Candlelight Vigils by Dick Kazan - A Plea For Peace in Iraq and Afghanistan

A Powerful Lesson Learned: Notes From Candlelight Vigils, 2/9/12

2012-02-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, one of the powerful lessons I learned in conducting the 303 vigils held over 6 years, is that when I stood close to the traffic and smiled, while establishing eye contact, the vigil touched many people without a word being spoken between us.

There is a primal communication that starts with the eyes and extends through the body language and if the recipient doesn't feel threatened, he or she will absorb the message. I know this because some people have come up to me later and referenced the vigil, including their thoughts about it. And I often felt that they were receiving the message at the moment it was given because they too communicated through their eyes and body language.

Dick

Restoring The Life Of A Severely Injured U.S. Soldier: Notes From Candlelight Vigils, 2/2/12

2012-02-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

In 2007, Army Specialist Joey Paulk, then 22 years old, was on his first deployment to Afghanistan when a bomb exploded, setting him ablaze and nearly killing him. Among the damage done to him was the destruction of his face, the loss of his fingers and psychological impact of which no-one can measure. Joey has endured over 30 surgeries with more to come.

But thanks to a philanthropist Ronald Katz, and the UCLA Medical Center, in addition to the caring and dedicated military medical teams that saved his life and began the restoration process, Joey is on his way to a quality life and hopefully to a fine future.

It is easy to condemn war and point out that Joey is one of numerous horror stories that have resulted from the U.S.'s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but that's not the purpose of this piece. Instead it is one of hope. Hope for Joey, hope for his family, hope for the numerous other war victims and their families and hope that the U.S. and other nations will finally grow wise enough to prevent wars, not fight them. To learn more about Joey, please see "For Soldier Disfigured in War, a Way to Return to the World," New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/us/for-soldier-disfigured-in-afghanistan-a-way-to-return-to-the-world.html?pagewanted=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

Dick

A Woman Dies In Baghdad

2012-01-28T10:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, as a funeral procession passed through a busy intersection, a suicide bomber triggered an explosion that killed 32 men, women and children and injured 65 more. Among those who were killed was a woman, no-one special to the world, just a street vendor selling fish from a cart, to make money to help feed her family in a disastrous economy. If she was a wife and mother, her husband and children, like other members of her family were devastated. How does one tell a child her mother is dead? How does one tell a mother her daughter is dead?

But this morning, with her gone, who fixed the family's breakfast? Who will shop for groceries tomorrow? Who will replace all the hugs and kisses she gave? Who can look at her picture without sobbing?

One witness to this horrific scene said that water used to put out the fires caused by the bomb, turned red from all the blood on the street. Rescuers did everything they could but in the end, all they could do for this woman who only moments earlier had a life, was to put her in her cart and role it to a nearby hospital, which had also been severely damaged by the blast.

To the world, she was no-one. To her family, she was vital and to you and me, she was our brethren, a being deserving of our care and of our love and respect, for she was a child of God. War brings out the madness in mankind and causes some people to blindly destroy that which is invaluable and irreplaceable to a family, the life of their loved one.

Dick
To learn more, please see http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/01/27/2369526/suicide-bombing-at-baghdad-funeral.html

For Iraqis, Is This Justice? Notes From Candlelight Vigils, 1/26/12

2012-01-26T11:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, On November 19, 2005 in Haditha, a 70,000 person community about 100 miles north of Baghdad, a U.S. military convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, killing one Marine and injuring two more. About 100 meters from that explosion was a housing complex. Furious and scared, several of the Marines followed Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich's direction to "shoot first and ask questions later" as he killed five men next to a car and they "cleared" the housing complex, kicking in doors and in hails of gunfire, massacring 19 of the occupants.

Among the dead were seven children, one a toddler, three women and a wheelchair bound 76 year old man. At first, the Marine Corps claimed 15 Iraqis were killed by a roadside bomb and the others died in a firefight that followed. But eye witnesses talked to the media and it became apparent the Marine Corps had lied. The Iraqi people cried out for justice.

After an investigation, the Marine Corps filed murder charges against Sgt. Wuterich and seven of the Marines under him. But over time, charges were dropped against six of the Marines, one Marine was acquitted in a military tribunal and on Tuesday (1/24/12) during a military tribunal, Sgt. Wuterich in a plea bargain was found guilty of "dereliction of duty," not murder and will serve no jail time. There was an outcry against the plea bargain from some Iraqis and human rights organizations.

But the plea bargain is actually logical. If no-one else committed murder under the previous legal actions, how could Sgt. Wuterich be found guilty of murder, when apparently no murders were committed. And yet the Marines had 24 bloody body bags after the shootings. But the injustice was not only in the Marine Corps' treatment of the accused. The injustice was in the war itself which put these Marines and the Iraqi men, women and children into the cross hairs of horrific death, from a war which never should have been fought and which cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

As for Sgt. Wuterich and the other seven Marines, each of them have families. They may be husbands with wives and children and they are sons, grandsons and likely brothers. They can personally relate to what they did and will be haunted for the rest of their lives by the vision of the atrocities they committed, for no military tribunal can erase those horrors from their minds.

This is what war does to mankind as in a fiery Hell it destroys everything in its path. That's why it is vital for each us to do all we can to prevent war and resolve our differences as amicably as possible. We recognize our brethren in the faces of the men, women and children who our government claims to be our enemy. But we know better and we can help them, not harm them, as we offer compassion and a helping hand, not the explosive end of a gun.

Dick
To learn more please see an outstanding two part presentation from "60 Minutes," a preeminent U.S. news show. You can see the massacre setting and hear Sgt Wuterich describe the events at length: Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU_KdDlYsBg Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXPhfCTFyLQ (Please note: in Part 1, in the 1st 17 seconds, someone added an editorial condemning the U.S. government, etc. for what happened. This editorial is not from "60 Minutes.")

For the trial results, please see "Marine Avoids Prison in Haditha Massacre," ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/marine-avoids-prison-haditha-massacre-15439234 "Marine gets no jail time in killing of 24 Iraqi civilians," Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-haditha-20120125,0,3372025.story "In Iraq, Haditha case is reminder of justice denied," http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-haditha-20120125,0,5216520.story

Fundamentalist Islam Rocks Libya: Notes From Candlelight Vigils, 1/19/12

2012-01-19T11:33:00.000-08:00

Under the NATO banner, the U.S., Britain, France and several other nations supported Libya's rebels and over several months, bombed the former dictatorship out of existence, killing thousands of Libyan men, women and children in the process.

Now across Libya, a battle has begun between more westernized Muslims and their rigid religious countrymen, to define what rights people will have.

Or as Time magazine put it: "Throughout this country, Libyans are discovering that their hard fought battle to win freedoms is at risk. Puritanical Muslims known as Salafis are applying a rigid form of Islam in more and more communities. They have clamped down on the sale of alcohol and demolished the tombs of saints where many local people worship. The small town of Zuwara near the Tunisian border, dominated by a heterodox Muslim sect despised by the Salafis, is quickly becoming the battlefield for competing visions of Libya's future." To read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2104578,00.html#ixzz1jvvxKS83

Whether the former Libyan dictatorship would have peacefully ceded control to the people we will never know for that was not a NATO option. Warfare and all of its cost in blood and treasure was the only option. It is my hope the Libyan people can now non-violently resolve their differences and if not that they will request United Nations or other forms of mediation rather than allow the situation to dissolve into further death and destruction, for their own good and that of all mankind.

Dick

U.S. intelligence report on Afghanistan sees stalemate: Notes From Candlelight Vigils, 1/12/12

2012-01-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Times this morning published a front page story entitled, "U.S. intelligence report on Afghanistan sees stalemate: The sobering judgments in a classified National Intelligence Estimate appear at odds with recent optimistic statements about the war by Pentagon officials." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-intel-afghan-20120112,0,6949277,full.story This comes as no surprise to those of us who closely follow the disastrous Afghanistan War and hope for its end. The good news is this top level intelligence report, now in public hands, will put pressure on President Obama to finally end this 10 year debacle.

In better news is a story published today in The Wall Street Journal, "U.S. Plans New Push for Talks With Taliban" http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203436904577155201899616534.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

This war, like the one in Iraq has cost thousands of men, women and children their lives and maimed many thousands more. The wars offer no benefit other than to the numerous military contractors that have profited immensely from the blood of others. Eventually, the Afghanistan War will be settled in negotiations. The sooner this happens, the more lives will be saved and we as mankind can then reinvest those vastly wasted resources and energy in what could be productive, uplifting endeavors for humanity.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 303, 1/4/12

2012-01-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

"A candle for you guys," said a 30 ish man, a passenger in a car that pulled up in front of the vigil and despite the heavy traffic, inched by so John Fortier and I could see the bright flaming wick within his hand, cupped by his other hand.

It was a wonderful gesture he made in mirroring a vigil candle that for 6 years, has burned in remembrance of those killed or seriously wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the pain and loss felt by their families.

It was quite a final vigil. From the outset, we were joined by my friend of 26 years, Michael Delees, who came to take photographs and to offer his support, as he stayed with us for 45 minutes. It was also joined by another warm and caring friend, Vicky Landis for about 15 minutes and by a 50 ish couple that in recent years has joined many of the vigils for a few minutes at a time. Near the end, there was a 35 ish man who we've seen during recent vigils, and as he does each time, came by pushing a baby stroller for two with his cute children, a 3 1/2 year old daughter on one side and her 1 year old brother next to her. This baby boy was fascinated by the burning candle.

The traffic during the vigil was frequently heavy, often bumper to bumper, across 8 lanes and there were many horn honks, waves and two fingered peace signs from the drivers. As always, that support included the bus drivers, many of whom took the vigil to heart. When they would stop at a red light, it had become common practice for them to open their doors and offer some kind words of support, as happened last night with one driver.

In thinking of the 303 vigils over 6 years, what stands out is the thousands of people the vigil reached. Some acknowledged the vigil, many did not but for most people the vigil and its cause was impossible to ignore, if only for a moment. Over the years the vigil reached parents with children and triggered a powerful impression on those children and many a family discussion. It also visibly moved soldiers and the families of soldiers, many of whom felt like no-one cared about the sacrifices they were making until they saw the burning candle and read the sign.

I recall a former soldier who had served multiple deployments in Iraq, who parked his car and joined for nearly an entire vigil. He was in his mid-20's but was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, often either unable to sleep at night or enveloped by horrific nightmares that put him back in the middle of firefights and on a major attack on his base. He was often angry and afraid and having trouble functioning in civilian life and so appreciative of the vigil and having someone to listen to him.

I recall from a separate John Fortier vigil, two traumatized soldiers in their early 20's who had served two deployments in Iraq. They exploded in anger when they saw John's "War Is Not The Answer" sign and his peace flag. After calming them down, they explained they had seen their closest friend and others killed in Iraq and were still living the horrors of war. While they were home, they saw that most people didn't care about the wars and were indifferent to the price paid by the military. They mistakenly thought John too was being what they called, "disrespectful," and regretted their outburst.

I remember a former Marine who served 12 years including in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq (1991), describing how brutal war really is. And I recall a Cambodian refugee who was a child during the 1970's Killing Fields of Pol Pot and how as an adult, he despised war and all of its brutality.

I recall a brilliant and cordial young French couple who were exchange students one summer and joined several vigils. What a joy it was to feel their energy and enthusiasm for life. And I recall a woman in her 60's who for a time attended many vigils, stopping on her way to church. And then there was a British woman in her 60's filled with charm and personality who, with a quick wit and razor sharp insight would address the hypocrisy of presidents Obama and Bush and Congress and make the listener laugh.

But of all the people I met, the one who brought the most joy during the vigil was Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and peace activist John Fortier. It was a pleasure to have his in person support throughout nearly all of the last two years of vigils. And from afar was my friend and a guiding light, Mary Ellen in Cottage Grove, Oregon who each week offered encouragement and took such an interest in the vigils from the outset, that it is because of her, these vigils have been documented for you and for others dear reader.

Then there was my Uncle Gene and Aunt Eleanor, my wife Anne, her mother Mary and our 97 year old friend Fay Ward who at their homes lit candles as each vigil was taking place. And Pat Alviso and Jeff Merrick, whose Military Families Speak Out organization continues the peaceful battle to end the U.S.'s wars, setting a wonderful example for us all.

These are recollections and observations from these years of hosting the vigil. I will continue to hold in my heart all those who have paid so severe a price in these wars and with my most fervent passion hope these wars are finally brought to an end.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 302, 12/28/11

2011-12-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

Last night's vigil hosted by John Fortier and me drew numerous horn honks and waves of support, some of the best response the vigil has received in its nearly six years. It was joined by the 50 ish couple who often join, usually for a few minutes. I told them and told John that the inner voice within me is saying it is time to end this vigil.

Six years ago, shortly before Christmas of 2005, that inner voice gently urged the vigil to begin and provided the words for the vigil sign. This came right after President Bush was asked how many Iraqis had been killed in a war he ordered in March, 2003. As I recall it, he shrugged his shoulders and replied, "30,000 more or less" with no spark of compassion in his eyes and in an indifferent tone of voice.

His words came after years of heartache for me, watching the Afghan War and especially the war and occupation of the men, women and children of Iraq. The explosions, shootings and beheadings, the kidnappings and the rivers of blood, the mothers crying out in pain as their loved ones were being killed, some of them children, while other children were orphaned. Two million Iraqis fled their homes and 2 1/2 million Iraqis fled their country. As I held them dear, I held dear as well the U.S. and allied soldiers and their families and the horrific price they were paying as I listened to U.S. mothers who had lost their sons in Iraq, hearing their voices quiver and watching the tears roll down their cheeks.

But now the inner voice is saying to end this vigil, even as Iraq may fall apart as explosions continue to rock that dysfunctional nation. And the bloodletting in Afghanistan is horrific and spills into Pakistan, as fear and hatred for the U.S. grows. In Iraq over 1 million U.S. soldiers served and 4,487 of them paid with their lives, 32,200 more soldiers with family support are bearing severe injuries such as brain damage, paralysis or loss of limbs, while perhaps a quarter million soldiers are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, with thousands of them living homeless on the streets.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead and more are being killed every day. This is what the U.S. has to show for its Iraq invasion. A trillion dollars gone as well and many millions of dollars more will be spent in the years to come to provide medical care to our severely injured veterans. Imagine what the price for Afghanistan will be, a 10 1/2 year old war still unfolding.

My son Kyle pointed out that if Americans had to pay for these wars now with a 75% income tax rather than having the cost put on the taxpayer credit card for future payment and if the draft was reinstated, the American people would no longer be indifferent to the wars and all of the suffering their government is causing others. I agree.

Despite the pain the vigil represents and our caring for everyone who has been effected by these wars, it has been a pleasure the last two of these six years holding these vigils with peace activist John Fortier, a Korean War veteran. He has held a separate peace vigil every Friday since just before President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003. John is a retired school teacher and a husband of 53 years. He is a father, grandfather and great-grandfather and a kind and giving man, who at 78 years of age has so much energy, he volunteer teaches and is involved with the Occupy Movement.

I plan to host one more peace vigil in part to thank people for their support over these six years. And dear reader, thank you for your support as well. I look forward to where that inner voice will lead next.

Dick
If you would like to understand how the U.S. government led the American people to the Iraq War and Occupation, please see an extraordinary video, "Leading To War," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OMI_rNWDrs that John shared with me. It is archival news footage from CBS, PBS and other major news organizations. Even if you watch just the first few minutes of it, you will understand how this war was orchestrated.

Candlelight Vigil No. 301, 12/21/11

2011-12-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

"That is so nice of you to do that," said a 30 ish woman, her eyes wide open in almost disbelief as she looked at the vigil from her SUV and spoke to John Fortier and me. "Thank you for remembering the soldiers, especially this time of year."

Her heartfelt expression was indicative of the support we received from drivers with their horn honks, waves and shout outs and from the kind words of pedestrians. One wave and shout out came from a 43 year old lovely woman as she drove by, stopping in the right lane to express herself. She and her husband are friends of Anne and mine. And the vigil was joined as well for about 15 minutes by a 67 year old woman who occasionally joins it on her way to church.

Someone recently asked why there are so many more soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, a question I put to John. "Because of all the deployments they now serve," he replied. "They do 3 or 4 deployments and some of them do 5 or 6 deployments. In Korea, as an aerial gunner, I was to do 35 missions. I did 14 missions before the war ended. In World War ll, they were to do 50 missions but after awhile, (the military) backed off that number." John explained that continuous and long time exposure to combat takes a heavy toll on the human mind.

"Thank you for doing that," called out a 35 ish man driving an SUV. "My brother in the back seat served 6 years in the Air Force. I've been in the Army for 12 years and he (the passenger next to him), has been in the Army for 10 years. I did 2 tours in Iraq and in March, I'm going to Afghanistan." All 3 gentlemen expressed their gratitude for the vigil and I expressed our appreciation for their service as I fist bumped the driver, shook hands with the passenger and waved at the brother in the back seat.

"What are they going to do with all the boys and girls (soldiers) coming home," asked the 67 year old woman who had joined the vigil, with deep concern ringing in her voice. "Many will be on the street," John replied. "Others will wind up in jail and hopefully some will find jobs. But there are a lot of people looking for jobs. I talked to a guy, an electrician who has been looking for a job for 3 years."

It is tough for the returning soldiers because there are already so many other people unemployed or underemployed and these soldiers have been out of sight and not counted in the labor pool and in many cases need to be retrained for the jobs that do exist. But I would rather have them home safely with their families than fighting in a distant land, even if jobs are in short supply.

This 67 year old woman also shared a lovely holiday story with us. Her 41 year old daughter and her daughter's boyfriend from their Oregon home have "adopted" a neighboring Oregon family of a husband, wife and 4 children. The husband is out of work and the wife doesn't bring in enough income to support the family. So her daughter and her boyfriend are helping to buy groceries and other necessities and even bought this family a Christmas tree and joined them in decorating it. It is a story of one good neighbor helping another and a reminder of the goodness that lives within each of us despite the wars.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 300, 12/14/11

2011-12-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

"In Peace, Sons bury their fathers. In War, Fathers bury their sons." Herodotus (484 BC - 425 BC), ancient Greek historian, sometimes called "the Father of History." From today's wars, Americans and their allies, and Afghans, Pakistanis and Iraqis are burying their sons and daughters and other family members. Each vigil is in memory of them and the pain their families must bear.

Chris Fishbeck was a young man with tremendous ambition. Growing up in Buena Park, CA, he loved physics and astronomy, read Stephen Hawking writings and dreamed of becoming a pilot or an astronaut. As a boy, he convinced his parents to regularly take him to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum or to the Griffith Park Observatory as he loved to study the planets and space flight. But he was also an every day kid who played Pop Warner football and he wrestled. But he was best known for his enthusiasm and for his funny stories, according to his wife and his friends. One friend described him as a class clown who one Halloween, wore his sister's cheerleader outfit to make everyone laugh.

Chris joined the U.S. Army in October of 2009 and in November, 2010 was deployed to Iraq. While on leave, he reconnected with an old high school friend, Stephanie Kidder who was in Germany teaching English. They stayed in touch through Facebook and Skype, as he swept her off her feet and in March, 2011 they were married. Two months later, Chris was given leave to be with his father who was having open heart surgery.

But two weeks after returning to Iraq, on June 6th, 2011 U.S. enemies launched a rocket attack on Camp Loyalty near Baghdad, and SPC. Chris Fishbeck, age 24 was among six U.S. soldiers killed. On June 20th, he was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Cyprus, CA. "He dove into everything wholeheartedly," his mother told the Los Angeles Times. "And the family is brokenhearted he is gone."

Chris will never achieve his dreams, never build a life with Stephanie, never have children, never again be with his family and friends and never become a force for good in his community and in the world. He is forever gone to all of us.

Meanwhile, at last night's vigil John Fortier and I received many horn honks and waves of support as the vigil candle burned brightly with hope for peace, so no more people like Chris will be sent back to their families for burial.

Dick
1) To learn more about Chris, please see his Los Angeles Times obit: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/11/local/la-me-christopher-fishbeck-20111211
2) Today, the New York Times published the story of a 2005 U.S. Marine massacre of 24 Iraqi men, women and children, including a 76 year old man in a wheel chair and children as young as toddlers. Until now the U.S. Military had kept it "classified," but the Times found the information thrown away in a junkyard. To learn more, please see "Junkyard Gives Up Secret Accounts of Massacre in Iraq." http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/world/middleeast/united-states-marines-haditha-interviews-found-in-iraq-junkyard.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha22
3) Thank you to my friend Genous for this timeless Herodotus quote

John Fortier Peace Vigil, 12/9/11

2011-12-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

John Fortier is a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he is a Los Angeles area peace activist who began his weekly peace vigils just before President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq. Last night's vigil went from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. I joined it at 4 pm and I'd like to briefly share two observations with you:

The 1st observation was when three 15 ish girls walked by the vigil as if it didn't exist. With a smile, I walked over to them and greeted them warmly and then asked, "Are you ladies familiar with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?" One hesitantly said, "yes," and the other two replied "no," with one of those teenagers adding that she knew nothing about the wars and judging by her facial expression and her shrug, I'm not sure she was aware wars are even taking place.

I told them them that many of the young soldiers dying in those wars are just a little older than they are and politely attempted to engage them in conversation, but they had no interest. Had I switched the topic to Lady Gaga or "Dancing With The Stars," it would likely have captured their interest. To know virtually nothing about these wars is appalling, especially since if they had the slightest interest they could Google them on their smart phones and in a heartbeat have vast amounts of information at their fingertips.

The 2nd observation came when a 12 ish boy riding in a truck read John's peace sign and saw his peace symbol flag and lowered his window and waved vigorously at us. A short time later, a 13 ish boy in a car saw the same thing and he too waved heartily and also called out to us to express his support and a hope for the wars' end.

On a night in which John's vigil attracted plenty of horn honks and waves, these two observations stand out. I recall when I was young (I'm 66 years old now), millions of young people opposed the Vietnam War, many of them fearful of being drafted or having a family member drafted into the U.S. military and being sent to Vietnam. But whatever their motivation, they took to the streets and forced Congress to stop funding the War and effectively brought it to an end.

Today, we have silence and those three teenage girls were a fine illustration as to why. But in fairness most Americans are silent about the current wars, allowing them to devastate millions of families in their silence. But that John has held so many peace vigils appealing to the consciences of others and seeing the responses from those two boys lifted my heart.

