18-SEP-2007
seeing the city through Edward Hopper's eyes
As I woke and slept during the night, I realized I wanted to create a gallery of the photos I took on my last day in Washington, DC, photos that were inspired by Edward Hopper. Instead of unpacking, that is how I've spent my first day back home. That, and sleeping in until 12:30 p.m.! I call the gallery, "Seeing the city through Edward Hopper's eyes" and to see it you can
CLICK HERE.
17-SEP-2007
inspired by Edward Hopper #2
This is another of the photos I took on Sunday after having seen the Edward Hopper exhibit at the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
I'm home and it's still Monday! For the first time since I started driving by myself from Detroit to Washington, DC, I made the trip in one day. That was eleven hours in the car with brief stops for lunch and supper, or, to be specific, ten full hours of driving. I feel SO proud of myself!!! Not to mention feeling delighted to be with my sweetie again, and looking forward to sleeping in my very own bed rather than in a motel. As the old adage says, there's no place like home.
16-SEP-2007
inspired by Edward Hopper
I thought I'd be putting up a photo of my wonderful nephews, nieces and grand nieces and nephew today but the artist in me took over and decided which photo she wanted used. Maybe if I hadn't gone to the Edward Hopper exhibit at the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art this afternoon you would have been seeing seven grinning faces instead of this study in light and shadow, but Hopper's that way: he gets under your skin. What a master in working with light! Most people get so caught up with the narratives--or implied narratives--of his paintings of alienation and anonymity in the city that they miss his craftsmanship. And light was Hopper's passion. It was all I could do to keep my hands off my camera as I went through the exhibit. The minute I left the building, my camera was to my eye. I couldn't wait to see this city--Washington, DC--through Hopper's eyes. And what you see above was just one of many photos I took in my search for interesting light and subjects that evoked feelings similar to those evoked by Hopper's subjects. To be honest, it was great just being a photographer again! It's a pretty intense existence being an out-on-the-street activist and photo-documentor for six solid days. I was ready for a break.
Tomorrow I start my drive back home and will be unable to post an entry that day (Monday). I'll catch up with you again after I get home on Tuesday.
15-SEP-2007
100,000 say NO! to war
It was a wonderful gathering for peace. The organizers say this September 15th antiwar rally and march drew 100,000 persons, but one never knows. And, to be honest, the numbers don't matter. In Washington, DC the politicians and lobbyists and political donors and arms manufacturers and corporations that run our country and make the decisions don't really care what we think anyway. But it matters to us. When we come together like this, we know we are not alone, and we tap into that "people power" we all too often forget we have. To me, the greatest part of this gathering of peace-loving folks was the huge numbers of young people in their teens and 20s who not only attended but were vocal and enthusiastic. I was also gratified to see more persons of color than I've ever seen before at such a rally and march. That is very encouraging! And Middle America was out in full force. This was not just some peacenik bandana-wearing pot-smoking group of 60s wannabees. No, we were young families pushing strollers, farmers in bib overalls, old men and women walking laboriously with canes, middle-aged couples in Izod shirts and khaki shorts, Indian women in saris, cleancut-looking university students, scarved women carrying signs for peace. You name it; they were there.
And I discovered how to do this demonstration in what I believe was an effective way. For 3-4 hours I mounted a stationary vigil with my "Don't bomb Iran" sign and my leaflets, in hopes that these peace people would wake up to what I believe is the imminent threat of war on Iran. In my opinion, the peace movement is missing the boat in their singleminded obsession with Iraq. Yes, we need to stop that horrible war, but we also need to start mobilizing immediately against the NEXT war, the one Mr. Bush, and more importantly Mr. Cheney, seem determined to start against Iran at any moment. So that was my purpose and goal during this huge demonstration, and I received a lot of attention, both from the demonstrators and from the media, at least the Canadian media. I was filmed and interviewed by CBC-TV, and interviewed on CBC-Radio. May our sisters and brothers to the north realize that not all of their neighbors to the south go along silently with what this government does and says in our name! May they see that some of us stand up to the powers-that-be and say a loud resounding NO! to the wars and aggression committed by our leaders.
