Corvallis Peace Vigil

Tuesday February 28

2012-02-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

Wet, windy, and chilly -- the five or six of us had a companionable hour, but when the courthouse clock struck six, we did not linger to put away the signs and our umbrellas.

Monday, 27 February

2012-02-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

I arrived a few minutes past 5. Four were there; one a new woman. The nearby bench was festively decorated with assorted umbrellas drying. 7 for some section of the hour; one came bearing gingerbread people. Near the end a high energy young woman danced into our midst saying it had been a great day and she'd like to stand with us. She danced with her sign; cheerful and vibrant she said she'll be there again. And, one must not neglect to mention - one dog for the hour.

Sunday February 26

2012-02-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

Three or four of us to start the hour, eight at the end. It was rainy and cold, and at the end we hurried to put the signs away.

Saturday February 25

2012-02-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

Four of us for most of the hour. There is a website of pictures from the Iraq war with the disclaimer "The images on this website are gut-wrenching", and we looked at some photographs. Gut-wrenching indeed. What is the effect of looking at pictures like that? :(

Friday February 24

2012-02-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

Half a dozen people throughout a rainy hour. We had a long discussion about showing graphic images of casualties of the US wars: would that shock people into thinking about what war is really like? or would it simply shock and offend? We reached no conclusion.

Thursday February 23

2012-02-24T22:33:00.000-08:00

Today the vigil was extended to almost two hours. The local chapters of Americans for Prosperity and the Tea Party held a rally on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse from 4:30PM to 6:00. In order not to struggle for sidewalk space, we started the peace vigil around 4:00PM. Our presence there before 5:00PM startled some passersby, used to seeing us only at our "regular" time -- one person did a double take and glanced up at the courthouse clock. :)
There was some dialogue, but generally the two groups are simply addressing different issues. The AfP and Tea Party folks were particularly concerned about how a riparian zone established by Benton County affects rights of private property.

Wednesday February 22

2012-02-24T22:25:00.000-08:00

Four or five to start the hour, thirteen at the end.

Tuesday February 21

2012-02-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

Seven or eight of us throughout the hour. A little rain, enough for umbrellas, but not much. The Corvallis branch of the Tea Party is planning a protest in front of the courthouse during the vigil hour on Thursday. We talked about how that would affect our presence.

Monday, 20 February

2012-02-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

One of those coming and going evenings, 4 to start, two more, one gone another coming. Anyway, 7 for much of the hour with cookies arriving later and two more folks to finish the hour. Friendly waves and a VW bug with a bicycle horn signaling a squeak squeak cheer for no war. I am told about a letter drafted and circulated in the local Unitarian Fellowship regarding the ramping up of rhetoric toward war on Iran. They will send it out to all our elected officials. I think we could write something similar from the vigil.
Can we really be approaching another war disaster?

Sunday February 19

2012-02-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

Five to ten of us at different times. Plenty of encouraging honks and waves, but one car passed with the driver giving us TWO thumbs down. I gestured back with a thumb up -- at least the person was paying attention -- but I wonder, what does he object to? Does he presume that the vigil is anti-American? does he think that war is a good thing? or at least necessary?

Saturday, 18 February

2012-02-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

The 5 pm rain was with us again today, not so fierce as yesterday, but started right as the first of us arrived and the clock chimed the hour. A belated birthday celebration brought good humor to the 8 of us - and chocolate.
Kansas City, MO Public Schools were decertified by the state - I am mystified. How can we invest trillions in war and not fund schools adequately? Is this the restoration of America that is ballyhooed by the alleged conservatives?
A passing car with a dog leaning out the window; a friendly bark from one of us draws the attention of both dog and human passengers. The dog looks, the man looks and gives us "the finger." There is a comment - that at least he saw us and later he'll think about it and wish he had chosen a different response. We can dream! Maybe some of the angry ones do eventually come to such thoughts, sometimes.

Friday, 17 February

2012-02-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

Just at 5 a blustery rain squall settled in, except for umbrellas none of the three of us were prepared for the intensity of the rain. The merits of wool socks were tested. The heavy rain was not long lived (unlike the nation's habits of war). The wind persisted a fourth arrived to join us and, briefly another stopped to talk. Later a flurry of arrivals brought our number to 7 shivery folks. New job, jigsaw puzzles and the frustrations of distraction, floated through the conversations - sometimes one just can't bear to talk politics.

