“The only way to end this war is for young men to refuse to fight in it. They can only do this in numbers if you support them, you who have been stuffing these kids with vitamins, fattening them up for the Whitehall Street medics, straightening their teeth, so they look American overseas. When I say ‘you’ I mean ‘me’ too. Because naturally like any decent mother, I’ve been very strong on orange juice, very interested in playgrounds, adamant about good teaching and curriculum… And as a beginning for those of you who are shy, for whom the first visible NO is heart thumping, join our Saturday Women’s Vigil. This small neighborhood vigil which says Not Our Sons Not Your Sons Not Their Sons is a small piece of that circle of love around your boy. Stand with us, be nearly as brave as he will have to be.” D Grace Paley, write and teacher |
|