I've been out on the streets of my community again -- with a table and flyers -- trying to build support for the April 29th March for Peace, Justice and Democracy. Nine initiating organizations, representing broad sections of the population, called the action: United for Peace and Justice, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, National Organization for Women, Friends of the Earth, U.S. Labor Against the War, Climate Crisis Coalition, People's Hurricane Relief Fund, National Youth and Student Peace Coalition and Veterans For Peace. Now hundreds of additional indivduals and organizations across the country have signed on and it's shaping up as giant outpouring against the war and for a change of direciton in our country.
All out for April 29th - NYC!
Brooklyn Parents For Peace, my local peace group, has been putting teams of members with tables, posters and flyers throughout downtown Brooklyn, distributing 1000's of flyers and talking to hundreds of Brooklynites, urging attendance at the April 29th march.
My table at Flatbush Avenue and Sterling Place.
Collecting signatures at a table at Fort Greene Park.
The reception has been warm and it's obvious that the word is out as many have said they're already planning to participate. While there's been virtually no hostility and most people on the street seem to destest Bush and his policies, there's also a lot of apathy, particularly among young people who pass by, refuse a flyer and seem to have blinders on. It brings to mind that acerbic bumper sticker: "If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention." It saddens me, coming from the activism of the 60's, to see so many young people without a sense of idealism and a burning desire to change things that was the hallmark of my generation during the Vietnam war.
.......
Talking about Vietnam, and so relevant to today, a new film is being shown, directed by David Zeiger. It's playing at the IFC Center in the Village (6th Avenue and West 3rd Street) and is titled Sir! No Sir! This is the story of the enormous resistance movement among GI's that developed inside the Army during the Vietnam war. That's a movement that has been erased from American history. History rewritten to turn a war of immorality and depravity into a heroic event.
Jane Fonda spoke at the opening benefit last Monday along with filmmaker David Zeiger and some of the stars of the film: GI's -- then young now 60-year oldsters but heroes who went to jail rather than kill people fighting for their independence. Jane looked really fine but more than looks, I was impressed by her principled stance in connecting the dots from yesteryear's war to the present disaster in Iraq. Her message and the film's message: Those who cannot learn from history are bound to repeat it. Jane, who toured with actor, Donald Sutherland and others in the FTA (Free The Army) show for GI's during Vietnam, is featured in the film.
The film will be shown only through Sunday, April 23rd. If you can get down to IFC in the Village tomorrow you'll be impressed by a film that says no to the rewriting of history to fit the plans and schemes of Bush and his band of chicken hawks who would send another generation of youth to fight another Vietnam all over again.
Hurry on down to the IFC for Sir! No Sir!
Jane Fonda and David Zeigler at the benefit for Iraq Vets Against The War at the IFC last Monday.
Jane makes a point.
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