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July 9, 2006
An Independence Day Renewal of Faith in My People
By Susan Harmon
Webmaster's note: Content on the Opinions and Essays pages represent the views of the writer only, and not necessarily those of the 34th District Democrats. See policy.
When the South End Neighbors for Peace and Justice invited the West
Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice to join them as participants in the Burien
Fourth of July Parade, it was with some minor trepidation that I volunteered
to drive my convertible so our elders would not have to walk a rather long
parade route.
Burien is considerably more conservative than most of Seattle and I
wondered how we would be greeted by the spectators. I knew that last year, as the
pro-peace folks passed by the judge's stand, there was some confusion with the
final comment being "oh, it looks like they DO support the troops". But,
qualms aside, I hadn't done anything visible to support peace in awhile and it
felt right to be there and to show that the American Flag belonged to ALL of us,
not just the minority in this country who support an illegal and immoral war.
Nonetheless, it did cross my mind that those folks could turn violent in
support of their views.
I arrived early to meet the others and decorate the car with American
flags and posters saying: Blessed are The Peace Mongers and Wage Peace and Racial
Justice signs as well as Red White & Blue balloons and sparkly wire with
patriotic stars. I wrapped some of those stars around my head so I, too, would
sparkle patriotically while driving. While we were waiting, the Kennedy HS band
was next to us and the kids were interested in one of our members who was an
Army Nurse Veteran and they wanted the Veterans for Peace to come to their
school when the recruiters came. Well, I thought to myself, at least some of these
kids get what we're doing. No matter what happens now, at least this
interaction is a good thing and definitely made it worth coming.
Our group was about in the middle of the parade, so there was a lot of
waiting Unfortunately, the fly in the anointment, the negative confrontation I had
been concerned about, came during that wait when a man from our group must have
forgotten he was there to demonstrate for PEACE and that his stupidity might
reflect on the rest of us, took it upon himself to vociferously confront the
Maria Cantwell group about Senator Cantwell's inability to set a timeline for
withdrawal from Iraq. He finally shut up and returned to the group and, soon
after, we began to move forward to begin the parade route.
After a really great drill team moved out, it was our turn to move forward
and join the parade. I had been in parades before, but I'd never been a driver
and I hoped I wouldn't run over the two men walking in front of my car with a
very large banner that said: The South End Still Says No To War. As they moved
out, I carefully followed in the decorated convertible with the elders and the
rest of the group carried signs which said things like the number of dead
military; the weekly cost of the illegal war; support the troops: bring them home
and other peace signs.
Almost immediately, people began applauding us and cheering us. My eyes
started to tear up when a mother told her children to get up and stand for us. The
applause and the cheers were also accompanied by peace signs flashed at us. I
began switching back and forth from one hand holding the wheel and extending
the opposite arm above the window with my fingers flashing the peace sign and
saying Peace over and over. When spectators flashed the peace sign back over
and over I said bless you and most said: no, bless you or thank you for doing
this. Even now the tears are spilling from my eyes as I write this. It was
such an overwhelming experience that in the conservative community of Burien the
people thanked us for standing up and speaking out for peace.
In the last couple of years, I had become so discouraged and physically ill
from the fascist takeover of my country that I had retreated to my studio and
worked on my art rather than join the other West Seattle Neighbors for Peace
and Justice on the weekends to stand for peace.
When people so deeply and sincerely thanked us as we went past, it touched me
deep within. My spirit has been so renewed by this demonstration of support
that I feel it is important to share with others how much just the act of
standing in the light and visibly being the light opens the door for others to walk
through and join the peacemakers.
I know now that the spirit that is at the heart of the American people is
again growing and will be renewed so that freedom to pursue happiness will again
be a reality in my beloved country.
Susan Harmon
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