Any nation in which its people, including its religious and political leaders, can ignore the immense suffering of others doesn't have much of a future. But the horn honks and waves of support, from however small the % of drivers they come from helps offer hope that Americans may finally wake up to the horrors their government has brought on others, including its own soldiers and their families, and do something to stop it.

12/12/11 Dear Reader, John requested that I add the following to this vigil summary:

To suggest the range of the vigil's effect you could add: Near the end of the vigil John yelled and waved vigorously to a car coming down Knob Hill and making a left on PCH. He told me that the driver was a lady named Kelly, and he had met her in a local hardware store a few days earlier. The lady approached him and asked if he was the guy who sat on the corner with a sign, "War Is Not The Answer". He said that he was that guy and appologized for not recognizing her. She said that that was OK because every time she honked and waved, he always smiled and waved back. He said he's going to be on high alert look-out for her from now on. This wasn't the first time that someone has recognized him in some public place and approached him about it, and it is encouraging when it happens.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 299, 12/7/11

2011-12-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

"You guys are doing a great thing," said a 54 year old man after he walked up and read the vigil sign. "And I'm not the only one who thinks so," he added as he joined the vigil for 15 to 20 minutes.

"If the U.S. has to fight a war," he stated, "It should get in and get out. I don't understand why these wars are going on so long." He wanted the wars to be over and the soldiers home with their families. This man has been married for 29 years and he and his wife have three grown children, 23, 21 and 19 all of whom are doing well. For 30 years he donated his time to referee youth basketball and baseball games and always appreciated it on the rare occasions when a parent, coach or player would thank him. Last night he wanted to thank us.

Regarding the wars, in Iraq on Monday, several explosions killed at least 30 men, women and children and wounded 75 more. All were Shiite pilgrims coming to pray in the shrine city of Karbala, south of Baghdad. While in Afghanistan on Tuesday, more than 60 people were killed and 160 wounded in a coordinated series of explosions in Kabul, Kandahar and elsewhere. The Wall Street Journal published a horrific picture of women and girls who survived the attacks but whose faces, hands and clothes were covered in blood spray from the people blown to bits. It's a sickening sight and a reminder of the ugliness of war and why so many of those involved suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.

These people, like millions of Iraqis and Afghans before them, are not only traumatized but now must live without their loved ones, including in some cases the bread winners, which means women with children will have to find another way to sustain themselves and keep their families together. And as often happens, children were killed, maimed or orphaned as well.

But thousands of miles away our Los Angeles area vigil was peaceful. One deeply meaningful moment came when a 7 ish girl in the backseat of a black SUV read our vigil sign, smiled and began to wave at us. Her 35 ish mother was delighted and she supported the vigil with her smile, wave and kind words. What made this so meaningful was that afterward the mother very likely explained to her daughter why the vigil was being held, which means the vigil touched another generation.

In terms of support, there were numerous horn honks and waves, including from the bus drivers, many of whom have become vigil supporters. And the 50 ish couple who often join for several minutes, did Wednesday night as well, as did for a few minutes a 58 year old man, who on occasion does. On these bone chilling ice cold evenings, all of this support helps to warm our hearts and encourage us.

A 2nd deeply meaningful moment came at the end of the vigil when a 22 year old man, a runner in top physical condition and sweating heavily saw the vigil, and stopped to join it. He was wearing a bright red shirt with Air Force markings and he said, "Thank you for your love and caring." He said he has an Engineering degree and is 3 months into a 4 year Air Force commitment, for now stationed in Los Angeles to work on satellites. John Fortier told him he too had served in the Air Force but during the Korean War. We were so pleased with this young man's exuberant response to the vigil, we extended it five minutes to accommodate him. And as he left, so did we, accompanied by another horn blast of support.

This vigil was held on December 7th, which Americans remember as "Pearl Harbor Day," when on December 7th, 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii killing 2,400 people and wounding many more. President Roosevelt called it "a day that will live in infamy" as the U.S. declared war, joining World War ll. I wonder if in Iraq and Afghanistan, the people will remember the day the U.S. invaded their countries, setting off wars of occupation that have lasted nearly 9 years and over 10 years and costing hundreds of thousands of people their lives.

Dick
To see the BBC article, "Deadly bomb attacks on Shia pilgrims in Iraq," please click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16035254. To see The Wall Street Journal article, "Attacks Point to New Afghan Conflict," please click on http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204770404577081631832680936.html?mod=googlenews_wsj On the online version, I did not see the horrifically bloody photo that was in the print edition but there are other stark photos.

Candlelight Vigil No. 298, 11/30/11

2011-12-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

"God bless you guys," said a 40 ish woman from her white SUV. "Thank you for doing what you're doing. People need to be reminded these wars are still going on. I hope they end soon." Then as the signal on Pacific Coast Highway turned green she waved and honked her horn in support of the vigil as she drove off.

This was the tone of last night's vigil, in which many people waved or honked their support including one of the vigils' biggest supporters, the bus drivers. But the vigils are not for John Fortier and me but for the Afghan and Iraqi people and for U.S. soldiers like Ricardo Cerros, Jr. At 5 feet, 7 inches tall, Ricardo was a determined young man from a military family, who with his buddy Mike Clark helped establish and build the taekwondo martial arts team at the University of California, Irvine.

Ricardo was also a top student, who majored in Chemistry, taking at times 22 units at a time so he could graduate sooner and then as his father had done and as his brother is doing, serve in the military. Ricardo wanted to enlist after his high school graduation in 2005, that included 4 years in an ROTC program, but his dad, an Army veteran discouraged it, guiding his son to first get his 4 year Bachelor's Degree. "I was hoping the war would be over by then," Ricardo Sr. told the Los Angeles Times.*

Ricardo Jr earned his Bachelor's Degree in 2009 and joined the Army, which deployed him to Afghanistan. On October 8th, 2011 he and his unit got into a firefight in Central Afghanistan, south of Kabul and Ricardo was shot to death at the age of 24. This young man, who had such a promising future was returned to his family for burial.

But thousands of miles from Afghanistan, our vigil was peaceful. "I've dated a Marine forever," said a 30 ish woman from her tiny sedan. "Thank you for doing that. He just got back from Afghanistan. It was his 6th deployment. He got hit by an IED (an explosive device). But he is alright now."

"God bless you guys," said a 40 ish man as he stood at the vigil. "I'm a Christian. But what can we do except pray." "We can take to the streets," I replied. And explained to him how Americans taking to the streets (in the 1960's and 70's) ended the Vietnam War.

But the most interesting vigil visitor was a 9th grade student on his bike. He had good command of presence for a 13 year old and he explained to John that he didn't like war but felt if America didn't fight, he was fearful it would be invaded, a position often stated by people demanding a "strong defense," aggressive military action overseas and an endless amount of money for it. Rarely do any of these people send their own children off to fight. While we didn't agree with this young man's position, both of us were respectful he had a position given that so many young people know little about the U.S.'s wars.

As the vigil came to an end, it was joined by my eldest son Kyle and after saying goodnight to John, Kyle and I went to Starbucks for 1 1/2 hours to talk and to enjoy each other's company. To me this is a blessing, one I savor and wish with all my heart Ricardo, Sr. could still do with Ricardo, Jr.

Dick
*To see the Los Angeles Times Obit, "Ricardo Cerros Jr. dies at 24; Army specialist from Salinas," from which the quote was taken, please visit http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/27/local/la-me-ricardo-cerros-20111127

Candlelight Vigil No. 297, 11/23/11

2011-11-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Reader. Last night's vigil along busy Pacific Coast Highway in the Los Angeles area, brought numerous horn honks, waves and shout outs of support, on a night so chilly, that John Fortier and I both probably had pink noses and pink cheeks by the time it ended. In writing this vigil summary on Thanksgiving, a special holiday in which Americans express their gratitude for all the good things in their lives, I would like to share with you a story that illustrates why we hold these vigils.

Although I never met him, Army Spc. Koran Contreras was born 21 years ago in Redondo Beach and grew up in Lawndale, spending numerous hours skateboarding with his many friends in Hermosa Beach, all cities near Anne's and my home. His parents, Lilia and Marco Contreras-Quiroz are Mexican immigrants and as a boy, when he wasn't in school, little Koran used to join his mother as she cleaned houses. When he grew older, to bring money into the household, he worked as a chef and food server at Cafe Boogaloo and Shark's Cove in Hermosa Beach.

But after Koran graduated from Leuzinger High School, despite his mother's pleas, he joined the Army because he wanted to serve his country and he hoped to one day become a police officer. In 2009, he served a year's tour of duty in Iraq and was later sent to Afghanistan, to train Afghan police in Kandahar province. On September 8th, 2011, his unit came under attack and Koran and 20 year old Pfc. Douglas Jeffries Jr. from the Bakersfield area were blown up by an improvised explosive device.

Shortly afterward, Koran was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, his life ended before he had a chance to really live it. He is survived by his wife, his parents and his 8 year old little brother Anthony and by his many skateboarding friends, who want to build some form of memorial to him. Everyone who was close to Koran is traumatized by his death, Anthony now left to grow up without the love and guidance of his big brother. His mother Lilia tries to make sense of it all, comforting herself as best she can by remembering the good times, such as when she and Koran would share stories and laughs over breakfast at the kitchen table, coffee mugs in hand.

Today being Thanksgiving it is very difficult for the Contreras family as they look at Koran's pictures and notice the empty chair where he would have been sitting, sharing stories and love with everyone. Instead there is only silence. So on this Thanksgiving and all the days that follow, my heartfelt compassion goes out to their family and I share their story with you so that he and they become much more than empty statistics. I'm thankful for his 21 year life and I hope you are too. In thinking of Lilia and all of America's current wars, I recall something my friend Mary Ellen emailed after last week's vigil summary, "We need more women in power. Women are not as hell bent to kill other women's children. We know how hard it is to raise a bright, beautiful and wonderful human. We do not consider humans expendable."

Dick
If you would like to know more about Koran and his family, please see "Koran P. Contreras dies at 21; Army specialist from Lawndale," Los Angeles Times http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/20/local/la-me-koran-contreras-20111120

A Remarkable John Fortier Peace Vigil, 11/18/11

2011-11-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

There were 3 striking elements to John Fortier's Redondo Beach, CA peace vigil last night, one of which I have never before experienced:

1) 4 boys about 16 years old walked by, seemingly indifferent, as if the vigil wasn't happening. I greeted them warmly, which stopped them briefly and asked if they pay attention to the U.S.'s wars. Each of the boys, one after the next said no. Their answer was not surprising but disappointing because it is hard to stop the U.S.'s wars if America's young people ignore them. With the Vietnam War and preceding wars, the U.S. could draft boys little older than these and if they had draft cards, they and their families would care very much about these wars. Meanwhile, boys and girls as young as just 2 years older than these boys are dying or being maimed, not that these boys care. If when my boys were this young, they were indifferent to the killing and suffering of others, I would feel I had failed as a parent.

2) "Hello," called out two young girls from a small sedan as the occupants got our attention. They began speaking to us and I went out on the street to hear what they had to say. The car was driven by a 40 ish mother who expressed her gratitude to us for reminding others these wars are being fought and for calling for peace. She said it takes a lot of courage to go to a busy street corner to appeal to the consciences of others. Her daughters, about 11 and 12 politely listened to her and enthusiastically expressed their support as well. When the light turned green, I stepped back on to the sidewalk and all three of them called out their support to us and the mother honked her horn. This was very special because it reminded us how John's peace vigil is affecting others, including the next generation. It also showed a mother who is instilling the caring for others into her children, unlike the parents of those 4 boys.

3) When the vigil ended, John and I walked back to his car and as he looked for his keys, I held his peace symbol flag. The flag, attached to a several foot long metal pole, was folded in plastic on the left end of the pole and I held the pole in each hand, palms facing the upper front of my legs. It was nearly windless when all of a sudden the right side of the pole was thrust vigorously back and forth 3 or 4 times, as if an invisible hand gripped it and shook it. I was stunned and when the shaking stopped, I told John what had happened. Dear Reader, I have no explanation for how this happened. Personally I believe a spiritual being was involved but I leave it to you to draw your own conclusion. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been killed in the U.S.'s Iraq and Afghan Wars and is it possible one of them expressed support for John's peace vigil?

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 296, 11/16/11

2011-11-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

"It just makes me mad because a lot of people don't understand. They don't see this stuff. They just go about their daily lives while there are still people dying every day for them. It upsets me a lot." These are the tearful words of U.S. CPL Steven Cornford, an Iraq War veteran, who on Easter Sunday, 2007, suffered a severe shoulder wound during a blazing gun battle. These were among his comments about the American people, for since coming home he has learned that despite the enormous sacrifices of his comrades and him, many of them know little about these wars nor care.

CPL Cornford was just 18-years-old during that firefight. And despite the severity of his wounded shoulder and bullets blistering the air all around him, he raced out to lift up his Lieutenant who was bleeding profusely from a leg wound, put him on his shoulders and carried him to safety.

But that Lieutenant still died from that wound. CPL Cornford suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, often reliving the battles in Iraq and all the horrors he witnessed, has trouble sleeping and snaps at his wife and other people. Given the price he and so many others have paid in the U.S.'s wars, he is taken aback by the lack of awareness of the American people. To see his story and that of some other deeply troubled U.S. soldiers, please visit "60 Minutes" (11/6/11), "Operation Proper Exit: A return to the war zone." http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387332n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea.9

Last night's vigil, as all of these vigils are, was held on behalf of everyone who has been killed or severely wounded in the Iraq and Afghan Wars and on behalf of their families. In holding this vigil, John Fortier and I received numerous horn honks and waves of support. The vigil was joined midway by my son Kyle, who shares our compassion for all those who have paid so severe a price in these wars.

Kyle, who is a successful real estate investor, syndicater and property manager discussed the Los Angeles County homeless problem, where it is estimated 50,000 people are homeless 10,000 of which are military veterans. Kyle is organizing a new investment housing venture in another state, which also has thousands of homeless veterans and if this venture comes together successfully, he hopes to set aside homes for a period of time to house some of these veterans while they hopefully put their lives back together again.

The U.S. is incurring staggering human and monetary costs to fight its wars and these costs will be paid not just right now but for generations to come, as we saw from the Vietnam War and all the wars that preceded it. Worse yet, most of the financial costs of these wars are being but put on the U.S. credit card as our nation's debts continue to mount. And every day all of those costs rise, as the causalities grow. This is madness! In hosting this vigil and in participating in John's peace vigil each Friday at a nearby street corner, I hope we appeal to the consciences of the American people to bring enormous pressure to stop these wars, which the U.S. government and its military industrial complex that so benefits by them, refuse to do.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 295, 11/9/11

2011-11-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

A driver, a 55 ish, black haired olive skinned man, perhaps of Middle East heritage lowered his passenger side car window and asked what the vigil is about. After I explained it to him, he looked me in the eyes, raised his right hand and raised his right index finger. "No. 1," he said is the Iraqi, Afghan and other victims of U.S. forces. He asked us to remember them, as we also remember the U.S. soldiers and their families.

This was the most touching moment of last night's vigil, a vigil that attracted numerous horn honks and waves of support, along with some shout outs of gratitude for the vigil, of which Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and peace activist John Fortier participanted, as he virtually always does.

To humanize what these wars have done and will do for years to come to the men, women and children of the nations the U.S. invaded and occupied, the following story from the British news agency Reuters about a widowed mother with 5 children puts it in perspective: "BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Halima Dakhil lost her husband in the sectarian slaughter that engulfed Iraq after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and now spends her days tearful and scared, knowing her $250 monthly wage won't pay the rent and feed five children.

"One of an estimated 2 million women who are primary breadwinners in Iraq, Dakhil is but one face of the humanitarian crisis left behind as U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq nearly nine years after toppling dictator Saddam Hussein. Rent takes $210 of her monthly earning as a cleaner in a medical clinic. She depends mainly on the kindness of neighbors and other donors to feed her family. 'When my husband was killed in 2006, my youngest child, Ridha, was only a toddler,' said Dakhil, wiping away her tears with her abaya, as Ridha stood by her side. 'I took on the role of both mother and father. I support them and pay the rent. The rent is destroying me.'

"Dakhil said militants beheaded her husband, along with his brother and nephew, as they traveled to sell a car and buy another in Diyala province, a center of ethnic and sectarian strife east of Baghdad. In a cruel irony, Dakhil's spouse, a Sunni, was killed by Sunni militants who thought he was a Shi'ite because his ID badge was issued in the Shi'ite slum of Sadr City, she said. Dakhil, herself a Shi'ite, she was displaced shortly after her husband's death from their Sunni area in northern Baghdad to Sadr City, with no money, no furniture and no family support.

"As Iraq emerges from nearly nine years of what many here think of as an occupation by U.S. forces, and the decades of Saddam's reign before, it faces an uphill battle to help the poor, the wounded, the widowed and others scarred by war. 'I wish the war never happened and my husband was still alive. What is his fault? What is the fault of the innocent people?' said Dakhil, who is raising four boys and a girl." To read the rest of this story, please see "The daily struggle of Iraq's widows of war," http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111109/wl_nm/us_iraq_widows

This is but one of millions of horror stories from the U.S. wars, wars that continue to be fought even as the U.S. is broke financially and morally. Wars that vastly benefit the U.S.'s military industrial complex but are draining the U.S. taxpayer of what little financial security he or she may have left. With compassion for humanity and in remembrance of all who have paid a severe price in these wars, this vigil is held.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 294, 11/2/11

2011-11-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

In summarizing last night's vigil, I'd like to tell you the story of 19-year-old U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jorge Ortiz, a combat photographer. On January 15th, 2011, Jorge was in Afghanistan photographing captured weapons when he stepped on a hidden explosive.

The explosion blew off his legs above his knees, caused a traumatic brain injury and ripped off four fingers on his left hand and the thumb on his right hand. Despite the severity of his wounds and the intense bleeding, Jorge survived. Ultimately, he was taken to the Polytraumatic Rehabilitation Center at the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto, California to begin a lengthy and painful rehabilitation, in which he will be fitted for prosthetic legs and be taught to walk. Because of the intense pain he suffers, doctors give him strong medications that leave him groggy and don't always relieve his pain.

But the situation gets worse. Like many other U.S. soldiers who have suffered severe brain trauma, Jorge has trouble with his memory and his responses are slow. The powerful pain relievers only make it harder. To support him in his brutal personal battle, his mother and 7-year-old sister have relocated from their home in Fresno to the Fisher House across the street from the VA Hospital, where the military provides free housing. As Jorge faces a long term battle, his sister has enrolled in school.

But despite his horrific injuries there is hope. In March, a determined and joyful Jorge wrote on his Facebook page, "Damn, today was the first day I walked since January 15th this year. I can still remember that day as if it was yesterday. The future is bright for those who try. I guarantee you that because I'm witnessing it myself."

At 19, when many young men are enrolling in college or starting their careers, as they pursue active social lives and chase their dreams, Jorge is left to live a nightmare, including flashbacks that will last his lifetime. And whatever plans his family had are dramatically altered as they valiantly help him to overcome his physical and emotional trauma and build a productive and rewarding life. With Jorge's attitude he will make the most of what is a very special life.

But I share this story with you, because tens of thousands of U.S. and allied soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Afghans and Iraqis and their families live with potentially life shattering injuries for this is what war does. That's why it is not being shown to the American people, otherwise they will not support and pay for these wars. But Jorge is an exception for the Los Angeles Times told his story, a part of which I shared with you. To read more about Jorge, please see http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/05/local/la-me-trauma-20110605/2

It is for Jorge Ortiz and his family and the millions of others who have been victimized by these wars that John Fortier and I conduct vigils. This is why we are peace activists seeking to end this horrific blood drenched madness before any more men and women must bury their children and before others join them in suffering a lifetime of personal Hell.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 293, 10/26/11

2011-10-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

"Thanks guys for doing that," said a 40 ish man with a strong heartfelt tone in his voice as he stopped his bike at a red signal and spoke with John Fortier and me. It turned out he and his wife are in the Air Force. She is being deployed to Afghanistan and he is being deployed to Kyrgyzstan, which is near the Middle East and was part of the old Soviet Union.

He was followed by an 80 ish man who walked up and who sometimes joins our vigil briefly. He spoke of a tiny 4 week old Calico kitten his daughter rescued in his back yard after hearing her cry out, apparently lost and frightened, alone in the world. This orange, brown, black and yellow kitty with yellow eyes is now three months old and has become his tiny friend.

I share this kitten story with you dear reader because it is lovely but it also makes me wonder how many children and their little pets are killed or injured in the fierce battles in Afghanistan. While in Iraq yesterday, all Hell broke loose yet again as bombings took place across the nation killing at least 16 Iraqi men, women and children and wounding 36 more. Among the dead was a man representing Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's Shiite spiritual leader and arguably the most powerful person in Iraq. This may bode badly for peace between Iraq's Shiites and Sunnis.

But thousands of miles away at our Los Angeles area vigil, along Pacific Coast Highway, were horn honks and waves of support and occasional two-fingered peace signs and shout-outs. "I see you guys out here all the time," said a 50 ish woman as she walked up. "My father was in the military." She said he was in the Army and fought in wars all the way through Vietnam and won numerous medals. She said she was not familiar with his exploits but when he died, the military buried him with honors. It was only in recent times when she found his medals stored in boxes that she began to understand what an important role he had played in the military.

After she left a 55 ish woman with her adorable little black and white dog joined us as she sometimes does. This woman is warm and friendly and takes a sincere interest in the vigil, while her tiny dog is a bundle of love and gave John a good sniffing and doggy kisses as she smelled the scent of John's tiny dog Sparky on him..

A special moment in the vigil came when a 35 ish woman in a dark gray SUV at a red signal rolled up so she could easily read the vigil sign. She explained to her children or child what the vigil is as she motioned with her hands and nodded her head. When the signal turned green, she warmly smiled and waved at us.

"I've seen you here before," said a 30 ish Irish woman late in the vigil as she smiled while pushing a baby stroller. In the stroller was a husky 8 month old little boy, with striking blue eyes, similar to those actor Paul Newman was long known for. On leashes, she also had two Spaniel blend dogs, one brown and one black. She has lived in the U.S. for two years and as she joined us, she remarked how the soldiers and the wars receive virtually no coverage in the U.S. news media, while trivial stories are often heavily covered, a paradox she found hard to understand. But she was very personable and her baby was adorable, while her dogs were gentle and it set a lovely tone late in the vigil.

