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Sunday, November 12, 2006
Supporting the Vets, Not the War
Yesterday's Denver Veterans Day Parade
Top photo: Marine Youth. Notice in the background - the float is made up of three young kids portraying the planting of the American flag at Iwo Jima.
Bottom photo: An Elder. Gene - a WWII veteran and member of Colorado Veterans for Peace (CoVFP). I asked him what brought him to join CoVFP. He said that he was a medic in the war and saw too much of what war does to people. When he learned of Veterans for Peace ten years ago, he realized that "I found my people."
Before:
Before the parade, we hung out in our line-up positions for a very long time. It was a good time to meet new friends and share community with those we already knew.
And to be confronted for our stand on the war.
A DAV parade participant was incensed that people who wanted peace were going to march in his parade. He actually threatened to harm two of his brothers - vets marching in our group. I was amazed to watch his anger and violent threats. The war has not stopped for that vet.
The Parade:
If the experience with the DAV man was a preview of things to come, I didn't expect a warm reception from the crowd that lined the streets. But I was surprised. PEOPLE CLAPPED! A LOT OF THEM CLAPPED! They thanked the vets. Some flashed a peace sign. (Some in the audience yelled that we should be ashamed.) Grown men waved at us. I felt like I was SOMEONE in a parade in my hometown. Welcomed.
And I'm not even a veteran. Should I have even been there? I was very proud to support the men and women in our group who joined the military, went to war, and now have the guts to say that it's time for peace. It was my duty to walk with them and also with the people of Military Families Speak Out who want their soldiers to come home alive.
I felt a part of something much, much bigger than me.
Today:
Today I feel so much compassion for that disabled vet who got so angry. I don't know what his story is. I don't know what he saw and experienced during his time of service. I don't know what life has brought to him since.
And I feel a deep respect for the men and women that I walked with. I don't know all of their stories either. I just know that it takes a lot of strength to stand for one's beliefs when those beliefs are contrary to the majority. I admire their ability to stop the war and move on to another way.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
(The Boston Globe had a good article on their Veterans Day Parade)
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posted by Carol at 12:02 PM
2 Comments:
Carol...when he first approached me with his rage and it was rage...I became concerned that would be the tone throughout the parade..as you pointed out..it was not..
...as this person was riding in a van used to transport vets and perhaps is a driver himself...... I can understand his frustration...but as so often.....it was misdirected..after all he was threatening 2 other disabled vets...
Drew
Understandable that he didn't know who he was talking to... He could only see your sign and it violated how he sees the world. I am sad that there was not a window for dialogue.
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