When we were off-island to see "Hair" a couple of weeks ago, I made the requisite supply run to Walmart.
My friend stayed in the car with her son. It seemed he was boycotting Walmart based on certain of its practices he'd learned about, and my friend wanted to respect his dedication to this cause.
I could relate. Back in the 1980's, I went for years without eating one of my favorite foods, tuna, because dolphins were reported to be getting tangled up and dying in the tuna nets. My husband at the time, and any tuna-loving friends who frequented my home, were forced into this boycott by their association with me.
I didn't delude myself into thinking I could change the world. But that didn't mean it wasn't important to try.
Six years ago now, when the Iraq war started, First-Born Son, a freshman in high school at the time, participated in a protest at his school in the form of a walkout. I recall the look of apprehension on his face when I picked him up at the bus stop that afternoon.
"I don't want you to be mad," he precipitated his tale, as he got into the car. "But they took attendance during the walkout. I think we're going to be in trouble."
I wasn't mad. In fact, I was proud of him. It's hard to remember now, but at the time we still were fairly sure Iraq had weapons of mass destructiion. I wasn't completely sure how I felt about the war, but I was proud my son had stood up for his convictions.
At the same time, I also supported his school and the principal, who invited all those who'd walked out to turn themselves in and accept their consequences. Most of the kids did, and they received Saturday School (detention). The principal came in herself that morning, and talked with the kids about their opinions concerning the war. It was, for my son, a memorable experience.
What causes, little or big, have you or your kids taken up over the years? Did you learn anything as a result?
Sometimes I think I don't take on enough causes. But I know people (my mother, for one) who would probably disagree with that. I need to remember, we don't have to set the world on fire to make a difference.
Eventually, the tuna industry changed the way they caught their fish. And the dolphins triumphed.
Every little bit counts.
My friend stayed in the car with her son. It seemed he was boycotting Walmart based on certain of its practices he'd learned about, and my friend wanted to respect his dedication to this cause.
I could relate. Back in the 1980's, I went for years without eating one of my favorite foods, tuna, because dolphins were reported to be getting tangled up and dying in the tuna nets. My husband at the time, and any tuna-loving friends who frequented my home, were forced into this boycott by their association with me.
I didn't delude myself into thinking I could change the world. But that didn't mean it wasn't important to try.
Six years ago now, when the Iraq war started, First-Born Son, a freshman in high school at the time, participated in a protest at his school in the form of a walkout. I recall the look of apprehension on his face when I picked him up at the bus stop that afternoon.
"I don't want you to be mad," he precipitated his tale, as he got into the car. "But they took attendance during the walkout. I think we're going to be in trouble."
I wasn't mad. In fact, I was proud of him. It's hard to remember now, but at the time we still were fairly sure Iraq had weapons of mass destructiion. I wasn't completely sure how I felt about the war, but I was proud my son had stood up for his convictions.
At the same time, I also supported his school and the principal, who invited all those who'd walked out to turn themselves in and accept their consequences. Most of the kids did, and they received Saturday School (detention). The principal came in herself that morning, and talked with the kids about their opinions concerning the war. It was, for my son, a memorable experience.
What causes, little or big, have you or your kids taken up over the years? Did you learn anything as a result?
Sometimes I think I don't take on enough causes. But I know people (my mother, for one) who would probably disagree with that. I need to remember, we don't have to set the world on fire to make a difference.
Eventually, the tuna industry changed the way they caught their fish. And the dolphins triumphed.
Every little bit counts.
I was a freshman in college during the spring of 1970 when the National Guard shot into the crowd of students, protesting the US invasion of Cambodia, recently announced by Nixon, and killing 4, wounding 9. Up until that time, I must admit, I was more interested in keg parties and having fun than I was about what was going on in southeast Asia. But, that day changed my life. That week, I joined 8 million other students around the country in a strike that closed hundreds of schools around the country, including mine. Hundreds of us marched into Trenton, being applauded by some bystanders and vilified by others. At that time, you couldn't support the troops, but be against the war. It was all or nothing, which was so unfortunate for the veterans coming home.
Well, sorry for being so long-winded. BTW, how was "Hair?"
Posted by: Jersey Girl | June 08, 2009 at 06:59 PM
One of my husband's proudest moments was watching his teenage son join in a public protest against the war in Iraq. He was in the special forces then and about to ship out. For my husband it represented the exact reason he says he goes to fight our America's causes-the right of citizens to protest even if he doesn't. He believes that right is more about American values than, as he puts it "flag-waving big mouths" that condemn acts of protest.
Posted by: ally | June 10, 2009 at 07:40 AM
Here, here!
Thanks, Ally.
Posted by: Maureen at IslandRoar | June 10, 2009 at 08:50 AM