With the horn honks and waves and kind words, it can make for a touching vigil. And I've developed a wonderful friendship with fellow peace activist, John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and retired school teacher, husband for 53 years and a father and grandfather, who participates for the full length of each vigil. John also holds a vigil each Friday. But as I think about all the dead, the injured, the orphans, the endless destruction and deprivation and of all the families who bear the heartache of these wars, my soul cries out for peace and for a last time to ever light the vigil candles.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 292, 10/19/11

2011-10-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Among the many waves and horn honks of support, two were particularly moving. The 1st was a 40 ish man in a huge white truck with his 10 ish son sitting alongside him. The man waved and warmly smiled at the vigil and his son was interested in what his dad was doing. The boy's eyes absorbed the vigil and his smile glowed. Afterward, surely there was a father-son chat and a boy who will long recall what he saw.

A bit later came the 2nd moving response. A shiny little gray Mini-Cooper convertible driven by a 35 ish woman who with a gentle smile, explained the vigil to her 6 ish son. I complimented her cute little car and thanked her for discussing the vigil with her son. "You're welcome," she replied with a smile and a sparkle in her eyes, adding "Thank you doing what you are doing."

"I know you," said a 55 ish man, while stopping to ask John Fortier the time. "You are the war protester guys." He then read the sign and joined the vigil for a few minutes. After he left we heard, "You guys are awesome," from a 50 ish man on a bike as he rode up holding a new unopened bag of potato chips at his side. His wife had sent him out for the chips and as he joined us briefly, he turned out to be a warm and outgoing man.

"I'm from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina said a serious 60 ish man who walked up with a comparably aged woman. With a smile, she thanked us for conducting the vigil but he had strong feelings he wanted to express. "I see the soldiers coming home," he said. "They are in bad shape and that's from the Vietnam War to these wars. And then they have to fight for their benefits!" At that point she escorted him away before he became even more upset by the impact of the wars on the soldiers he has seen.

As they left, a 50 ish possibly homeless man parked his bike and asked if we would like to hear a poem he had written about war, entitled "Tears of Love." He said he was a singer-songwriter and what he read to us was deeply moving. I asked him if when he had access to a computer, would he share the piece again, along with his name, and I would post it for readers to see with attribution to him. After he received the blog address, he thanked us for listening to his poem and for our desire to share it with others, as our attention and sincere caring for him had uplifted his spirits.

Shortly after he left came a 35 ish mother pushing a baby stroller with tiny 9 month old Zachary inside tucked in warmly, an orange and white teething giraffe sticking out of his mouth. We oohed and aahed over this adorable big bright eyed brown haired baby as his mother thanked us for our comments about her son and complimented us on holding the vigil.

It was about this time, with 11 minutes to go in the vigil that my eldest son Kyle arrived. He said a Las Vegas property manager told him there are a lot of foreclosed homes in Las Vegas and a lot of homeless military veterans. As a government agency, Fannie Mae owns many of those homes, this property manager wondered why Fannie Mae is not housing some of those homeless veterans in some of those empty houses. Kyle said some of these veterans have served as many as 5 tours of duty in U.S. war zones and yet when they come home, there are often no jobs for them. And for the existing jobs, they are at a competitive disadvantage to those who didn't serve but instead worked and improved their job skills.

It was a remarkably well supported vigil and when it ended, Kyle and I thanked John Fortier who is a Korean War veteran, a retired school teacher who continues to teach as a volunteer, and who is a wonderful caring friend and an avid peace advocate. Kyle and I then walked to a Starbucks for hot chocolate on a cool night and then walked along the ocean front about a 1/2 mile away for a total of 1 1/2 hours. Not only had the vigil gone well but afterward, it provided us with some excellent father-son time, which we both find very special. It is something I wish the many victims of all of these wars could also have enjoyed with their families.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 291, 10/12/11

2011-10-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

"My brother is in Afghanistan," said a 20 ish man on a bike. "He's in the Army. Right now he is bored but he trains the Afghan police. It's one of the most dangerous jobs over there. I could never do what he is doing. But thank you for remembering our troops. You're out here and there is no political stuff."

As he rode off, a woman in a Jeep Cherokee type vehicle repeatedly blasted her horn and three children in the age ranges of about 8 to 12 called out their support as everyone vigorously waved. This was touching because it indicates while they were stopped at the long red light on Pacific Coast Highway, she told the children what the vigil is about and why she supports it. And the vigil and its message clearly made a favorable impression on those children.

The U.S. news media provides nearly no coverage of the U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Libya and the U.S.'s "covert" wars in Somalia, Yemen and elsewhere. For example, yesterday in Baghdad, there were a series of explosions and gunfire that killed at least 30 people and injured 88 more in the continuous horror that is the 8 1/2 year old Iraq War. Imagine all the devastated families, some of whom are burying their spouses or children and others who frantically rushed to hospitals to help care for their loved ones, hospitals short of staff for many have fled Iraq and short of medicine much of which trades on the black market in a nation destroyed by war.

But if you are American, likely you only know what happened in Baghdad yesterday because I went online to get the information to share it with you. That the U.S. media seldom covers these wars is a disgrace and a dishonor to those the U.S. government sends to fight in them. Sometimes these soldiers are killed or permanently injured with loss of limbs or brain damage or other trauma but they and their families are out of sight and forgotten by most of the American people.

But thousands of miles away, on our Los Angeles area vigil street corner, a 50 ish couple that often join the vigil did last night as well. And shortly before the vigil was to end, as the light blue sky was lit in the west by the golden sunset, Anne's and my eldest son Kyle arrived to support the vigil. And shortly afterward, a 55 year old woman, who with her adorable little dog, has attended recent vigils, did as well, along with her comparably aged friend, a woman who works in her business.

When the vigil ended, Kyle and I walked to Starbucks, where he bought hot chocolate drinks for us. Then we walked along the ocean front, about a half mile from where the vigil was held. As the blue-gray waves cascaded onto the white sand beach and the stars twinkled brightly in the darkened sky it was peaceful and something I wish could be shared with all of the people fighting and killing each other in these wars. For in this tranquil setting, we could all talk out our differences and find a way to keep talking in place of the killing until those wars are brought to a peaceful end.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 290, 10/5/11

2011-10-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

"You are preaching to the choir," said a 60 ish man as he read the sign. "[But] I've been out of work for 7 months and I applied to an aerospace firm. Hopefully, if I get a job, it won't be war related."

This was indicative of last night's vigil, one filled with horn honks and waves of support, the first horn honk of which came while the vigil was being set up and the sign not yet displayed. And the vigil was joined by a 50 ish couple who often join and by a 55 ish woman who has joined on occasion recently.

But today dear reader, I would like to share with you my reply to my friend Ben Haney who said I was harsh on President George Bush about the wars and about the economy but have been far less critical of President Obama:

I view President Obama much as I did President Bush, both guilty of extensive illegal actions and wish one would be impeached and the other who is out of office be indicted. But I’ve come to understand it doesn’t matter who is elected President or who serves in Congress, the system is bought and sold. Until the people take to the streets, this won’t change, up to the time we go bankrupt. It is my hope that the Occupy Wall Street movement or another movement becomes widespread and continuous, involving Americans across the nation in huge numbers to take constructive, non-violent action to seize control of their government and restore the Republic it was.

As for the wars, I take to the streets EVERY Wednesday and nearly every Friday and host http://www.candlelightvigils.blogspot.com/ and http://peacedemonstratins.blogspot.com/ in an attempt to fire up people. I’ve also written letters to the editor of the Daily Breeze to reach thousands more. But the combination of no military draft, widespread U.S. government censorship on news coverage and people scared about the economy, keeps them honking horns of support but not getting involved. Ironically, if they got involved in large numbers they could stop these wars.

It breaks my heart to see this nation, once the greatest nation in the world, fall apart. But it is falling apart and for now my solutions fall on deaf ears. But it won’t stop me from fighting the fight because humanity is worth it and I refuse to sit in silence while American drones and “Kill/Capture” squads conduct widespread murder in the name of peace. I refuse to be silent while America borrows and prints money to the point of insolvency to support the military industrial complex by building endless numbers weapons of mass destruction, fighter jets it doesn’t use, drones, tanks, ships and other weapons, all to employ people in U.S. based manufacturing and all at taxpayer expense.

I refuse to be silent while America’s soldiers and their families pay an enormous price. Soldiers are killed and maimed and their families bear the brunt, invisible to the U.S. public because the government doesn’t want to show the human price of war, not even the price paid by those who answered the call to arms issued by U.S. politicians, few of whom would ever send their own families to fight. I refuse to be silent while the military industrial complex provides hundreds of thousands of “contractors” all at taxpayer expense, while making huge profits for themselves as additional blood money to that they already make on weapons. The number of contractors is unknown to the American public for as usual with everything surrounding the military, it’s a secret and the U.S. news media doesn’t pursue it.

I refuse to be silent as the U.S. elite builds an American Empire, occupying or fighting in countries at will, despite it being illegal under the U.S. Constitution, the Geneva Convention and the United Nations Charter. And I refuse to be silent when the many victims of those wars including dead or orphaned children have no voice. I raise my voice for them and encourage others to as well, for we are all brethren and they are your and my extended family. We will all be impacted by the suffering we cause them.

Thank you Ben for your comments and questions.

Dick

John Fortier Peace Vigil, 9/30/11

2011-10-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, John Fortier is a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and peace activist who has held a peace vigil virtually every Friday since President Bush ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq in March, 2003. In this informal email, he comments about the generosity of a poor maid.

Hi Dick ~

Well, this latest Friday evening protest on the corner was an interesting case of history repeating itself.

Several months of Fridays ago an Hispanic lady 'forced' a dollar on me. We don't know each other's names, and our verbal exchanges never rose to the level of conversation because her English was as good as my Spanish - almost completely lacking. She did seem interested in knowing if, when or how long ago a bus went by.

I tried to convince her I didn't know with any certainty what she was talking about but that 'pretty soon' a bus was bound to pass by. That must have been satisfactory because she arrived and went through essentially the same routine almost every Friday.

Then one evening, after our usual bus talk, she surreptitiously passed me a rolled/crumpled up dollar bill. "No. no, no thank you. Por favor no!" At least I think I said that. She was a lot more eloquent and said, I'm sure, something about it not being much but a little help. After a lengthy volley of yes's and no's, she won. That dollar bill is affixed to my refrigerator by magnet, and it's not coming down until I find a very special purpose for it.

Sitting on a corner at a busy intersection is what you make it. During summer I'm out there for two hours; during winter it's an hour and a half. It's not the temperature but the light that suggests the hours. If people acknowledge my sign and presence there, I want to show my appreciation by acknowledging them in return. When it's too dark to see the drivers, I leave.

So, over time, patterns develop. Certain people appear at about the same time each night. Some are very enthusiastic in showing their support. Some just blink their lights and smile. Some blow their horn. Some flash a V sign, or a thumbs-up, or a fist pump. It's all good. And then there is the foot traffic. That's very interesting, even those people who refuse to 'notice' me, though they almost have to step over my feet to pass by on the sidewalk, contribute to the interest. Sometimes I can [unfinished sentence]

Candlelight Vigil No. 289, 9/28/11

2011-09-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

"My brother said he would break my legs if I went into the Army," stated a 47 ish man describing what his older brother told him in 1982 when he graduated from high school. This man's brother was an Army veteran and had followed in the tradition of their father, their uncle and their grandfather in joining the Army.

Today, according to this man his older brother is now a prominent patent attorney. This 47 ish man is a film maker and each holiday season he helps homeless veterans by volunteering some time at the Los Angeles Mission.

But on June 2nd, he got mugged outside a local Bank of America branch. The police captured the mugger but this 47 ish man is recovering from severe injuries and is using a cane to walk for fear he might fall without it. He is living with his mother as his caregiver. He said he has seen the vigil on many occasions and wanted to join it, which he did last night for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, the prestigious British newspaper The Guardian reported that violent incidents are up 39 percent in Afghanistan from a year ago and despite claims of "progress" from the U.S. and NATO, the violence is growing.* Recently for example, the Taliban struck in the heart of the capitol, Kabul, attacking the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters and the police headquarters, all of which are heavily secured. It took 20 hours to repel the attack and it delivered the message to Afghans and to everyone else that no place in Afghanistan is safe. This after 10 years of U.S. war and occupation.

But thousands of miles away on our busy Pacific Coast Highway street corner, among all the horn honks and waves of support, the most touching moment of the vigil for me was when a small sedan stopped at a red light. In the backseat with the rear window down was an 9 ish little girl who read the sign and with her small brown and white dog cheek to cheek with her, she waved and smiled at us. The warm glow of her smile could have melted a Popsicle and it certainly melted me.

John Fortier who participates in this vigil launched a vigil nearby that he has held each Friday night since just before President George W. Bush began the invasion and occupation of Iraq in March, 2003. The vigil I host has taken place since January, 2006. Not only do we remind people of the huge price in lives that these wars have cost, but it is with the hope that people will raise their voices to end these wars, a power they have if only they will use it as others did to end the Vietnam War. If you are not raising your voice, please as a matter of conscience and compassion, speak up now, for every day these wars bring more victims and more heartache.

Dick

*The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9870210

Candlelight Vigil No. 288, 9/21/11

2011-09-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

"God bless you" and "Thank you guys" were two of the messages that were expressed to us by passersby at last night's vigil. The vigil began with a horn honk of support as it was being set-up and the support never stopped.

During the vigil, a man in a green Jeep pulled up and gave us a thumbs up. But what made this special was sitting next to him, his 10 year old son read the sign and because of his dad, took an interest. It is likely the father subsequently explained to the son what the vigil is about and hopefully it will leave an indelible impression that will last this child a lifetime.

Later, 3 large yellow school buses pulled up filled with high school age boys dressed in gym clothes apparently returning from an event. All 3 drivers waved their support to us and as the 1st bus made a right turn and drove on, the other 2 stopped at the red signal. Some of the boys read the sign and took an interest, one asking what the vigil is about, which gave us an excellent opportunity to explain it. John Fortier then handed that boy 3 poker chip sized chips, each stamped with a peace symbol, which will help them to recall what they saw, as they share and discuss the chips.

It is these moments in the vigil that standout. When it can reach impressionable young people and encourage them to think about the consequences of war and to remember the enormous price paid in lives and in heartache by so many people, stories seldom told by the U.S. news media. On Tuesday however, The Washington Post told the story of the Obama Administration secretly and rapidly opening new drone bases in East Africa and in the Middle East to attack Al-Qaeda affiliates, in a widening of America's "War on Terror." http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-building-secret-drone-bases-in-africa-arabian-peninsula-officials-say/2011/09/20/gIQAJ8rOjK_print.html

This at a time when the U.S. and the global economies are crumbling and the peoples of the world are in desperate need of financial aid. But instead, the U.S. keeps borrowing money heavily to fund its military attacks which as we've learned in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claim numerous lives and create a living Hell in their wake.

So last night, our candle burned in memory of all those who have paid a severe price in the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And the vigil offered hope that because of our nation's horrific actions, some of us are raising our voices and taking to the streets for peace. If many more will join us, we can bring all of this military insanity and ever growing number of wars to an end.

Dick

Afghanistan Peace Council Chief Is Murdered.

2011-09-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, This sad story from The New York Times is a reminder of how desperate the U.S.'s Afghanistan War and occupation is:

An unidentified attacker on Tuesday killed the leader of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, a former president of the country whose main responsibility was negotiating a political end to the war with the Taliban. The attack was a serious blow to any notion of reconciliation with the Taliban.
>
> Afghan officials said the peace council leader, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, was likely killed by a suicide bomber in or near his heavily guarded home in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The assassination coincided with President Hamid Karzai’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly, where he was scheduled to confer with President Obama about the war.
>
> Read More:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/world/asia/Burhanuddin-Rabbani-afghan-peace-council-leader-assassinated.html?hp&emc=na
>

Ripples of Change, Robert Kennedy in 1966

2011-09-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, John Fortier shared this from a 1966 Robert Kennedy speech. Regardless of whose words they are the concept is excellent.

Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others,or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

In 1966 Robert Kennedy said this in a speech he made in South Africa. I think the guy had a point.

Candlelight Vigil No. 287, 9/14/11

2011-09-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

Last night's vigil attracted its 1st horn honk and wave of support before the vigil had been set up. John Fortier and I were carrying the sign, not yet readable to traffic and the candle, but someone in a white car already knew what the vigil was about and expressed support for it.

That support and the support of others, including you dear reader, is very important. Yesterday in various parts of Iraq near its capitol, Baghdad, there were 3 separate bombings and a shooting, leaving at least 27 people dead and many more wounded.* While the prior day in Afghanistan, the Taliban launched a 20 hour assault in some of the most secured areas of Kabul, the capitol. They attacked the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters, and police headquarters. It took U.S. military support to end the siege. But it sent the message to Afghans and others all over the world that after 10 years of U.S. War and occupation, no place in Afghanistan is safe.

But thousands of miles away at our vigil street corner alongside Pacific Coast Highway, it was busy with the rush hour traffic, but peaceful as drivers honked and waved and gave us two fingered peace signs. At one point, John stepped out to speak with a 30 year military veteran who was expressing his support when the signal turned green. Nobody in that lane or the right most lane next to it moved or honked a horn in protest as John and this man spoke for 20 seconds more and then they waited patiently and quietly while John came back safely to the sidewalk.

The last 10-15 minutes of the vigil was joined by a 54 year old woman who was walking her little black and white dog. She lives across the street and wanted to participate. When the vigil ended and we were walking away, the sign no longer visible to traffic, a man in a white car honked and waved his support, a lovely ending that completed the circle to how the vigil began.

Dick
* For more information, please see "3 bombings, shooting leave more than 25 dead in Iraq," Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-attacks-20110915,0,2122555.story

A Classic 1970 War Protest Song

2011-09-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of YouTube and my son Kyle, please click on this hyperlink http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d8C4AIFgUg to hear Edwin Starr sing "War," and see the anti-Vietnam War video. If only more people would take to the streets today to stop the U.S.'s current wars.

Dick

A John Fortier 9/11 Special Peace Vigil

2011-09-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

In the U.S. Sunday was the 10 year anniversary of the airplane attack on the twin towers in New York City and on the Pentagon and the near attack of another Washington target. President Obama, former President George W. Bush and many other officials paraded in front of cameras and big crowds to express their sense of loss. But on a Pacific Coast Highway street corner, one man sat alone, his "War Is Not The Answer" sign in front of him and his Peace Symbol flag flapping in the breeze. That man is John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and a peace activist.

For unlike President Bush who began and continued wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq over 9/11 and President Obama, who has continued and even expanded one of those wars, the longest wars in U.S. history, killing and maiming vast numbers of people, John hopes to help bring peace. Both Presidents would make that same claim but all they have brought is more violence for unlike John, they don't use peaceful means in seeking peace. Here is John's description of his 9/11 peace vigil:

Happy to report - a very good day. Not quite the best, but damned good. The last 10 or 15 minutes it slowed down, but, prior to that, as good as any I can recall. The day was perfect for shorts and sandals. What a coincidence; I wore shorts and sandals.

No self-medicating yahoos showed up to question my 'creds'. That was a pleasant surprise. I really expected a bit of that. I had one 'Boooooo' from a passing pickup passenger, and a huge wave off from the driver of a car. I figure he was trying to swat a wasp or suggest to me that I cut my throat, or something.

to be continued

Candlelight Vigil No. 286, 9/7/11

2011-09-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

"I'm reading your sign," said a 65 ish woman, a little white Scottish Terrier at her side. "These wars are destroying what is left of our national treasury and taking many lives beside," she stated with frustration and anger ringing in her voice.

"I used to be a peace activist," she added. "Against the Vietnam War and against nuclear proliferation." She then thanked us for conducting our peace vigil.

This was a nice start to a vigil that attracted many horn honks and waves of support from among the eight lanes of two way traffic, often bumper to bumper on Pacific Coast Highway. Of course it is the four lanes approaching us, from which nearly all the response comes. "God bless you," said a 45 ish woman from an SUV as she held her right thumb up, while the driver, a man of comparable age waved to us. "We have friends whose kids are over there," she remarked in a dark tone of voice, her eyes narrowing and her facial muscles tightening. At that instant, the signal turned green and they had to drive off but she was aching to say more, as she leaned back toward us trying to express herself.

While in Iraq, the Obama Administration is insisting on leaving 3,000 to 4,000 troops there after the mandatory pullout date of 12/31/11, in violation of the Status of Forces Agreement. Thousands more U.S. troops are likely to remain, but not categorized as "troops." Currently, the U.S. has about 50,000 troops there. In addition, how many thousands of "contractors," (U.S. hired mercenaries) will also remain is unclear as it is unclear how many thousands are there now. To read more, please see "Plan Would Keep Small Force in Iraq Past Deadline," New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/07/world/middleeast/07military.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&hp

The continued U.S. military presence in Iraq should surprise no-one. For with the exception of Vietnam, where the U.S. military was driven out, the U.S. military remains in large numbers in Germany and Japan 66 years after World War ll and in Korea, 58 years since the end of the Korean War and they remain elsewhere everywhere the U.S. has fought.

But returning to the vigil, "Thank you guys for doing that," said a 30 ish man in an SUV. "I was in the Coast Guard for six years. Now I'm a firefighter. I've had three friends killed in those wars," he stated as he quickly rattled off their names, names clearly not far from his thoughts. He then explained the media doesn't even cover these wars and he finds that offensive given the price in lives being paid. "Thanks for being out there," he added.

As the vigil drew to a close, a 67 year old woman arrived who used to attend regularly. After telling her we were just finishing, John Fortier and I extended the vigil 10 minutes to accommodate her and as it turned out, to accommodate more drivers who expressed their support with horn honks and waves.

