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Thursday, May 15, 2008
Camp Casey , Women in Black, and KGNU
Roger Wendell of KGNU is a GREAT interviewer. Thank you!
My biggest regret - are you reading, Roger? :-) - is that Betty Lynn and I didn't agree to do the whole hour. And I wish that I........would........learn.......to...... speak...........more..........s..l..o..w..l..y. But the first didn't happen and the last, if history is any indication, might not be happening either.
Oh well...
Regular reader and kind supporter, Sometimes Saintly Nick, after listening to the interview on-line, asked about my Camp Casey travels. You can read about them in my August, 2005 and April 2006 archives. I initially started this blog to share my experiences at Camp Casey. And here I am, three years later...
Oh! I just saw my stories about our Bake Sale for Body Armor in the April, 2006 archives, also. THAT was an amazing experience. Whenever I lose faith in humanity, I just need to remember the kindness I witnessed in those two days.
I bring up my Camp Casey trips because our Women in Black vigil came about after the first trip I took to Crawford, Texas in order to support Cindy Sheehan as she sat in the ditch outside W's ranch. I came home from that inspiring adventure committed to being a presence for peace. It's not much, but for at least an hour every week, I'm a human billboard that won't let those passing by forget that there's a better way to peace.
Something that I didn't say in the interview, because we ran out of time: I am so grateful to all who have stopped at our vigil over the years and given us cookies, Starbucks gift cards, bumper stickers, encouragement, and cold water when it was most needed.
I truly believe that people are inherently kind.
To hear the interview that Betty Lynn and I did yesterday, click here, then click on May 15th, scroll down and find the 3:00 "Metro" show, and then click on the yellow speaker icon to the far right of that.
My biggest regret - are you reading, Roger? :-) - is that Betty Lynn and I didn't agree to do the whole hour. And I wish that I........would........learn.......to...... speak...........more..........s..l..o..w..l..y. But the first didn't happen and the last, if history is any indication, might not be happening either.
Oh well...
Regular reader and kind supporter, Sometimes Saintly Nick, after listening to the interview on-line, asked about my Camp Casey travels. You can read about them in my August, 2005 and April 2006 archives. I initially started this blog to share my experiences at Camp Casey. And here I am, three years later...
Oh! I just saw my stories about our Bake Sale for Body Armor in the April, 2006 archives, also. THAT was an amazing experience. Whenever I lose faith in humanity, I just need to remember the kindness I witnessed in those two days.
I bring up my Camp Casey trips because our Women in Black vigil came about after the first trip I took to Crawford, Texas in order to support Cindy Sheehan as she sat in the ditch outside W's ranch. I came home from that inspiring adventure committed to being a presence for peace. It's not much, but for at least an hour every week, I'm a human billboard that won't let those passing by forget that there's a better way to peace.
Something that I didn't say in the interview, because we ran out of time: I am so grateful to all who have stopped at our vigil over the years and given us cookies, Starbucks gift cards, bumper stickers, encouragement, and cold water when it was most needed.
I truly believe that people are inherently kind.
To hear the interview that Betty Lynn and I did yesterday, click here, then click on May 15th, scroll down and find the 3:00 "Metro" show, and then click on the yellow speaker icon to the far right of that.
Labels: Camp Casey, KGNU, Women in Black
posted by Carol at 9:54 PM
7 comments
Today
Thinking about our vigil in preparation for today's radio interview, it's nice to look at the changes that have taken place within me over the past three years.
I USED to stand with somewhat of an attitude of rightness - "I stand for peace and if you oppose me, you are wrong". I felt kind of special. And if a passer-by would throw up their middle finger or yell something not-so-nice, I'd feel assaulted. How dare they?
I USED to meditate or repeat prayers throughout the hour. If I got distracted, I came right back to them. I made the vigil an hour of work for myself.
I USED to have an attachment to results from our standing.
NOW I really don't feel anything one way or another when someone throws out an opposing view. I admit that I feel a little heartened when people send messages of support - not happy that people agree with me, but encouraged that so many people care about living in a peaceful world. Mostly, it's fun to see people connecting, whether they agree with us or not. If they disagree, at least they're stating their opinion.
NOW I just stand and remain present. I don't think there is anything wrong with spending the time meditating or counting cars or sending peace to lands at war. But by standing and "just being" in the moment right there, I have come to realize that the peace that I am standing for is already right there. Where we stand, actually where I type this - right here - is peace. And how can I ever think I'll make peace happen somewhere else if I don't realize and be the peace that is within me and without? If I'm at war with war, I am only creating more war. If I take insults personally and with a need to defend, I am at war. And we don't need any more of that.