As the final group of marchers gathered in front of the White House, I left my post, got out my camera and joined them. On the march down Pennsylvania Avenue I met some wonderful people including Marilyn Killingham who was being pushed in a wheelchair by her friend and co-worker in the "Stand Up for Democracy in DC" coalition, Anise Jenkins. I was also grateful to connect with Allia Farhad and Saeed Roshan of the Iranian Left Alliance. They were holding up signs that said, in part, "Only people of Iran have a legitimate right to change the reactionary regime of Iran, not the bloody hands of the U.S. government." That message should be posted all over every city in this country! Who do we think we are to even consider bringing "regime change" (ie., death, destruction & war) to other countries! A block later, Ann Shirazi, whom I'd met in front of the A.R.T. postcard campaign demonstration on Wednesday called me over to meet her husband Ahmed who is originally from Iran. When I got to the Capitol grounds--the end point of the march--there were four of my Michigan Womyn's Music Festival sisters, Kathy & Sheri and Betty & Betsy. But my deepest heart connection of the day was made with Boryana Alexandrova, a committed peace activist who had taken a bus down from Andover, Massachusetts to attend this march. Boryana is originally from Bulgaria and knows what it is like to live in a country where dissent can put you in jail. I suspect it is that firsthand knowledge that fuels her work for justice and peace. I hope we can arrange to see one another again.
So my 6-day Iranian Vigil for Peace here in DC is done. At least for now. Sunday I'm getting together with family, and Monday around noon I'll start my 500-mile drive back home. This vigil has been all that I'd hoped for and more. May plans for peace replace plans for war in the hearts and minds of my country's leaders. May the American people wake up before it's too late and say "NO!" to yet another monstrous war. May our PBase brother Ali Majdfa and his fellow countrymen and women in Iran be protected from harm.
I took many photos of the wonderful people who crossed my path today and, as always, you can see these newly-uploaded images by going to my Iranian Vigil for Peace gallery.
CLICK HERE to see them.
14-SEP-2007
activists start gathering for tomorrow's big antiwar rally & march
This photo is of Bruce, a Veteran For Peace from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was one of dozens of activists I met during my vigil today in front of the White House. Actually, Washington, DC is a beehive of activist excitement tonight as everyone converges on the city for tomorrow's huge antiwar rally and march. It starts with a rally at noon in front of the White House that will be followed by a march to the west side of the Capitol. Much as I loved today's opportunities to meet and talk with so many amazing people from around the country, I have mixed feelings about being part of tomorrow's activities. I'll be there for sure, but, for me, large demonstrations like this no longer feel as effective as my solitary vigils. Yes, being part of a huge crowd of like-minded folks is sweet, but it also feels like we're preaching to the choir. Since these marches occur on Saturdays when all the city workers are off, no one sees us except small numbers of tourists. The media gives these events little attention, and if they do cover them, they always downplay the numbers of persons participating. We're presented as a fringe group that has little credence, even though people go to great efforts to come here from all parts of the U.S. and even from other countries. I've been to more of these large DC marches than I can remember, and I may be wrong but I think tomorrow is going to be a big one.
So, why do I say that I think my solitary vigils have a better chance of being effective than the big demos, and what do I mean by the word "effective?" I define effective as being capable of changing minds and hearts, in this case regarding our attitudes about peace & war, freedom & oppression, and whether we see our global neighbors as sisters and brothers or enemies. For me, solitary vigils have that potential because they focus not on the already-converted but on the questioners, those who ride the fence in their understanding of an issue, and even those who disagree with the vigiler's viewpoint as presented on his or her sign. And the major difference between a large demonstration and a solitary vigil is that the latter, when done with a spirit of openness and in a non-confrontational way, encourages one-to-one dialogue, and to my way of thinking, dialogue is what can change minds and hearts, the vigiler's first of all. On the contrary, most speeches given at a rally like tomorrow's are filled with rhetoric that excludes all points of view except those held by the organizers and the majority of the marchers. I find these speeches are often strident, critical, and dripping in sarcastic, meanspirited portrayals of the leaders whose actions they are protesting. Many of the participants' signs also reflect this negativity.
I've come to the awareness that if I don't model the peace I want nations to practice towards one another, then I am as much a part of the problem as the war or leader I am protesting. In order to model such a spirit of peace, I must set aside my rigid ideas of what is "right" and be willing to listen, really listen, to the views of those who disagree with me. This is VERY hard to do, at least for me. But listening is the heart of dialogue. It is very different from debate where each person is trying to talk the other into their way of thinking; instead it is where each person--or even just one person--is trying to understand the other and find common ground. My personal experiences of solitary vigils have afforded me opportunities to practice the art of dialogue, and in so doing, have opened the door to change, both within myself and the person with whom I am engaged.