Dick

A John Fortier Holiday Peace Vigil, 9/5/11

2011-09-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, John Fortier, A Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and peace activist held a peace vigil on the U.S.'s Labor Day. In Southern California, where his vigil was held, it was a warm sunny day in which a few hundred thousand people went to the beach for fun, the distant U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan far from their minds. But only two blocks from the beach in Redondo Beach, John set up his lawn chair, his blue "War Is Not The Answer" sign and hoisted up his green Peace Symbol flag and quietly held his vigil on Pacific Coast Highway. What follows are his words:

Hi Dick ~

Put in 1 hour yesterday, 5:15 - 6:15, and it was pretty good. A couple on bikes turned south on PCH from KH, and the guy came very close to my toes. He seemed a bit startled by my being there, and he said, "I thought you were just out here on Fridays", and I said, "It is Friday." That's when he about ran over my sandaled feet.

Gerry [?] and his little 'stand down' poodle-pooch visited for 10 or 15 minutes. Some very enthusiastic folks made the time rewarding; it doesn't take much.

I just came across, 'IMPERIAL HUBRIS', 2004, by Anonymous. There is a section called 'Precision Warfare or Shooting Muslims in a Barrel.

I understand why the author is anonymous.

See you around ~

John

Candlelight Vigil No. 285, 8/31/11

2011-09-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

"It takes a lot of dedication to do what you do," said a 50 ish woman after she walked up with a comparably aged man. "We are flight attendants for U.S. Air," she continued. "And we fly World War ll veterans to Washington, DC. They are the very best people. They are the 'greatest generation.' It's true."

After also praising Korean War veterans, she added, "Today, it's just about me" suggesting most young people focus on themselves and don't help others. She then thanked us for conducting the vigil.

And what a vigil it was. The cool blustery evening from the marine layer blowing in from the ocean less than a mile away was warmed by the many supportive horn honks and waves and two fingered peace signs from what was often bumper to bumper traffic on Pacific Coast Highway.

At one point, a large white SUV drove by on a cross street, unable to read the vigil sign, yet everyone in the car, including the children in the back seat called out their support and vigorously waved as the driver honked the horn. This reminded us that people are so familiar with the vigil, they don't need to read the sign to care for the people the sign memorializes.

"How much longer will you guys have to be out here," asked a 55 ish woman as she walked by with her friend, a woman of comparable age. "At least another year," she answered herself as sarcasm rang in her voice for the politicians and their seemingly endless wars.

"God bless you guys for doing that," called out a 40 ish woman in a white Jeep type vehicle. "Those soldiers fight for our freedom and people take it for granted." She then added, "Peace, love and happiness is my (mantra)," to John as he walked up to her car and handed her a beige poker chip sized peace symbol. When she drove off, she waved at us and then held her right hand up in a two fingered peace sign.

Dear Reader, in my heart are all those men, women and children who have paid such a horrific price in these wars. As the vigil candle burns brightly and horns honk and people wave and some offer their supportive words, it brings hope politicians will finally see the light and end the wars before they add any more names to the long list of those who are already suffering.

Dick

Why Are The U.S. Wars Being Fought?

2011-08-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Men, women and children are being killed or maimed and children are being orphaned. 150,000 U.S. families are on pins and needles, each day and night wondering if their young soldier will be the next casualty? Surely no one believes in "Operation Iraqi Freedom" or "Operation Enduring Freedom" any more for both wars are U.S. military occupations with governments it keeps in power.

The U.S. no longer even markets those phrases or justifies the wars to the American people. Yet the financial costs of those wars and paying the staggering costs for the military industrial complex behind them is draining what is left America's financial resources. So why are those wars being fought?

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 284, 8/24/11

2011-08-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

"I have a credit card and 5 cents," said an 80 ish woman in a sad voice after she stood quietly reading the vigil sign, visibly moved by what she read. John Fortier and I told her we don't accept donations but we thanked her for caring for the wars' many victims.

This was the most moving moment in last night's candlelight vigil, a vigil which received support from numerous horn honks and waves. One of those waves came from a 55 ish woman, who commended us on the vigil. From the back of her compact car, her little white Shih Tzu dog, with tiny blue and red ribbons on her head, got excited and tried to lick my fingers, after sensing the warm response from her owner.

Another of those horn honks and waves came as the vigil was being set up. Before the sign was even displayed or a candle lit, a man in a blue compact car heartily expressed his support. This tells us how established this vigil is in the minds of hopefully, many people for we've seen this phenomena before.

Among those who joined the vigil was a 50 ish couple who stayed for about 15 minutes. The woman used to join until about 1 1/2 years ago when she was reassigned at work and her hours no longer made it easy to join us. But on this warm, balmy 73 degree night, they met John Fortier and avidly participated with us. They are angered by the wars' killings, worried for all the children being orphaned in those wars and upset by the staggering waste of money.

It all comes down to people's consciences. Americans can raise their voices to stop the wars or in their silence, allow them to continue. 40 years ago, Americans rallied in mass and eventually stopped the Vietnam War, while today, not facing the draft, and not making any sacrifices, they go about their business as normal.

Today, unlike the 1960's and 70's, the U.S. news media cooperates with the U.S. government and rarely shows the wars. It shows no blood, tells nearly no stories of the severe loss of Iraqis, Afghans or even U.S. soldiers nor of the impact on their families. They don't even show photographs of Baghdad or Kabul except on occasion, a close up of the ruins of an explosion. The U.S. news media doesn't question officials about the wars nor even about the "contractors," mercenaries hired to fight them so the U.S. won't have a draft.

We can continue to endlessly fight "The War on Terror," and kill and be killed, all the while creating ever more numbers of people seeking revenge. Or we can declare cease fires, end the fighting and become a force for good as we reach out to our brethren all over the world, recognizing our oneness with them. We can then use our resources within the U.S. to rescue our crumbling economy. The choice is ours.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 283, 8/17/11

2011-08-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday explosions rocked Iraq, from one end to the other, killing at least 106 people and injuring 337 more. It was some of the worst violence of the 8 year old U.S. war and occupation of Iraq and it took place despite a heavy U.S. military presence.

But thousands of miles away, along Pacific Coast Highway in the Los Angeles area, Korean War veteran John Fortier and I held a vigil for peace, to remind everyone of the severe price that has been paid and will be paid yet by others as long as these wars are allowed to continue. Despite the magnitude of this tragedy, the U.S. news media seldom covers any of it.

"We support the veterans," said an 80 ish woman, a car passenger. "I'm a Korean War veteran," said her 80 ish husband, as he spoke of being in the Navy during that war. At that point, John Fortier stepped into the street and shook his hand. "My nephew was shot to pieces in Vietnam," the woman added. "His mother was frantic," but he did survive.

"May they rest in peace," shouted a 25 ish woman from her driver's seat, after her 25 ish female passenger gave us a two fingered peace sign.

"Do you take donations," asked a muscular 45 ish man with his 35 ish blond wife, powerfully built like two Viking warriors, after reading the sign. We don't accept donations we replied, but thanked them for caring for the people the sign references. "It is very nice of you guys to do this," he stated. "We don't see anything about these wars."

"I've been in the Air Force for 16 1/2 years," he continued. He said his wife graduated from the Air Force Academy and had been in the Air Force for five years. His dad had been in the RAF (the British Air Force) during the Korean War. Then he and his wife shook our hands and thanked us for the vigil.

Afterward, a 73 year old Welsh man, a competitive soccer player since childhood, with the most muscular legs I've ever seen on a man that age, walked up, took his wallet out and tried to donate money to us which we again declined. "I'm used to seeing you out here," he remarked and he joined the vigil for several minutes. Late in the vigil, a 65 ish man, also an athlete and a former neighbor of mine joined us.

An hour into the vigil, there came a series of horns blasting and hands waving from several cars, one after the next. We waved back and on that supportive note, we ended the vigil.

In these vigils, I give my heart in an appeal for peace, a peace that will come either when the American people unite to demand it or when our nation goes broke, the victim of its own massive attempt to build an empire at a prohibitive cost in lives and money.

Dick

Why Many Iraqis Would Rather Live In Syria

2011-08-17T11:43:00.001-07:00

On U.S. television, we often see the horror of the Syrian crackdown on demonstrators, one that has already claimed 1,700 lives. But we rarely see anything of Iraq, which the U.S. occupies because it is an ugly story of continuing death and destruction, much worse than Syria.

In Iraq, the government the U.S. keeps in power is widely seen as corrupt and inept, referred to by Iraqis as the "Green Zone Government." Even with U.S. military support, it can't keep the nation secure and it can't deliver such basic services as medical care, clean water, sewage treatment and electricity. With electricity for example, Baghdad is 120 degrees this time of year, yet electricity is available just 3 to 4 hours a day.

This means limited electricity which means limited air conditioning, and the intense heat endangers babies, small children and the elderly. It means limited lighting for homes and streets and limited television, radio and computer usage. It also means businesses have limited electricity with which to operate and no surprise, Iraq has far higher unemployment than the U.S. had in the Great Depression.

To date, Syria has welcomed 300,000 Iraqis who have resettled there, perhaps the highest number of displaced resettled Iraqis anywhere in the world. To learn more, please see "Despite Its Turmoil, Syria Still Looks Like an Oasis to Iraqis," The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/world/middleeast/29baghdad.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha22

Dick

Tuesday: At Least 106 Iraqis Killed, 337 Injured.

2011-08-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Never before in the U.S.'s eight year Iraq War and occupation have so many Iraq cities been hit in one day. Tuesday, explosions rocked the nation from one end to the other, as the violence continues to mount.

The U.S. in effect warned the Iraq government it keeps in power that if the U.S. were to remove its troops, the violence would increase. Yet even with the U.S. there, the violence is increasing and other than the U.S. Green Zone and U.S. military bases, it appears no place in Iraq is safe.

Dick
To learn more, please see "Coordinated Blasts Kill Scores Across Iraq," The Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576509551844086710.html I've update the death toll since that piece was published.

"Army suicides hit record in July"

2011-08-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

By Greg Jaffe, Washington Post

The U.S. Army suffered a record 32 suicides in July, the most since it began releasing monthly figures in 2009.

The high number of deaths represents a setback for the Army, which has put a heavy focus on reducing suicides in recent years. The number includes 22 active duty soldiers and 10 reservists. The previous record was 31, from June 2010.

Dear Reader, To learn more, please see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/army-suicides-hit-record-in-july/2011/08/12/gIQAPWaQBJ_blog.html

Dick

Why I Take To The Streets For Peace

2011-08-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

As a 66 year old Jewish man, I know well the horrors of Nazi Germany, having listened to and read extensively first hand accounts of it from Holocaust survivors and many others who were involved. Yet it all began with just one man in a beer hall, a homicidal maniac, who capitalized on Germany's financial collapse to rise to power. And he did it while most people were silent. Had Germans raised their voices to stop Hitler, they could have prevented the tidal wave of blood that would nearly drown all of humanity.

In the name of peace, America is armed to the teeth. It spends more on "defense" than the rest of the world combined. And no surprise, when a nation's military machine is unleashed to produce at full capacity for decades, war becomes that nation's primary objective. The U.S. is now so immersed in wars, that it can't get enough soldiers to fight them without a draft. So for the 1st time in its history it pays "contractors," which are highly experienced mercenaries who for premium prices will help fight its wars.

In America's silence, this war machine has spiraled out of control. Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and drug wars in Mexico, Columbia and Brazil and U.S. "Kill-Capture" squads unleashed in 70 nations and more to come. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy is crumbling, in part drained morally and financially by all the wars. Yet across America just a handful of people are speaking out and I'm proud to be one of them. As of this writing, I've held 282 candlelight vigils, one nearly every Wednesday since January, 2006 to remember the wars' many victims. http://candlelightvigils.blogspot.com/.

Few Germans including Jews ever envisioned what could happen to them. But the fact is it could happen anyplace where troubles abound and extremists capitalize on those troubles while people of conscience are silent.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 282, 8/10/11

2011-08-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

"Thank you for doing that," said a 40 ish women about the vigil, as she smiled and waved from her car. "I work in a pet store and I have a customer whose husband is about to leave for Afghanistan. She is very young, only 23. I have another customer whose husband just got back from Afghanistan."

As she finished her comment, John Fortier asked her if she would like a peace symbol pin, as he held it out for her to see. This bright blue pin is the size of a poker chip. When she beamed a big smile and said she'd love to have it, he stepped out on to the street, Pacific Coast Highway, a street packed with rush hour traffic, and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she replied. "I needed that."

As the signal turned green and she pulled out, waving goodbye to us, a 65 ish woman walked up, read the sign and with a big smile, high fived me, as she said in a booming voice, "Right On!"

As she walked off, a 30 ish man with a back pack and carrying a skate board read the sign. And then without saying a word, he walked up and hugged John who was standing directly behind the sign.

It was a busy vigil, as most are, and it was joined by a 50 ish couple who often participate and later by an 80 ish man who is regaining his strength after having had neck spinal cord surgery a month ago. He said he understood the Korean and Vietnam Wars were "necessary" but he expressed his frustration at the current wars of which he sees no purpose.

A bit later when the vigil ended, as John and I were walking away, another car honked its support despite the sign no longer being visible. It is assuring to know that the vigil reaches so many people, especially at a time when the U.S. news media gives so little coverage to these wars, let alone the wars' victims.

Dick

U.S. Commando Wars Are Now In 70 Countries

2011-08-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Other than the killing of Osama bin Laden, rarely are Americans aware of the secret killing machine that now operates in 70 nations and is expanding to as many as 120 nations by year end. The U.S. has gone war mad.

This is in extreme violation of the Geneva Convention, the United Nations Charter and the U.S. Constitution and it has mushroomed in size under President Obama. Such a killing machine will destroy any foreseeable chance for peace as it spreads its horror across the globe. And it will compound the number of people who will be seeking revenge. I sadly share this piece with you.

http://www.alternet.org/story/151904/our_commando_war_in_120_countries%3A_uncovering_the_military%27s_secret_operations_in_the_obama_era?akid=7358.211737.Hf_mBD&rd=1&t=2

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 281, 8/3/11

2011-08-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Last night, John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and peace activist and I held the latest vigil under bright blue sunny skies, a 70 degree temperature and a very busy Pacific Coast Highway street corner in Torrance, in Southern California.

By busy, we stand on a sidewalk alongside Pacific Coast Highway in front of a very active multi-purpose traffic signal which brings the vehicles, bikers and pedestrians to a regular and extended halt in front of us. The traffic approaching us comes from the north and is four lanes of often solid traffic. There are four lanes going the other way as well, with often solid traffic, so there are eight busy lanes in all.

In the hour we are there, a thousand cars or more from the north may pass by, containing from one to four or five people inside each vehicle, so we reach a big audience, as we remind them of these wars and the horrific price being paid in them, something the U.S. politicians and the U.S. media seldom do.

In back of us is Palos Verdes Boulevard, also four lanes in each direction. And although the drivers can't read our sign from either direction, they still see us and a few people are so familiar with the vigil, they honk their horns in support anyway.

We are less than a mile from the ocean front but we can't see the seashore for we are surrounded by restaurants, shops including a nearby Starbucks and a Trader Joe's grocery store and by two to four story office buildings, a Chevron gas station and an Albertson's market. There are even two story townhouses across the street in two directions and down the block and apartment buildings and dense numbers of single family homes just beyond this commercial district.

This time of year, there is a steady ocean breeze, at roughly 5 to 10 knots and it causes a large U.S. flag atop a two story office building across the street, to flap in the breeze; its red, white and blue colors waving in the air. The green leaves of the 30 to 40 foot tall sporadically placed rubber trees and Eucalyptus trees shimmer in the sunlight as they too wave majestically in the breeze. But this breeze blows out the candle's orange flame causing this several inch long easy to grip white candle encased in clear glass to serve symbolically.

Sometimes pedestrians or bikers join us for a brief time, a few of them regularly. Typically 2 to 5% of the traffic acknowledges us with horn honks and/or waves or with two fingered peace signs, while a few of those drivers and/or passengers speak to us while they are stopped at a red light. But the vigil's message reaches far more people as we see from the quizzical looks on their faces.

Most people however appear disinterested or apathetic to the vigil which commemorates those who have paid so severe a price in these wars and it is our job to gently remind them, hopefully appealing to their consciences in the warmest way possible.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 280, 7/27/11

2011-07-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

"That is great energy," said a 35 ish man with black hair and a black beard from his green bike as he finished reading the sign. He then firmly shook my hand and John Fortier's, as he was visibly moved by the vigil. He commented about Americans being in debt to their soldiers who put their lives at risk to fight these wars and we thanked him for caring for them and their families.

"Did either of you serve in the military," asked a 50 ish man on a bike as the first man rode off. "John is a Korean War veteran," I replied. The man on the bike smiled and said, "I served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was in the Air Force for 24 years." He and John spoke of military planes they had flown in and then the man on the bike thanked us and waved as he rode off.

This was a very busy vigil, held under bright blue sunny skies, a 73 degree temperature and often bumper to bumper traffic along the four lanes of Pacific Coast Highway approaching the vigil. There were many horn honks and waves of support, including one woman in a white compact car alongside the vigil, honking her horn so loudly, it was like blasting an air horn and it startled us. There were also many people on bikes and others walking in groups, some pushing baby strollers, a few of whom offered kind words of support.

"You're still out here!" called out a 29 year old muscular man on a bike, who has occasionally joined the vigil but has not come by for several months. Upon being invited to join last night, he joined for about 10 minutes. He takes an active interest in the news, regularly watching it on TV, listening to talk radio and reading about the news on the Internet. "The public doesn't care (about these wars)," he remarked in a soft voice. "They're ignorant," he added as his voice rose. It sucks! The average guy is like me. I don't see it (the wars)."

Just before he rode off, a muscular 49 year old man walked up and shook my hand. This man lives in Phoenix, Arizona and as a 13 year pilot for U.S. Air was on a layover in Los Angeles. Over the years, he has joined the vigil four or five times. He was in the Marines for 12 years and cares very much about these wars. He joined for the last 20 minutes of the vigil, a vigil we extended 10 minutes to accommodate him, as he shared stories and recommended a book to us that he found deeply touching, "Lone Survivor," written by a Navy Seal, Marcus Luttrell.

But the most touching part of the vigil for me was before it began and after it was over. As John and I were walking out to set up the vigil, and no sign was yet on display, a man in a light yellow Mercedes honked his horn and waved to us. And after the vigil was over and we were walking back to our cars, a woman in a gray compact station wagon honked her horn and waved to us. This is touching because it reminds us that many people are so familiar with the vigil, the don't need to see the sign or a candle to know what it is about. And they support it. Thank you as well for your support dear reader.

Dick

Is The U.S. At War?

2011-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

The U.S is fighting 5 wars but you wouldn't know it from TV, radio, print or most blogs. The top stories last week were the freeing of Casey Anthony after her trial for her baby's death, raising the U.S. debt ceiling and Los Angeles' "Carmageddone," a non-story. This week it's the Rupert Murdoch scandal and the debt ceiling, unless of course a Hollywood celebrity does something controversial and then the media will race to cover that story, ahead of all others.

But what about the U.S.'s wars? Judging by the news coverage, they don't exist. Yet men, women and children are being killed and maimed in them. The death of Casey Anthony's baby is tragic but this tragedy is happening repeatedly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia as babies and children are being killed, maimed or orphaned. Where is the U.S. media coverage? Where are the demands to have the violence stopped?

U.S. troops are being killed and maimed, their families are left to agonize over them yet politicians, the people who sent them to war say nothing and most Americans continue life as normal, making no sacrifices and giving those wars little thought.

What kind of people have we Americans become? Are we so callous as to be indifferent to the suffering our nation causes others and to the suffering our military families must bear? We no longer even ask why these wars are being fought.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 279, 7/20/11

2011-07-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

The best part of last night's vigil came at the end, when a 49 year old U.S. Air pilot, who served 12 years in the Marines, joined the vigil.

Since this vigil began in January, 2006 he has come by on two prior occasions, offering insight into war and what the U.S. is doing, especially in Iraq. Last night he shook hands with John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and peace activist, who not only participates in this vigil but in one he has held each Friday since just before President Bush launched the Iraq War in March, 2003.

This 49 year old U.S. Air pilot expressed his amazement that this vigil has continued for so long and as it concluded, he thanked us for holding it, visibly moved that we care enough to do this.

Earlier, the vigil had been joined briefly by the 50 ish couple who often join and who uplift us with their upbeat attitude and willingness to participate. As always, the vigil received many horn honks and waves of support, with some people holding up their hands in two fingered peace signs.

But as the U.S. is engaged in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan and Libya and "covert" wars in Yemen and Somalia, it may seem disheartening to make an appeal for peace, only to have it ignored by a government hell bent on raging violence for peace and security,while attaining neither.

It attains neither because peace begins in one's heart, with a sincere caring for the well-being of all mankind, followed by actions that show that caring. Today, America's enemies reflect the dire circumstances many of them come from: poverty, oppression, illiteracy and a deep sense of hopelessness. America's response is to kill those who oppose it, including men, women and children who get in the way, terming them "ancillary damage." In turn this leads to intense suffering and hatred, sowing the seeds for revenge.

This vicious cycle will continue until vast numbers of Americans of conscience take to the streets as happened during the Vietnam War and demand an end to these wars. It's up to you. You can sit in silence as America bankrupts itself morally and financially or you can take action by speaking out, by blogging, or by writing editorial letters to the newspaper or by taking to the streets, all of which make a difference. Silence or activism, which course will bring greater meaning to your life? Which will bring a better future for your children and for children all over the world? Only you can decide what is right for you.

Dick

John Fortier Peace Vigil, 7/15/11

2011-07-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, Korean War veteran and retired Los Angeles school teacher John Fortier has hosted a peace vigil each Friday in Redondo Beach, CA since just before President Bush launched the Iraq War in March, 2003. In today's summary, he also discusses my Friday colonoscopy in which my doctor asked me not to do any strenuous activities afterward, and jokingly refers to himself as a "blabber mouth," which made me chuckle. "Steve-two-dogs" refers to a man who with his two dogs sometimes attends our peace vigils. John signs off as LL for "Local Legend" which is how a recent Redondo High School newspaper article referred to him. I think you'll enjoy his charming writing style.

Hey Dick ~

Your doctor was right, of course. After my latest 'up periscope' adventure I came home and was trimming a tree in the back yard when Michele caught me. There were no repercussions, other than Michele, but it wasn't the smartest I've ever done. (Or the dumbest, unfortunately.)

Speaking of dumb things I've done, telling Steve-two-dogs why you were not on the corner may be a contender. He agreed that the procedure is a stroll in the park and sent his regards. Please excuse my impetuosity.

The support was good tonight. The traffic seemed maybe a little heavier than usual; the response definitely so.

