    |
|
This
Mother's Day, we honor all mothers affected by war, in particular those
who have suffered the ultimate loss of a child from war. These days, we
must count the losses of our soldiers killed in action, but also those
who die by their own hands both on and off the battlefield, as military
suicides now exceed the number of combat deaths.
IVAW
is focused on ending the Afghanistan War, and our Operation Recovery
Campaign is working to end the deployment of traumatized troops and
fighting for service members' right to heal from war so no more mothers
have to experience the losing a child to war.
Today, we honor the origins of Mother's Day as an international call to end all wars.
******************************
Mother's Day Proclamationby Julia Ward Howe, 1870
Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs." From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice." Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means Whereby the great human family can live in peace, Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, But of God. In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask That a general congress of women without limit of nationality May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient And at the earliest period consistent with its objects, To promote the alliance of the different nationalities, The amicable settlement of international questions, The great and general interests of peace. ****************************** In Solidarity, Iraq Veterans Against the War Afghanistan Veterans Against the War Committee |
       |
P.O. Box 3565, New York, NY 10008. All Right Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment