Wage Peace

Courtesy of Underdog

Photographer:  Underdog

"Arlington West," August 2012, Santa Monica, California. "Arlington West" at Santa Monica Pier erected weekly by Veterans For Peace on Sundays, showing the American death toll caused by corporate militarism.

In some local pieces from around the country, and on Veteran's Day, Veterans For Peace protest the consequences of corporate militarism and the need to find alternatives to war.  Of course, the group is active in this endeavor throughout the year (see photos, for example, of Arlington West in California), and has also been visible in the Occupy Movement and the effort to free unjustly imprisoned veteran and whistle blower Bradley Manning who is currently attempting a plea bargain.  

Across the country, various Veterans For Peace chapters rang bells eleven times at eleven a.m.

In little Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about 50 veterans of several different wars went into the Old Brick Church on Market Street for speeches and special commemorations of Iowa soldiers who've died.

 Courtesy of Underdog

Photographer:  Underdog

"Death As Far As The Eye Can See," August 2012, Arlington West. American deaths from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with religious symbols showing soldiers of all faiths.  The graves stretch towards the vast ocean, visually blending into its endless reaches.

From press-citizen.com:

“For 94 years now, every decade we’re at war,” said Vietnam War veteran Steve Hanken, of Cedar Rapids.

And,

Hanken, a member of Veterans for Peace, said the vast majority of people both inside and outside of Old Brick are not in favor of war, and the public has nothing to gain from it.

“Our people that go there don’t gain anything,” he said. “The only people that do gain from it are not putting their lives on the line for this process.”

Ed Flaherty, the President of Veterans For Peace, chapter 161, said that simply reminding people of the horrors of war isn’t enough, and that we “need to figure out new ways to wage peace.”  

The meeting was also attended by Marybeth Gardam, Cedar Rapids resident and the Iowa coordinator of Move To Amend, who spoke about reducing corporate influence on government by working to take away constitutional rights given to corporations, rights that were intended for people.  She said that the public no longer has say in how elections are run, how candidates are selected, and what government policies are implemented -- with those decisions being made, instead, by corporations.

This has a lot to do with why and how we are continuously at war.

The group passed a petition that has generated 200,000 online signatures and hopes to get 500,000 by next year.  The petition states:

We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.

 Courtesy of Underdog

Photographer:  Underdog

"Educational Board," August 2012, Arlington West.  Santa Monica beach goers view an educational board erected by Veterans For Peace on the devastating human consequences of corporate militarism.

 

 Courtesy of Underdog

Photographer:  Underdog

"Educational Board: U.S. Military Wounded," August 2012, Arlington West.  A closer look at the information viewed by Santa Monica beach goers in the earlier photo, and on U.S. military wounded.

Courtesy of Underdog

Photographer:  Underdog

"Educational Board:  Iraqi Civilians Wounded," August 2012, Arlington West.  Another close-up of the educational board erected by Veterans For Peace showing the devastating consequences of corporate militarism on Iraqi civilians.

In Auburn, Washington, Veterans For Peace were excluded from the Veteran's Day parade by city officials until they brought the city to court with the help of the A.C.L.U.  The court agreed that the group was excluded because of their views, upheld their free speech rights, and the group marched this year.

A local television piece:



Democracy Now! has a Veteran's Day series including this video here on medical issues faced by American veterans, and calls for more assistance for veterans dealing with combat wounds, including psychiatric disabilities.

Update:

DN is also carrying the Auburn ruling in its daily national wrap-up:

 
  

And more photos from Underdog's August visit to Arlington West -

 Courtesy of Underdog

Photographer:  Underdog

"Seven Suicides A Week," August 2012, Arlington West, Santa Monica Beach.  This portion of the weekly Arlington West commemoration educates the public on the high suicide rate in the military with our involvements in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Symbolic grave markers show deaths due to suicide brought on by the extraordinary psychological stress of war.  A tombstone replica reads, "Military Suicides - 7 Every Week."

Courtesy of Underdog
Photographer:  Underdog
"How Many More?" August 2012, Arlington West.  An Arlington West perspective showing the American deaths for that past week alone in Afghanistan, with flag-draped coffins.  The installation includes grave markers with the Veterans For Peace logo and a sign that reads, "Four Of Our Military Killed Last Week ... How Many More?"