R.I.P. John Schuder

While checkingon a few things today I found out that longtime Coumbia, MO peace activist and cofounder of the local chapter of FOR and COlumbia Friends Meeting John Schuder had passed away. A longtime staple at the Saturday morning post office vigils, his long term commitment to peace and justice issues inspired many, including myself.

Our condolences to his family, friends, and fellow colleagues.

And They Say Big Brother Doesn't Exist

In the last few years we have lived in very scary times for the Constitution and our rights. On Thursday July 17, 2008 the ACLU revealed that Maryland State Police Had Spied On Anti War and Anti Death Penalty Groups. Thus once again revealing how out of touch those in power are when it comes to issues such as fear, safety, and dissent (to name a few things).

I know it shouldn't surprise me that those who want a different future than the ones offered up by the current administration (and its corporate masters) are more likely to have their rights violated in the name of security than the government would try to track down actual terrorists, but it still angers me. Somehow the lessons we, as a nation, should have learned from COINTELPRO and the Church Committee hearings of 1975 seem to have been forgotten as we seem to line dance towards potential fascism. Yes, we live in a somewhat dangerous age in the seven or so years since the 9/11 tragedy. However, we seem to forget that when we give up our liberties and allow things like this to happen then the people we're supposed to be scared shitless of have won.

I really hope steps are taken to put the brakes on this bullshit. Still, it does prove the English dub/punk/rock band AOS3 right when they said "Scary Times Are Never Dull."

Slightly Delayed Report of 1,000 Strong For Peace

In Columbia, MO a few days ago (Sunday March 16, 2008) Columbia Peace Coalition held their 1,000 Strong For Peace event protesting and remembering the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq (which is exactly that date on the day I type this). The organizers were hoping to get at least 1,000 people to appear and express their opposition to the war. The actual total was around 1,100 (as the event started 1,009 has signed up beforehand while others had showed up without registering to appear). After a rally/vigil at Courthouse Square, the crowd marched to Peace Park where several musicians appeared to perform for participants. It was a suprising event that should've had more people, even with the organizers expectations surpassed.

I'll try to get some pictures up on the web site soon on the rally. It's great that so many manage to voice their opposition to an insane war on this date but here's hoping some more of them appear as regualrly as they can at the weekly vigils or rush hour demonstrations.

The War Turns Five (Time to Get Ready for Kindergarten)

As you all know, the war in Iraq is nearing the fifth anniversary since it officially started (I'm still trying to figure out how all the no fly zone bombings meant we still weren't at war with them between 1991 and March 2003). It doesn't take a genius to realize what has gone down since then and how little the reality there resembles what the first term of Dubya's administration tried to sell us.

In the next week or so there are probably going to be vigils and rallies regarding this. Those in the Columbia and MId MO are may want to check this out.

Check your local area to see what's going on if you want to speak out against the past five years of bullshit.