I meant to take mental notes, since I didn't have writing materials handy, but trying to remember things is like catching smoke.

Grant came by for 15 - 20 minutes and that's always nice. I gave him your medical report too and he also was approving. I bet if I had told fifty passers-by about your experience they would all have approved.

See you on Wednesday.

L L and blabber mouth.

Candlelight Vigil No. 278, 7/13/11

2011-07-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

U.S. government spending is out of control and for the 10th time in the last 10 years, the government must raise its debt ceiling or default on its debts, which is not unusual as the debt ceiling has been raised 74 times since 1962. What is unusual is the explosion in the size of the debt. Yet as aggressively as President Obama and Congressional Republicans argue and blame each other for this mess, no-one is addressing the staggering costs of the U.S. military machine and its wars, which is by far its biggest factor.

The ugly truth is: Unless the U.S. government ends its wars and slashes its military industrial complex spending at least in half, or taxes the American people to pay for it, it will go broke.

Last night, John Fortier and I held the vigil in memory of all who have been killed or seriously injured in the U.S.'s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and on behalf of their families. Now the death toll is mounting as well in Libya. And what have these wars brought beyond misery?

During the vigil, there were plenty of horn honks and waves of support. And the vigil was joined for brief periods by a 60 ish man who joined last week and by a 50 ish couple who often join. John and I appreciate all of this support and dear reader, we appreciate your support as well.

But unless the American people turn out en mass to demand an end to these wars, the only thing that will stop those in Iraq and Afghanistan is the moral and financial bankruptcy of our nation. Wherever in the world you are, please raise your voice for compassion and peace.

What you say or don't say matters and it will make a difference in what is to happen to your brethren and to then you for if it is not stopped, no-one will be spared from this catastrophe, as the madness is already spreading.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 277, 7/6/11

2011-07-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

A car bomb exploded with such deafening force, it rocked the ground and trembled the buildings around it. An instant later another explosion was triggered, sending a 2nd wave of billowing black smoke into the air. As ambulance sirens blared in the background, tearful survivors cried out in pain and fought for their lives.

This was Taji, 12 miles north of Baghdad on Tuesday morning, as 36 people were killed and 54 people were seriously injured, while this unending war continues to grow. "Flesh of people flew in the sky like birds," one survivor described the scene. *

This was the 2nd Iraq attack in less than a day. On Monday night, a powerful rocket was fired into the U.S.'s heavily secured Baghdad Green Zone, home to Iraq's government and to the U.S. and other embassies. Three people were killed and 12 more were seriously injured, as the attackers delivered the message no place in Iraq is safe.

15 U.S. soldiers had been killed in Iraq in June, the deadliest month for U.S. soldiers in two years.

While in Afghanistan, eight children were among the 14 people killed in a NATO air strike. A day earlier elsewhere in Afghanistan, two children were also killed by an air strike. "As violence has spread across the country, casualties have risen, and the United Nations said May was the deadliest month to civilians since they began keeping records four years earlier." ** This escalation in casualties results from President Obama's escalation of this war.

But thousands of miles away, in the Los Angeles area, in a near 80 degree temperature, our vigil for peace took place, as horn honks and waves of support often greeted Korean War veteran John Fortier and me.

"I have a cousin in Iraq," called out a 30 ish man from the passenger seat of a truck. "He's a mechanic and hopefully he's safe. He's been there three months. He's in the Army." We assured this man we too hope he is safe.

"I am a combat veteran of two wars," said a powerfully built 60 ish man in a serious voice as he stared at the vigil and stopped his car, blocking the right turn lane on Pacific Coast Highway at rush hour. "Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War." "I'm a Korean War veteran," John replied. This man continued to stare at the vigil and at us. "Thank you for what you are doing," he added. And with that he reached out and shook my hand and would have shaken John's hand if he could have reached it.

A little later, a 60 ish man in an SUV motioned me to his car. "These wars are a disgrace," his voice seethed in anger when I got there. It was all he could do to control himself as his facial muscles tightened and his eyes flashed in anger. "We never belonged there," he continued in his Irish brogue. "George Bush wouldn't listen to the United Nations.

"Because of those wars, we are deeply in debt to China. Now we are going broke! We should get out." Then he reached across the passenger seat and shook my hand. "Thank you for doing that," he added.

When I got back to the sidewalk, there was the realization that the long line of traffic in the right lane had stopped to accommodate this conversation which took place one lane further out. Although people were anxious to get home or to wherever else they were going, no-one honked a horn in anger, but instead waited patiently. Perhaps this was a sign of respect for the vigil, which is held to appeal to the consciences of others with the hope of ending these wars.

Dick
* http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-fg-iraq-blasts-20110706,0,7205533.story
** http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/07/20117785226411750.html

Candlelight Vigil No. 276, 6/29/11

2011-06-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

"Years ago, my lady and I were having dinner at a Marina del Rey restaurant," said a 60 ish man with a thick graying beard and with graying black hair under a baseball cap. "There were a dozen big beefy guys there, they were bikers, and it turned out they were all Vietnam veterans," this 5 foot 6 inch man continued.

"I asked the waitress to serve them a round of drinks on me. And when the drinks were served, I raised my drink to them and said, 'thank you for your military service.' About five of those huge guys got up and came over to me. Each one gave me a big bear hug.

"They were all crying. And one guy said, 'I've waited 30 years for someone to say, thank you.' (It told me) a little appreciation goes a long way. The guys and ladies who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan today, whether you agree with the wars or not deserve some appreciation.

"(If they are not killed or injured), they are going to come back fucked up with (post traumatic stress disorder) and that's not for two years, that's for a lifetime." This man had already high fived John Fortier and me when he read the sign, but upon learning John is a Korean War veteran, he walked over and hugged him. "I always honk when I see you guys," he added as he slowly turned and walked away.

But about 15 minutes later he returned. "I was thinking about your question, what do the wars mean to me," he said. After an instant of silence, he looked at us, raised his hands high in the air at shoulder width and said, "People Die," as he stepped back and walked away. However, from the quizzical look on his face, it appeared he was still wrestling with that troubling question.

Among the horn honks and waves of support came the voice of a 25 ish women from a white SUV. "Thank you for doing that," she said. "I have a friend who is serving in Afghanistan. He is a helicopter pilot and so far he is doing great. But I don't want to jinx that by talking about it.

"He graduated from West Point," she continued. " He is 24 and now he's a Captain in the Army. He's coming home in August, 2011. He's been in Afghanistan since August, 2010. Thank you for being out here."

This Army Captain aside, for the U.S. military and its allies and the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. wars and occupation are going badly. After nearly 10 years of war; men, women and children continue to be killed or maimed, children are being orphaned and those countries are in disarray, ruled by governments kept in power by the U.S. military. In addition, the cost in dollars is horrific, draining the U.S. treasury while America is going broke.

As this vigil remembers the millions of people who have been killed or injured and the severe price their families pay, it is with the hope the U.S. which launched these wars, will end them. For trying to beat people into submission doesn't work, it only leads to more bloodshed, as events have shown. And it raises the possibility they will seek revenge.

As with the Vietnam War, which Americans in large numbers brought to an end, today's wars will end when Americans care enough to unite and demand an end to the fighting and a withdrawal of U.S. forces. Or these wars may end when the U.S. is morally and financially bankrupt, left with no choice but to bring its troops home to maintain order. As a matter of conscience, if you are not yet doing so, please raise your voice for peace and for compassion for our brethren caught in the horrors of these wars.

Dick

"For Baghdad's poor, city garbage brings in the bread"

2011-06-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, From the prominent British news agency Reuters is a description of how a child and some other poor people in Baghdad scramble for income sorting through the stench of Baghdad garbage.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/22/us-iraq-poverty-idUSTRE75L4XI20110622

Dick
Thank you to Idris Al-Oboudi, whose mother is American and whose father was an Iraqi University Professor for providing this piece to us.

John Fortier Peace Vigil, 6/24/11

2011-06-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, John Fortier is a Korean War veteran, a retired school teacher and a peace activist who has held peace vigils on a busy Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach, CA street corner each week since just before President Bush ordered the U.S. invastion of Iraq in March, 2003. This is a summary John wrote of his latest vigil.

Hey Dick ~

This note may be put aside until you return from your vacation; I can understand that. But my memories can't be depended on to last that long, so I'll tell them now.

1 ~ One of the young ladies of the interview group came by.

[a few months ago, John was interviewed and photographed by three Redondo Beach High School students. Subsequently they published a piece declaring John and a small group of others each as a "Local Legend."]

She has graduated and will be going on to UC [Univ. of California] Irvine. I asked if she was going to pursue writing as a major/career choice, but she has not decided just yet. She was pleasant and thoughtful and stayed for about 15 minutes before bicycling off into 'a wonderful world'.

2 ~ Before her arrival another girl, a high school sophomore, came and stayed for about an hour and a half. Turns out her mother taught at the school there. When she called her mom and told her she was chatting with me, her mom told her that she knows who she's talking about. that she sees me all the time.

When the journalism girl came by and we talked about the interview and the tape on the Internet, the address was passed and the visitor was looking forward to seeing it when she got home. She took a not-very-candid shot of the flag, sign and me before she left.

We talked about Obama, being black [she is], the war, incarceration, dropping out, etc. She is very nimble, interesting and interested; it was as nice a conversation as one could ask for.

A couple came by and the guy started taking a couple of spontaneous snapshots, then knelt down in front of me and asked if I minded. I told him if he was sure to get the sign in and 1,000 viewers, to go ahead. He said maybe 100 viewers and I said OK.

It gave me an idea. I'm going to hand people like him a card and ask him to send a copy of whatever pictures he took to me so I can include them in an album. That might be fun and have some advantage down the line.

That's the essence of it.

Have a safe, wonderful trip. See you Wednesday probably.

Adios ~

L L

[local legend, remember ?] [http://hightideonline.org/?p=2276]

Candlelight Vigil No. 275, 6/22/11

2011-06-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

"Thank you for doing that," said a 35 ish woman walking a small beagle mix dog. "I can't do that. I get too emotional," she added softly.

"God bless you," said a 50 ish man as he walked by the vigil. "I have a cousin who served in Afghanistan," said a 50 ish woman a little later. "Now he's in Africa." She mentioned he's in the Marines. "I have an uncle who is retired. He was in the Army."

This was the general flow of last night's vigil, which included numerous horn honks and waves of support, among them a repeated horn blast from a bus driver, two fingered peace signs and even flashing headlights from two cars.

It was a vigil joined for several minutes by a 50 ish couple who often arrive and joined by John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and peace activist who actively participates in this vigil and since March, 2003 has held his own vigil every Friday evening on a street corner nearby.

Meanwhile, the violence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya continued. In Iraq for example, on Tuesday, a bomb exploded in the southern city of Diwaniya targeting the provincial governor and his family. They were unhurt but the powerful blast killed 27 people and injured 30 more. It was but the latest of the ever increasing bombings within Baghdad and throughout the nation.*

The result is families lose their loved ones, often a father who was the sole means of support for his family, which leaves the family not only suffering from his death but desperate to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Or the death may be that of a child, the agony of the loss of a child bringing a lifetime of tears and heartache.

While in other cases, families become caregivers for those scarred by the attacks, helping them live through endless agony and in many cases, the crippling of what until then was an able bodied person. Now, that person may suffer seizures or have other forms of brain damage, may have lost limbs and in addition is fearful, traumatized by what happened. And as the war continues may happen again.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, our peaceful vigil was conducted for everyone passing by as a reminder to care for all of the wars' victims, of which there are many. "He flipped us the finger," John said as a red Volkswagen sped by. "Are you sure," I asked, incredulous that anyone after all these years of war would flip off the vigil.

"I've been flipped off many times before," John replied with a smile. "And I've flipped people off many times. I know when I've been flipped off." Thinking of that 55 ish man who flipped us off and realizing he went by too fast to have read the sign, I started to laugh at the absurdity of his response.

But a short time before, there was a horn honk and a 65ish man in a gray blue convertible gently motioned me over. "I'm a Vietnam vet," he said. "I appreciate what you do." It is in his words and in the caring tone of how he spoke them that will characterize the memory of last night's vigil.

Dick
* "27 killed in Iraq bombing," Los Angeles Times, 6/22/11 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-bombing-20110622,0,7046939.story

Brian Haw, 62, Dies: One Man Demonstrator For Peace

2011-06-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Every day and every night for nearly 10 years, Brian Haw held a vigil outside the British Parliament in London to protest the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, annoying the British politicians who supported those wars, for the most part by sending other people's children off to fight and sometimes die in them.

They also used vast sums of taxpayer funds, while what they supported has killed and maimed and orphaned millions of people as Britain's support for the U.S. war and occupation of those nations.

To read more, please see "Brian Haw, 62, Dies; Camped in Front of Parliament to Protest War," The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/world/europe/21haw.html?ref=obituaries

Dick

John Fortier Peace Vigil, 6/17/11

2011-06-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and retired school teacher has held a peace vigil each Friday in Redondo Beach, CA since just before President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003. This is a summary of his latest vigil.

The vigil was joined by Robert, an early 30's man who used to regularly attend until last year when he moved away from the immediate area, by Jerry, a 63 ish man who stayed for several minutes, by Grant, an 80 ish man and long time supporter, who also stayed several minutes, by Stephen, a 53 year old British man, who stayed several minutes and by me for 1 hour and 10 minutes in a 2 hour vigil.

On display was John's bright blue sign, reading "War Is Not The Answer," as John held a 3 foot tall, 2 foot wide color picture of a troubled soldier painted by his son Damon, while Robert waved a green flag with a black peace a symbol and I held a two foot tall, two foot wide painting of a peace symbol.

The public response was the best I've seen in any of John's vigils over the last 1-2 years. Horn honks, waves and numerous two fingered peace signs, as many people seem concerned for the U.S.'s now 3 wars (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya) and its "covert" war in Yemen. It helped the vigil that the U.S. news media gave the wars coverage this week, however small. It also helped to have so many of us out there on a street corner which captured the attention of drivers, especially with Robert waving the peace flag.

The most touching moment came when a 35 ish man pulled up, parked his SUV and walked over to the vigil and handed us two ice cold bottles of water. He expressed his support and wanted to offer water to help us. The bottles were so cold, it was obvious he had just gone out of his way to get them and give them to us.

As much as his kind act touched each of us, it brought an especially strong reaction from John, who was so moved by this man's act of kindness, that his eyes were not far from tears and he was for an instant caught for words to express his gratitude. He was so moved, he considered extending the vigil a 3rd hour, but concerned for his wife Michele's response to a vigil that had already gone from 11/2 hours to 2, John instead spoke of this man's thoughtful act as he smiled warmly.

Between all the horn honks, including those from two bus drivers, and the many waves and two fingered peace signs and this 35 ish man's kind act, it was a reaffirmation to us that John's vigil touched many people.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 274, 6/15/11

2011-06-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

"We don't understand," said a 40 ish German woman after reading the vigil sign, as she explained that people in Germany are puzzled as to why the U.S. is in all of its wars.

She and her 40 ish husband and their two children, a boy 10 and a girl 8 are from Stuttgart and are on a two week vacation visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas and elsewhere. They like the U.S. very much, and as this couple joined John Fortier and me during last night's vigil, it was fun to see their children enjoy their rainbow colored ice cream cones of emerald green, aqua blue and rose pink ice cream

This woman expressed her belief that life is for living and to enjoy family and friends, and by implication, not to fight wars. She added that as of this year Germany no longer has a military draft. Young men can serve in the military or not as they choose.

As she made this point, it was a reminder that U.S. Defense Secretary Bob Gates in recent days has been critical of Germany but also critical of many other NATO nations that have refused to participate in the Libyan War, despite U.S. pressure to do so.

Meanwhile, not only is the U.S. led war in Libya not going well, but events are going badly in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Last Friday peaceful protesters in Baghdad were beaten by government supporters allegedly bussed in by the government, as the Iraqi military stood by.* This Iraqi government is kept in power by U.S. forces. While on Tuesday in Baquba, near Baghdad, it took U.S. and Iraq forces to end a three hour siege of government offices. Eight people were killed and 29 were injured.**

Also regarding Iraq, it was widely reported that another $6.6 billion in U.S. cash is missing. These were funds supposedly to be used for Iraq reconstruction in 2004 but no-one can account for the money.*** While regarding Afghanistan, yesterday CNN reported accusations that hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars were mis-spent or unaccounted for. While in Pakistan earlier this week, a Pakistani who reportedly helped the U.S. locate Osama bin Laden was arrested by Pakistan authorities, yet another sign of the U.S.'s Pakistan relationship deteriorating.

But at our Los Angeles area vigil, everything was peaceful as people waved or honked their horns in support. Regarding money, a 70 ish woman reached across her car seat trying to hand us a donation, which as always, we declined to accept. As these wars continue to fall apart and the U.S. economy continues its slow motion collapse, it is my fervent hope that the U.S. government will make peace overseas, bringing its soldiers home safely to their families and then focus its resources in rescuing America.

Dick
* "Pro-government demonstrators attack protesters in Baghdad," Los Angeles Times, 6/11/11 http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/11/world/la-fg-iraq-protests-20110611

** "Iraqi Forces End A Deadly Siege," The Wall Street Journal, 6-15-11 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303714704576385024210944518.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

*** "Auditor Disputes Report About $6.6 billion in Iraq Money Being Stolen," Fox News, 6/14/11 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/14/auditor-disputes-report-about-66-billion-in-iraq-money-being-stolen/

Candlelight Vigil No. 273, 6/8/11

2011-06-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

"God bless you," called out three teenage girls from a silver Mercedes, as they enthusiastically smiled and waved. This was important because it showed the vigil got the attention of some young impressionable girls and these girls are nearly of military age.

"Thank you for doing that sweetie," were the approximate words of a 50 year old woman after seeing the vigil, as she walked up and put her hand on my left shoulder, while the young ladies drove away.

This was the tenor of this week's vigil, which in my opinion had stronger impact because of the U.S. news media coverage of five U.S. soldiers being killed in a Baghdad rocket attack, along with 14 Iraqis, and by NATO's intensive bombing of Tripoli, massacring Libyan citizens they are supposedly protecting and by the U.S.'s continued drone attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing their citizens. By comparison, the U.S. news media often gives these wars little or no coverage leaving most Americans unaware of what is happening and therefore no emotional connection with it.

Soon a blue Honda Van drove up and the 60 ish woman driver and what appeared to be her 30 ish daughter and her 5 ish granddaughter, all heartily waved their support. This was deeply touching because it showed that two generations of women cared about the wars' victims and a third generation is likely to in the future.

"Light the candle," stated a 50 ish man in a gold SUV, his eyes intensely focused on the vigil and his voice rising to emphasize his point. "I'd love to," I replied. "But sometimes like tonight the wind blows too hard to keep it lit and I have to do it symbolically." "Thank you," he said as he and his 40 ish female passenger waved their support.

"Thank you," whispered a 50 ish woman, as she stood in front of the vigil sign, quietly reading it and absorbing it. "Thank you for caring," she added as she raised her voice and slowly walked away, while looking back at the vigil.

"What you do is hard," said a 60 ish man as he walked up with his 55 ish female companion. "It takes preparation. It's easy for us (by comparison). "Yes," I replied. "But you care for these people as much as I do," I added having occasionally seen and heard him before. He quickly acknowledged that point and as he began walking away, he looked at the vigil and murmured, "I've been there."

The vigil was so well received, it was extended an extra eight minutes as drivers waved and honked their support. Although the night was cool, overcast and breezy, it was hard to leave as the vigil seemed to touch one person after the next.

Dick

Preparing My 3 Year Old Grandson For War

2011-06-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

My family thinks he is too young for he is too little for his local pre-school, stands only as tall as my belt buckle and just wants to swing on his play set, but I know better.

His cousin is turning 11 and he was just a baby when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and he was 21/2 when the U.S. invaded Iraq for the 2nd time, wars that continue today, so I knew it was time to prepare my 3 year old grandson for war. After all, the Pentagon is already preparing to fight future wars, including cyber wars, as it sees potential U.S. enemies everywhere.

To capture the spirit of being a soldier, I took him to our local giant discounter and bought him little Army fatigues, including a shirt that reads, "Support our Troops" and got him small Army boots, just his size. Of course all these things were made in China, as was the American flag I bought. Yet how could I train him properly without toy guns, tanks and grenades, so I bought him the best of those toys the Chinese manufacture.

But while all those jobs and millions more had gone to China, I know many American jobs come from these wars and the preparation for new ones. In my 3 year old grandson's neighborhood, there are several dads and moms working for giant defense contractors. In my neighborhood are retired men who worked for defense contractors their entire careers. All of these people produce or produced products America never used, but in the name of defense, are worth all the taxpayer money that paid for and continue to pay for them.

As I took my tiny grandson to a local park to teach him combat, he asked, "Grandpa, how will I know when we have won?" "I don't know," I replied. "I'm 66 years old and in my memory, the U.S. didn't win in Korea, lost in Vietnam and has been driven to a standstill in Iraq where it has fought twice and to a standstill in Afghanistan.

"In the 45 year Cold War, we nearly went to nuclear war several times. And even our 40 year War on Drugs has been a disaster. But what I do know," I assured him, "Is that when it comes to war, we are the best in the world because we are always fighting. And rest assured, we will blow-up anyone who gets in our way. That's what keeps us so safe."

He got scared and began crying. To calm him, I smiled and said, "If all these wars were wrong, with the support of their religious leaders, Americans would unite to stop them, instead of celebrating them in presidential speeches and in movies, television shows and games. For we are people of compassion and conscience, who care for all of humanity."

Dick

Iraq Continues Its Crackdown On Protesters

2011-06-05T12:42:00.001-07:00

Last week, 100,000 Iraqis demonstrated in Baghdad, and thousands more in other Iraq cities against the U.S. occupation, which may continue after the 12/31 deadline the U.S. agreed to years ago, and against the inept Iraq government the U.S. keeps in power in the Green Zone.

In response, that government has been cracking down on Iraq protesters not led by religious leaders such as Muqtada al-Sadr, who can summon tens of thousands of people to the streets. Who these protesters are is told in a New York Times story (6/3/11) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/world/middleeast/03iraq.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha22

It is ironic for two weeks ago, President Obama spoke of Iraq as a model for middle eastern democracy, and there was little challenge to his words from the U.S. news media. Yet that government is incapable of providing electricity for more than 3 - 4 hours a day, which means little electricity for air conditioning in a country with 120 degree summer temperatures, and little television, radio, computers, lighting and other modern conveniences.