Thursday, 16 February

2012-02-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

Small numbers as several regulars are out of down. Four for the hour with a brief mid-hour visit by another. The lengthening light adds energy to the vigil - we can see the people in the cars again, making the exchange of waves and other friendly gestures more reciprocal.
Another anniversary approaches, how to mark it.

Tuesday February 14

2012-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

A half dozen attenders, later as many as ten people. We talked a bit about raising chickens and a bit about Corvallis shops which decline to do business with vigil participants.

Sunday February 12

2012-02-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

Three to start the hour, eight of us at 6:00PM. Some discussion, sparked by a nonviolence workshop earlier in the day, about how best to respond to folks who completely repudiate us and our signs.

Saturday February 11

2012-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

Four at the beginning of the hour, then ten at the end. Some interesting discussion of Bill McKibben's book Eaarth and his suggestions for making our society and our world better.

Thursday February 9

2012-02-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

Four early in the hour, six at the end. We got some encouragement from people walking by, always welcome. Some discussion of the growth of Corvallis and Oregon State University.

Wednesday February 8

2012-02-10T15:04:00.001-08:00

Six of us for much of the hour grew to nine at 6:00PM. There was steady rain -- funny how that makes the hour longer.

Tuesday February 7

2012-02-10T15:03:00.000-08:00

Half a dozen of us. We talked a bit about two interesting books, Capitalism Hits the Fan by Richard Wolff and The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker.

Sunday February 5

2012-02-06T15:49:00.002-08:00

Four of us at 5:00PM, six or seven at 6:00. A quiet evening at the vigil.

Abe's birthday

2012-02-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

Four or five "regulars", plus a dozen more -- for his birthday, Abe brought a dozen family and friends to join the vigil. We are honored. And there were no vulgar gestures from passersby.

Friday February 4

2012-02-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

Four to six of us throughout the hour. One conversation, what can we do to oppose an attack on Iran?

Thursday February 3

2012-02-03T11:36:00.001-08:00

Half a dozen people. Most provocative conversation: in what ways does the contemporary United States resemble a fascist state?

Sunday January 29

2012-01-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Three to seven people during a sometimes rainy hour. Some talk about troubleshooting electrical appliances and about World Book Night.

Saturday January 28

2012-01-30T08:25:00.000-08:00

Maybe a dozen people at the vigil, animated conversations about books and about Saturday evening's activities. And discussion of a public exhibit of reflections on the war in Afghanistan.

Friday January 27

2012-01-27T21:43:00.000-08:00

Three of us at 5:00PM, six at the end of the hour. The weather was clear but very cold. One person pointed out that the sky was still light at 5:30 -- spring is coming. :)

Thursday January 26

2012-01-27T21:41:00.000-08:00

Four to six throughout the hour.

Wednesday January 25

2012-01-26T14:58:00.000-08:00

Three at the beginning of the hour, eight or nine at the end. We had a birthday party, with snow.

Tuesday January 24

2012-01-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

A veteran, from both Iraq and Afghanistan, stopped by; he asked if we are acquainted with the Homeless Veterans Alliance and said that we would be hearing about it. And he thanked us for the witness.

Monday January 23

2012-01-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

Four at the start of the hour and again at the end. For much of the hour there were six of us, but a couple of people left before the end. We had a visit from two people who had been part of Occupy Portland until the public presence ended and who are now making a bike tour (in winter!) to visit other Occupy sites.

Saturday January 21

2012-01-24T12:38:00.000-08:00

Four or five at the start of the hour, more arrived here and there until there were ten of us at the end. For a while we had more people than signs. :)

Friday January 20

2012-01-24T12:34:00.000-08:00

Cold and dry. Three people for the entire hour, though there was some coming and going.

Thursday January 19

2012-01-19T20:59:00.000-08:00

No one in front of the courthouse at 5:00PM, then a couple of minutes later people trickled in and the signs until there were five of us and, at the end of the vigil, six. We talked about last week's Sustainability Coalition presentation on possibilities for the economy [none of us made time to attend :(] and about the 2012 elections for Corvallis City Council.