And NOW, I don't stand with any need for anything different to happen. I can't control the world and I don't know the bigger picture of it all. Still, something does happen while we're out there. Our Women in Black vigil has become a way of life for me. It's community with the women that stand and with the people in all the metal on wheels that pass. We are a conversation piece, especially since we stand in an area where it's an anomaly to see people on the street. We remind shoppers on the way to the mall (and we're also reminders to ourselves) that there are people suffering through acts of war and violence at that very moment.
(In case you read this before 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time today, I just found out how you can listen to us via your computer. Click here for the link. But please don't tell me if you're going to listen. I'm going to need to pretend that no one is out there so I don't freak!)
I USED to stand with somewhat of an attitude of rightness - "I stand for peace and if you oppose me, you are wrong". I felt kind of special. And if a passer-by would throw up their middle finger or yell something not-so-nice, I'd feel assaulted. How dare they?
I USED to meditate or repeat prayers throughout the hour. If I got distracted, I came right back to them. I made the vigil an hour of work for myself.
I USED to have an attachment to results from our standing.
NOW I really don't feel anything one way or another when someone throws out an opposing view. I admit that I feel a little heartened when people send messages of support - not happy that people agree with me, but encouraged that so many people care about living in a peaceful world. Mostly, it's fun to see people connecting, whether they agree with us or not. If they disagree, at least they're stating their opinion.
NOW I just stand and remain present. I don't think there is anything wrong with spending the time meditating or counting cars or sending peace to lands at war. But by standing and "just being" in the moment right there, I have come to realize that the peace that I am standing for is already right there. Where we stand, actually where I type this - right here - is peace. And how can I ever think I'll make peace happen somewhere else if I don't realize and be the peace that is within me and without? If I'm at war with war, I am only creating more war. If I take insults personally and with a need to defend, I am at war. And we don't need any more of that.
And NOW, I don't stand with any need for anything different to happen. I can't control the world and I don't know the bigger picture of it all. Still, something does happen while we're out there. Our Women in Black vigil has become a way of life for me. It's community with the women that stand and with the people in all the metal on wheels that pass. We are a conversation piece, especially since we stand in an area where it's an anomaly to see people on the street. We remind shoppers on the way to the mall (and we're also reminders to ourselves) that there are people suffering through acts of war and violence at that very moment.
Peace is every step.
- Thich Nhat Hahn
- Thich Nhat Hahn
(In case you read this before 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time today, I just found out how you can listen to us via your computer. Click here for the link. But please don't tell me if you're going to listen. I'm going to need to pretend that no one is out there so I don't freak!)
Labels: KGNU, Women in Black
posted by Carol at 9:04 AM
6 comments
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Next Week
A week from today, at 3:00 mountain time, on independent radio station KGNU - 88.5 FM, 1390 AM - Women in Black vigiler, Betty Lynn, and I will be interviewed about our vigil, how it all began, what it's been like, and other assorted related topics.
Roger Wendell, of KGNU, happened upon us as we stood a couple of weeks ago and said that he found it interesting that we would be standing for peace in a predominantly conservative area. Funny, over the years, I've forgotten about the environment where we stand. This conservative area has become just a place where some people go by and connect with us and many people pass and choose not to look at us.
Anyway, for those of you who don't live in the KGNU listening area, I will post the recorded interview once it's available to me - just in case you want to hear the voice behind these words. Actually, if you scroll down to the bottom of this website, you can hear my voice on videos of television news stories aired before my first Camp Casey trip.
While preparing for our interview, I have gone through a lot of old blog posts of mine - especially ones with stories of noteworthy occurrences at our vigils. As I read those old posts, I noticed my blog used to be way more interesting than it is now. Has my balloon deflated? Has my drink lost its fizz? If so, where do I get me some more??? Do I really want more???
I've definitely changed since the birth of this website and I'm not the same person that started standing at our corner almost three years ago. My path to peace has not taken me where I thought it would. That's really all right. Very, very all right.
Roger Wendell, of KGNU, happened upon us as we stood a couple of weeks ago and said that he found it interesting that we would be standing for peace in a predominantly conservative area. Funny, over the years, I've forgotten about the environment where we stand. This conservative area has become just a place where some people go by and connect with us and many people pass and choose not to look at us.
Anyway, for those of you who don't live in the KGNU listening area, I will post the recorded interview once it's available to me - just in case you want to hear the voice behind these words. Actually, if you scroll down to the bottom of this website, you can hear my voice on videos of television news stories aired before my first Camp Casey trip.
While preparing for our interview, I have gone through a lot of old blog posts of mine - especially ones with stories of noteworthy occurrences at our vigils. As I read those old posts, I noticed my blog used to be way more interesting than it is now. Has my balloon deflated? Has my drink lost its fizz? If so, where do I get me some more??? Do I really want more???
I've definitely changed since the birth of this website and I'm not the same person that started standing at our corner almost three years ago. My path to peace has not taken me where I thought it would. That's really all right. Very, very all right.
Labels: KGNU, Women in Black
posted by Carol at 10:53 AM
9 comments