Millions Stand Shoulder to Shoulder for Peace World Wide
A Personal Perspective
by Mary MacElveen
xmjmac@optonline.net

Waking up this morning, I knew I would be a part of an historical event, where millions around the globe would protest for peace and not war. But, on this cold bitter day, I was left to wonder just how many would show up in New York City. I was left in awe at just how many braved the cold and came out. I was also not as prepared to how all of this would effect me, or as I write this will keep on effecting me. Emotionally, it is hard to prep oneself to participate in a demonstration of this magnitude. Having now lived it, it is a fly by the seat of your pants emotional roller coaster ride. One that I could ride over and over again. Because the ride had and still has a sense of purpose. We who rode it collectively around the world did so, not out of fun, but to help save lives.

Through today's protest, we showed the warmongers in our midst, that this day belonged to the people not only in this country, but those around the world. Today, we wanted to send a message of hope and not despair for the people of Iraq. We wanted to show them that we the citizens of this world, could somehow make a difference in shaping a more perfect union of world policy. That policy is those that are threatened by these warmongers will survive. We would not be using our military to play these war games where no one wins, and where everyone loses. Collectively, we did not want to see a family member of a serviceman or woman being visited by a chaplain signaling that their loved one was not coming home.

As I stated before, it was a brutally cold day here in New York City, but we came out in force so that those who lives are threatened, will not suffer at the cold hands of death. Today was a day where we who are against this offensive, braved the cold and drew a line in the sand, and stood up and said "NO WAR IN IRAQ!"

Standing on the barriers, and looking up town where I was only a few blocks from the United Nations, I saw throngs of people extending to the horizon and beyond. It absolutely took my breath away, that all of us combined were taking part in a historical event. Someday in the future, many will ask us, "Just where were you on February 15th, 2003?" Our answer will be, "Joining hands across the globe to stop the those who only know one thing, and that is violence" Those people are non other than, George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and many more warmongers in the midst.

Today, everyday Americans were taking part in our democracy, and using our first amendment rights as guaranteed by our Constitution. Our founding fathers would have been proud.

We were not as several right ring media outlets love to write and broadcast, unpatriotic. If anything, we were very patriotic. We were taking part in something really spectacular. Many of these right wing media outlets love to report that we who protest are left-wing loonies or refuse of society. I saw none of that today. I saw parents with their children braving bitter cold temperatures, in hope of instilling in their futures that peace is the only answer. I saw many veterans with signs which stated, "This Vet is not for this war" I also spotted a few nuns. Are they unpatriotic or living by example the true teachings of God? Even a homeless man took part in this event. That really drew my attention. Here we are ready to spend billions of dollars on a war, and we are failing to address the homeless problem? Everyone of these patriotic Americans were hyped up as well, and we all chanted at the tops of our lungs, "No to this war", and "no to Bush".

The best was yet to come.

Having heard such eloquent speakers as Reverend Desmond Tutu, Harry Belafonte, Ruth Messinger, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Susan Sarandon, one could not help but be taken aback by their words. That this administration is guilty of putting the needs of the powerful over the needs of the people. Instead of spending billions in the planning and carrying out this heinous war. What they should be doing is creating jobs, fixing the economy, no new tax cuts to those who do not need it, health care for all Americans and many more other issues that must be our priority.

Nothing can describe my feelings being in the presence of such powerful speakers. I am still trying to process my thoughts about today's events and words just can not do it justice. How I wish Washington DC had such sane messages for an insane world. Then not only I but the rest of the world could sleep better at night. We would not be living in a constant state of fear. A fear promulgated by this administration and the GOP.

As we stood their in the hundreds of thousands in this New York City, reports were being broadcast to us all by the events coordinators, of how many were rallying world wide. When we heard one million in England a roar went up in the crowd, because we know their Prime Minister, Tony Blair, backs this offensive. When we heard the same amount in Italy another supporter, we thundered back in a congratulatory thank you. City after city was standing up to this administration and saying NO! You could feel the street vibrate, and that vibration signaled that it is time we keep the peace, and do not signal to the world our blind ambition of arrogance. Where such blind ambition of arrogance will result in many lives being lost in our military, and innocent Iraqi citizens. And for what? Oil!

Again, as Dr. Hans Blix just this past week stated, they could find no weapons of mass destruction. He and his inspectors are the only ones we should be listening to, instead of the warmongers in our midst. Because, they have been there. Has George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice? No, they have not.

As the mainstream media has all but ignored our message, I wonder how they will record this for our history. By our sheer numbers today, can they continue ignoring the growing peace movement? Will those citizens who did not participate in today's events, but were witnesses to it, see some merit in what we have to say? More importantly, will they now dare to question their own government's present course of action? By our sheer numbers, it is my hope that many of them stand up to these warmongers in the midst and tell them NO!

I have already noticed that the United Nations is softening their language in their resolution, and it is my hope that today, even though we were refused a permit to march down by them, they heard our voices around the globe, and will tell the United States of America, to stand down. But will our government heed their message? Or will they satiate their lust for greed, power, and destruction? Seeing a report on WCBS-TV New York, I noticed that Secretary Kofi Annan met with Rev. Tutu and Harry Belafonte. That in itself brings hope.

In closing, I must say that taking part in this historic event today, was an honor, a thrill, and something that I shall always remember. Today, I along with millions more, told George W. Bush and his band of warmongers, "NO TO WAR IN IRAQ!"

Mary MacElveen
February 16, 2003