March 20,2003 Times Square - The First Night Of Bombing In Iraq

Dear Friends;
I type these words tonight with sadness, grief, and a feeling of numb shock. I'm sitting alone at an all-nite Internet cafe on 42nd Street the first night of bombing in Iraq by our nation.
I am wet, cold and very, very, tired.
I just came back from the first mass demonstration against the war held in Times Square. The first demo, it seems, in what promises to be a long campaign. Tonight was so wreachedly miserable with the cold rain pouring down on us. It was also incredibly hearting to see so many New Yorkers turning out to make a stand for peace despite the weather.
There were hundreds of protesters gathered in Times Square tonight. Most carried umberellas but despite the protection most everybody got soaked. I met a 70 year old grandmother of 6 who said it was either being here at Times Square getting wet in the rain or sitting in front of her t.v. set alone and crying. She chose to make a stand. Her beautiful smile matched her heart and she didn't seem to mind the lousy weather.
I met a young college student who proudly carried a homemade protest sign. I couldn't make out what it said because the letters had all ran. He said he was here because his brother was in Kuwait and he misses him dearly and wants him home.
I met a young sister tonight who needed to be reminded that she wasn't the only young person in New York who wanted peace.
So many people with so many reason why they chose to stand in the dark pouring rain rather than be in their nice dry homes. Although we knew this war was coming for months still there was a sense of shock and unreality among everyone present. Nobody could believe it was possible after so much worldwide opposition was raised.
I'm reminded of a quote from Albert Camus:

"We all carry within us our places of exile, our crimes, our ravages. Our task is not to unleash them on the world; it is to transform them in ourselves."

We're the armies of the night. We're going to win this thing. We have courage and strength and patience and most of all we have the love to carry us through.
We will transform this nation.
If you're feeling sad tonight, or lonely and confused over this situation, just remember one thing: All the good books proclaim in the End that we will win.
We will win.

They don't stand a chance against our love.
They don't stand a chance against our prayers.

One wet hippie.....on a very sad night.

bodhi