CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
KATHY KELLY, of VOICES OF WILDERNESS: ON PEACE
Today’s e-mail brought an announcement that peace activist and educator Kathy Kelly will be the Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series speaker on March 24, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. (See end of this post for further information). Kathy helps coordinate the Voices for a Creative Nonviolence, a campaign to end military and economic warfare against Iraq. This three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee has participated in nonviolent direct action teams in Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq.
When my husband Monte and I were traveling New England in the fall of 2003, we found ourselves in Lewisberg, Maine. There, I spotted a meeting announcement on a grocery store bulletin board. The speaker was Kathy Kelly. Below is my journal entry on that evening.
One night I suggested to Monte that we attend a meeting where a woman from Iraq was speaking about her experiences being in that country during the war. Since the meeting was preceded by a pot-luck dinner, we purchased an adorable yellow-iced cake with brown mice on it. After all, we were traveling and our cooking facilities were limited. (view photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3347179523/in/photostream/ )
When we arrived, the activity seemed very loosely run, so much so that I felt uncomfortable. No one seemed to know what was going on, and there seemed to be no “leader.” I finally asked someone what we should do, and he pointed us to a table where food items were being set and people coming in were filling plates. We followed suit, and took seats across from a young man. He said he was from either California or Florida, and explained that the 75-100 people coming together were from all over the country, gathering to protest the launching of a ship at the Bath Marine company the next morning. A couple from Albany told us that the ship could launch nuclear weapons sixteen times as powerful as that used on Nagasaki, and asked if it wouldn’t be better to spend the money on medical or other types of ships. We learned that the protesters were from Florida, Colorado, New York as well as the local area. Later media news reports said several of these people were arrested during the demonstration, because they didn’t keep their demonstration behind the proper lines.
In addition to the meal, the group had a guest speaker, Kathy Kelly ( view photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3347186471/ ). She is a well-known peace movement leader of a loosely knit organization known as Voices of Wilderness. She shared some of her experiences with us.
Kathy was in a seven-story family-run Muslim owned hotel during the bombing of Iraq. She said 900 tons of depleted uranium was remained after the $1 billion of explosives were laser pointed on Baghdad, and asked: What if that money had been directed to educational and social services?
She talked about being with the Iraqi families, and the effect of the bombing on them. “It’s hard when all you can do is wait for the city to be bombed,” she said.
Before the attack, eight women went to the maternity hospital to have their babies by C-section. They felt it was better than having them during the expected bomb bombardments.
A group of teens became engrossed in playing a game of Risk. When they were told it was bedtime, and that they could finish the games the next day, and an 8-year old responded: We might not be here tomorrow.
Babies were grinding their teeth morning, afternoon and night.
Some of the peace persons placed themselves as human shields, and were issued fines of $10,000, which they still owe. Voices of Wilderness was fined $20,000 for bringing medicine and toys to Iraq.
Kathy asked: With no news, how do civilians know NOT to approach guarded posts?
When an ob-gyn doctor in Florida was fined $100,000 for sending medications to Iraq, Florida newspapers didn’t publish the story. Later in a motel room we saw a television interview with Kathy. She said they had no intention of paying the fines because they didn’t want to support the war.
Kathy’s message was an eye-opener. To hear about her experiences in person, plan to attend the Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series at Seton Hill University(Greensburg, PA) in Cecilian Hall on March 24, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series. For further information contact Susan Isola, 724/836-0486 or e-mail sisola@scsh.org.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Writer’s calls for submissions, competitions & events March 1, 2009
The Battle for Peace: A Book Review
ALL SUMMER IN A DAY: The Use of Descriptive Language
SITE LINKS:
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.barbarapurbaugh.com
www.pennwriters.com
ellenspain.com
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Kathy Kelly, of Voices of Wilderness: On Peace
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CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS
KATHY KELLY, of VOICES OF WILDERNESS: ON PEACE
Today’s e-mail brought an announcement that peace activist and educator Kathy Kelly will be the Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series speaker on March 24, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. (See end of this post for further information). Kathy helps coordinate the Voices for a Creative Nonviolence, a campaign to end military and economic warfare against Iraq. This three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee has participated in nonviolent direct action teams in Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq.
