Up Valley Women in Black

Title: The December Vigil
Location: Lyman Park St. Helena, CA
Description: Join us for a silent vigil for Peace and Justice.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2008-12-06
End Time: 13:00

It’s often been remarked that there are Just Wars and Unjust Wars.

It’s as though, in making a decision to go to war, there is a ledger in which two columns are clearly labeled:

One column is labeled “Just” and the second, “Unjust”.

And within this paradigm, our presidents cast their decision to go to war like a die cast upon a game board, and move their markers through the public forums of domestic and international politics against the circumstances of battle, until the outcome is ultimately recorded by history.

For instance, World War II is now generally perceived to have been a Just Cause, while the Vietnam War, has been castigated as an Unjust Conflict.

Our Presidents are remembered by their victories in such conflicts against this paradigm and judged accordingly.

Even Barack Obama, our President Elect, in his famous October 2002 speech against the Iraq war at a peace rally in Illinois said:

“I don’t oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. “

What is less frequently examined or even discussed is how the mechanism of war mongering preempts the decision making process itself: How we, as citizens, are co opted into participating in war through a constant barrage of insidious propaganda that permeates our society.

This is not merely some “conspiracy” by war profiteering companies, or by ideologues with duplicitous motives, or graying generals seeking glory, but an actual social dynamic.

We go to war - Just or Unjust - because that is how we, as a people, have been taught to believe deeply rooted differences must be resolved between nations to achieve Justice.

But to frame the quest for Justice in the context of War creates a real problem. Why?

This embedded video is called “War Made Easy” and was posted by the Media Education Foundation. It examines the manner by which war has been packaged and sold to Americans over the last 50 years. It’s narrated by Sean Penn, and it’s an interesting expose’ of how media has become complicit with the orchestration and the delivery of war propaganda. It raises a serious number of questions about war-making policies and the methods by which we, as citizens in a Democracy, are brought willingly into the mindset of killing and destroying other societies. It’s a feature-length (1 hour 10 minute) presentation, but it will definitely cause you to begin questioning what the U.S. has been doing for the last 50 years.

If we are to prevail in our vigils for Peace and Justice, it’s imperative that we understand these mechanisms and begin to counter the influences by which we have been repeatedly drawn into the propaganda machinery.

Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower was the thirty-fourth President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general in the United States Army. During the Second World War, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe. In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO. As President, he oversaw the cease-fire of the Korean War. He is not someone who normally comes to mind as a peace-maker.

And yet, perhaps the most important speech that President Eisenhower made came on January 17th, 1961, in his farewell address. It is a speech that still resonates today, nearly half a century later.

Please consider the words of this former soldier, commander in chief, President, and citizen of the U.S., and where we are today.

A report from the World Policy Institute tracked how this critical sector exerted influence over administration policies, and how it “voted with its dollars” in the 2004 campaign. According to that report:

Contractors Have Thrived Under Bush Policies: Contracts to the Pentagon’s top ten contractors jumped from $46 billion in 2001 to $80 billion in 2003, an increase of nearly 75%. Halliburton’s contracts jumped more than nine times their 2001 levels by 2003, from $400 million to $3.9 billion. Northrop Grumman’s contracts doubled, from $5.2 billion to $11.1 billion, over the same time frame; and the nation’s largest weapons contractor, Lockheed Martin, saw a 50% increase, from $14.7 billion to $21.9 billion.

Contractor Connections to the Bush Administration: When the Bush administration first took office, it appointed 32 executives, paid consultants, or major shareholders of weapons contractors to top policymaking positions in the Pentagon, the National Security Council, the Department of Energy (involved in nuclear weapons development), and the State Department. Since that time, the “revolving door” has continued to spin, including a high profile scandal in which Air Force procurement official Darleen Druyun pled guilty to criminal charges for negotiating for a position at Boeing while simultaneously negotiating with the company on the terms of a controversial scheme to lease 100 more Boeing 767 airliners for modification and use as aerial refueling tankers. Another controversial move involved Pentagon acquisition chief Edward “Pete” Aldridge’s decision to move straight from Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon to a position on the board of Lockheed Martin.

This report is a sobering testimony of how elements within and outside our government continue to influence policy by profiteering during international conflicts. You can read this report here!

Today, 24 hours before the U.S. elections, we must be mindful that the influence of this sector of the economy will not suddenly disappear, regardless of who is elected. Especially today, with the U.S. economy struggling, jobs within the military industrial complex will be viewed by politicians as an important resource for economic stability.

The question that we will continue to face in the coming years correlates almost precisely with the status of relationships between the defense industry and the federal government.

