Saturday, 29 September

A young woman was watching for us shortly before 5 & as we stepped to the curb she walked up with us and raised her hand in the peace sign.  When the signs arrived she selected one and said "I may be too young to vote; but I can still speak my mind."  A bit later a Saturday vigiler from Albany arrived with a generous portion of the voter guide compiled by the Rural Organizing Project.  Our young visitor happily took two for her sister & her mother.  People often say, with a bit of dismissal, "does it make a difference?" - the vigil, that is & this young woman is sufficient for me.  A place to "speak her mind" and a place to gain valuable information about statewide politics.
Later in the vigil another young woman walked up carrying her young daughter.  "I know you are just people standing her protesting war; but can I ask you a question?"  She's been thinking about war and our country and the world and what it means to be a mother.  She thought that we'd all been thinking about these questions and how did we come to believe in Peace.  A long and friendly conversation ensued.  How does one come to see and hear beyond the myths and propaganda?  Once the questions begin, it is hard to go back.   Her questions reflected the serious thought that led her to come inquiring of us.  Good & evil,  what about other countries where there is genocide, what about Hitler?  Ah, Hitler - the emblematic evil doer - surely we needed war to stop him?  My vigil companion in this conversation, acknowledged the wrongs of the Nazi's and gently said some things our government does are equally evil.  I keep wondering if she heard that.  All & all - it felt important that we three took counsel together  on the sidewalk.
Does the vigil make a difference?  Yes

Friday September 28

Three people to start, five at 6:00PM. The hour was uneventful.

Thursday September 27

Four of us at the beginning of the hour, seven at the end. A friend stopped by to introduce to us visitors from Tunisia, a university professor and his family. It would be good if we could speak Arabic as well as they spoke English.

Wednesday September 26

Four of us for the hour. Today we were an information booth; one person asked where to register to vote, another for directions to the Corvallis Sports Park.

Tuesday September 25

Nine or ten of us through the hour. We had chocolates from Portland and a lively discussion of how best "to save the world" -- maybe humankind needs saving, maybe not the world? Local musician Mark Weiss came by to thank us by giving each participant a copy of his CD "I Believe In You". Thanks for the vote of appreciation.

Monday September 24

Four at 5:00PM, fourteen at the end of the vigil. We talked a bit about using social media to promote peace-and-justice work, but none of us have much experience with Facebook and Twittr and such. After the vigil some of us stayed behind to pick up pinwheels from the courthouse lawn.

Sunday September 23

Three to start the hour, six at the end. The pinwheels in the courthouse lawn from Saturday's workshop provided a colorful background.