I'm headed to DC this weekend for Code Pink's Mother's Day slumber party on the White House lawn for peace. I'm following one of their organizers for my book. The protest is inspired by abolitionist Julia Ward Howe's bad ass Mother's Day Proclamation, which I thought I'd post here in case folks hadn't seen it:

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Check out the video of famous ladies reading parts of it:

5 Comments

May 7, 2009 1:23 PM

[0+]  argolis said:

code pink? really? groan

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May 7, 2009 1:30 PM

[0+]  sophiafromoregon said:

Mama's STAND UP!

HAHA

Thank you

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May 7, 2009 1:36 PM

[0+]  Mama Mia said:

Also, check out this community post about Inter Pares and Mothers' Day: http://community.feministing.com/2009/05/mothers-day-a-day-to-honour-mo.html

I find them to be very inspiring.

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May 7, 2009 1:49 PM

[0+]  jonas said:

Inspiring words from a great woman. They are somewhat ironic, however, coming from the same author of the stridently militaristic "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

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May 12, 2009 5:17 AM

[0+]  AyannaU said:

Let’s pay tribute to our moms this Mother’s day. Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, and you really should get your mother a gift, or any woman you know that is a mother that happens to mean something to you is also eligible to get gifts on Mother's Day. However, just because you have to give someone a gift, doesn't mean you can't think about saving money. Not all meaningful gifts are expensive – despite what jewelry companies tell you. (They want your money. It's that simple.) For instance, cooking for people is a popular gift, and if you look around for coupons and recipes, you could cook something very nice for Mother's Day (maybe even a vegan recipe) without needing an online payday loan or breaking the bank.

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