How can we, as citizens seeking Peace and Justice, awaken our fellow Americans to the realization that these relationships between government and private corporations are the harbingers of conflict, war, and injustice? How can we orchestrate our actions to help countries throughout the world remove war as an option?

Consider the following video:

We believe that the organizational principals for reaching the goals of Peace and Justice — even in an imperfect world — are as practical and realistic as the goals of any other form of action. Indeed, we believe that — were the profit motives of defense contractors removed from the equation of governmental influence — the goals of creating Peace and Justice would be as readily obtainable as those for conducting the wars in which we are now engaged.

On November 1st, 2008 Up Valley Women In Black met once again in the rain, standing in silent vigilance for the principals of Peace and Justice. We talked about what we would do after the elections on November 4th. If our individually preferred candidates should win, should we put away our signs and cease meeting on the first Saturday of each month?

We are a group of individuals, in a small community in the Napa Valley, geographically separated from the centers of governmental policy-making by more than 3000 miles. How can a small group of dedicated women (and male supporters) exert our limited influence for the positive goals of Peace and Justice? These are questions that every citizen of the world must also consider.

In exploring this question, we decided we will continue to meet each 1st Saturday of each month and continue our vigil. We believe it to be imperative that — in the aftermath of the election — we continue to stand witness for the needs of Peace and Justice. Regardless of the results of the Presidential election, there will be a need to support our troops and remind our fellow citizens that the goals of Peace and Justice can not be forgotten.

We hope to see you there! 12:00 - 1:00 December 6th, Lyman Park, St. Helena, CA

Title: November Vigil for Peace and Justice
Location: Lyman Park St. Helena, CA
Description: On Saturday, Nov. 1, we will hold our last Women in Black Vigil before the election. Please join us! On Oct. 4 our small–but valiant–group braved the drizzle and one angry SUV driver, but also saw many positive responses. In the midst of all the awful economic news, it is important that people remember just where so much of our national wealth is going; our vigil is a local reminder.

We will hope to see you there!

Start Time: 12:00 PM
Date: 2008-11-01
End Time: 01:00 PM

On August 2nd, fifteen citizens from St. Helena once again stood as quiet witnesses for the need of Peace and Justice at Lyman Park in St. Helena, CA.  The group gathered and made signs and prompted passers-by to remember the terrible tragedy of war, and to remind people that the U.S. is still engaged in a senseless war that is destroying the lives and livelihoods of others.

They were met by an exceedingly positive response by motorists and pedestrians, with one passenger forcing her husband to turn around and ask us about the meaning and the purpose of the vigil.  She and her husband thanked us for creating the event, and asked how they could become involved.

It’s easy!  Join us every first Saturday of the month in front of Lyman Park, in St. Helena.  Send us a note through this Website, indicating your interest, and we will include you on our mailing list, reminding you of the next vigil.  That’s it!  Participate!

Up Valley Women in Black welcomes all concerned citizens — women in particular, but men who wish to support the effort as well.

Title: 4th Vigil for Peach and Justice
Location: Lyman Park St. Helena, CA
Description: Bring signs and a peaceful mind.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2008-08-02
End Time: 13:00

Title: 3rd Vigil for Peace and Justice
Location: Lyman Park St. Helena, CA
Description: Bring hat, water, sunscreen.

Bring your own sign, or make one on the spot.

Women, men, and children welcome to support the Peace Vigil.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2008-07-05
End Time: 1:00

On June 7th, 2008 over 20 concerned citizens in St. Helena CA came together to stand up for Peace and Justice. So began the second vigil at Lyman Park today, where our group stood quietly holding signs and engaging those who wished to join us.

Several individuals who had received no formal invitation stopped, read the words of the posters, and immediately picked up cardboard and marker, and penned their own messages in support of the group.

One gentleman from Maine asked if this was our first protest, and wondered why more people had not arrived to support us. We responded that “No, this was not a protest at all, but a vigil.”

Another gentleman visiting from England asked why we weren’t marching. “It’s not how we do it in our country! We get out and march on the government!” But we explained that in little, prosperous St. Helena — where civil disobedience and loud declarations were seldom seen, it was just as powerful to keep the consciousness of the current war in the minds of our fellow citizens. It was a vigil for Peace. And because Peace and Justice are the values of our townspeople, they will know why we are standing before our City Hall.

Peace and Justice. What does that mean in St. Helena, California?

Perhaps ironically it was both high school graduation day in St. Helena, and the Wine Auction event, where people from all over the world come to bid on the valley’s premium vintages in support of the Queen of the Valley and the St. Helena Hospital. Over 100 high school students donned their caps and gowns today, and some of them will go on to serve our country by joining the armed services. Already, they are a generation that has spent their entire high school years being educated in the shadow of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have many brave St. Helena High School graduates already serving in those theaters of war, and we are proud of their service and grateful for their sacrifices. But this war — or any war — threatens us with so much personal and family suffering. And this week marked the May 12th release of the Senate report that acknowledges that our country’s reasons for waging this war in Iraq were fabricated.

