CODEPINK Observes Mother's Day WIth Protest
Group Returns Mom's Holiday To Its Activist Roots
© Jon Pike
May 11, 2009
While most of us observed Mother’s Day by giving our moms a day off, breakfast in bed, and a dozen roses, the United States’ based activist group. CODEPINK, worked to return Mother’s Day to its activist roots. Code Pink staged a 24-hour vigil for peace in front of the White House. Mother’s Day was a project instigated by 19-century advocate Julia Ward Howe, to advocate for women’s rights and, another cause close to Howe’s heart, pacifism.
Julia Ward Howe, Mother’s Day, and Pacifism
Howe was alarmed at the carnage inflicted in the two modern wars of her time: The United States’ Civil War, and the Franco-Prussian War. While women had no say in the politics of their time in the 19th century, Howe wanted women to rally for the cause of peace and against the carnage of her time. Ward’s objection to war is unmistakable in her Mother's Day Proclamation of 1870
Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
The modern-day anti-war group, CODEPINK, comprised mostly of women and founded by Medea Benjamin, claims that they have been returning mother’s day to its roots.
Mother’s Day, CODEPINK, And Modern Day Pacifism
Since 2006, CODEPINK, has been holding 24-hour Mother’s Day vigils in front of the White House to protest the actions of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan.
New for 2007, was an Internet video featuring such notable activists as:
- Gloria Steinhem
- Vanessa Williams
- Felicity Huffman
- Alfre Woodard
Last year, CODPINK, used their Mother’s Day Celebration of activism to raise $25,000 for Iraqis who have been impacted by the war. The group is currently involved in raising money to help children who have been affected by military action in the Palestinian enclave in Gaza. Since its founding CODPINK has focused on the Middle East and East Asia, raising political awareness of the cost of war in such areas as: Iraq, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. CODEPINK is trying to get Mother's Day focused on something besides a card and roses for mom.
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