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News :: Peace |
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Local anti-war float takes home parade trophy |
Current rating: 0 |
by Ricky Baldwin
Email: baldwnricky (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
04 Jul 2004
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AWARE won third place in the non-professional category at Champaign County's annual Fourth of July parade.
But even better was the audience response: overwhelmingly positive, enthusiastic in fact. |
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The Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort (AWARE) took home a trophy from the parade today. Third place in the non-professional category went to AWARE’s giant model of an old, polluted and war-torn earth cracking open to give birth to a bright, peaceful future earth -- complete with images of doves and colorful banners reading “Another World Is Possible!”
Over a month of planning and building, involving two dozen or more volunteers who got their hands dirty, gave up their afternoons and evenings, brought their kids to play in papier-mache and paint, finally paid off. AWARE proudly displayed the two-foot high trophy and labels on the float during the length of the parade, as members marched along behind the float carrying hand-made anti-war signs.
But more important than the trophy, this third annual anti-war contingent in the local parade enjoyed the best audience reception ever. Hundreds of people, young and old, black and white, families and loners, wearers of tie-dye and American flag t-shirts, clapped and grinned and waved like crazy along the majority of the two-hour route.
Yes, there were hecklers - two or three - and quite a few folks just didn’t react at all. But the vast majority of the crowd was very positive, very glad to see the messages of peace and justice and not at all ashamed to applaud, whoop and holler, and raise their two fingers in peace signs.
A thrill rippled through the anti-war marchers as they passed down the rows of cheering on-lookers. It was not what veteran protesters normally expect at a patriotic gathering.
Perhaps the Bush Administration has told one too many whoppers. Maybe too many civilians have been slaughtered -- or tortured. Maybe too many US soldiers have died for nothing. Maybe Halliburton and other Administration cronies have won too many no-bid contracts and made too many millions from the suffering and death of Iraqi civilians and US soldiers. Or maybe democracy has been trampled one time too many.
Whatever the exact reason or combination of reasons, a majority of the American people now believe the war in Iraq to be wrong, according to the latest polls. And our un-elected president’s ratings continue to drop. Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” is number one at the box office even though it is only showing at roughly a third of the nation’s cinemas. These things are much bigger and better than any trophy, though the recognition is certainly nice.
AWARE worked very hard to make that float, and its overall participation in the parade, a success. Millions including AWARE have worked much harder for some sanity in the world. Let’s hope our country is finally moving in the right direction. |
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See also:
http://www.anti-war.net
http://www.democracynow.org
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This work is in the public domain. |
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Re: "Jack" abusing the newswire again |
by gehrig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
05 Jul 2004
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... with a string of whiny spammage demonstrating, once again, his basic disrespect of the newswire. And he wonders why his posts are hidden.
@%< |
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Re: Local anti-war float takes home parade trophy |
by Meg
blue2 (nospam) net66.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
05 Jul 2004
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Yeah for you AWARE folks!
And yeah for the folks who got to C-U leading the way and recognized the truth of your message.
Well done! |
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Re: Local anti-war float takes home parade trophy |
by thorn
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
05 Jul 2004
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Righ -f'ing- On! It makes a Cham-Banana proud! Thanks to the tireless efforts of AWARE. The tide is staring to turn in our country, and it's activists like you, that stand out on Prospect risking life and limb (and police indifference) that are making things better for everyone. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Also glad to see the majority of Jack&Friends' posts hidden; thanks ML and PR. I know it's neverending work plucking out the ticks for us, but it makes UCIMC so much more useful and positive. |
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Re: Local anti-war float takes home parade trophy |
by PM
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
05 Jul 2004
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CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's wonderful to see so many people involved in the effort and so much positive feedback. AWARE activists deserve less-lonely days like this, after sticking to their principles since the beginning of Bush's wars. |
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Re: Local anti-war float takes home parade trophy |
by NRA4Freedom
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
07 Jul 2004
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Ok, I'll also say congratulations for winning a prize. The artistic expression of your float wasn't half bad. |
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Re: Local anti-war float takes home parade trophy |
by Susan Davis
sgdavis (nospam) uiuc.edu (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
09 Jul 2004
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Ricky -- thanks for a great report, and for all the hard work. I'm thrilled you got such a great reception. |
