Grand Rapids, Michigan

Peace Presence

Report from the Peace Presence

by Betty Ford

Have you joined us yet at the Peace Presence Vigil? We have been participating weekly at the PEACE PRESENCE VIGIL since September 11, 2001. If you drive by the corner of East Fulton and Division on a Monday afternoon between 4:30 and 5:30 you will see us standing or walking, holding signs and sometimes passing out literature. You might even think that a wedding party is driving by as drivers honk their horns for PEACE. There are many thumbs up, of course, some thumbs down, and some just look.

Ilene is our designer of signs. Some of our signs now stand as sandwich boards along both Fulton and Division. These signs give the message that we want people to think about:

HONK FOR PEACE

READ BETWEEN THE PIPELINES

IS IRAQ ANOTHERVIETNAM?

THERE ARE NO VIOLENT SOLUTIONS

WE CAN BOMB THE WORLD TO PIECES, BUT WE CAN’T BOMB THE WORLD TO PEACE

WHO GETS BOMBED NEXT?

MORE WARS AHEAD?

NO MONEY FOR MORE WARS!

IMPERIALISM BREEDS TERRORISM

KEEP THE U.S. SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY

PRAY THAT LOVE PREVAILS

VIOLENCE IS NEVER JUSTIFIED

ECONOMIC RIGHTS FOR ALL

BRING TROOPS HOME NOW

WAR UNDOES THE LOVE THAT SOLDIERS ONCE LEARNED

WAR UNDOES EVERYTHING THAT A MOTHER DOES

John stands with his sign that says HONK FOR PEACE / WAR BAD! And Helena holds up her sign that says PRAY FOR PEACE / WAR KILLS! Then there’s usually George Bush (aka Glenn) urging more bombing. Corinne brings her yard-type signs that give messages of peace and many handouts. Christina waves the HONK FOR PEACE fervently as the cars drive by. Many times others might join us. We always have a sign for them and for you. Come join to witness for Peace and the end of the violence, the killing and the war. Bring your own sign or use one of ours.

Our purpose is to let others know that a better way can be found through the pursuit of peace, dialogue and mutual understanding. Justice and freedom in our society or any other society cannot be secured through means that are unjust or authoritarian.

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