That government can't provide decent police protection for its citizens, reliable schools, clean water, sewage treatment, regular garbage pickups, an ample supply of medicines and it is rife with corruption. This is what America has bestowed upon the Iraqi people.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 272, 6/1/11

2011-06-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Life is so short," said a 58 year old Slovakian man as he briefly joined the vigil, one held for those who have paid dearly in America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Life is about friends, good food and music," he added with enthusiasm to lighten the mood.

As he said that, another man walked up and warmly greeted him with a smile and a handshake. "I know a lot of people," this Slovakian man said with a smile as he shook my hand. "I have a lot of friends." And by his presence and his warmth, he added joy to the vigil.

For the first 40 minutes, there were no other vigil participants other than those who honked their horns or waved in support. But then John Fortier arrived, walking with the 50 ish couple who often join.

Later, as the vigil was about to end, it was joined by a 55 ish woman and her friend, as the 55 ish woman walked an adorable black and white, tiny, perhaps 12 pound Shih Tzu dog. She told us her late father was a soldier in World War ll, and her uncle, still living, is a Korean War veteran.

As she expressed her concern for today's soldiers and others affected by the wars, we discussed that when a soldier goes off to war, so does his or her family, as they all pay a big price. That realization touched her as she silently absorbed it with a sad look in her eyes. John wisely switched the subject to her lovable little dog and as we all oohed and awed, the mood changed to one of happiness, a lovely way to end last night's vigil.

Dick

U.S. Memorial Day Special Vigil

2011-05-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

U.S. Memorial Day, an American holiday, was on Monday, 5/30. Korean War veteran and retired school teacher John Fortier held a special peace vigil from 3 pm to 5 pm and I joined him at 4 pm.

On America's Memorial Day, which was established to remember the U.S.'s war dead, John held the vigil alone until I arrived. But "alone" is inaccurate, for many drivers honked their horns or waved.

What is most memorable to me is the three separate groups of four or five teenagers each, most of them about 15 years old and about half of them were male, half of them female. In each case none of them took an interest in the vigil even though they were standing right in front of it while waiting for the traffic signal to change so they could cross Pacific Coast Highway, in Redondo Beach, CA.

The first group stood there as I walked up and their indifference so bothered me, I smiled and greeted them aloud, drawing them into conversation. During that conversation, I drew their attention to John and his vigil sign.

This process was repeated with the other two teenage groups and after listening to them, it seemed apparent they had little or no interest in the U.S.'s three wars, although there was an awareness those wars are being fought. I detected no connection to Memorial Day, which for them was a beach day.

They were all lovely kids and one of them did ask about John's several Korean War medals he had displayed once he saw the vigil. I'm sorry they had so little interest in war, unlike their counterparts from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's, which actively opposed the Vietnam War. But re institute the draft and they will care a great deal. The last group were boys and when I asked if any of them intended to go into the military, all of them firmly answered "no."

It was a vigil well worth doing if for no other reason than it got these kids to think about war and the potential for peace, even if only briefly.

Dick

8 More U.S. Troops Killed In Afghanistan

2011-05-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

An explosion killed 8 More U.S. troops in Afghanistan on Thursday, 5/26. Earlier on Thursday, a helicopter crash killed a NATO soldier. From these events, 9 families will be devastated, their lives never again to be the same as they bury a son or daughter, a father or a mother, a brother or a sister.

And for what? What can possibly be accomplished by continuing this war? If we want to honor these soldiers and the others who preceded them in death, let us do it by ending the war and bringing all of the surviving soldiers home safely to their families

Dick

100,00 Anti-U.S. Marchers In Baghdad

2011-05-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, 5/26 an estimated 100,000 people marched peacefully in Baghdad and thousands more marched elsewhere in Iraq, demanding the U.S. military and its contractors leave the nation on 12/31/11 as America's SOFA agreement requires.

The U.S. still has 48,000 soldiers and thousands of contractors there. Earlier this week U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates strongly stated the U.S. military should keep 10,000 soldiers there and presumably some large number of contractors, to maintain order and to help protect Iraq from Iran.

By this large scale peace protest, many Iraqis are saying no to the U.S.

Dick
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-sadr-rally-20110527,0,5349911.story

Candlelight Vigil No. 271, 5/25/11

2011-05-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

"We have to stop killing each other," said a 65 ish tall trim blond woman, speaking in a solemn tone as she walked up to the vigil with her husband, also tall and trim. "War is not the answer," she added as her eyes flashed in anger and her mind searched for more words to reflect her frustrations with war. Finally she added, "Thank you for doing what you're doing," as she and her husband shook John Fortier's hand and mine.

During the first half of the vigil, this conversation was the exception as few people acknowledged the vigil. Perhaps this is because the Iraq, Afghan and Libyan Wars have largely disappeared from major U.S. news coverage. As John said, the public "can't see the wars, hear the wars, feel the wars, smell the wars." With the cooperation of the U.S. news media, the wars are often invisible unless one seeks them out on the Internet.

Yet yesterday in England, President Obama spoke of the Libyan War as "a long slog" as termed by The Wall Street Journal.* This is a dramatic shift in the President's original position that the U.S. would have limited involvement in the Libyan War. Meanwhile, because the war has already gone over 60 days, some Congressmen are critical of the President for not getting their permission to wage it. There was no such concern expressed over the Iraq and Afghan Wars which were never declared by Congress and have now lasted over 8 years and nearly 10 years respectively.

The second half of the vigil got more public attention with some horn honks and waves. "That's a nice thing you're doing," said an 80 ish man as he stopped briefly to talk and to shake our hands. He is a semi-retired lawyer who publishes Christian books. "God bless you," stated a 55 ish man as he walked by the vigil.

But the nicest moment came when a 50 ish couple that often participate, joined the vigil last night for several minutes. Finally the man revealed they had ice cream bars melting in their recycle nap sack and they had to wish us goodbye. Even then, his lovely wife continued to express herself and to listen for a tiny bit longer.

Dick
* http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304520804576345111108851484.html

Should The U.S. Continue The Iraq War?

2011-05-26T09:02:00.001-07:00

Under the SOFA agreement, the U.S. is to withdraw its remaining forces from Iraq on 12/31/11. But on Tuesday U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested the U.S. should keep 10,000 of its 48,000 troops there indefinitely to maintain order and protect Iraq from Iran.*

Mr. Gates did not say how many U.S. Special Forces would remain nor did he say how many thousands of U.S. private "contractors" from firms such as Blackwater are there now and how many of them would remain. Nor did he say what would happen to the Green Zone, a highly secured U.S. enclave within Baghdad and from where the Iraqi government operates with U.S. protection. Nor did Mr. Gates reference leaving the numerous U.S. military bases there, including "Camp Freedom" from which top U.S. officials land and depart rather than use the Baghdad International Airport which is too risky.

In April, there were at least 162 attacks on U.S. forces, up from 128 the prior month and 92 in February according to a Wall Street Journal source, as emboldened fighters are challenging the U.S. occupation. On Sunday, two U.S. soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb. This after more than eight years of war, numerous lives lost, a million Iraqi children orphaned and at least a trillion U.S. dollars wasted.

Unless driven out, as it was in Vietnam, the U.S. military never leaves, as Germany (66 years since World War ll ended), Japan (nearly 66 years) and South Korea (nearly 58 years since the Korean War ended) can tell us. In our silence this Hell on earth we brought to the Iraqis has been allowed to continue and some major U.S. corporations have profited handsomely from it. But America is going broke and its war madness must end before it is morally and financially bankrupt. The proposed continued occupation of Iraq is an excellent time and place for us as Americans to say "enough" and demand an end to the war and a withdrawal of our troops.

Dick
* http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303654804576343700854655730.html

U.S. Military Medical Costs Hit $50 Billion!

2011-05-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

At a time when the U.S. is so cash strapped, it is considering privatizing and slashing Medicare and Medicaid, U.S. Military medical costs have mushroomed to $50 billion annually, up from $19 billion in 2001.*

Wars and aging Pentagon and military brass baby boomers are driving those costs up and they will continue to rise sharply for many years to come. Upwards of 40,000 U.S. troops have been severely injured in the Iraq and Afghan Wars and their numbers are growing. But so are the numbers of soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological problems. When wars end, their problems don't end, as tens of thousands of Vietnam vets became drug addicted and homeless, needing long term care.

In addition to the growth of the numbers of military people needing that medical care, inflation will balloon the costs and the taxpayers will face a huge future responsibility. It is a responsibility we must bear on behalf of all those military personnel risking their lives for these wars our government has sent them to fight.

The longer the American people sit in silence, the longer these wars will go and there will be more severely injured and PTSD soldiers needing long term care, as they live with the misery from these wars. And as we see now in Libya, in our silence there will be more wars. So let's not sit in silence. Let's raise our voices for peace on behalf of the U.S. and allied soldiers and on behalf of all the victims U.S. wars cause and bring an end to the suffering before there are more people to endure it.

Dick
* http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304520804576343482047107402.html

Update: 36 Afghans Die Thursday In Attack On Workers

2011-05-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

The Taliban massacred 36 Afghan construction crew workers who they viewed as collaborating with the U.S. and the Afghan government. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/afghanistan/la-fg-afghanistan-violence-20110520,0,3138595.story

Update: Bomb Blasts Thursday in northern Iraq Kill 29, Injure Many More

2011-05-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

"A string of bomb attacks targeting police in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk killed at least 29 people and injured scores more, security officials said Thursday. The violence is the worst to have hit the country in nearly two months." http://www.france24.com/en/20110519-deadly-bombs-strike-northern-iraq-kirkuk-police-baghdad#

Candlelight Vigil No. 270, 5/18/11

2011-05-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

"We have got to get out of both of those wars," said a 40 ish man in a dark gray sedan, his voice ringing with frustration. "We are going to pay a price for these wars not just physically but psycologically for years to come."

In addition to his comments, last night's vigil drew horn honks and waves of support, most notably those from two bus drivers. And when a bus horn is honked repeatedly, it grabs the attention of everyone within about 50 yards. 5 to 10 other drivers laid on their horns, rather than gently beep them, to loudly express themselves. And as almost always, the vigil was joined in its entirety by John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, a retired school teacher and a peace activist. It was also joined for at time by a 50 ish couple who often participate.

Meanwhile, in Iraq three separate bomb attacks killed 29 people and injured 80 more. The attacks were centered in oil rich Kirkuk, in northern Iraq. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151973421395500.html

The Obama Administration is repeatedly calling for the retention of U.S. soldiers in Iraq beyond the 12/31/11 deadline and now the State Department wants to double the size of the U.S.'s "private" army from 2,500 to 5,000.

While in Afghanistan, on Tuesday night U.S. Special Operations Forces in Takhar raided a housing complex killing four people including two women. The U.S., which did not coordinate the raid with the Afghan government, claimed those women were a threat to them. But in response 3,000 protesters took to the Takhar streets on Wednesday.

During the protests, German soldiers representing NATO came under attack and opened fire on the crowd, killing at least 12 people, including four children and injuring 80 more people. Among the injured were two German soldiers and four Aghan guards. Deployment of German soldiers in Afghanistan is their first combat mission since World War ll and it is so unpopular among the German people, that the Afghan War in Germany is termed a conflict instead of a war.

While many Afghans are irate at the U.S. for their night raids, because the soldiers may kick in their doors, thrust weapons in their faces, while ordering or throwing them to the floor and the soldiers view the women without their veils, an insult to their religious beliefs. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703509104576330743353574166.html

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, at least 10 people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a bus.

This is what the U.S. has to show for nearly 10 years of war in Afghanistan and more than 8 years of war in Iraq. Massive death and destruction, over a million orphans in Iraq alone and the U.S. deeply in debt. Clearly war is not the answer. It is my hope far more Americans, as people of conscience, will join John and me and the handfull of other peace activists as we strive to bring these wars and all of their bloodshed to an end.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 269, 5/11/11

2011-05-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

"We got Osama bin Laden," said a 50 ish man with glee who briefly joined the vigil with his wife. He was so proud of this fact, using the word "got" instead of "killed" that nothing John Fortier or I could have said to him would have mattered. He let us know bin Laden's death was going to make a real difference in the U.S.'s wars without explaining how.

Perhaps that's because in the minds of many Americans, the U.S. just got its 1st "victory" after nearly 10 years of war. And it raised in them the hope that this will finally begin an end to the wars.

Last night's vigil got more horn honks, waves and two fingered peace signs, than usual, with "usual" being about a 5% response. It was likely because bin Laden's murder has gotten major news media attention as President Obama and his Republican opponents jockey for the most credit for it.

But the murder of one man won't solve the underlying problems of the U.S.'s three wars as the widespread bloodshed continues.

Nor will it bring back the nearly 3,000 people killed during 9/11 nor the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and tens of thousands of Afghans killed by the U.S. response to it. It won't restore the lives of the approximately 45,000 U.S. troops who have been killed or severely injured in these wars, nor the lives of U.S. allied soldiers also lost. And each day, more lives are lost, more families are damaged and more children are killed or orphaned.

This vigil is a prayer, that mankind will learn from the massive suffering these U.S. wars have caused and are causing and will pressure the U.S. to end them. And with hope that mankind will realize the obvious: that money wasted on all this death and destruction could instead be used to uplift humanity.

Think of the difference quality medical care, educational systems and decent housing and productive jobs could make in America and throughout the world. As for Al-Qaeda, Hamas, the Taliban and other revolutionary organizations, how fertile would their recruitment efforts be if the trillions of dollars now spent on wars were used to end the hopelessness and dire poverty that creates so many suicide bombers and fierce fighters, as they could instead see a quality future for themselves in this life.

As Americans, the choice is ours. Continue the path we are on: celebrating the death of one fanatic and borrowing deeply to wage endless wars, and basing our economy on building weapons of mass destruction at taxpayer expense while we go broke or making peace and building a better world.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 268, 5/4/11

2011-05-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

"My 86 year old father-in-law, who lives in Seattle, has held a peace vigil every Sunday for 5 years," said a 50 ish Frenchman who walked up and joined our vigil. "5 or 10 people join him."

"He is a World War ll vet who fought at Guadalcanal and he was a strict Republican. He supported Nixon and Reagan. Now he wears a peace symbol and protests these wars (in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya).

(Guadalcanal was a fierce series of battles over Guadalcanal and other Pacific islands controlled by the Japanese. It was fought from August 7, 1942 to February 9th, 1943 between the U.S. led allied forces and Japan. The loss of life was horrific on both sides and it marked the first time in the war Japan had been defeated.)

"Across the street (during his peace vigil) is a group of George W. Bush supporters. They carry the flag and call back and forth to him."

"People don't know what happened 45 years ago (the Vietnam War) (and they don't care)," continued this Frenchman. "Teenagers don't care about these wars (Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya)." He explained to John Fortier and me that the U.S. media doesn't cover today's wars so why would they care, not knowing how horrible war really is.

This Frenchman then switched subjects. "Have you seen the movie, 'An Inside Job,' " he asked. Those people who nearly bankrupted (the global financial system) knew what they were doing. Nobody went to jail for it! There is a French saying, 'The law is for poor people.' I thought the Wall Street Crash would have awakened people and activated them. It didn't."

"Most of the people (Americans) don't know about the (U.S. government) budget. They don't care" He felt it was because they don't understand it nor fully grasp how the government's vast deficits will affect them.

And in frustration, he raised the question tying the Wall Street Crash, the huge U.S. government deficits and the wars together, asking what it will take to get Americans to care and to get involved.

It was a pleasure to have the company of this well informed and articulate man. He arrived at about 6:35 pm, 5 minutes after I arrived. Because my wife Anne was in surgery for a broken arm, I wasn't there when John began the vigil at 5:17 pm, a vigil that didn't end until 7 pm, as we said goodbye to this Frenchman.

John said most notably in the earlier vigil was a casually attired, but well dressed 55 ish man who walked up with his equally attired and somewhat younger wife. John said he had an "air of prominence" and thought he was a retired high ranking military officer. "Have you ever thought of retiring," this man asked John. "What I'm doing (conducting peace vigils) will be pertinent for some time to come," John replied.

In reply, the man laughed and said to John, who is a Korean War vet, "It's nice to see you out here," as he walked over and firmly shook John's hand.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 267, 4/27/11

2011-04-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

"I'm so disappointed in President Obama," said a 40 ish man with frustration ringing in his voice, while he stood along side his bicycle as he and his lady friend stopped riding to speak with John Fortier and me. "I voted for him," he added with a sound of disbelief in his voice, as if to say, how could I have ever done so.

"I didn't," said his lady friend. "But we didn't have good choices (between the two major party candidates)." She didn't vote at all as she saw her vote as purposeless. Her voice reflected the widespread disallusionment with the political system that is so often heard and is shown in national polls.

We spoke of the wars and he felt strongly there was nothing to be gained in any of them. When he voted, he thought Mr. Obama was the candidate of peace and would end the Iraq and Afghan Wars. He also felt our nation must close its military bases all over the world to help stop the enormous spending of money we don't have.

"You know how much money we could save if we closed all those bases," he said loudly. "Billions of dollars! Our country is in a very fragile state."

But as the two of them looked at the vigil, the conversation ended with smiles. "It's good to see you guys out here," the man stated as we finished the discussion. "Thank you for doing that."

The vigil is meant to keep in our hearts, all those who have paid so severe a price in these wars, and that number keeps growing. It is also a reasoned plea for peace as the U.S. has gone war mad. Eight years of war in Iraq and 10 years of war in Afghanistan should show everyone there is nothing to be gained and everything to lose. Yet the U.S. just launched a 3rd war in Libya. The expenses for these wars are being charged to the U.S. taxpayer, who may mistakenly believe he or she isn't paying for them because taxes have not been raised yet. Actually, taxes will be raised but for now it's all going on the nation's credit card.

But on a happier note: Among the supportive horn honks and waves, one of the nicest moments came from a 35 ish bus driver. He regularly waves and honks his horn in support as he drives by, but when he stopped at a red light last night, he opened his doors to talk. "So many people are angry," he said regarding his passengers. As he described it, they are frustrated and go through their lives either spewing anger or ignoring those around them.

This bus driver, with a big smile, gives them a warm greeting. If they are nasty or indifferent in their response he still wishes them "a nice day," the smile never leaving his face. To him, we who conduct the vigil also have that positive attitude and a respect for others and he looks forward to seeing us.

Dick

A Tribute To War

2011-04-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

It's America's greatest stimulus plan. Directly or indirectly through subcontracts, war employs millions of Americans, many in high paying jobs, all at taxpayer's expense.

War boosts corporate earnings, which raises stock prices, something Wall Street loves, and pays a nice dividend to shareholders and huge bonuses to top management of "defense" firms. Just ask the CEO's of Halliburton, Lockheed, Northrop and many other corporations who are part of the military industrial complex. And it's easy to ask them for most are headquartered in the Washington, DC area, as is privately held Blackwater, so they can be close to their massive customer, the Pentagon.

Here's the best part from a corporate perspective: Those gargantuan and repetitive contracts can be had for a relative pittance in campaign contributions.

So get used to "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and "Operation Enduring Freedom" (Afghanistan), respectfully eight and 10 year military occupations, and counting. Get used to whatever dropping missiles on Libya and Pakistan is and ongoing secret C.I.A. wars in Yemen, Somalia and likely in South America and elsewhere. For if we have no threats to America, we have no massive funding to fight them.

Get used to concepts such as "Shock and Awe" (known to the U.S. military as "rapid dominance"). It's based upon immediate overwhelming power which destroys everything in its path and it's also known for its colorful displays. When it was used in Iraq, it looked to Americans and the U.S. pilots that conducted it as a 4th of July, U.S. Independence Day celebration. Unfortunately where the bombs hit destroyed entire neighborhoods and the infrastructure of Baghdad, leaving thousands of men, women and children dead in the aftermath. But that's war.

If you're wondering about the moral implications of war, this piece is being written on Easter Sunday, 4/24/11, also near Passover for Jews. Virtually nothing is said against these wars by religious leaders. By their silence and their un-involvement in organizing peace movements, it would appear war is acceptable to them as well.

So it's up to you and me. We too can remain silent and passive or we can raise our voices on behalf of our brethren under siege. It's bad for business but we can appeal for compassion and peace for them and a redeployment of what is left of our financial resources to help them rather than destroy them, and to resurrect America so our children and our children's children will inherent the American Dream that we did and we can restore America's once honored place in the world.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 266, 4/20/11

2011-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

"God bless you," said a 75 ish woman who waved me over to her small gray sedan. When she couldn't get the passenger window down, she was so determined to speak, she leaned across the seat and thrust the car door open. "I wish there was more we could do," she said. She then raised her right hand to her chin, placed two of her fingers to her lips and blew a kiss to the sign.

This is how last night's vigil went, as the first supportive horn honked while John Fortier and I were setting the vigil up, the sign not yet displayed. That driver knew what the vigil was about as he honked and waved, as later did two other drivers on a cross street unable to read the sign but already knowing what it said. We received waves from three bus drivers, two of whom honked their horns, as did numerous other drivers honk their horns, among the waves and two fingered peace signs.

The vigil was also joined individually by the 50 ish couple that often joins.

John Fortier is a Korean War veteran and a retired school teacher and he spoke of his childhood memories of World War ll. "People were more aware and involved. My mother used to save bacon grease, tin foil, tie old sheets into bandages" and do other things to help the war effort. "She crocheted socks and sweaters and scarves for the soldiers."

John spoke of how the U.S. government is now in three wars and it does nothing to involve the American people beyond those in the military, keeping most Americans in the dark. If the government speaks of the wars at all, "it makes conflicting statements, lying to us and manipulating us." He compared what is being done to the American people as that of a frog sitting in a pot of cool water on a stove. The frog is passive while bit by bit the flame is slowly turned up until the frog is boiled to death.

"We move on and we forget these people," said a 50 ish woman walking two dogs. "Thank you for doing that." One of her two dogs was a German Shepherd she had recently rescued. "She was up for adoption for six months and no-one wanted her. She is the sweetest dog we have ever had."

