Peace vigils were held nationwide yesterday. The one in West Seattle was at Alki Beach on Elliott Bay, at our mini-Statue of Liberty. There's the Space Needle on the right.
Seattle Vigil pictures here. I used no flash for most, because I wanted to exaggerate the glowing of candlelight against the dusk. Have you noticed when a flash is used, it sucks all the luminosity out of the candles and city lights? They go dead, the ambience is ruined.
About one hundred participated, and many of that number were children. That was fewer than I had expected, because the Cindy Sheehan vigil recently was much bigger.
I've been disturbed by the focus on the number 2000, because deaths are the tip of the iceberg when considering the injuries inflicted on U.S. servicemembers and their families, not to mention the undocumented suffering of Iraqi citizens.
But I understand the Media needs something to draw their wandering attention briefly to such unpleasant facts, even if it's a fleeting trio of zeros.
I heard a woman say she hopes she won't have to attend a third Iraq vigil. I've lost count of my Iraq antiwar activities, but the events must be over a hundred. These demonstrations are no longer a special occasion for me.
The more I practice standing up publicly for what's right, the more it seems like a normal and gratifying part of life, like a concert, or a ball game, or a date, or a church service. Except that I detest ball games, and I don't go to church, but that's just me.
I'm glad these children are learning early, not in the shadow of geezerhood like I did...
Several of the SNOW members announced the Nov. 2nd WALKOUT for students and employees. That's a no-brainer for me, since it's pretty easy to walk out of my home office. We'll participate in the Walkout March downtown and then lobby the Senators' offices. Rinse, repeat...however long it takes.