Wednesday January 18

2012-01-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

Very wet but not as cold as yesterday. From half a dozen to eight of us to mark the hour's witness.

Tuesday January 17

2012-01-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

One person at 5:00PM, two more at 5:01, and the signs arrived one or two minutes later.It was cold, wet, and rainy, so that each minute counted [especially at the end of the hour :)]. Luckily, the conversation was lively.

Monday January 16

2012-01-16T20:13:00.001-08:00

Four to start the hour, seven at the end. We had snow flurries the last part of the hour. Brrr!

Sunday January 15

2012-01-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

Five to eight of us this evening. One person returned from a ten-day silent retreat. Afterward a couple of participants went to see a film at Oregon State University, about a controversy in Tucson about that city's high school program for Mexican-American ethnic studies.

Saturday January 14

2012-01-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Half a dozen of us for a chilly hour, with some coming and going. Afterward some of us shared a meal at a nearby restaurant.

Friday January 13

2012-01-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

From three to six of us throughout the hour. We chatted about the political primaries ("a circus") and about the chances for snow this weekend in the Willamette Valley.

Thursday January 12

2012-01-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

Our numbers varied from six to ten through the hour. We talked about the "sky lanterns" which rose above Corvallis on New Year's Eve. Could a display be designed to support the work for peace and justice?

Wednesday January 11

2012-01-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

Three at the beginning of the vigil, eight at the end. We shared the block in front of the Benton County courthouse with a vigil against human trafficking. One person from that vigil stopped to suggest a "Vigil America", intended for (in my words) people all over the United States to stand for fifteen minutes against war and for health and happiness for all. What a hopeful idea!

Tuesday January 10

2012-01-11T09:57:00.001-08:00

Three to begin the hour, six at the end. A friend from the Los Angeles area joined us.

Sunday January 8

2012-01-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

Five of us at 5:00PM, seven at the end of the vigil. Much invigorating conversation for a chilly evening, but no noteworthy incidents.

Saturday January 7

2012-01-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

Five at 5:00PM, eight at 6:00. At the halfway mark we were joined by a young man who first came to the vigil in 2001, as a high school student from West Albany. Now he has moved to Corvallis and is looking for an apartment.

Friday January 6

2012-01-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

Between four and nine of us throughout the hour, including a visitor from Los Angeles.

Thursday January 5

2012-01-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

Five people at 5:00PM, others trickled in until there were eight or nine at 6:00. In addition to waving to folks driving by, we discussed international politics -- has the United States truly left Iraq? -- and local politics -- the 2012 election for the Corvallis City Council.

Wednesday January 4

2012-01-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

A damp vigil hour. Five or six people for much of the hour, but some of us left fifteen minutes before the end, and there were only a couple at 6:00PM.

Tuesday January 3

2012-01-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

Two at 5:00PM, seven or eight at the end of the hour. Some discussion of the world's search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and, are "they" searching too?

Monday January 2

2012-01-02T22:44:00.000-08:00

Our numbers ranged from five to nine while I was at the vigil. A man stopped his car in the traffic lane next to the vigil to discuss whether the wars are ending. The five-minute discussion could not have happened on a work day.

Sunday January 1, 2012

2012-01-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

Four or five people throughout the hour. A young man stops to say that he is worried about the safety of the vigil-ers, and others. The National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by Barack Obama on the last day of 2011, permits indefinite detention of American citizens without trial. It is hard to know how to respond, but a conversation goes on for half an hour.

Saturday, 31 December

2012-01-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

Year's end. War's end? Will it ever be so? A friend of the vigil comments on the troop withdrawal from Iraq; that does not make the war over. The vast fortress that is the U.S. Embassy in Iraq does not suggest any official expectation of a peaceable relationship with Iraqi people.
Books read and others anticipated weave through the conversation I hear. 6 people of some portions of the hour.

Friday December 30

2011-12-31T20:03:00.000-08:00

Today was a welcome dry hour, even though we all came prepared for rain. There were six to eight of us throughout the hour. One visitor, an elder and combat veteran, suggested that there would always be evil in the world, and consequently war also. Another visitor wondered whether the chemicals we use in our wars contribute to disorders like autism and multiple sclerosis.