Late in the vigil, the icy breeze and gray overcast sky that had brought a chill throughout the vigil suddenly turned to warm golden sunlight and to a bright blue sky, which was hard to predict until it happened. Maybe that will be true of these wars. All we see now is darkeness and thunder but as Washington pursues this path it will lead to moral and financial ruin. So it is with hope and with reason this vigil appeals for peace and as a result, for a better future for America and its military victims and for all of mankind.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 265, 4/13/11

2011-04-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

"My father got shot in the head during World War ll," said a 55 ish woman from her beige Volkswagen bug. "He was [incapacitated} for the rest of his life. That's why I oppose war. My mother was a dentist catering to veterans. I support what you are doing."

This was the tenor of last night's vigil, conducted by Korean War veteran and retired school teacher John Fortier and me. Among the horn honks and waves of support was a 50 ish man in a gray Corvette. He held up a U.S. Marine Corps baseball cap and then honked his horn and held up his hand in a two fingered peace sign.

The vigil was joined by a 50 ish man who often joins and later, after John and I parted company, by a 67 year old woman who occasionally joins. But as the vigil had ended, I thanked her and drove her to her church, which is where she often goes after attending the vigil.

"Thank you," said a 60 ish woman as she walked up and read the sign. "I appreciate what you are doing."

This vigil focuses on the U.S.'s Iraq and Afghan Wars and the incredible price being paid in lives and in mind numbing suffering and in the vast waste of resources that otherwise could be used to uplift the world instead of destroying it in the name of "The War on Terror." America's leaders never grasp the inherent conflict in their wars which is: To go to war is to attack someone. What does that make us to him? Of course it makes us terrorists. Now the U.S. has added a 3rd war in Libya.

Later, as the vigil drew to a close, two 25 ish women in a small gray sedan stopped at a red light and began vigorously waving at us. As they did, a 3 inch wooden cross swayed from a chain hanging from the car's rear view mirror, mesmerizing in how the cross moved back and forth. It was a fine reminder that during The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urged his followers to "turn the other cheek" rather than to attack others.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 264, 4/6/11

2011-04-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

"My man is in Afghanistan," said a 30 ish woman with a gentle smile, who seemed deeply moved by the vigil. From her black SUV, she added, "He's a Gunny in the Marines. He's been there for 30 days and he is due back around Halloween [October]. He served two tours in Iraq and this is his first in Afghanistan."

In addition to her response, came comments such as "Thank you," from a 35 ish woman, a passenger in a white sedan, who added "God Bless." And "thank you for doing that," from one of four 60 ish ladies in a blue SUV. "Life is hard enough without that [wars]," added another as all four waved their support. Numerous others honked or waved their support, some also offering two fingered peace signs.

The vigil was joined by a 50 ish man who often joins and near its end by my eldest son Kyle, who had often joined the early vigils five years ago.

That after five years there is still a need for vigils is tragic. People continue to be killed or maimed in the U.S.'s three wars. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal front page headlined, "Al Qaeda Makes Afghan Comeback" and it reported Al Qaeda's growing strength and its close ties with the Taliban. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704355304576215762431072584.html

This after nearly 600 U.S. troops have been killed since President Obama escalated this war in December, 2009 and far greater numbers of Afghan people have also died. U.S. allies have had their soldiers killed and how many Afghan children have been killed or orphaned, only God knows.

What the U.S. hopes to accomplish there after nearly 10 years of war, or in Iraq after eight years of war or in Libya, the latest war, who knows? Certainly not the American people. Thank you for your support for these vigils and let us hope for the day soon when rational people will sit down together and peacefully resolve their differences.

Dick

John Fortier Peace Vigil Summary, 4/1/11

2011-04-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, The following peace vigil summary was written by John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and retired school teacher who has held a peace vigil every Friday evening along Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach (Los Angeles area) since just before President George W. Bush launched the Iraq War in March, 2003.

Yo Dick-
It got a little on the crazy side, and the biggest nut-case had left by the time you arrived.

One guy that was there seemed to be challenging me a few months ago. Challenging me to what? I think he had trouble deciding that, so he walked away calling me names and cursing. Now it's like we went to third grade together.

A fellow from PV hood [Palos Verdes] is extremely concerned about the Wurlitzer organ in El Segundo, thinks nobody appreciates what a rare and exotic piece of art it is, and that current caretakers are going to wreck it.

Sorry you walked into that. Our conversations are more to my liking by a long shot. And thank you for coming by and bringing support and a breath of sanity.

It was a supportive bunch passing by. I stayed until + 6, and the PV guy talked at me for 20 minutes at our cars. (I almost feel qualified to maintain or repair Wurlitzer organs.)

I think my sign is gone from the rib joint. If not, hooray! [John had a blue sign displayed that read "War Is Not The Answer"] [It had been removed after being displayed along Pacific Coast Highway for more than a week] If it is, at least it lasted a while and was seen by many many people.

John

Iraq Attack Kills 65, Wounds Nearly 100 More

2011-04-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday in Tikrit, near Baghdad, gunmen and explosives took the lives of at least 65 people as that number continues to grow and wounded nearly 100 more.

This has brought immense suffering to the surviving victims and to all of the families. Our hearts and our prayers go out to these families. Eight years after the U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq, there is no end to war as the horrors continue.

For more details, please see http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C03%5C31%5Cstory_31-3-2011_pg4_1

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 263, 3/30/11

2011-03-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

"Good Job, Good Job," called out a 50 ish man from his red sedan as the vigil was being set-up. We made eye contact as he was bursting with things he wanted to say and he tried to stop his car to talk but the Pacific Coast Highway traffic was too heavy.

"It's a wonderful thing you're doing," were the approximate words of an 80 ish woman as she walked up and read the sign. "It's something we can all agree on," she added.

Last night's vigil was joined by a 38 year old Cambodian refugee who as a child witnessed the "Killing Fields" that murdered many of his countrymen. Today, as a well read individual and an accountant and money manager, he is proud to be an American and enjoys his freedoms.

But he is seriously concerned for the decisions the U.S. is making and skeptical of President Obama's speech earlier this week and troubled by the U.S. going to war in Libya.

He referenced Mr. Obama's comment about the U.S. being "exceptional" and then he spoke of wars in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan and questioned what "exceptional" means. He added, "But America was built on the genocide of 30 to 40 million Indians. It enslaved Blacks and then for 100 years after slavery ended, it had Apartheid followed by the Civil Rights Movement which finally ended it."

Then with a sigh, he asked, "Are we still exceptional?"

And he continued, "Only in America could we fight three wars. We are so damned bankrupt and we still go at this thing. We have allies in Yemen, Saudia Arabia and Bahrain. They are not as extreme as Gadhafi in Libya is but they are killing their own people. What did we do? Nothing! Even the U.S. news media doesn't cover it. Watch the news. All you'll see is Libya."

As for China, "I don't like the Chinese Communists very much but in the last 30 to 40 years, they brought 400 to 500 million people out of poverty. They deserve some credit but instead the Nobel Committee awards prizes to a Chinese dissident and an American President. Both of them haven't done anything. They don't do what they stand for."

He also spoke of Israel. "America will be weaker in the future and they won't be able to come to Israel's aid. Jews claim to be the 'Chosen People' but their conduct is so human. They should have been giving to the Palestinians." Instead "the Jews agitate." He feels this is caused by the elder "Ultra-Conservative" Jews. "They're gung ho and don't seek peace treaties." And they send young people off to die for their Ultra-Conservative beliefs, in this man's opinion.

As he left, it was time to conclude the vigil. But just then, a 56 year old woman who joined the vigil a few weeks ago walked up, smiled warmly and gave me a big hug. "I'm engaged to a 62 year old Doctor," she said. "A man who served in the Army in Vietnam." She spoke of how proud of him she is and of her caring for today's military veterans. She then smiled and gave another hug. What a lovely way it was to finish the vigil.

Dick

Peace Vigils Spread Like Ripples In A Pond

2011-03-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader, The following post is from John Fortier, a 77 year old Korean War veteran and retired school teacher who hosts a peace vigil every Friday night in Redondo Beach, CA. John also joins the one I host nearby on Wednesday nights.

Michele and I went to the Seashore Chinese restaurant at Calle Mayor & PCH for our 52nd anniversary dinner, and the stocky, blond supermarket lady who visits us on your corner now and then, arrived with several church member friends and waved a greeting.

I observed that she was explaining me to her companions so when I finished eating I went over and told her we had held the vigil earlier and how much we appreciate her stopping to chat and offer her support. She explained to her friends about you and me and our 'cause' and what and when we do what we do.

So, several people were affected at a different time in a different place, but recipients of our efforts none the less.

You just never know.

Candlelight Vigil No. 262, 3/23/11

2011-03-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

"I got off work early so I could visit your vigil," said a very successful attorney from his car, a man in his late 40's whose clients include my eldest son Kyle.

"I've heard so much about it from Kyle and wanted to see it for myself." he added and reached over the front passenger seat to shake my hand. But the 30 mile per hour rush of 4 inch deep water racing under the curb, 3 feet into the street prevented me from shaking his hand. He understood and smiled broadly as he offered his support for the vigil.

Among vehicles turning right, 2 or 3 drove too fast and splashed a one foot wall of water on John Fortier and me, but everyone else was careful not to splash us, as we stood there in the twilight and 50 degree temperature.

In the 5 plus years this vigil has been held, never before did such heavy rains greet it. As John and I grasped our umbrellas and the vigil sign, rain exploded all around us. It pounded our umbrellas and the sidewalk and Pacific Coast Highway in front of us so hard, it sounded like pebbles being shot out of cannon.

We saw the heavy traffic through sheets of rain, as drivers often slowed to a crawl to navigate the flood of water in front of them, for the storm drains were overwhelmed. But what we also saw were numerous people swiveling their heads to see what would bring us out on such a night. Many people honked or waved, while others held up two fingered peace signs.

It would have been far easier for John and me to stay in the warmth of our homes, but the U.S. just thrust itself into a 3rd war in Libya and the need for a peace vigil seemed overwhelming. What I learned later is that John and his wife Michele were celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary, a celebration they put on hold until after the vigil.

If as during the Vietnam War, huge numbers of Americans would conduct or participate in peace vigils and raise their voices for sanity, we could end this war madness and all of its killing, maiming and orphaning our nation has immersed itself in and bring our soldiers home safely to their families.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 261, 3/16/11

2011-03-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

"If I were President, those wars would have been over by Christmas," said a 75 ish man driving a white compact sedan with a red bumper sticker on the rear that read, "Make Love, Not War."

This set the tone for the vigil, which got numerous horn honks and waves of support and was joined by a 50 ish man who often joins with his wife. It was a sunny 64 degree night and Pacific Coast Highway traffic driving by the vigil was heavy, easily a thousand vehicles in that hour, and the vigil sign was clearly visible to many of them.

Meanwhile, in the face of the mounting death and destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan and the U.S.'s rapidly sinking finances, in Congress on Wednesday Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich offered a resolution to withdraw the U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

The resolution was meant to appeal to the numerous Republican fiscal conservatives whose mandate is to slash spending. But their reaction to slashing war spending was muted and their leadership seemed to oppose it.

The Iraq War is eight years old and the Afghan War is 10 years old, arguably the longest war in U.S. history. The U.S. has paid a heavy price in lives and in dollars and has little to show for it and no sign of progress as Iraq's and Afghanistan's governments are kept in power by the U.S. military and are highly unpopular with the people of those nations.

For the Afghan War, the U.S. has borrowed and spent $454.7 billion per Rep. Kucinich and President Obama has requested $113 billion more. But even among the "deficit hawks," there is little support for Rep. Kucinich's resolution, because I believe, no-one wants to look "soft on terrorism," and because the military and its contractors are big campaign contributors.

Meanwhile, we reduce educational spending, fire teachers and cut medical programs for the poor, including in-home care for the elderly and frail.

So on behalf of those wars' many victims, our candles burn brightly and our message is one of hope that reasonable people will end the wars and allow a vast healing to begin as those nations then chart their own destiny.

Dick

Nine Afghan Children Killed in U.S. Led Airstrike

2011-03-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Coalition Apologizes For Deaths Of Afghan Children:" "U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, the coalition's commander in Afghanistan, issued a rare apology Wednesday for a helicopter strike that killed nine children, hours after Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the allies for launching a 'ruthless attack.' It was Gen. Petraeus's first such public apology since taking command in July."

War is Hell on earth and the U.S. and Taliban have delivered nearly 10 years of that Hell to the Afghan people since the U.S. 2001 invasion. Like many Afghans, I'm no Taliban supporter, but what is happening there now is madness and it is endless.

When Gen. Petraeus issues a statement, it means it was released to the Afghan government and to the media and most likely not written by the General, but approved by him. But no apology can correct the horrific wrongs of war. It has been reported that President Obama also apologized in a video conference call to Mr. Karzai, but those apologies are meaningless if this war is allowed to continue for there will be no end to the death and destruction.

The U.S. acts as if it is God, able to know what is in the hearts of man and kills accordingly. And when children are killed, they are what the U.S. military calls "collateral damage." So General Patraeus was only doing his job and neither he nor anyone else will be relieved of duty and tried for murder.

On Sunday, Afghans marched again against the U.S. war and occupation of their nation. The father of two of the dead children was among them and said, "We don't want apologies. We want them to take it very seriously and stop." Aside from the killing and destruction, this war is over, for there will be no winning the hearts and minds of the people.

Dick
If you would like to read more of that Wall Street Journal story, please see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704728004576176644160681276.html

Candlelight Vigil No. 260, 3/2/11

2011-03-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

"I love what you are doing," said a 30 ish man on his way to the gym as he stopped at the vigil.

Some other people apparently loved it to for it was a vigil filled with horn honks and waves of support on a cold, dark and cloudy night. With about 15 minutes left in the vigil rain hit, gentle at first and then harder.

Being an optimist, I had no umbrella but it was fine. The rain was cleansing and it didn't even put out the glow of the candle.

A 55 ish bus driver stopped his bus at the red light, opened his doors and leaned forward to shake my hand. Because of the cool breeze and the rain, he urged me not to stay out too long. But his warm and gracious smile and firm handshake said more about his support for the vigil than even his kind words.

And because he stayed a little longer for our conversation, after the traffic signal turned green, a 50 ish woman was able to catch the bus (there is no bus stop there) and get out of the rain.

"That is a very good thing you are doing," said a 45 ish man from his SUV, who was so determined to express himself, he brought traffic in the right lane of Pacific Coast Highway to a brief stop although the light was green. He then smiled and held up a two finger peace sign.

I smiled and waved. Because of the many people who responded to it, the vigil had run overtime and as the rain began to pour, I brought it to an end.

It was hard to blowout the candle for one's heart cries out for those who have paid so severe a price in these wars and for those who will next pay that price. But there is the hope the U.S. government will finally see the light and end the Iraq and Afghan Wars and its occupation of these nations.

Dick

Humanizing U.S. War Dead In Iraq

2011-02-27T15:47:00.000-08:00

"4 years already?? It seems like almost yesterday you were checking out Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun.' There isn't a day that goes by in which I don't talk about you. I love you brother. RIP"

"-- David Romero, posted Wednesday on Army Spc. Louis G. Kim, 19, who was killed by small arms fire Feb. 20, 2007, as he crawled between buildings during a gun battle in Ramadi, Iraq, west of Baghdad."

"Rowan, we left for basic training together and we left for Iraq together. The time in between we became good friends. You were always there when someone needed you. I wish I could have been there when you needed someone the most. I will never forget you. May you rest in peace. We will meet again my friend."

"-- Karl Koebrick, posted Tuesday on Army Pfc. Rowan D. Walter, 25, of Clovis [CA], who died Feb. 23, 2007, of injuries suffered a day earlier when a roadside bomb exploded in an ambush attack that killed two other soldiers in Ramadi, Iraq, west of Baghdad."

Dear Reader, These quotes were published by the Los Angeles Times, 2/27/11 and are but a tiny measure of the heartache that family and friends and fellow soldiers feel for each of the 4,442 U.S. soldiers that have been killed there to date.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 259, 2/23/11

2011-02-24T11:33:00.000-08:00

"I've read where it will cost more to care for the U.S. soldiers after the wars than the cost of the wars themselves," said a 40 ish man after he read the sign and parked his bike. "I don't know if it will be that costly," I replied, "But the results from the Vietnam War tell us it will be very expensive and those costs continue to mount."

"These wars are crazy, a big mistake," he replied. "They will accomplish nothing. I guess it's all about money."

"May I take your picture with the candle in front of the sign for my relatives in Finland," he asked." They will want to see this." He then took the picture. "I remember meeting you out here 21/2 or 3 years ago."

"I was in the Peace Corp and was in Rwanda (after the 1994 genocide)," he continued. "It was the most efficient genocide in the last century in terms of the number of people killed in the shortest amount of time. They were killing 15,000 a day. [According to Human Rights Watch, 800,000 Rwandans were killed from early April to mid-July]

"There wasn't a village I would go to where children weren't missing ears or arms. One man had 55 relatives and 50 of them had been killed.

This man, with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Humboldt State Univ. in California is no longer in the Peace Corp, "but I try to help someone every day. We are all on this planet together."

Later a 45 ish bus driver stopped at a red light, honked her horn in support and opened her doors. She said her daughter had been in the Army and served in Iraq. "She's home safe now." And soon after she left, another bus stopped at a red light, and the 55 ish driver honked his horn and opened his doors.

He asked where John Fortier is, the Korean War veteran who regularly participates in this vigil. I told him John is with his family tonight but will host a vigil on Friday up the street. With a big smile, this driver welcomed me into the bus and shook my hand, expressing his gratitude for the vigil.

At the end of the hour as the vigil was about to conclude, a 22 ish muscular man who was jogging read the sign from a distance and stopped to join the vigil. "Thanks a lot," he said, as he explained he is in his first year in the Air Force and that he appreciates the vigil.

After he left, I blew out the candle and while packing up, thought of the vigil and its quest for peace as one little crack of many in the vast wall of war. It is the persistence of this and other vigils and you who support them that will eventually help end these wars and all the suffering and wasted resources they cause.

Dick

America Is Arming The World For Peace

2011-02-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

The U.S. is busily building weapons en mass for itself and for many others. Some of its biggest customers are Middle East based, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. The premise is these arms sales help ensure a military balance in that region and elsewhere in the world thus keeping it safe.

Of course this is faulty and dangerous logic, but then the logic is irrelevant. Regime changes alone make this an iffy proposition. For example, in the 1970's the U.S. armed the Shah of Iran, only to have him overthrown by the Ayatollah who then possessed those weapons. And during the Cold War, we came within a razor's edge of nuclear annihilation. But all that's ancient history and the arms race is on.

The U.S. military has a "budget" of $725 billion, another rise over last year's nearly $700 billion and twice what it was ten years ago. This is what the rest of the world combined spends on its military. And to boost arms sales, the U.S. government often helps with the financing, despite being broke, forced to borrow and print the money. This despite U.S. states and communities having to layoff teachers, police and firefighters and cut other services in a desperate attempt to pay their bills.

Why is this madness happening? Because the military contractors employ more than 200,000 people directly, including people in nearly every Congressional District. Add in sub-contractors and they employ millions of Americans. So in the words of our politicians, our national security depends on "keeping America strong," even as it goes broke.

If you would like to know more about how crazy this has become, please see Fortune magazine's cover story, "America's Hottest Export: Weapons. Arms sales to the Middle East are booming. The defense industry's surprising partner in the race to arm the world? President Obama."
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/10/news/international/america_exports_weapons.fortune/index.htm

If this offends or frightens you, remember it is happening in Americans' silence and indifference. What you think matters so please, raise your voice in the names of sanity, humanity and peace. Thank you.

Dick

Afghan Bank Hit By Bombers and Gunmen, 40 Dead

2011-02-20T15:57:00.000-08:00

As the U.S. War with the Taliban rages, on Saturday two bombers and five gunmen walked into a Jalalabad branch of Kabul Bank and slaughtered at least 40 people while wounding 50 more, the deadliest Afghan attack in 8 months. Why?

"In that branch, the puppet regime's military ... receives their salaries," said a Taliban spokesman, who acknowledged they conducted the attack.

With the explosions and gunfire, panicked customers, men and women like you and me tried to flee, many unsuccessfully. Their families are now left to bury them and to try to live without them, who were their loved ones and in many cases, their providers.

Other major Taliban attacks have taken place in the last month in Kandahar, Afghanistan's 2nd largest city and in Kabul, its capitol. The intent is to show Afghans that despite American and other troop presence, no place is safe. Of course American troops and "contractors" also continue their attacks, as do American drone bombings continue on Afghan villages.

As a side note, Kabul Bank is widely considered a bastion of corruption for the Karzai government kept in power by the U.S. Last year the bank nearly collapsed as millions of dollars are unaccounted for and loans to high level government officials and other key individuals may be noncollectable.

The International Monetary Fund, is highly critical of the Karzai government for not pursuing an extensive investigation and if appropriate, prosecution.

In the end it is the people of Afghanistan who are caught in the middle of the war and in the corruption. The sooner there can be a negotiated peace and a withdrawal of U.S. troops, the better.

This is a matter for U.N. sanctioned troops to oversee and for the Afghan people themselves to reject the Taliban if they choose to do so and to put in place their own government, accountable to them. The Russians and now the Americans as foreign occupiers have only compounded their misery.

Dick
For more details of the attack, please see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38533837/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/

John Fortier's Peace Vigil, 2/18/11

2011-02-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

Last night John, a 77 year old Korean War veteran held his Redondo Beach, CA peace vigil along side Pacific Coast Highway, despite a driving rain swept by 25 mph winds in a 52 degree temperature. The winds blew so hard, at one point they turned his umbrella inside-out and he was pelted by the rain.

His vigil began at 4 pm and I joined him at 4:50. In the 20 minutes I was out there, despite my umbrella and heavy jacket, I got soaked. John's wife Michelle arrived with their little mutt Sparky, a beige critter who is a foot tall and a foot and half long and like Michelle, he too was so soaked. Michelle was so cold, that despite the warmth of her hug, her nose felt like an ice cube.

She appealed to John to stop the vigil, as did I, and he finally relented at 5:10 pm, but only to help a young lady that Michelle said had car trouble and was stalled at the side of a busy street.

Each week, John appeals to the consciences of others for peace and his sign is a simple one, "War Is Not The Answer." He is so determined to make that appeal, that he braved a rainstorm few others would leave their warm and dry cars or homes to go out in.