When my husband Monte and I were traveling New England in the fall of 2003, we found ourselves in Lewisberg, Maine. There, I spotted a meeting announcement on a grocery store bulletin board. The speaker was Kathy Kelly. Below is my journal entry on that evening.
One night I suggested to Monte that we attend a meeting where a woman from Iraq was speaking about her experiences being in that country during the war. Since the meeting was preceded by a pot-luck dinner, we purchased an adorable yellow-iced cake with brown mice on it. After all, we were traveling and our cooking facilities were limited. (view photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3347179523/in/photostream/ )
When we arrived, the activity seemed very loosely run, so much so that I felt uncomfortable. No one seemed to know what was going on, and there seemed to be no “leader.” I finally asked someone what we should do, and he pointed us to a table where food items were being set and people coming in were filling plates. We followed suit, and took seats across from a young man. He said he was from either California or Florida, and explained that the 75-100 people coming together were from all over the country, gathering to protest the launching of a ship at the Bath Marine company the next morning. A couple from Albany told us that the ship could launch nuclear weapons sixteen times as powerful as that used on Nagasaki, and asked if it wouldn’t be better to spend the money on medical or other types of ships. We learned that the protesters were from Florida, Colorado, New York as well as the local area. Later media news reports said several of these people were arrested during the demonstration, because they didn’t keep their demonstration behind the proper lines.
In addition to the meal, the group had a guest speaker, Kathy Kelly ( view photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/3347186471/ ). She is a well-known peace movement leader of a loosely knit organization known as Voices of Wilderness. She shared some of her experiences with us.
Kathy was in a seven-story family-run Muslim owned hotel during the bombing of Iraq. She said 900 tons of depleted uranium was remained after the $1 billion of explosives were laser pointed on Baghdad, and asked: What if that money had been directed to educational and social services?
She talked about being with the Iraqi families, and the effect of the bombing on them. “It’s hard when all you can do is wait for the city to be bombed,” she said.
Before the attack, eight women went to the maternity hospital to have their babies by C-section. They felt it was better than having them during the expected bomb bombardments.
A group of teens became engrossed in playing a game of Risk. When they were told it was bedtime, and that they could finish the games the next day, and an 8-year old responded: We might not be here tomorrow.
Babies were grinding their teeth morning, afternoon and night.
Some of the peace persons placed themselves as human shields, and were issued fines of $10,000, which they still owe. Voices of Wilderness was fined $20,000 for bringing medicine and toys to Iraq.
Kathy asked: With no news, how do civilians know NOT to approach guarded posts?
When an ob-gyn doctor in Florida was fined $100,000 for sending medications to Iraq, Florida newspapers didn’t publish the story. Later in a motel room we saw a television interview with Kathy. She said they had no intention of paying the fines because they didn’t want to support the war.
Kathy’s message was an eye-opener. To hear about her experiences in person, plan to attend the Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series at Seton Hill University(Greensburg, PA) in Cecilian Hall on March 24, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture Series. For further information contact Susan Isola, 724/836-0486 or e-mail sisola@scsh.org.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Writer’s calls for submissions, competitions & events March 1, 2009The Battle for Peace: A Book ReviewKEEPING PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA Part 1
KEEPING PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA Part 2
I BELIEVE GOD INVENTED DANCING
QUINTESSENCE
JUST ANOTHER WEEKEND IN PARADISE
COLORING OUR CHILDREN
I HAVE A PERMIT TO CARRY…
QUINTESSENCE
IN NEW ENGLAND, HISTORY CONFLICTS WITH PROGRESS
I BELIEVE GOD INVENTED DANCING
A DOVE STORY RETOLD: JASMINE AND JEWEL
ON THE EVE OF 27
A PASTOR’S ROLE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Part 2
CHILD ABUSE AND SCRIPTURE
Ashes to Ashes: A Devotion for Ash Wednesday
WHAT DO YOU SEE THROUGH YOUR CAMERA LENS?
CHILD ABUSE DEFINITIONS
TYPES OF ABUSE
THE SWEETNESS LASTS A LIFETIME!!! An Adoption Reunion Story
ALL SUMMER IN A DAY: The Use of Descriptive Language
SITE LINKS:
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.barbarapurbaugh.com
www.pennwriters.com
ellenspain.com
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