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WHY ARE YOU HERE?
INTERVIEWS BY MICHAEL McCUSKER
The Friday evening peace gathering at the Astoria Post Office is a year old on
February 7. Every Friday at 5 p.m., no matter the weather, men, women and children
arrive on the tree shrouded lawn outside the post office and hold up signs to wave at
the surge of home-from-work traffic rounding the curves at the junction of Marine Drive
and Commercial Street. Handlettered on large pieces of carboard or slabs of wood are
messages such as No More War, No Blood for Oil, War Veterans for Peace, When the
People Lead the Leaders Follow.
The group stands along the curb for generally an hour. Cars in the heavy traffic
stream honk in approval, drivers and passengers shout heartily for and against the
picketers, and a few make obscene gestures in disapproval.
Every week opposite the peace group on a concrete island where Marine Drive
both splits and rejoins, a small group clutches large American flags and hold signs that
say Give War a Chance, Terrorists Don’t Hug and Let’s Roll. This is the ‘war party’ that
began to appear last August.
“Megan Casebourn and I witnessed for peace the first time the first Friday in
February last year,” Sue Skinner says of the peace assembly’s origin. “I think that was
the last time it was only just us. After that people kept showing up. Sometimes we have
20, sometimes 50. Nothing has really been organized. There have been people who
wanted to organize it, to make it more uniform or create an hierarchy. But by it’s very
spontaneous nature it resists organization.”
Friday, January 17, a day before hundreds of thousands protested all over the
world against an American invasion of Iraq, a few of about 30 who appeared at the peace
gathering that evening were asked two questions: “Why are you here?” and “How often
do you come?”
ROXANA VILLA
SUE SKINNER
An hour a week at the Peace Gathering keeps me
hopeful and builds my courage. I feel the power there, and know
the truth of Margaret Mead’s thought: “Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
The corporate death machine is tightening down on our
world, strangling the hope of democracy. Endless war lines the
pockets of the global robber barons and kills and impoverishes
all the people, other animals and plants as it poisons our planet.
We, the people, have the obligation to get educated, to speak
out and to act mindfully. We must move beyond our fear and
hopelessness and speak truth to power. There is no time left for
dithering.
We have the power if we choose to use it.
PAT LAVIS
I first joined the peace movement at the Post Office
about 8 months ago and have been fairly regular trying to bring
an awareness to the fact that there are alternative dispute
resolutions other than war, the loss of lives and the infliction
of pain on civilians.
As an American who deeply loves my country, I was
saddened beyond words at the terrorist attack on the World
Trade Towers and the violent, useless taking of human lives.
My anger was one of support for retaliation until I began to
sift through what information was available and realized that
terrorism is like smoke and we’ve been trying to stamp it out
all over the world for decades with no successful result.
It also became apparent that some Middle Eastern
countries hold valuable resources that many nations would like
to control, especially those that are influenced by well financed
corporate lobbies, and that Iraq has a horrendous supply of oil.
I also concede that Saddam Hussein is and has demonstrated
the fact that he is an evil political leader who really does not
deserve to be head of any government. Setting that aside, when
you look at the potential cost that a war will have, it just doesn't
seem justified at this time. Not looking at the dollar cost, which
is up in the hundreds of millions, but the loss of lives and the
infliction of pain of innocent civilians, I decided I wanted to bring
an awareness so that we would let our political leaders know that
we wanted our country’s course of action to be thought out and
for the best interest of the American people. War in and of itself
has never served the best interest of any citizens. There are
alternate ways to resolve conflict that should be explored a:,H
only when all else fails should war be considered an option.
For these reasons I advocate that Americans on both
sides of the war issue open their minds in dialogue, as well
should the leaders of the world, and that the United Nations
fulfill its role in resolving conflict without the taking of human
lives and the destruction of society.
DEBRA SEYMOUR
I'm here for the seven generations following me.
I'm here almost every week since these gatherings
started last February.
LES ZIMMER
MUSCHI MA YFLOWER
I don’ think we have reason to go to war but I think that
is the inclination unless we speak out. When the president says
we, the American people, are getting impatient he's not talking
about most Americans. I think we are acting like a scared bully.
I think the move toward war is built on false premises.
I’ve heard that the fourth branch of government is the
people, and I believe it.
This country is addicted to oil.
The reason I’m out here is to do something. I want to
stand for people who are for peace. I have been out here five or
six times.
I have experience with what war is like being born
in World War 2 and bombed in Germany. War is never the
answer. Civilians suffer for ideology, which is never justified.
After several thousand years thousand years, haven’t we found
a better way than war?
I’ve done this every week at least 50%, maybe 60% of
the time since last February.
KATHRYNE PATENAUDE
This my fourth time here.
I decided to stand up for what I believe in. I don't want
our kids to come back in body bags because of some issue
G.W. has with Saddam Hussein because of his father. What are
people thinking?
KA THERINE ANDERSON
I'm here because I feel so powerless to stop something
I am so much against. I want to do something positive and try to
be compassionate and live a peaceful life. That’s why I’m here.
This is my second time.
DAVID SILVERCROW
The sign I had last time said 'War is Stupid’. We can’t
do this any more. War is not an option. I’m a vet for peace — I
was not in Vietnam; I was drafted and spent my time in Alaska
I have been doing this twice now.
TOM DUNCAN
I'm here because I believe there is a better way to solve
the world’s problems than beating people to death.
I’ve been doing this regularly since last February
JANET DARCHER
I need to be here. Instead of 'get a life’ I would like
to keep the life I’ve got. And I think everybody wants to live
This is my second time.