Dick

Iraqi Protesters Take To The Streets

2011-02-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

In U.S. occupied Iraq, in which the U.S. military keeps an Iraq government in power in its heavily secured Green Zone, frustrations with that government are mounting. The Iraqi people have little voice in its affairs, and are living with electricity just 4 hours a day at best, no clean water, no sewage treatment, little medical care and little schooling for their children. The unemployment rate is a staggering 40-50%.

But emboldened by peaceful protesters overthrowing the Egyptian government, an overthrow the U.S. says it supports, for the 2nd time in 3 days, on Wednesday in Kut, about 100 miles southeast of Baghdad, peaceful protesters took to the streets to make demands on the government. They want services such as clean water, regular electricity and an honest government, responsive to them.

In reply, they were fired on. Three protesters lay dead and 55 were wounded. The government claimed some protesters set ablaze government buildings and they had no choice while protesters claim the buildings were burned in anger after the gunfire.

But whether from watching the peaceful overthrow of the Egyptian government or in sympathy with the Kut attack, Iraqis have begun protesting.

In northern Iraq, in Sulaymaniya, protesters marched outside Kurdish President Massoud Barzani's offices. The government claimed some protesters threw rocks at the building and opened fire on them. Two people were killed and 47 were wounded.

While in the southern city of Basra, Iraq's second largest city, 600 people gathered peacefully in front of the government offices. There were no reports of injuries.

It is my hope that the Iraqi people can peacefully unite, as happened in Egypt, to overthrow the corrupt and incompetent government and rid itself of its American occupier. But whatever happens, that there is an end to the violence that has permeated Iraq since the U.S. invasion in March, 2003 and that its people can live in peace and prosperity.

Dick

If Egypt Can Overthrow It's Ruler, Why Not Iraq?

2011-02-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

The Egyptian people, suffering from extreme financial hardship, boldly and peacefully overthrew their dictator. But Iraqis also live with extreme hardship. Could they overthrow their foreign occupier, the U.S.?

Since the U.S. invaded Iraq nearly eight years ago, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been killed and many more have been maimed. Numerous children have also been orphaned. From this frightening horror show, millions of Iraqis have fled their nation, while millions more have been displaced within Iraq. The problems are so severe, they even transcend the problems Egyptians face.

But it gets worse. Iraqi unemployment is 40-50% (vs. 25% in the U.S. during the Great Depression). The Iraqi government, which the U.S. keeps in power operates from the heavily secured U.S. Green Zone, rather than among the people, who supposedly elected it. Top officials pay themselves huge salaries the amount of which they refuse to disclose to the people.

The recent race for Prime Minister was between Nuri al-Maliki and Dr. Ayad Allawi, both with the approval of the U.S., which helped write Iraq's Constitution. It is an incompetent government incapable of providing even basic services. Bombings, shootings and kidnappings happen regularly, electricity is provided at best four hours a day, clean water and sewage treatment are scarce as is medical care and schooling for their children.

Even with the severity of its problems, Egypt has it better than this and it has no foreign occupier. What was Iraq's response to Egypt's overthrow of its government? It came from the U.S. government. "Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki hailed Egypt's 'peaceful transition' from authoritarian rule after he spoke with Vice President Biden on Sunday" the White House said in a statement. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hdtqyalRkGC2IC9jrLkOKoNv-4LQ?docId=CNG.f6fcd5bb2a7f891c8156a12d7845d240.5f1

What will it take for the Iraqi people to rule themselves and be rid of a foreign occupier? Peaceful protests by the Iraqi people, which are dangerous for them to do and censored in the U.S when it has been done and for the American people to raise their voices in the name of freedom for them. If you are an American, please speak up for your Iraqi brethren who have no voice here and for now, no voice in their own nation.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 258, 2/16/11

2011-02-17T11:05:00.000-08:00

"It's always nice to see you guys out here," said a bus driver with a big smile as he opened his doors while stopped at a red light. "We can't forget these people. It's important. This is what's really going on and they don't say anything about it. Thank you."

For years, this vigil has had the support of various bus drivers who wave and sometimes honk their horns and as he did last night, open their doors to talk. In addition to him, there were numerous shout outs and horn honks, waves and two fingered peace signs.

What a beautiful winter evening it was, with a cool, crisp breeze blowing in off the ocean a 1/2 mile away. And as the cars lined up on Pacific Coast Highway often to inch through the intersection, I stood at the edge of the sidewalk, candle in hand, sign in front of me and with a broad smile, made eye contact with many of the motorists.

It was a remarkable feeling, seeing in their eyes how the vigil was touching some of them. It is a gentle appeal not to forget those who are enduring enormous suffering, more of them each day, people just like themselves, and to ask them as a matter of conscience why these wars are allowed to continue.

In Egypt, people peacefully rallied in the streets and brought down their government. A generation ago in America people rallied peacefully and brought the Vietnam War to an end. Now it's up to Americans today to decide what they stand for.

Silence and inaction or compassion for their brethren and action to end the wars. There is plenty of room for peace demonstrations on street corners and college campuses across the U.S.

Dick

U.S. News Priorities by John Fortier

2011-02-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, Korean War Veteran and Peace Activist John Fortier wrote with fire when he saw the Los Angeles Times (and other U.S. news media) gave huge coverage to actress Lindsay Lohan's problems and almost nothing to the victims of a suicide bomber in Pakistan who at the time of John's writing killed 27 people. That number has since grown to 32 dead.

In the Thursday, Feb. 10 TIMES, there is an article about 27 troops being killed and more than 40 wounded at a Pakistani army training camp Thursday. I assume I am supposed to assume that the killed and wounded were Pakistani. The article, on page AA2, was too short to include that detail.

On pages AA1 and AA3 are a picture and article about a woman on trial for stealing. The article is big enough to tell us that she "sat in her familiar spot"; that she is still on probation for drunk driving; that she's under investigation for assaulting a worker at a recovery clinic; that she was given preferential treatment for booking and shielded from view of TV cameras; and was spared jail time when she "tested positive for drugs while on probation in a DUI case" by Judge Eldon S. Fox. In addition to those details we are given the value and description of the necklace and the name and location of the store it is charged that she stole it from.

The color picture, 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 in.,occupies about 32 square inches or the equivalent of 29 column inches. Add that to 27 column inches of text and you have on pages AA1 and AA3 an equivalent total of 56 column inches. That's the same as 4 feet 8 inches of 'news', in considerable detail.

The article on page AA2 about the27 human beings killed and more than 40 human beings being wounded was too short for many details. It was only 3 inches.

Is it any wonder people consider our media censored ? Censored by omission maybe, sliced and diced into tiny pieces in spaces as inconspicuous as possible. Behind, beneath and beyond the acreage of blah, blah, blah, blah about irresponsible behavior and enabling judges with 'stars' in their eyes.

Did those 27 dead troops have spouses, parents, children ? Does anyone care ? Not the media, it seems. It would trouble to tell us what the woman in the story had written on her fingernails when she went to court a while back. But it doesn't have the space or the interest to tell us how many widows or widowers or semi-orphans were created today.

The wars we are presently waging around the world are shielded from our awareness, buried in little mention on back pages. There is no draft. The economy and employment make filling our 'volunteer army' easy. But even so, re-deployments have reached the double digits for some, and 5, 7 and 8 or more are not unheard of. If the armed forces is the only place that's hiring, it will get applicants, Until the public starts thinking about these things. Then there won't be enough street corners to accommodate the protesters.

John Fortier
Redondo Beach
Korean War vet , protester

Candlelight Vigil No. 257, 2/9/11

2011-02-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

"I'm in the Marine Reserves," said a 25 ish, 5 ft, 8 in muscular man who walked up with his girl friend. "But I served on Active Duty for 51/2 years. I was in Iraq in 2005 and I'm going to Afghanistan this Summer. Thank you for doing this."

When we told him John Fortier is a Korean War veteran he added, "Thank you for your service Sir."

After this couple walked away a 25 is man walked up and said, "My brother was in Iraq. He came back okay. He's in the Army Airborne and has been in the Army for three years. He's going to Afghanistan." Then after an instant of silence he added, "Thank you," as he stared at the vigil.

This was how last night's vigil went, including horn honks, waves, two fingered peace signs and thumbs up. The response was so strong, we extended the vigil an extra half hour to accommodate everyone.

"What you are doing is beautiful," said a 56 year old, 5ft, 10 in, medium build woman as she stood in front of the sign and the tears ran down her cheeks. She then gave me a bear hug and did the same with John.

"My ex-boyfriend was a firefighter, good looking and really had it together. Then as a Marine sharpshooter, he served three deployments in Iraq. He was never the same. He came back mentally crippled and couldn't function in society. Now he's a drunk and lives on the streets. I had to put him out for my safety and security."

This was the most emotional time of the vigil. But one of its nicest moments came when a 40 ish man in a small gray sedan stopped at the red light. He had his precious five year old daughter in the car and he smiled and gently leaned over and pointed to the vigil. He then waved and so did she.

As I stepped on to the street to talk with them, he lowered his window and this gorgeous tiny girl told me her name and how old she is, as she revelled in the attention. My heart jumped with joy. When the signal turned green, they waved goodbye and I stepped back on to the sidewalk. John said a car in the far right lane had been anxious to drive where I was walking but he waited impatiently, apparently shuffling around in his seat.

Yet he never honked his horn in frustration and this has happened so many times in the five year course of the vigil. Drivers see what is happening and however anxious they are to get home, they wait silently.

As the vigil ended, a 40 ish woman, a passenger in a small sedan looked at the vigil with eyes as wide as saucers and said to us, "Amen." Dear reader, Amen to you as well. Thank you for your interest.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 256, 2/2/11

2011-02-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

"Thank you guys for being out here," said a 30 ish woman from her small white sedan. "I've seen you out here for years. It's wonderful that you give your time to such a worthwhile cause. It means a lot to to me and I know it means a lot to others."

This was one of several messages of support John Fortier and I received during a vigil that started slowly in public response but picked up so much momentum, we extended the vigil an extra 13 minutes to accommodate everyone. In addition to the comments, there were many horn honks and waves and two finger peace signs.

The vigil was joined by the 50 ish couple who often participate and briefly by a 53 year old Englishman who sometimes does and by a 58 year old Slovakian man who stopped by to offer his kind words of support.

"Thank you," said a 60 ish woman walking her dogs. "Thank you for doing that."

"You guys are doing a great job," said a 40 ish man, an 18 year Air Force veteran, wearing green camouflage fatigues, from his green gray SUV, as he reached across the passenger seat to shake my hand and he waved at John. He then smiled warmly and added, "you guys take care," as he drove off.

"Thank you for doing that," said a 25 ish woman enthusiastically as her smile lit up the night. "We drove around the block so we could come back and tell you that," she said in reference to her 30 ish sister or friend driving the white SUV. "My boyfriend is in the Marine Corps. He's at Ft. Benning in Georgia. They are going to send him to Afghanistan in May."

As she spoke her enthusiasm and her big smile never left her face, as she then talked about his special training and something about his "wings." This is unusual for family or friends that have a loved one being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan are almost always nervous about it.

Although we didn't question this, the driver added with confidence ringing in her voice, "Yes he will come home safely," as if there is no other option.

The two ladies thanked us again and we expressed our appreciation for them caring not only for the boyfriend but for everyone involved in these wars. "We care very much and appreciate you both doing this," replied the driver, as they smiled and waved goodbye to us.

It was a nice way to end the vigil and to me very touching to see how this vigil is affecting some of the people who witness it, or who from a distance light candles in support of it or like you dear reader, care enough to read about it. But it also reaches people who don't visibly express themselves in ways we can measure nor do we know how it will affect them.

Dick

John Fortier Peace Vigil, 1/28/11

2011-01-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, The following Vigil summary is from 77 year old John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and retired school teacher. He has conducted these vigils every Friday night and holds additional peace vigils, since just before President Bush launched the Iraq War in March, 2003.

Tonight was not a good night to forget to bring a little notebook to my Friday 'protest' on the corner [PCH & Knob Hill] (Dear Reader, This is Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach, CA). I've been encouraged to keep a record or journal of my experiences while I sit up there with my "War Is Not the Answer" and peace symbol signs, but I never remember to. Usually it doesn't matter much because the time

[4 - 5:30] usually passes without anything out of the ordinary happening.

Tonight was different. The honks, waves and V signs were considerably more numerous than usual, but it was other little events that made it interesting. One was a visit by a couple of young boys, one black, one white and both around 13 or 14. I had chatted with the black kid before and was impressed by the depth and scope of his awareness and concerns. When he left I gave him a couple of the poker chip peace sign pins I make and carry with me. We exchanged names but I have not remembered his and I suspect he may have forgotten mine too.

Tonight he walked up with a different partner and showed me a metal peace sign he had on a cord around his neck. I wear one too, but his is a very impressive 3 inches in diameter; mine is 1. I asked him where he got it and was surprised by his answer - The Party House in Torrance. [I'm glad to hear that because that store has lots of young people customers for costumes and party decorations.] We talked about Egypt and Tunisia some, and the dilemma they create for this country. Backing strongmen has some advantages, but when the oppression by those strongmen on their people becomes so great that the people resist what do we do? A lot of adults don't show the interest and concern of this young man. I hate to think we might have to wait for the 13 year olds to grow up and run the show and get it right. When he was leaving he asked if I had another peace pin he could have; he had given his away. Now he has several more to find good homes for.

Another event was not unique but special. Several times a lady driver and a male passenger, when going east on Knob Hill, have honked, waved and thrown V signs. The lady is around 50ish and the guy anywhere from 20 to 40. The lady is either the mother or care-giver of the passenger,who appears to have some serious physical or mental difficulties. Their waving is always enthusiastic and generous and it's always an pleasant energizing experience for me .

Tonight when they were stopped by a red light, he waved the whole time they waited for the green. The lady yelled something to me, but I couldn't understand and cupped my ears in my hands to let her know that. She yelled again and I responded with, "I can't understand you, but I really appreciate your support!" That motivated her to really shout out, "It will be nice when some day you won't have to be sitting out there." I answered with, "That's will be a wonderful day. Thank you", as they were driving away.

Not long after that a little non-event event happened in that same place. Two young ladies were stopped at the light and the passenger gave me a timid little V wave. I returned it with a sort of theatrical both arms extended double V wave. She said something that made the driver look at me with a big smile and a V wave. The passenger began rummaging around like she might be looking for a camera in a purse on her lap, but the light changed and they made a left turn north on PCH. I suspect she might have been looking for a camera of some kind because having my picture taken has become fairly common. Some ask if I would mind, some don't, but as long as they have my signs in the frame, I'm happy as a clam.

The last happening this evening is a little embarrassing. A young man, about 25 or so, pulled up on a bicycle and said a pretty heavily accented hello and a couple of supportive comments about what I was doing. I asked where he was from, how long had he been speaking English, and what he thought about current events. He said he was from the French language part of Belgium, was here in the states looking for work as a model, liked the states very much, and was surprised that I knew that Brugge was there [only because of the movie by that name], and Flanders Fields. I also told him I admired their firearms industry and enjoyed their waffles. That was when he tried to hand me some paper money, five one dollar bills to be exact. I told him no, no, no, no. I said that I would not accept money. I was not homeless or hungry or broke and lived two blocks away in a house of my own with my wife and a dog. He enjoyed my saying that but was unstoppable. I came home with $5. That's $5 I have to find a very special use for.

Maybe I'll go buy a nice little notebook.

Afghan Blast Kills 8 People

2011-01-29T12:02:00.000-08:00

A Taliban suicide bomber killed 8 people while wounding others yesterday in an upscale Kabul supermarket that caters to wealthy westerners. The dead included a child.

The Taliban were trying to kill a senior Blackwater official, a firm the U.S. uses to provide security, but one heavily despised in the Arab world for its brutal treatment of Iraq and Afghan non-combatants.

The Afghan War is now over 10 years old and the U.S. and its allies, foreign powers widely view as occupiers, are in charge of security across Afghanistan. Only in Kabul do Afghan forces have responsibility, as the death and destruction continues with no end in sight.

Dick
For more details of this tragedy please see: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703956604576109803931337930.html

"Car bombing kills 48 in Shiite district of Baghdad"

2011-01-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader, According to the Los Angeles Times (1/28/11), a car bomb exploded next to a funeral tent killing 48 people and wounding 121 more. In the last 10 days, nearly 200 people have been killed and hundreds more were wounded as the nearly eight year old war continues.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-bombing-20110128,0,6457116.story

These tragedies show everyone that the Iraq government the U.S. keeps in power cannot provide security any better than it can provide electricity, clean water or sewage treatment.

Dick

Candlelight Vigil No. 255, 1/26/11

2011-01-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

"Nicely done guys," said a 60 ish man from a small sedan as he warmly smiled at us. "I served in the Navy and I know what's it like (to go to war)."

This supportive comment helped to set the tone for a vigil that attracted more participants than in any held on this street corner in the five years they have been held. Participants joined at various times throughout the vigil.

The 64 year old Haitian man who often joins did last night, as did the 50 ish couple who usually join, the 66 year old woman who occasionally does, and a 40 ish woman with her adorable children, a five year old daughter and a three year old son, who periodically participates.

But it was also joined by a 38 year old Cambodian man who participated in the past. As a child, he lived through the notorious "Killing Fields" of Cambodia. From 1975 thru 1979, the Communist Khmer Rouge under its fanatical leader Pol Pot took control of Cambodia and to punish anyone who opposed them, executed or starved to death or allowed to die of disease, 1.7 million Cambodians out of a population of 7 million.

As a child, this man witnessed the horrors from this widespread death and destruction and fled with his parents, eventually coming to the U.S. They became American citizens. Today, this intelligent, well read man is a financial advisor and a tax planner and he strongly opposes war. Previously he expressed his belief the U.S. is wasting the lives of its soldiers and its financial resources in the Iraq and Afghan Wars.

Last night speaking of Cambodia, he said with anger and frustration ringing in his voice, "1.7 million were killed. It's too bad two more weren't killed (referring to Pol Pot and one of his henchmen) because if they had been killed, many of those 1.7 million people would have lived. That's why I believe in the 2nd Amendment (of the U.S. Constitution, allowing citizens to bear arms)."

He expressed his pleasure that in Tunisia, the people through nonviolent protest just overthrew the 22 year reign of a dictator and that the Egyptians are trying to do the same with 82 year old Hosni Mubarak who has ruled for 30 years and is planning to extend that rule to his son.

Because there were so many vigil participants, John Fortier and I added an extra half hour to the vigil to accomodate everyone. And we welcomed numerous horn honks and waves of support. Today, most Americans are silent about the Iraq and Afghan Wars, many not caring because they mistakingly believe these wars won't affect them. But others regret the wars and some express themselves when given the opportunity to do so. That's the role this vigil serves for them.

For me, it is a call for peace and an end to the insanity and cruelty that continues to destroy everything in its path. And it is taking an hour each week to recall in my heart, all those who have paid so severe a price in these wars, including the families and especially the children who bear the suffering. It is also a message of hope for if others will raise their voices with us, we can bring these wars to an end.

Dick

War Protesters, Where Are You?

2011-01-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

When President George W. Bush launched the Iraq and Afghan Wars, 15 million of you in 800 U.S. cities protested and although in fewer numbers, those protests continued throughout his presidency. But when Barack Obama became President in 2009, most of you fell silent, joining the vast majority of Americans who have been silent throughout these wars as the death and destruction continues. Where is your moral outrage? Do you no longer care? Maybe you are caught up in President Obama's charisma and you ignore his actions.

Just before Christmas, in blizzard conditions, between 100 and 200 peace protesters, many of them former soldiers, held a peaceful vigil outside the White House. They were arrested and you remained silent. 77 year old Korean War veteran John Fortier and I host weekly candlelight vigils along Pacific Coast Highway in the Los Angeles area, http://candlelightvigils.blogspot.com/. If the wars matter to you what actions are you taking?

When President Obama abandoned his pledge to end the Iraq War in 16 months, instead adopting President Bush's program, little was said. When he escalated the Afghan War and the death toll mounted again little was said.

That President Obama has now initiated wars in Yemen and Somalia and continued the one in Pakistan still did not get you involved. That he not only didn't close Guantanamo, but has death squads conducting "targeted killings" and secret CIA run prisons which torture as they did under Mr. Bush still does not raise your ire. The U.S. may no longer be waterboarding but does seizing, torturing and holding without charge satisfy you?

Meanwhile in Iraq on Tuesday, just north of Baghdad, a suicide bomber walked among a crowd of police job applicants and their families and detonated his explosives. In an instant, 60 men, women and children were dead and another 160 were seriously injured.

The casualty count was so high, that some of the victims were rushed to hospitals as far away as 120 miles. And Mosques across Iraq pleaded for blood donors. But the next day, renewed attacks killed 14 more in one incident and three others in another. And on Thursday, two suicide car bombings killed 56 Shiite Muslim worshipers and police in Karbala, just south of Baghdad. Another 189 were wounded.

While in Afghanistan Tuesday, a roadside bomb blew-up a van carrying families to a medical clinic, killing 13 men, women and children. Since President Obama's military surge began, people are being killed in greater numbers than at any time since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan nine years ago.

Yet America was deeply shaken when Jared Lee Loughner opened fire on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others in Arizona January 8th, killing six people including a nine year old girl and wounding 13 others. But in Iraq and Afghanistan this would be just another day.

What will it take to get you involved? The deaths and maiming of more U.S. soldiers? It happens all the time including last week in Iraq in which three U.S. soldiers were killed in combat, despite President Obama having declared "an end to combat operations." What ever happened to "support our troops?"

In December when Congress ignored the 9/11 First Responder pleas for medical care, you got fired up and flooded Congressional offices with phone calls, emails, texts and twitters. As a result, Congress did a quick reversal and funded medical programs to help the First Responders.

You could end all these wars by doing the same thing. Please, in the name of God, or for humanity raise your voice for peace. Your conscience will thank you and you will set an excellent example for your children. And as the U.S. races to moral and fiscal bankruptcy funding weapons and wars, you will be doing your part to salvage our economy and to provide a better financial future for your family and for all of our families.

Dick

Editor's Note: Thank you to webmaster Jon Barnes for his research on this piece and for doing an excellent job editing it. The number of protesters and cities is from Wikipedia, 1/21/11.