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The Vigil to end the Iraq War last Sunday filled the church's pews and rows of folding chairs at the back. We turned people away at the door. Television stations 2, 4, 7, 11, and 14 sent reporters and cameras. It was a good public cry for a change in policy.
I used the occasion to dust of my old (2000) DV camera and take some shots. Then I downloaded a trial of Ulead video editing software to produce the clip below. It was pretty straight forward.
Most of the clip is of my minister, Rev. Greg Stewart, setting the tone for the day. Like Barack Obama, I don't agree with my minister on what he says... but I am glad he's standing up and saying what is in his heart. Fortunately, Rev. Stewart is no rev. Jeremiah Wright!
And, if anyone knows another PC-based, low-end (around $100) video editor, please let me know.
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A Vigil to Change the World State Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), Actor Sean Penn, Senior Minister Rev. Gregory Stewart, Iraqi Veteran Specialist Joe Wheeler, Cindy Sheehan, and other peacemakers commemorate the 5th year of the war with a Peace Vigil 5 pm Sunday (March 16) at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Franklin and Geary. The public is invited to come and join the reflection and the call for action. “I imagine this gathering to be one of preparation for the dismantling of the war industrial complex that feeds the anti-Muslim frenzy that grips the USA's power elite and many of its citizens,” says Rev. Stewart.
Additional confirmed participants in the Vigil include Vice Presidential candidate Matt Gonzalez, Bill Simpich of Iraq Moratorium SF Bay, Justin Raimondo, the Editorial Director of Antiwar.com, and Ying Lee of the Watada Support Committee. Nancy Mancias of Code Pink will sing for peace! Speakers will show how individual San Franciscans can help change minds to change the world. “In the fight for peace and justice,” Rev. Stewart adds, “God is optional but you are not. You possess the hands and feet of justice.” A short list of names of people killed in the war will be read to honor all those who have fallen. The peacemaking will conclude with a walk from the church to the steps of the War Memorial Building on Van Ness Avenue. The Vigil to Change the World is co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalists for Peace in coalition with the Iraq Moratorium SF Bay and other local peace, political, and religious organizations. -- This is the latest press release I've sent out about Sunday's Vigil. I'll be there ... come on down!
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Why do we know of Cindy Sheehan?
 We have heard of her because her soldier son was killed in the Iraq War on April 4, 2004.
That's her horrible claim to fame. Since her son was killed, she had done a number of noisy things to capture attention. But, if her son was still alive, Cindy would be an unknown Central California woman.
Mothers of servicemen (and women?) killed in service of the country have been called Gold Star Mothers since at least 1918. The name came from the custom of soldiers' families hanging a banner in their windows. The banners showed blue stars for each active serviceman and gold stars for any soldier who was killed.
Cindy Sheehan is a Gold Star Mother. By definition. By tragedy.
But, I got my fingers slapped when I wrote a press release for this upcoming Sunday's Peace Vigil co-sponsored by my church. I referred to her as "Gold Star Mother Cindy Sheehan".
Oh, no, no! Don't call her that!
Apparently Cindy's tactics have angered the local (national?) Gold Star Mother's Club. Supposedly the organization doesn't want Cindy to use the term "Gold Star Mother". If I were to identify Cindy as a Gold Star Mother, the San Francisco peace coalition organizers would first have to meet and come to consensus on using that title in face of the opposition of the official club. So, the publicity poster and press releases call Cindy "Peace Mom".
Instead of employing the gut-wrenching powerful reminder that Cindy's son -- and other real people -- have died in this war, we use a wishy-washy flower-child-sounding term than will offend, or remind, no one.
Reason 125,047 why the war continues and Bush Republicans win too many elections.
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