In addition, he hosts additional peace vigils as he did this week on the U.S.'s Independence Day, July 4th. While others are with their families and friends at the beach, in the mountains or barbecuing, or at the shopping malls, John is on his Pacific Coast Highway corner, green peace flag flapping in the breeze as he appeals to the numerous drivers and pedestrians to pressure the U.S. government for peace.
Instead, that government has expanded its perpetual wars adding military contractors, "kill squads" and more lethal drones, taking the lives of many men, women and children and orphaning ever more children as well. Now the U.S. is expanding its cyber wars, although (with the possible exception of Israel), it is the only nation that has yet launched a cyber attack.
What you will see today are John's comments about his July 4th vigil, as he continues to peacefully fight the horrors the U.S. is committing.
When I got to the fence at the corner, from the parking lot side, I started dropping my flag, sign, seat and bag of stuff (incense, lighter, cough drops, water, & peace pins) over to save having to haul it there from where I had to park the car (on the far side of the lot). Being the 4th of July, every legitimate parking space on the lot was filled; after unloading I parked without blocking anybody or legitimacy.
There was a fellow in beach dress sitting right where I usually drop things, so I announced myself and dropped the stuff very close behind him. While I was doing it, a lady who was a frequent visitor came by on her bicycle and stopped to chat. While I was going back and forth to my double-parked car, getting things, I could hear her telling the guy seated there all about me, my schedule, my philosophy, etc.. It was quite flattering and very nice of her. Finally, the guy's lady friend appeared and they took off walking down Knob Hill to the beach.
An interesting bit of her conversation was her identifying several items she was wearing and riding, and their places of origin. Her sun glasses were from one country; her jeans from another; her sandals another; her bicycle another; and so on and on. She said the only thing made in this country was herself. I didn't ask for clarification on that, and while I found room to park, she took off up Knob Hill. so I got seated and the flag flying without any distractions.
I enjoyed 3:55 - 5:10 yesterday, and it was a very rewarding experience. The first coincidence happened about ten minutes after my flag went up. A guy and his family on the sidewalk going north on PCH stopped and said hello, and that he had chatted with me before from his car while waiting for a right turn.
I told him I didn't recognize him or remember the conversation, but I appreciated him for it. While we were talking, I fished out some 'peace pins' and asked him if I could offer them to his kids. He and the two boys were on bicycles, wearing helmets, and his wife was afoot and not helmeted. He said 'sure' and that what I was doing was important, and his wife took the leftover pin and thanked me for it, as did the boys.
It was a brief (two signals) visit, but very comfortable and friendly. I tagged on a compliment about his wearing a helmet as well as his sons doing it, because so many parents required it of their children, but did not do it themselves. I told him that 'do as I say, not as I do' plants a seed of cynicism and dishonesty early early on, and sooner or later there will be a reckoning. Everyone agreed and the friendly gathering broke up.
The next, last and most interesting coincidence of the day was one you'll especially enjoy, Dick. A guy and an entourage of ladies and kids came up Knob Hill from the beach and stopped for the signal. The guy gave me a very friendly greeting, and I got a funny feeling that I maybe knew him from somewhere. He saw my consternation and said, "Do you remember me ? I'm the guy who found and brought back your flag !"
Well, I damned near stood up to go shake his hand, but having my seat pulled out into the street by the flag attached to it wouldn't have been too cool, so I was limited to sticking my hand as far out as I could in his direction. His group made way for him to come over and we had a solid gold handshake.
Fortunately, I had among my little bag of peace pins, some felt peach stick-on badges. I asked him if I could offer them to the three boys in the group, for their book bags or whatever, and he said 'absolutely and thank you'. They all accepted one and gave at least one thank you apiece. Then a lady with a stroller at the back of the group asked if 'he' could have one also, indicating a little tiny person all snuggled down in the stroller. That brought to four, the number of peace badges my friend 'the flag man' and his group had garnered during their most welcome visit.
I'll be out there again on the 6th of July, not because that date has any special significance, but because it's a Friday. I always wonder what it will be like, but I've never been very right yet. And that's ok, because it's all good.
P.S.
I forgot something. Last night, Michele and I ate at the Redondo Beach Cafe, and as we were leaving I asked the waitress, whom I had never seen before, what happened to the dark haired young lady waitress who rode a very fast skateboard to work every Friday evening. When she asked why, I told her that I sat on the corner up at Knob Hill and PCH, denouncing war as a solution to the world's problems, and the lady in question used to fly by on her board at a high rate of speed every Friday evening. She responded that 'here she is now, that she was just starting to work there again', and she had heard all about me and my protesting from her.
Sure enough, when I looked along her line of sight, there was the speedster, talking to a waiter who had gone out to the sidewalk to meet her. What are the odds? Our being there, asking about her, and her arrival at that moment? The world's getting smaller by the minute, and PEACE is a common denominator.
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