I wish I had a better idea what any of us can do about the catastrophe now engulfing the people of Yemen, under murderous assault from the militaries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, armed, fueled and directed by the government of our own country.
I've called Congresspeople, stood out in small praiseworthy vigils called by peace activists, signed petitions, consulted with Yemeni bodega owners I know here in NYC ("It's in the hands of Allah," they tell me sadly), and posted links and cries from the heart on social media. It’s frustrating.
I became so enraged at last week's Saudi bombing of a school bus in Sada which killed more than 40 young children, that I thought to try something else to get people stirred up.
[WARNING: After the jump, there’s a unretouched view of the results of US-backed bombing in Yemen. I think we should all face up to what’s being done there in our name, but if you’re not up to it, don’t click.]
My friends, the Odell twins, and I have created a new meme based on the most effective poster of the Vietnam War era, the one above, which blew up a photo of some of the civilians, mainly women and children, massacred by US troops at My Lai in 1968,
and used a snip of testimony from a televised interview by Mike Wallace with a soldier who had participated.
"Q: And Babies? A: And Babies."
The elders among us will remember that poster, now almost 50 years old. Whether or not you do, please consider spreading this updated version around before this war crime gets buried in the news and social media feeds.