Now, no one can claim our reasons were justified.

So why are we fighting it? Why are we sending our children and brothers and sisters and our parents to Iraq?

And how long do they think they can convince us to stay? How many more of our most precious resources do they want us to give?

And don’t the realize this is not what we want our families to be doing?

This last month the Bush Administration pointed to Iraq and said “We’re winning! The surge of troops has now reduced the number of American deaths to its lowest point in three years.”

But the young service men and women who died last month have names. There were 20 of these brave men and women who died for this war. But there weren’t just numbers. They were citizens of towns and cities, just like ours. And if you click here, you will see their names. The youngest was just 19 years old. The oldest, just 35.

Those twenty deaths represent nearly one quarter of St. Helena’s high school graduating class.

It’s a very sobering thought. The lowest casualty rate in a single month!

And perhaps it’s ironic that the Wine Auction benefits the local hospitals at each end of our valley: An auction that wonderfully donates millions in charity for the health and care of our residents.

But meanwhile, in the center of our valley, stands the Veteran’s Home, where our ex-GIs — crippled or maimed or retired by poor health — struggle to attract the medical attention and the respect and the care that they so truly deserve.

It’s enough to make you sit down and think about what we’re doing. It’s enough for even the smallest of us to sit in silent vigilance, hoping and praying for Peace and Justice.

A Word: Peace! Read it, and weep!

Come join us next month, on July 5th, in Lyman Park in St. Helena.

It’s time to listen, to witness, to speak, to act, to help us bring an end to this war.

Last month was our first vigil in St. Helena. This month we nearly doubled our numbers. Nearly everyone who came the for the first vigil returned for today’s. It’s not hard to stand in front of the City Hall and show your support for Peace and Justice. Hundreds of cars honked in support. Hundreds of peace signs were flashed. Hundreds of nods from passing drivers and passengers affirmed to us what we all know: That this war must end. That Peace must come. That our troops deserve a just response.

Families, friends, sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents all know that this war is killing our children. And all of us know we need to stop it.

Come join your neighbors. Bring your family. You don’t have to say a single word. Just stand with us and let the world know that this war must stop now.

The next vigil will be on Saturday, July 5th, in front of City Hall, across from the U.S. Post Office, between 12 and 1. We welcome you to come join us.

Today, May 26th, 2008, is a bittersweet Memorial Day for thousands of U.S. Service Personnel. The New York Times estimates that coverage of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan by news organizations in the U.S. has eroded to just 3%. Yet, according to the article published today:

Last year was the bloodiest in the five-year history of the conflict, with more than 900 dead, and last month, 52 perished, making it the bloodiest month of the year so far. So far in May, 18 have died.

To see the U.S. Casualty records for this month alone, click here!
Some of us have not forgotten at all. And we invite you to join us at Lyman Park, in St. Helena for a silent vigil for Peace and Justice on June 7th from 12:00 to 1:00.

We can not bring back the lives of those who have been sacrificed in these terrible conflicts. But we can work to bring home those that remain.

Memorable quotes from the May 3rd Vigil for Peace and Justice

What We Want

We want to shine a light on peace and we have invited friends, neighbors and the St. Helena community to join us the first Saturday of each month — Sandee Dickson, Teacher

Why We Want It

When you are a mother you realize there is a hopelessness in this war. So, to come up here and stand wearing black makes me feel like I’m doing something. — Ann Ryan, Registered Nurse

Just One Question

I ask one question: What does victory in Iraq mean? What does it look like? I don’t know what the goal is. Tell me. Better yet, tell those American soldiers what it is we’re accomplishing. — Sandee Dickson

Supporting Troops and Families

I think that all of us feel very supportive of our troops, but the best way to really support them is to bring them home. — Judith Rose, Professor

When you see mothers who are sending their children off to war or living in a warlike situation, it hurts you to your soul and you think about your own kids…. Think about your own kids! At 19, 20, 22, they’re babies. — Sandee Dickson

To see the U.S. Casualty records for this month alone, click here!

Had Enough? When is the Next Vigil?

The next Vigil for Peace and Justice will be June 7th, from 12:00 to 1:00 in Lyman Park, St. Helena, California.

Come stand with us! Come Witness a Quiet Quest for Peace and Justice.

June 7, 2008

12-1

Lyman Park, St. Helena, CA

For information call 707.963.1440 or 707.963.3212