Michael Green.
Are people too busy to get involved? Are they afraid of the government because it is spying on its citizens? Do they feel too powerless to do anything? The polls show the people want the war over but we are not making it happen. How come?
There are many questions about this war that need to be answered. Now is the time we need to end this occupation. The war will continue however until we demand it ends. Ashley and Mike are doing their part. What are you and I going to do?
These two are walking this morning from Greeley CO and are heading to Nebraska. Their goal is to make it to Washington DC by September 11 and they could use your help along the way. They have a website www.marchforpeace.info that you can check out and find where they are. If you feel so moved meet them, help them out and be inspired by the immensity of what they are doing, as we were.
Peace is possible. Find peace inside and get together with others to bring peace to the world. Those that don’t believe in peace have not found peace in themselves. Your peace and world peace is needed so commit to making a difference and take positive action today.
Thank you Mike and Ashley for being who you are and for speaking up for peace.