Thursday December 29

2011-12-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

Another rainy evening at the vigil, almost a relief after the unusual dryness earlier this month. Several people came and went, including one occasional visitor, but there was six of us for most of the hour.

Wednesday December 28

2011-12-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

Rain during the entire vigil, likely the wettest hour we have spent this month. Five of us at the beginning, nine or ten at the end. One man stopped to say, in a friendly way, "But now we are out of Kuwait."

Tuesday December 27

2011-12-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

Today was a damp vigil. Nine people halfway through the hour, down to five at 6:00PM.

Monday December 26

2011-12-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

Three people to start the hour, seven of us at 6:00PM. This Monday, the day after Christmas (Boxing Day), was even sweeter than the usual Monday; cookies arrived first, followed shortly by frosted brownies. And our spirits were more than usually hopeful, as we told ourselves the story of the Christmas Day visit by a six-year-old and his family.

Sunday, 25 December

2011-12-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

A week left in this year!
Quiet and dark with a drizzle, I stood alone for a bit, signless. It feels like holding a space open when this happens. It is important, to me at least, that someone is there - that the start of the hour is marked by a conscious choice to stand vigil. Few cars. One more person. Then a family of four arrived. The six year old boy carried his hand lettered sign, "No War". They've come to stand for peace at this child's request that they join the protestors on christmas night. Introductions were happening as the van arrived - signs were selected amid conversations about the signs. it felt like a tremendous gift to have this family stand the balance of the hour with us. The boy's hands were cold and 45 minutes is a long time to stand in the dark; yet, he persevered and spoke with brightness about ending war and his intention to come again. His grandmother said she might make a sign saying, "Bring our troops home from Japan." Germany too, all those places we occupy. that would be an interesting turn for the passers-by - provoke some new thoughts and questions.
The clock tolled six and we moved to the van with our signs; our new young protestor tossed his sign in with the rest, saying he'll look for it next time but others can use it. makes this woman's spirit smile to think about the brightness of that child and the family who nurture him. would that all children could be so fortunate.

Saturday, 24 December

2011-12-25T20:09:00.000-08:00

Arrived late to find 3 I knew and a stranger. We had a total of 5 over the hour. Talk circled on matters of holidays and religion, commerce and diversity, prejudice and ignorance. What good were read this year? If you could do anything for the next 24 hours what would it be?

Friday December 23

2011-12-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

Four people at 5:00PM, then seven or eight at the end. Some of us talked with a woman who had a personal vigil just down the street, to call attention to the loss of her son to governmental care. And two separate caroling groups sang at the courthouse.

Thursday December 22

2011-12-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Two at the beginning. People came and went throughout the hour, and there were four of us at 6:00PM. We finished the hour talking about prosthetic aids, including a one-handed walker and a "sock-putter-on" for when you can't bend at the waist.

Wednesday December 21

2011-12-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

Winter solstice. Four of us at the beginning, then six at the end. Our friends from Oakland returned to keep us company, noting -- as did we all -- how cold the afternoon was. They had visited Avery Park Nature Center and Willamette Park during the day. We appreciate their accompaniment.

Tuesday December 20

2011-12-21T21:39:00.000-08:00

Two people at 5:00PM, then ten at 6:00. We had two visitors from Oakland, environmental educators. We talked about what is happening in Oakland and in Corvallis. I was reminded both of how much is happening here and how much more needs to be done for peace and justice in the world.

Monday, 19 December

2011-12-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

Three, then me and soon three more - through the hour we had 11 who came to stand. Are we still here? Isn't the war over? The troops are out of Iraq. We leave an armored embassy and how many mercenaries? We leave an ancient civilization shattered and scattered with the land poisoned from our weapons of lingering destruction.
Is the "Home for the Holidays" smoke and mirrors to confuse and distract?
One of our number points out a miniature tableau amidst the shrubbery - a clever depiction of an "Occupy" occupation. fine piece of work. A photo tomorrow is hoped for.
Excellant cookies and decadent truffles.

Sunday December 18

2011-12-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

Six to nine of us throughout the vigil. Someone from Eugene stopped by to regale us with stories and opinions from the Occupy group there.