But even if dialogue is not a major part of a solitary vigil, as was the case for me this time, just being out there is enough. People are touched by your presence, by your willingness to stand up publicly for your beliefs even if they disagree with you. And anyone who reads your sign takes it in like they take in food or the air they breathe. Whether they like it or not, your message takes up permanent residence in their minds and hearts. Just as we become what we eat, so we become what we see and read.
So, yes, I will be at tomorrow's rally and march but it can never surpass what I have already experienced during these past five days of vigiling by myself on behalf of negotiations with our neighbor Iran rather than war. There are no words to express how grateful I am to have had this opportunity, and how grateful I am to you, my PBase sisters and brothers from around the world, for your ongoing support. I could not have done it without you.
I took many photos of the wonderful people who crossed my path today and, as always, you can see these newly-uploaded images by going to my Iranian Vigil for Peace gallery.
CLICK HERE to see them.
13-SEP-2007
a low ebb
Sooner or later it always happens--you bottom out. For me it happened this afternoon at 3 p.m. I didn't feel I'd made much of an impact at all today. There wasn't much traffic in and out of the Rayburn House Office Building, and the only serious dialogue I'd had was with Craig, the U.S. Capitol Police officer who was handling traffic in front of the building. We'd had an interesting discussion in which he'd said that he thought the American people had just about had it with war, and, of course I appreciated hearing that. Oh yes, earlier in the day there had been an older man from Vietnam who had said to me, "Thank you for raising the voice." And David from the American Friends Service had brought a visiting Iranian academic to see my sign. He'd been most grateful and had taken a picture to show people back home. But most of the day had been quiet to the point of boredom, and being bored is not my style. I guess it was a natural letdown after yesterday's excitement, but when I took this self portrait at 3 p.m, I was seriously considering hanging it up for the day. That's when the idea came to scoot over and try my luck in front of the White House.
What a change! Over there, there were crowds of people, many of whom read my sign, gave me the thumbs-up and took my leaflets. They also photographed me like I was some sort of rock star. And to add to it all, I met Aaron, an attorney from NYC who had come directly from a meeting with a hand-lettered sign that said, "George Bush doesn't like gay people." He said he was there because he was angry, but his energy wasn't negative at all. I found him to be utterly delightful. It even turned out he'd been born and raised in the Metro Detroit area! For much of the time, we were being photographed by a man who had very professional equipment. He must have taken hundreds of photos. I finally asked if he was a freelance photographer and that's when he told me that he worked for a Russian news service. His name is Alexey Berezin and I've posted two of the photos he took with my camera of Aaron and me. I took the photo I posted of Aaron.
I also saw Joan, a homeless woman who'd become my friend during last summer's 18-day solitary vigil for Lebanon, and Danielle, a peace activist I'd gotten to know last summer as well. I felt like I was home again. And I'll return there tomorrow with fresh enthusiasm. Yes, I still have more to contribute!
As always, you can see my newly-uploaded photos by going to my Iranian Vigil for Peace gallery.
CLICK HERE to see them.
12-SEP-2007
butterflies of hope
Friends, I have had an extraordinary day here in Washington, DC, a day that has filled me full to bursting with hope for our world, and a day that has left me so sleepy I can barely keep my eyes open even though it is only 8:30 p.m. What I'm going to do is take a shower and go to bed. When I wake up, which is likely to be in the early morning hours, I will prepare and post today's collection of photos and write my blog entry. But first let me get some sleep...
It's now 6 a.m. and I've been up since 1:30 a.m. working on my photos from Day #3 of my peace vigil here in DC. I've just finished uploading 39 new photos to my Iranian Vigil for Peace photo gallery.
CLICK HERE to see them. And now I'm going back to bed for a few more hours of sleep. I'll write Wednesday's blog entry when I get up. I promise!
It's 9 a.m. on Thursday and I'm back, ready to share Wednesday's many adventures with you...
