Peace Demonstration No. 264, 4/6/11

"My man is in Afghanistan," said a 30 ish woman with a gentle smile, who seemed deeply moved by the vigil. From her black SUV, she added, "He's a Gunny in the Marines. He's been there for 30 days and he is due back around Halloween [October]. He served two tours in Iraq and this is his first in Afghanistan."

In addition to her response, came comments such as "Thank you," from a 35 ish woman, a passenger in a white sedan, who added "God Bless." And "thank you for doing that," from one of four 60 ish ladies in a blue SUV. "Life is hard enough without that [wars]," added another as all four waved their support. Numerous others honked or waved their support, some also offering two fingered peace signs.

The vigil was joined by a 50 ish man who often joins and near its end by my eldest son Kyle, who had often joined the early vigils five years ago.

That after five years there is still a need for vigils is tragic. People continue to be killed or maimed in the U.S.'s three wars. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal front page headlined, "Al Qaeda Makes Afghan Comeback" and it reported Al Qaeda's growing strength and its close ties with the Taliban. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704355304576215762431072584.html

This after nearly 600 U.S. troops have been killed since President Obama escalated this war in December, 2009 and far greater numbers of Afghan people have also died. U.S. allies have had their soldiers killed and how many Afghan children have been killed or orphaned, only God knows.

What the U.S. hopes to accomplish there after nearly 10 years of war, or in Iraq after eight years of war or in Libya, the latest war, who knows? Certainly not the American people. Thank you for your support for these vigils and let us hope for the day soon when rational people will sit down together and peacefully resolve their differences.

Dick