Thursday December 15

2011-12-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

One person and no signs to start the hour, six of us, and signs, at 6:00PM. Early on we were visited by four enthusiastic supporters who knew nothing about the vigil. I was reminded how much I miss in the world around me. Today's news included the departure from Iraq of the last US troops. Now, if only our government would de-fund the mercenaries there ...

Wednesday December 14

2011-12-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

Seven people at five o'clock, eleven at six. One of several conversations was about laying chickens, particularly how to care for them in winter.

Tuesday December 13

2011-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Six to eight of us throughout the hour.

Monday December 12

2011-12-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

Four at the beginning of the hour, ten or eleven at 6:00PM. It was a cold afternoon in front of the Benton County courthouse; one person suggested an "Emperor penguin vigil", where we all huddle together and take turns being in the center.

Sunday December 11

2011-12-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

Four or five at 5:00PM, about eleven at 6:00. One vigil-er showed off a home-sewn Christmas gift: a flying saucer, complete with space alien. It seemed at home at the vigil. :)

Saturday December 10

2011-12-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

Half a dozen during the first half hour, about eight at the end. One end was a small book discussion group (In the Garden of Beasts and The Borrower are recommended), and the other end talked generalities, including how each of us plans to spend Christmas.

Friday December 9

2011-12-10T15:26:00.001-08:00

Two of us at 5:00, still two when I left to catch the 5:30 bus.

Thursday December 8

2011-12-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Two of us to start the hour, then four folks when I left halfway through the hour.

Wednesday December 7

2011-12-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

Pearl Harbor Day. Half a dozen of us throughout the hour, briefly as many as eight. With no rain and little fog, the afternoon was comparatively clear, and in addition to a good many supporters, we saw a couple of drivers who definitely disapproved.

Tuesday December 6

2011-12-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

Half a dozen in the first half-hour grew to ten or eleven at the end. A couple of participants described with enthusiasm the weekend model railroad open house, sponsored by the Corvallis Society of Model Engineers at the clubhouse in Adair Village. This is the last appearance for the current track layout. For the rest of us, maybe in 2012.

Monday, December 5

2011-12-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

Cold fog: at least it is not raining - it would be warmer if it was.
Moon was a ghostly glow. Clock is back with accurate time and holiday carols. Through the hour - 13 people with some variations in the configurations. A delicious buttery rich cookie treat came with two vigil-ers.

A young couple in white jeep pulled up to us. The passenger, male, asked: "what does that mean?" with a gesture to "END ALL MILITARY OCCUPATIONS". The sign holder answered with a summation of the point. The following comments from the young man were confounding: "where would you be without that?" "my grandfather died for that." "can't you find anything better to do with your time?" and several more "where would we be without that?" He was in utter disbelief that there would still be a Corvallis or an Oregon or a nation we would recognize.
Later a driver in a passing car gestured with the back of his hand held toward us. We speculate as to the meaning. Is he Italian?

Sunday December 4

2011-12-05T16:10:00.000-08:00

Six vigil-ers today. The courthouse clock has been restarted but not set, so we depend on a cell phone to mark the end of the hour.

Saturday December 3

2011-12-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

Ten or eleven of us on a very cold afternoon. Even the hardiest sandal wearers had socks.

Friday, 2 December

2011-12-03T18:37:00.000-08:00

The local Zonta Club had a candlelit vigil from 4:30 to 5:30 to mark the United Nations Day calling for Abolishing Slavery. As our 5 o'clock gathering time arrived and our peace signs came out the others moved to the North end of the courthouse block saying they didn't want passers-by to confuse the signs. We puzzled that one between the four of us; did some one of their group not want to be associated with our signs? I'd found one of our signs that said "No More Victims"; it seemed appropriate. But we also said our usual : end all military occupations & veterans for peace & peace (in Chinese) . We talked a bit about the global issue of slavery and human trafficking. What role does the disruption of war play in increasing the incidence of children being preyed upon? Is there increased sexual slavery in areas where we have military bases?
what with arrivals and departures we counted 6 for the hour - but the hour itself was poorly counted as the county turned the electricity off in the courthouse for repairs and the clock was stopped at 12:15. It was as if one of the regulars was missing.

Wednesday November 30

2011-12-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

Eight or nine of us through the hour. There were family visitors from Australia. And some discussion of organizing around climate change.

