Ending the Iraq War
(New York City, 10/27/2007)Click here for more photos on Flickr
On October 27, 2007, to the haunting sound of veteran folksinger Peter Yarrow singing "Gonna lay down my sword and shield" in Union Square, I joined as many as ten thousand people marching peacefully down Broadway in pouring rain to protest the Iraq War and advocate for bringing U.S. troops home. Together we were part of a coordinated nationwide demonstration against the war which brought a hundred thousand people into the streets in eleven separate cities on that Saturday.Did this huge anti-war event really happen? Not according to New York City newspapers! The following morning I searched in vain for coverage – and in subsequent Google searches failed to turn up mainstream media mention of the New York protest except for a short generic AP article which embedded a brief reference to the New York City march in coverage of the San Francisco demonstration.
To outrage against the war, we must add outrage against this media silence on the many massive, peaceful anti-war protests that have taken place over the last five years. After marching on October 27 in Philadelphia, a friend set an example by writing the following letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Dear People, It's hard to understand how on Sunday, October 28th, the day
after 2,000-5,000 citizens marched to Independence Mall to protest the invasion and occupation of Iraq and to hear speakers and musicians, you chose to headline an article about the retirement of a local drag queen. It's difficult to "peaceably assemble for redress of grievances" when newspapers--the 4th branch of government--who are charged with reporting the news, fail to do so.There is no proportionality here. Even within this article, buried in the Local News Section, six inches of column space within the article itself was given over to counter protesters (all 3 of them!) and a gathering of veterans. There wasn't even a photograph of the thousands of people who, despite heavy rain, had come to express outrage over what is being done in our name so readers could have an idea of the scope of this protest. WHY? Why did you choose to show single people with signs instead of massed thousands?
It's as if you just don't get it. Your JOB is to report. When an event occurs that reflects the feelings of the majority of the American people then why are you unwilling to report it? What about all the other cities where events were occurring? No reporters there either? Surely you have Washington correspondents who could have covered speeches, sent photos.
Were you not alive during Vietnam, when even in the face of McGeorge Bundy lying and saying we were not torching villages in Vietnam or napalming civilians Walter Cronkite played the footage of what was really happening and made us watch it? How can we be responsible for what is being done in our names if no one will report it? Have we learned NOTHING?
The Civil Rights Movement would not have had the impact it had and many of our national heroes would be dead had it not been for the courage of the press. John Lewis may well have been beaten to death on the Edmund Pettus Bridge and all those people on the bus in Anniston would have been incinerated.The first thing white racists did in public demonstrations was to smash the cameras of reporters present. I think you know why. Public outrage changes the course of history.
Our democratic form of government is based on the populace's understanding what is happening. Unless it is kept from us! Isn't this business you're in still based on truth telling? Well, the truth today is that We the People are outraged with our government's actions. If you had the courage to spend 21 days examining issues on the editorial page before the last election surely you have the courage to report what's happening in your very own faces.
Celeste Zappala's speech on Saturday was worthy of a full page feature. A Philadelphia
resident, she represents thousands of families who have lost members to the
carnage that is Iraq--including Gold Star families. Surely they deserve to be
heard since they have made the ultimate sacrifice! It was as powerful a speech
as any I have ever heard.But no coverage.NONE! What a tragedy to deny her a
voice!The best sign I saw was the saddest:
GRIEVE FOR THE DEAD
HEAL THE WOUNDEDBRING THEM ALL HOME
Amen. But---in your eyes a drag queen's retirement was more worthy of our attention? REALLY? I'd like to know why. Seriously--your readers deserve an
answer. -- Susan Miller--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo Essay:
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March 12, 2007 – The Union for Reform Judaism’s Executive Committee today overwhelmingly adopted a resolution opposing the escalation in troops in the War in Iraq and calling on President Bush to set and announce a specific timetable for the phased withdrawal of troops…
“As the largest of the Jewish denominations in North America, we are aware of the weight of our voice,” said Robert Heller, chairman of the Union’s Board of Trustees. “Today’s decision was reached only after thoughtful deliberation and due consideration of the complex issues involved,” he said. “I do know that this Executive Committee acted in the best tradition of Reform Judaism, in keeping with our prophetic obligation to speak truth to power.”
Out of respect for the minority, the Executive Committee added to the resolution a restatement of its view that Union resolutions are not intended to speak for each individual member of our synagogues, but for the North American Movement. The resolution as adopted is available online at www.urj.org/worldconflict/iraq. (Excerpted from URJ Press Release, 3/12/2007)
