Tonight, Good Friday to Christians and the first night of Passover to Jews, from 4 pm to 5 pm in Redondo Beach, CA I joined Korean War Veteran John Fortier and his one man peace vigil. John, a retired school teacher and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather has held these peace vigils each Friday night and on other special occasions since March, 2003 just before President Bush ordered the Iraq invasion.
Shortly before I arrived, John was pleased to have been joined by three high school girls who stayed a few minutes to discuss the U.S. wars and one of these young ladies remarked it was the first time in person she had ever seen a peace symbol flag. (I'm guessing she's seen old TV recordings of Vietnam War era peace symbol flags or peace symbol flags from some other long ago era but until now, never saw one in person).
I've joined John's peace vigils in recent years and tonight, I heard more horn honks and saw more two fingered peace signs and waves than at any other of his peace vigils. I credit this to those relatively few Americans paying attention to the wars, sick of what is happening in Afghanistan. But I also believe Good Friday played an important role as well.
What most stood out for me in this vigil was the sight of a silver SUV slowing down and blaring its horn as a tiny 3 year old girl with short brown curly hair, sitting in her car seat in the back seat who smiled and held up her teeny hand in a two fingered peace sign. As I smiled and waved back, it struck me that her parents have on some level explained what John's peace vigil is about and showed her how to express herself in support of it.
I hope it makes a lasting impression on this beautiful child and that perhaps one day it will embolden her to compassionately speak against war and if wars are fought to speak for those with no voice, the wars' many victims.
Dick
No comments:
Post a Comment