Tuesday November 29

2011-11-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

As many as fifteen people at one point in the hour. Likely the drier weather helped, along with the treats for a birthday celebration.

Monday November 28

2011-11-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

About seven at the beginning, growing to a dozen at 6:00PM. A young woman of Mexican ancestry from Los Angeles joined us for the first half hour, a welcome mark of wider support. The Monday treat was tasty pumpkin bars.

Sunday, 27 November

2011-11-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

A steady rain and a steady 7 people and then we were 6 for the balance of the hour. A grinning head mask of George W. is looking out at the traffic from the van's trailer hitch these past two nights.
Brownies, with a mystery ingredient, are offered. If we were the old hippies some detractor's like to label us there might be no mystery - but this is a new century and no one can guess that black beans are the key ingredient.

Saturday November 26

2011-11-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

Seven of us for the first half hour grew to ten at 6:00PM. We talked about far-away relatives and favorite Thanksgiving dishes.

Friday November 25

2011-11-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Seven of us for much of the hour. The street in front of the Benton County courthouse had one lane closed for the annual Corvallis holiday parade, so that even not much traffic felt busy. Some passing wondered whether the vigil was part of the parade.

Thursday November 24

2011-11-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

Four, briefly five, of us for the Thanksgiving hour. Rain hung in the air but mostly stayed there, and we did not get wet. Traffic was light, with an occasional honk of support and no disagreeable disagreements that we could see.
Three of us had attended community potlucks for the holiday, one in Albany and one in Corvallis, a custom to be affirmed and supported.
One of us had just read In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson, an account of the Nazis' first years in power from the viewpoint of the American ambassador to Germany William E Dodd. She sees the book as a cautionary account of missed opportunities to unseat the Nazis and so possibly to avert World War II.

Wednesday, 23 November

2011-11-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

I was a late arrival - as I walked up I saw our faithful first arrival heading home - so I count myself as the replacement. Seven for the first 1/2 and five for the remainder with one Dog for Peace. Tasty seasonal muffins were a still warm treat. Talk was about the recent SOA Watch gathering in Georgia. A man shouted from a passing car. Did he tell us to "go home" as we thought we heard or "bring 'em home"?

Tuesday, 22 November

2011-11-22T19:48:00.000-08:00

One waiting as the clock chimed and I blew across the street with the flurry of wild wet leaves. We stood in the darkening day behind a solid line of parked cars. Then, as if on cue, the sign-bearing van arrived and several cars pulled away and two became three and the nightly accretion continued with 8 gathered to stand in our various ways and intentions, for peace. We spoke of the local "occupy movement" - the larger purpose and how it might gain in consequence. Our newest 'regular' sees the vigil as representing a steadfast presence and she joins us with a clear sense that this is "doing something". I am heartened for I hear other comments that suggest this is an empty gesture. I remember a man I met who, for many years maintained a vigilant presence in protest of nuclear weapons made and transported from the Pantex factory in Texas. He knew his presence led others to questions and some to change their attitudes. I believe this little cadre of people outside the county courthouse has a similar consequence. We also spoke of food. I'd seen the German documentary film, Daily Bread, last night - all about the miserable practices of factory farm food production. Why, we asked, are we unable/unwilling to feed people; heathy sane food? How is it that the government subsidizes corporate food not small farms? How is it that we are so mesmerized by the cultural myth of Getting Ahead that we forget to care for one another? What, really, would it take to have food security in our community? I recall taking an elder friend from Appalachian Kentucky on a trip to Philadelphia. Grace had not traveled before and her commentary of sights along the way was engaging. As we explored Washington DC she looked at the expanses of grass and noted that they "were not even cemeteries; just think of all the food they could grow on that flat ground!" Indeed. lawns into food production. how hard would that be? And, is not that part of creating peace?
As the hour ended our injured companion stopped to wish us all a happy day of thanksgiving.

Monday, 21 November

2011-11-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

Warmer & wet - 6 to enjoy the cookies - which are a Monday tradition. The illuminated snowflakes are up on the light posts. Winter holiday decorations festoon the courthouse - soon the lights will be lit and the cheer will spill over the sidewalk. We spoke of fantastical devices to facilitate holding a sign and an umbrella and responding to waving people. And, how about an umbrella engineered to scoop in the sound so conversation can be unhampered. Maybe lights for the signs. More seriously, we marveled at the bravery of the Egyptian protestors.