I call this blog entry "butterflies of hope" because of the people I met, people who are acting in ways to bring peace and justice to our nation and our world, with the emphasis on the word, "act." People like the coalition called A.R.T., Activist Response Team. On my way to Capitol Hill for my daily vigil for a peaceful solution to our concerns about Iran, I happened upon a group of people in a park near the Capitol. I heard them before I saw them because they were speaking through a sound system using phrases like "End the war now!" and "Peace in the Middle East." I could tell they were my kind of people! And when I crossed the street and saw the decorated truck with a "Gold Star Families for Peace" banner on its side, I knew I was right. For the next 45 minutes or so, I talked with Laurie Arbeiter, one of the organizers of this postcard action for peace. Laurie is an artist/activist who was one of the founders of The Critical Voice in NYC (
http://www.thecriticalvoice.org, the group that started the "We will not be silent" T-shirt and banner campaign. She showed me one of 9 books with over 4000 copies of postcards written by people across the country who want their elected officials to represent their views and stop the wars and aggression that the U.S. has been engaged in, especially since 9/11. I also heard these messages being read aloud on a stage--that was what I'd first heard--which I learned they'd been doing throughout the night. And I met Barbara Cunningham from San Antonio, Texas, and Ann Shirazi for NYC, who was so grateful when she saw my sign. Ann has been married to an Iranian man for 40 years and calls his family in Iran her own. Like I, Ann is terribly concerned with the current White House PR campaign to demonize Iran in preparation for attacking it. This group's planned action was to take their 9 books of postcard messages to the Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi's office at 11 a.m. and stay there until she met with them. Several were prepared to be arrested if necessary.
So, by 9:30 a.m. I had already seen my first butterfly of hope. But there were many more to come.
Soon after parking my scooter and holding up my sign in front of the Rayburn House Office Building, I was greeted by Col. Ann Wright, a co-founder of Code Pink, and her two companions, Brandy and Miles. Ann and I had gotten to know one another last summer when she was part of the Troops Home Fasters in front of the White House, and I was there mounting my 18-day solitary vigil for Lebanon. Today they were on their way to Rep. Nancy Pelosi's office to join the A.R.T. postcard campaign.
The next butterflies--and there must have been 100 of them!--marched right by me on their way into the Rayburn House Office Building to see their Congresspersons, including, as it turned out, Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Lots of action in her office on this beautiful September day! It was the deported immigrants' rights icon/activist/organizer Elvira Arellano's community from Chicago, and they wanted to talk with their elected officials about the rights they deserve under our Constitution but are not receiving. This group of men, women and children had just arrived from Chicago by bus--at least a 20 hour ride--and would be turning around and going home tonight. But for now they were full of energy and life! Included in their numbers were 8 year-old Saul, Elvira's son, and the Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of the church where Elvira took sanctuary for many months.
And this gathering of butterflies wasn't over yet. Next I met Meg and Ovidio Pena Wer, parents of Mario, who had walked from Chicago to DC on a March for Peace that had started months ago in San Francisco with two students, Ashley Casale and Michael Israel. Not long after I met Meg and Ovidio, Ashley and Michael appeared, but only long enough for me to snap a quick picture as they were also joining the A.R.T. folks in Rep. Nancy Pelosi's office.
From then on, it was butterfly by butterfly. Jim Goodnow, a 68 year-old Texan, who has not been home in over two years because of his commitment to driving the 40 foot Yellow Rose Peace Bus (
http://www.theyellowrosepeacebus.com) around the country, going wherever he is needed. He told me he'd covered 29 states and approximately 35,000 miles in that time! Bill McPherson from Washington state, who was in town for this Saturday's antiwr march and carried a huge handmade sign on which was written, "Defend Our Constitution--2008 Is Too Late--Impeach Now!" Anne and David Bollen from Goulburn, Australia, who stopped to voice their support of the messages on our signs and even posed in a group portrait while holding my sign. Engy Tawfeik, who is on the faculty of economics and political science at Cairo University in Egypt. Jim Goodnow remembered seeing her with her students at General Petraeus's speech before Congress on Monday, the speech in which he said the "troop surge" in Iraq had been successful. Successful??? Camp Casey's Poet Laureate Rick Burnley who recited several of his excellent political poems to Bill McPherson and me on the street corner. And finally, the Monarch butterfly who is pictured above. I met this butterfly in the tiny jewel of a park where I took my breaks and finished my day.
But there were other unnamed butterflies fluttering around me all day long, and these were the countless passersby--many of them staffers for Congresspersons inside these halls of power--who expressed their support for my message in words and gestures. Yes, it was a VERY good day! And now it's time to get out there again...
