There were 13 of us gathered at the Northwest corner of Sylvester Park in downtown Olympia, Washington yesterday in order to bear vigilant witness to the crimes and human rights abuses that are being committed by members of the Government of the USA.

Participants gathered, also, to bear a message of hope and peace, that the problems of the world, the violence and ecological/environmental degradation, the greed and exploitation, etc. - these problems and others - can be solved. There is a better way.

Today is the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by the US Government and I had the opportunity to participate in a weekly peace vigil at Sylvester Park (sponsored by the Olympia FOR). The weather was good and so was the turnout. I had some great conversations, including with a couple of conservatives, one of whom was very reasonable! A young gentleman from Spokane, who was toting a suitcase, approached me and we had a lengthy conversation about the difference between the response by the left to Clinton Administration foreign policy Aggression when compared with the response by the left to Bush Administration Aggression. It is too bad that the left was not more vocal in opposition to Clinton's Aggression, but the left was not silent. There was opposition. The reasons that a more vocal opposition to the aggressive foreign policy of the Clinton Administration didn't arise are multiple but for one, he [Clinton] acted within the auspices of the UN Security Council and for two, his behavior was not as flagrant, or belligerent, relative to the machinations and blatant aggression as evinced by members of the Bush Administration. The traveler from Spokane and I fully agreed on one thing, which is the problem of the Military Industrial Congressional Complex. It was a good conversation; we both gained in understanding.

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You're welcome to stand for peace at the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation's weekly Sylvester Park Peace Vigil. It happens every Wednesday. Meet at Noon at the NW corner of the park (Capitol Way and Legion Ave). Signs are also available. This event is ongoing. It's fun and rewarding.

more information: Wednesday Sylvester Park Peace Vigil