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Monday, August 18, 2008
Pink Army Marches on Dem Convention Official
By Josie Lenwell
Taos Activist
Come Saturday morning, my car will be overflowing in pink apparel, boas and frilleries. A pet sitter will be booked to take care of my two dogs and enormous cat for the next seven days, and a back-up therapist will cover my counseling practice.
Along with some friends, I'll be driving to Denver, where we will join activists from all over the country to ensure the Democratic party hears the voices of the people.
How could I not? I've watched in horror for nearly eight years as my country has engaged in torture, rendition and an illegal and immoral war and occupation. It has ignored the needs of the people of this country and abroad.
To me, there is no such thing as a just war nor a just occupation. There is no such thing as reliable or justified torture, no matter the alleged crime or action. There is no such thing as an enemy combatant nor anyone who is outside the protections of the Geneva Conventions. And no justification for denying the right to habeas corpus.
And while I've seen some recent signs of hope, the Democratic party has been complicit in these actions, refusing to protect the Constitution and our fragile democracy, perhaps for fear of appearing weak on foreign policy or perhaps greed; power and corporate interests appear far more important.
I cannot ignore this opportunity to go to this convention and demand the Democratic Party clean its ears and listen to our calls for a reinvestment in Americans, in communities, health care, housing and education. It beats sitting home, hiding one's head in the sand and simply hoping for a miracle.
So I will stand in the streets with other activists — housewives, teachers, physical therapists — to bring a strong antiwar message to the Democratic party. I'll do a lot more than stand: In wild pink attire, I'll take part in parades, sing and dance, cheer with the radical cheerleaders, join in with bands and drummers. Maybe these strategies will inspire the Democrats to end this war and forgo another, to take the time to engage in diplomacy.
These strategies work. Day after day for the past six years, Code Pink members in fabulous force have marched, disrupted congressional hearings, "died" outside the homes and offices of politicians, all in an effort to draw attention to those who have failed to end the war and forgo new wars.
These activities have a direct influence on legislative change and, more importantly, educate the communities around us, who rarely see our messages in the mainstream media. Our most recent efforts to thwart a war with Iran have been, thus far, successful, helping to result in much outcry in media and political circles against such an event.
After all, it's a broken system, but if we're loud enough — and as some people believe, obnoxious enough — I have faith it can be fixed.
Margaret Mead famously noted, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." Thoughtful, yes — noisy and pink, too.
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