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We often are encouraged to disregard wisdom accumulated by elders by corporate media, both news and entertainment. The wealthy and the CEOswould much rather us blindly follow the boob tube than learn real lessons about life. This is one of many areas where we could learn a lot from the indigenous peoples' of this continent.
One group of elders we should all learn from is the Granny Peace Brigade. In addition to their website, they have a blog which keeps up with their activities to resist the Iraq war, promote peace, and defy complacency.
They show us a model of strength, compassion, and concern while managing to keep a sense of humor about themselves. Their use of parodies of songs from the days of their youth provides a way for them to get peoples' attention in an era of information overload.
They even let me sing with them once at Union Square a while back.
Of course, they don't just sing. They picket, march, and use a particularly pragmatic tactic to get people to call their congresscritters, PHONE-A-THONS.
Keep the pressure on Congress!
Response to our Phone-a-Thons has been so enthusiastic that we are repeating them regularly in different locations. We ask people to call Congress on the spot (using our phones) and urge their Senators and Representatives to stop the war by stopping the funding.
YouTube video of their singing at a recent Phone-A-Thon.
Here are links to a couple of their flyers (PDF - quarter sheet):
- Stop Funding the War
- Impeach Cheney Before He Attacks Iran
- Filibuster War Spending
They also have a great page that you shouldn't miss:
Resources for Lobbying Congress
Hey Lib, I never realized that such an organization exists but you get right to the point when you mention that we often discount the wisdom of the elderly in this day and age. Great article.
Great post! I'll be sure to check it out. I have attended a rally that is held monthly here over a highway. Many of us grannies there.
This is great! You made my day!
If only we did have respect, much more respect for our elders - so many are sage, and do have the wisdom of decades of life - there is something upside down about a culture that is pro birth, not pro life, Worships youth in a way that is not truly helpful to the young..sweet post libH.
proudprogressive: Your point about the unhealthy way we worship youth is really getting me thinking. We worship young people as pretty objects, while dismissing their ideas, knowledge, and experiences.