Back to the Past

Late this afternoon, after yoga, Phil and I joined a group of folks on the four corners of a major intersection downtown, in front of the Federal Building, to protest the election of DJT and stand in solidarity with supporters of a variety of peace-related causes.

We're latecomers to this weekly peace vigil, which was begun nearly 50 years ago. It's the longest-running weekly peace vigil in the United States.

Today's crowd ranged in age from tiny babies to gray-haired grannies, and other than one outlier waving a Trump flag, everyone was in accord with the various banners, signs, and chants. (Phil has a fine photo of one of the more colorful participants and his poignant sign.)

There was unaccompanied singing, too, which was irresistible -- "We Shall Overcome," "Blowin' in the Wind," and others -- and although there was no sheet music, the familiar harmonies came back to me, and I joined in gladly, with full voice and heart.  

Tookie and our friend Peggy were there too, and we'll all be back again. How amazed we would have been in the mid-1960s, living in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, if we'd been given a glimpse of where we'd be 50 years later!

I've taken another positive step today, paying to "become a Supporter" to receive unlimited access to The Guardian. I first discovered this outstanding newspaper when I lived in England for a few months in 1968, and have gone back to it time and again over the intervening years. Gloria Steinem's recent article in its pages about the outcome of our Presidential election brings historical perspective and thoughtful analysis to that fraught topic, in my opinion, and is an fine example of the quality of this newspaper.

(Many thanks to everyone who has visited my journal in the last few days, leaving such thoughtful comments, as well as stars and hearts. I've appreciated our beloved community even more during this period of great hope, equally great disappointment, and deep anxiety.)

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