Vigil Report, March 25,2006

Dear Friends,

My fingers have finally thawed out, so here goes.

Eleven of us turned out to brave a cold, raw noontime. Little Miss Edie got cold and left early, taking her mother with her.

Sharyn Besse has made a marvelous new banner! It's about 9 feet long by 3 feet wide, and it bears the stylized "PEACE", made up of symbols of the world's religions, like the one that graced the front of the pulpit at the recent Peace service at First Parish. The banner is laminated and mounted on staves for carrying. Thanks, and "Well done" to Sharyn.

ALL of the responses today were positive, except for our bus driver pal. I think the lovely banner evoked the better natures of the passers by. There were no Honk for the Troops people out today.

Thanks to all who came out today to keep our statement before the public. We'll keep hoping for Spring. Please note the things I've forwarded, about getting together with other area peace groups, and going to New York for the big demonstration on April 29. Grace and I, at 80, are not up for such adventures out of town any more, but you all feel free.

Sincerely,

Ted

Peace Demonstration in NYC April 29th

When government lies, democracy dies! Support the truth. Support the troops. Rally for Peace April 29, 2006 in New York City. Let the world know that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of US want to put an end to the war in Iraq. Let the administration and the military industrial complex know that war is no longer a strategy for peace.

Bring the troops home. Show your support by promoting the NYC April Rally. Free postable stickers (the same as the image above) by contacting rally@peaceispatriotic.org.
-Help spread the word by making it stick on briefcases, refrigerators, bumpers, envelopes, file cabinets or bulletin boards. Demonstrate your support for peace by showing up at the Rally.

Shirley Square, March 18, 2006

Here's Ted's report. I think we actually had 26 vigilers.
Dear Friends,

A marvelous turnout - 25! Thanks to all who came out to observe the sad occasion of the third anniversary of the start of the war. A warm welcome to our newcomers - hope you'll continue to join us.

There is cause for hope in the many signs of encouragement, from both motorists and pedestrians passing by...and a certain sadness at the few who seemingly jeer at peace.

"Honk for the Troops" had 5 people out at about 12:30.

Some members announce a program called "OM for Peace", coordinated by the Yoga Connection on Easter Sunday at 6-7 PM. It is a nationwide joint chanting of "OM" with the intention of Peace in the world. Further information at 508 746 4446.


Peace,

Ted

March 18 Vigil

Please keep in mind that our vigil this Saturday will commemorate and emphasize the Third Anniversary of the start of the War on Iraq!

We hope that you will make every effort to join with us and make it a memorable and visible event in Plymouth center. This message goes regularly to a large list of like-minded people. While we realize that Saturday noon is not a good time for many of you, we hope that in this instance you might be able to make an extra effort to find the time.

We have a number of signs/placards, and new ones are being made to stress the anniversary and the toll of war. You are invited to make your own signs, but please remember our agreed-upon limitation to slogans promoting peace/opposing war without direct political overtones or implications. Hard to do if your passions are aroused by the situation, but try.

Please try to recruit friends and neighbors to join us in this effort, at least for this special day. If they try it, they might like it, and come again.

Hope to see more of you there at noon this Saturday, March 18, 2006, at Town Square, in front of the two churches, or at Shirley Square, Main St at top of North St.

We start from Town Square and process to Shirley Square, where we stand in vigil for an hour. Please remember, and also tell any guests you may bring, that our vigil is Silent - no conversation or chat among ourselves, and no response to hecklers. If a sincere question is asked, the nearest vigiler may step back and answer quietly. Basically, our signs speak for themselves!

Sincerely,

Ted

Troops Support Withdrawal from Iraq

By DREW BROWN
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - Nearly three out of four American troops serving in Iraq think U.S. forces should withdraw within a year, and more than one in four say the United States should leave immediately, according to a new poll published Tuesday.
The poll, conducted by Zogby International and the Center for Peace and Global Studies at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., was a rare effort to determine the views of American troops serving in a ground war.
Twenty-nine percent of the troops surveyed said U.S. forces should leave Iraq immediately, another 22 percent said they should leave within the next six months and 21 percent said within six to 12 months. Twenty-three percent agreed with President Bush's call for troops to stay "as long as they are needed" and 5 percent were unsure.
David Segal, a military sociologist at the University of Maryland, said that while most service members were more conservative than society as a whole, it wasn't surprising to see them reflect attitudes similar to civilians, who increasingly oppose the war.
Those views aren't necessarily an indication that troops are losing faith in the war, Segal said.
"One could argue that troops are saying, `Hey, we've accomplished a great deal. It's time to get out,' which is what you hear a lot of people in Washington saying," he said.