RON MAXTED
I feel all I can do is write letters to editors and stand on
this corner, which is all my resources allow. I think if we can all
stand here we can stop this massive war machine.
Our foreign policy is no longer a part of what our country
stands for. Specifically, I’m speaking about what we are doing
about Iraq Our appearance there has been cruel. We’ve
violated international law bombing and supporting sanctions
that prevent rebuilding. Millions of Iraqis have died or are dying
(since 1991). It’s a diabolical plan engineered by only a few
Americans and the rest of us don’t know about it or have any
control over it.
I’ve been here since I could no longer sit in my living
room.
MARGARET THIERRY
This is one of those times to stand up and be counted,
whether my opinion wins or loses.
I have been here four times and will continue to come
DARREN ORANGE
Most of the time I drive by and honk in support.
I’m doing this in support of my community and brethren
KERRY HAWLEY
I believe in the cause of peace and oppose war in every
aspect. The Bush administration's stance on international policy
— on Afghanistan and Iraq in particular — is unilateral
aggression.
I have been here almost every week since February.
SARAH PATENAUDE
I'm here because war is wrong.
This is my second times.
NATALIE ORR
I’m here because I really disagree with war and what is
happening is totally disagreeable. I am using my right as a
citizen to protest and peacefully assemble.
I have been here two times.
JEANETTE LORENZINI WILLIAMS
I was at the Post Office because I do not want the
United States to bomb Iraq or anywhere I don’t want this war
or any war. I’m here as a mother for my children and innocent
children and other mothers.
I live and teach in Hood River and this is my first time at
this gathering
BOB WILLIAMS
I try to go on Fridays to our post office in Hood River.
I think I can try to spend 1 hour a week standing up and being
counted Astoria has a great turnout and one out of every four
cars honked at us against the war.
(He is husband of Jeanette, and also a teacher in Hood
River.)
JESSI DUNKIN
Saturday, January 18, 2003
We’re sitting here in the coffee shop, deliciously dazed
and terribly touched by the amazing peace procession we've just
come from. There may have been 300 of us, from all walks of
life, old and young and in between, most in black, some carry
ing babies, others leading dogs attired in black.
We walked today, in concert with massive international
peace demonstrations, through downtown Astoria in a unified,
somber, serpentine procession led by a large Mother Nature
puppet and a woman in black leaning on a cane. At one point,
we walked several blocks east on Commercial Street and then
crossed over and headed back west. When those of us at the
head of the procession had walked three blocks we looked
across the street and were astonished to find ourselves mirrored
on the other side, with yet another group still crossing the street.
Seven solid blocks of people, three and four abreast, joined in
peaceful but passionate dissent to “war" on Iraq! In our little
Astoria! Feeling the warm embrace of so many, knowing similar
scenes were unfolding at that very moment all around the world,
many of us were moved to tears.
At the end back at the Community Store, several people
asked "Will there be more demonstrations for peace?" and
“What else can we do?" The answers are , yes, there will most
likely be a need for more peace demonstrations, and every non
violent thing we can think up to stop the madness is what we
must do.
We are all “organizers”: put up posters for your event
at Clatsop Community College and The Community Store, ask
KMUN-FM to air your announcement and write a letter to the
editors of local newspapers. For a downtown event, it's import
ant to let the police know your intentions. If you’re an artist, let
your art reflect your heart. (See Noel Thomas' beautiful painting,
Collateral Damage at the RiverSea Gallery for inspiration!)
Letters and calls to all representatives are absolutely
necessary, as are letters to every publication you read. We
must talk among ourselves, to the groups we’re in and with our
families.
Go to sites like BuzzFlash.com and follow their links to
get news that’s unavailable from standard U.S. media sources
(For example, when Iraq delivered the 14,000 pages of arms
documentation to the United Nations, the U.S. took them and
returned only 6,000 to the other members of the Security
Council, citing reasons of "national security ") It’s fun and
exciting and the only way for democracy to flourish
Action is the remedy to despair If you’re inspired,
January 27 and February 15 are other days of international
protest against the so-called “war."
February 7 we will have been vigiling for peace at the
post office for a full year. No individual or organization is solely
responsible for this vigil, as no organization or any one person
made the peace procession happen It's up to us all to create the
events that will create the kind of world we want to live in.
-SANDY ELLWANGER & KATE O'NEAL
I have taken part in the peace gatherings at the post
office in part because my views on Iraq oppose my father's
views, but mostly because I believe this can be peacefully
settled if Bush would just get his head out of his butt and try
I have done it 10 or 15 times. I went regularly through
out the summer, but then school started and I got involved with
the school play, so I haven't had a chance in quite awhile
MICHAEL MILLER (aka SASHA)
My presence has been inconsistent, due only to the fact
I live in Seaside
Why am I here? To support a voice of dissent, not a
perfect voice but a necessary one I do not fail to notice that
while we enjoy the freedom to protest our president, the Iraqi
people do not Having a big mouth I treasure human liberties
and feel deeply for the Iraqi people But our foreign policy is
hardly one that liberates people and for that matter, neither is
our domestic policy
I love democracy and would feel far more sympathetic
if our nation did too, and brought Saddam Hussein to justice
through the United Nations and not hypocritically. I mean, if the
United States backs democracy, human rights and international
law, should it not then support a world court? Should it not be
willing to let its soldiers or citizens face war crimes charges
when they’ve acted murderously?
So yes, I'm here to prevent an unjust war that will
not bring justice Our policy in the Middle East is so backward
Justice in U.S. policy there seems an improbable dream.