11-SEP-2007
We are not alone
Today was the day I learned that we are not alone in our commitment to finding a nonviolent solution to our country's concerns about Iran. Not only did I find my old activist buddy, StartLoving (formerly known as Jay), in front of the Capitol mounting his own vigil and entering his second day of a hunger strike, but our signs were worded almost exactly the same! I'd known StartLoving during my solitary vigil for Lebanon in July and August 2006. At that time he was in the middle of a hunger strike for Darfur. He always offered me support and a smiling face during those brutally hot 18 days I spent in front of the White House entering into nonviolent dialogue about the Israel/Lebanon war with persons from around the world. And here we are again, this time vigiling for the very same purpose!
As if meeting StartLoving wasn't enough of a boost, Jan Pendlebury of Peace Action of New Hampshire and the NH chapter of the National Environmental Trust stopped to thank me for mounting this vigil and ended up standing with me and even holding my sign on two different occasions during the afternoon. It was great to have a sister at my side, especially since today's weather was not too conducive for outdoor vigils. It rained off and on--mostly on--all day. I was grateful for every bit of raingear I had with me, including my plastic poncho, a black plastic bag to cover my scooter's control panel and basket--where my camera was housed--and an umbrella. But I've learned that mounting a vigil under difficult weather conditions can touch people more than if you do it on a lovely day. Your commitment is out there for all to see.
However, I was happy that the rain had stopped by the time I'd taken a wonderfully welcome hot shower back at the hotel and changed into dry clothes. It meant I could eat a yummy veggie burger and delicious hot cheese soup at my favorite outdoor cafe. And then I could scoot around taking photos. During my scoot I met David, Jamie and their little boy, Nathan. They had driven in from West Virginia for a peace march commemorating 9/11, but had had to miss it because they couldn't find parking they could afford! But we did find one another, and it was wonderful to meet two more people who share our hunger for peace. I think there are more of us out there than we realize.
This city, Washington, DC, has deep meaning to me. I was born here and am a fifth generation Washingtonian on my father's side. Thomas Carberry, the first mayor of Washington, DC, is one of my ancestors. Everywhere I look there are memories of my childhood and family. When I scooted by the Willard Hotel today, I remembered my grandfather had worked there at one time in his life. The National Theater brings back memories of all the plays my parents took us to see, including "Auntie Mame" with Carol Channing, and "West Side Story" on its pre-Broadway run in 1958. So you see, coming to DC is like coming home for me. I'm sure that's why I feel comfortable mounting a vigil here by myself.
I've added today's photos to my Iranian Peace Vigil photo gallery.
CLICK HERE to see them.
10-SEP-2007
self portrait in front of the American Enterprise Institute
Day #1 of my Iranian peace vigil was excellent, and I have all of you to thank for that. Well, maybe not ALL, but certainly most! Yes, I sat by myself with my sign in front of the American Enterprise Institute from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. with a half hour off for lunch, but I never felt alone. It was as if I were surrounded by large numbers of my sisters and brothers, all of us wanting the same thing, all of us willing to respond kindly to unkindnesses--only one, really, when a woman called me a moron--all of us ready to dialogue nonviolently with anyone who felt so inclined.
I'd thought I was going into the "belly of the beast" because the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is considered the #1 neoconservative think tank in the U.S.--Dick Cheney's wife is one of its executives--but instead I found individuals who may not have agreed with my message but who, in almost every case, were courteous and sometimes downright kind. Now some of that may have been because I was totally non-confrontational, smiled a lot, and am a "little old lady in a wheelchair," but it might also have been the fruit of some inner work I did on my long drive to DC. I'd realized that I still had some hatred of the "powers that be" and that if I mounted a solitary vigil with that kind of negativity in me, I would be doing more harm than good. So I released it. And today I saw that I really had, because when Newt Gingrinch walked right in front of my scooter, my immediate response was a smile and a nod. Yes, I've come a long way!
Let me talk about the kindness of strangers. It was a very hot, muggy day, and folks seemed worried that I might get overheated. One young man came up and gave me a cold bottle of Gatorade. Then Manny, an older Asian-American man who I think manages the copy center in the same building as the AEI headquarters, came outside several times expressing concern that I was in the sun--that spot made me more visible to people walking along the street--and finally put his own hat on my head! He also gave me a cold bottle of water.
And now to tell you about people's reactions to my sign. Yes, there were a few openly negative reactions but only one that was mean-spirited (the moron comment). And I saw quite a few pursed lips and pinched noses as if they were smelling limburger cheese, but what surprised and delighted me were the dozens of positive responses expressed by passersby and even by people who had attended the AEI presentations. I received more "thank-you's" than you could imagine, lots of thumbs-up, and even a round of applause from an older man who was walking by. And lots of people took my leaflets!