Sunday 20 November

2011-11-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

Startlingly cold. 6 hearty folks stood the hour.

Saturday, 19 November

2011-11-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

Conversations circled - "the Occupy Movement" - the younger generation's engagement; the diversity of people engaged. Albany Peace Seekers intend to sponsor an essay contest - starting around Martin Luther King's birthday. I am impressed. What else might some of us in Corvallis do?

Friday, 18 November

2011-11-19T08:40:00.000-08:00

Blustery rain persists - five for the hour, six for a portion of it. Conversation on my end of the line circled the ideas presented by Bill McKibben last night. The vital importance of local action feeding into national and global change. Could someone design equipment appropriate to recycling plastic in the community of use rather than shipping it distances? Keeping carbon sequestered in trees and buried "fossil fuels" - changing forestry practices...
Another side of peace.

Thursday, 17 September

2011-11-18T05:28:00.000-08:00

One waiting under his umbrella and two more arrive with the clock chiming the hour. serious rain for a bit.
four for the remaining time - one arrives and the faithful first at the curb person bids us good evening. Several people pass and make the effort to let us know they support peace. We speak of hostility and steps one takes to live safely in a culture of violence.

Wednesday, 17 November

2011-11-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

A blustery evening with leaves sailing golden in the street lights. We seven marveled at the beauty around us. We were prepared for the big rain with our array of umbrellas. 4 more joined us for the later 1/2 hour. Conversations are compromised by the umbrella barriers. One of our regulars is off to Georgia for the annual SOA watch gathering. Another was having surgery to repair a broken wrist. And, in this hour, how many people I will never know suffered because of the wars my government sustains?

Tuesday November 15

2011-11-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

Ten or twelve people throughout the hour. It seems to me that the traffic was unresponsive this evening, with few honks or gestures, but maybe that is just my impression. I do not ask the others what they think.

Monday Movember 14

2011-11-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

Eight to ten people throughout the (blessedly dry) hour. We talked about caring for horses and dogs, and about the impact of medical technology on how we die.

Sunday November 13

2011-11-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

A man who only recently began joining the vigil chose to celebrate his 31st birthday today by posting an invitation on his Facebook page. So the hour was an invigorating mix of "old regulars", many of whom do not have a Facebook identity, and hip younger folks. Is "hip" even the right slang nowadays? We all enjoyed being and witnessing together.

Saturday, 12 November

2011-11-12T21:35:00.000-08:00

Still here despite the portentous 11/11/11 with various dooms foretold. It seems there is enough everyday doom -what with the ongoing wars and all manner of nefarious political posturing. 6 this Saturday night in the dark rain. Many friendly toots and headlight flashes. These are the nights it feels particularly important to stand the hour - with winter's darkness closing in and the blusters of rain squalling about.

Friday, November 11

2011-11-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

Darkness is again part of the vigil. It is harder to see the people who wave as they pass us. With this visual uncertainty we can choose to declare all gestures to be affirmative for the cause of peace. A man with a 99% sign joined us for the hour after giving the afternoon to standing at Bank of America in the spirit of the growing Occupy movement. 11 for most of the mostly wet hour. We heard about the annual veterans day parade in Albany - which included a contingent of nuclear test site veterans. A young man offered us the 1/4 sheet flyers that VFP passed out - giving the Armistice Day history of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, as the end of that "war to end all wars". Here we are 93 years later with a deep habit of war as a fact of our national policy.

Thursday November 10

2011-11-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Only one vigil-er to start the hour, but folks trickled in until there were seven of us at 6:00PM. One interesting conversation was about people's strong reactions to traffic roundabouts, in particular the proposed roundabout at SW 53rd Street and Western Boulevard, as opposed to stoplights and stop signs.

Wednesday November 9

2011-11-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

Half a dozen to ten people throughout the hour. An account of a 21-year every-Friday peace vigil in Concord, Massachusetts; encounters with coyotes in Corvallis and in New York's Central Park; discussion of whether there will be any effective response to climate change -- we do not lack for things to talk about. It is easier to talk when the weather is dry than in the rain. :)