tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26761066.post-86161369132334440212007-05-12T18:09:00.000-06:002007-05-15T00:01:28.133-06:00I heard about this video celebrating Mother's Day for Peace on <a href="http://democracynow.org/">Democracy Now!</a><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LtzAwo1HU2w"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LtzAwo1HU2w" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />If you have a dial-up connection and don't want to wait for a video to download, try this audio version:<br /><a href="http://gobnf.org/i/mdfp/mothersday_m.mp3">http://gobnf.org/i/mdfp/mothersday_m.mp3</a><br /><br />This is particularly meaningful for UUs since it's based on work done by Julia Ward Howe, a Unitarian.<br /><br />For more information about Julia Ward Howe's life and work:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_howe_julia_ward.htm">Julia Ward Howe on About.com</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Ward_Howe">Julia Ward Howe in Wikipedia</a></li></ul>Her Mother's Day proclamation:<br /><p style="font-style: italic;">Arise, then, women of this day!<br />Arise, all women who have hearts,<br />Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!<br /></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Say firmly:<br />"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,<br />Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.<br />Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn<br />All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.<br />We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country<br />To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."<br /></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.<br />It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."<br />Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.<br />As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,<br />Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.<br /></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.<br />Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means<br />Whereby the great human family can live in peace,<br />Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,<br />But of God.<br /></p> <span style="font-style: italic;">In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> That a general congress of women without limit of nationality</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> The amicable settlement of international questions,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> The great and general interests of peace.</span><br /><br />Btw, she also wrote the <span style="font-style: italic;">Battle Hymn of the Republic</span>...Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07068079582592180728noreply@blogger.com