Now I am one tired puppy who just wants to lay her head down on the pillow and dream of my PBase sisters and brothers who are here with me in this work for peace. Tomorrow is another day and I want to be nice and rested before I take my message up to Capitol Hill, 'cause that's where I'm off to in the morning. See you out on the streets...
I've added 19 more photos to my Iranian Peace Vigil photo gallery.
CLICK HERE to see them.
09-SEP-2007
Yes, Mr. Bush I'm talking to you
Well, I arrived in Washington, DC after ten and a half uneventful hours on the road. After checking in at the hotel and parking my minivan in a garage, I scooted right over the White House to take this picture. The U.S. Park Police didn't miss a beat and asked me the usual questions, ie., "Do you have identification? Do you have a permit? How long are you going to be here?" I know enough to answer, "I don't need ID, nor do I need a permit. And today I'm just going to be here long enough to take this picture." After I'd taken four shots, a different police officer came up and said, "You're not allowed to prop your sign up against the fence." So I thanked him and scooted away. A man with an American accent passed me at that point and said, "Why not?" referring to the words on my sign, "Don't bomb Iran." Oh yes, this is going to be a most interesting week.
But later I was encouraged to meet younger people who not only understood my message but agreed with it wholeheartedly. First it was Harrison and Jenae, both seniors at Howard University here in DC, who stopped to talk to me as I was printing out a new message for side #2 of my sign. I was using a table in the outdoor courtyard of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center--which I thought was very appropriate!--and ended up spending about three hours at my task. For twenty minutes of that time, Harrison and I had an indepth discussion about world events and how/where to find the REAL news instead of what passes for news by our American mainstream media.
After I'd finished printing out the words for Side #2, I asked a table of three young men--who it turned out now live in the U.S. but are originally from Peru--for help taping my new sign to the back of the old one. Luis and Alfredo immediately said "Yes" and Luis did a fine job of putting the finishing touches on my sign. They both expressed gratitude and support for my vigil.
I'll be keeping up this photo-a-day blog with daily entries telling of my adventures here in DC, but I've put up another gallery--"Photos from my Iranian peace vigil"- in which I'll post the photos I take every day. It already has ten photos and you can
CLICK HERE to see them.
07-SEP-2007
Taking a stand
Tomorrow (Saturday) I will get in my wheelchair-accessible van and head southeast towards Washington, DC. This 500 mile/804.6 km trip takes me two days to drive by myself. For the next six days--from Sunday afternoon through Friday evening--I will mount a solitary vigil for peace in front of the White House and the U.S. Senate and House office buildings. All day Monday, September 10th, I will be on the sidewalk in front of the headquarters of the neoconservative think tank, the American Enterprise Institute, where they will be hosting two public presentations, one of which is called “The Iranian Time Bomb.” My final day of demonstrating--Saturday, September 15th--will coincide with a
massive anti-war march and rally in DC which I plan to attend. On Sunday I hope to get together with family and friends--I was born and raised in the Washington, DC area--and, all going well, I'll be back home in Detroit by Tuesday evening, September 18th.
As you see in the photo, the sign I will be holding all week says “Don’t bomb Iran.” It is illustrated with two photos from Ali Majdfar’s beautiful PBase gallery,
“Throughout IRAN.” Ali and I have been in contact regarding my intention to mount this vigil, and he offered his photos for me to use in any way that might be helpful. As it turned out, he chose one and I chose the other. I am only sorry I had to crop his exquisite photo of the bridge in Isfahan in order to make it fit on my sign. But I know Ali will be OK with that. He and I are in this together. I will feel his presence beside me every minute of every day.
I will be unable to post a photo blog entry tomorrow (Saturday) but intend to post daily entries during my entire vigil. Please hold this small effort for peace in your hearts. May it help my government’s leaders wake up to the disaster they are contemplating. May all who see my sign stop and think before they support any attacks on Iran. But most importantly, may Ali and his countrymen and women be protected from harm.
06-SEP-2007
summer in the city
I took this photo during last weekend's Detroit International Jazz Festival. The setting was the Noguchi Fountain in Hart Plaza, at the epicenter of all the music and activity. For the children of jazz fans, I'd venture to say the most popular "stage" on those warm sunny days was the fountain itself. And, believe me, if Sassy my scooter could have handled it, I would have been right down there with them!
