Still Standing For Peace

by Patricia Kneisler

Boy oh boy oh boy ... the California primary must be right around the corner ...

Got a call yesterday from a VERY excited member of the Solano Peace and Justice Coalition. It seems she was contacted by a lady in town who is active in Dennis Kucinich's campaign. I had never heard of this ... but apparently, the Kucinich people have organized a "Walk for Peace" ... teams of people started in Portland, MAINE, last October and have been walking across country ever since, expecting to wind up shortly in San Francisco for the "big day".

Well, the woman who called informed us that she had read about my peace vigil on Thursdays ... and said that two of the Kucinich walkers would be ending their Thursday trek RIGHT THERE! She just wanted to make sure we'd be there as usual.

Jeepers ... I was on the phone to the local paper in a heartbeat and gave the tip to my favorite reporter.

Then today I got to the park extra early and carefully set out all my signs and some 60 candles.

Next thing I knew there were cars everywhere with Kucinich posters and stickers plastered all over them! They homed right in on me ... a whole caravan of folks barnstorming the state for their favorite. I don't think I've ever quite seen the like. They set up shop just down the block from me right on the busiest corner at 1st and Military and set up these nifty sign displays and whatnot. Shoot ... they had a guitar player who strolled up and down playing ... and they all enthusiastically pitched their signs to some very startled and bemused commuters!

Then the media showed up with photographers ... so, of course, I got interviewed again in the process.  

Then ... ta da! Down the street came two VERY tired walkers ... a young man and a young woman. My goodness, but the campaigners rallied round them with a huge American flag flapping in the breeze. They stood out in the intersection for a bit ... then the whole troupe ... some 15 to 20 people made a march all together down to my vigil and joined in, everybody clapping everybody on the back and hugging and cheering!!

In the meantime, of course, word had gotten round the Solano Peace and Justice group ... so some 8 or 9 of them showed up, too. So ... LORDY ... what a gathering! Even Dan Smith, the city councilman, caught wind of the affair and showed up for the whole thing.

Having never been active in political affairs myself until just this last year, I sure got an eyeful of what citizen participation in the democratic process can be like. It was an exhilarating moment, let me tell you!

Whooo-boy, but us peaceniks are finally getting to the town "Bushies". They are runnin' scared, folks. I bet I counted at least 6 different vehicles where the drivers honked to get our attention ... and then blatantly gave us the old one finger salute ... some of them right in front of their own little children in the back seat. That's a sign that we've got them good and rattled. They can't even think coherently any more. Civility and common sense are right out the window.

By the way, at this Saturday's "Bring the Troops Home" rally in Vallejo I have the unenviable speaking slot right after the keynote speaker, Fernando Suarez del Solar. Fortunately, they're going to put a musical interlude between us as I don't think I'd want to have to immediately follow up such a charismatic, gifted speaker!! Should be quite an experience for all of us. Never thought I'd get to meet the man, much less speak on the same docket with him. I hope he talks about his trip to Iraq last December ... and about going to the place where his only son was killed last March when the invasion was just beginning ...  

Last update: 11/02/2007

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