"One of the reasons I
stand is that I worked in the VA for 12 years, and I've seen what wars do
to people, and their friends and families too. My first patient as an
intern was a POW of the Japanese from December 7th, to the day after
Nagasaki. I've treated veterans from every conflict since then. I'm one
of the people they tell their nightmares to. That's one of the reasons
why I stand."
"While
I'm standing with Women in Black, I pray that not one more person will be
harmed by bullets or mines or bombs or by physical or verbal domestic
abuse."
"I have
found the silence to be a powerful way to protest the fact that too many
words and not enough action has occurred to end Bush's Wars and bring our
sons and daughters home."
"Standing
in silence sends a strong message. Seeing us makes some people
uncomfortable. Discomfort often requires thought to be resolved.
I stand with the hope that my fellow citizens will take a moment (or more)
to think about why we are here."
"I
stand because it feels like a powerful, yet very respectful statement--I
stand with women because I feel that the combined energy of wisdom and
compassion of mothers, grandmothers, wives and lovers, sisters and
daughters has the capacity to alter the world--I'd stand even if it
didn't--I stand silent vigil because I don't want to yell or argue or even
convince--I stand simply because it feels like the right thing to do for
me--because I want to make my energy FOR peace and FOR justice (rather
than necessarily against anything)--I stand because they still let me
(Patriot Act and all that....)--I'll still stand even when they say I
can't."
"I
had seen the WIB standing for several months admiring their stamina and
bravery on cold rainy nights that first winter. That March when Rachel
Corrie was murdered in Gaza and our country was bombing Iraq I was so
frustrated. I knew I had to do something to express my grief and horror.
Women in Black has been that something. The heads that turn, the glances
trying to understand, the awareness I witness in others observing WIB
helps me know this is the right thing -one stand at a time."
"Sometimes all you can do is put your body in front of a problem and
stand there as a witness to it."
Quote from Granny D. (Doris Haddock), the 90 year old woman who
walked
from L.A. to D.C. in 1999 to demonstrate her concern and gather petitions
for campaign finance
reform.
"When
I stand, my body is my voice. Draped in black, I am a visual reminder
that war kills. You cannot pass me by without seeing the quiet
condemnation in the way I cradle the folded flag from a veteran's
coffin. I am looking at you, and even though you turn your head, you
cannot avoid the knowledge...war kills."
