A blog set up—the gift from my big brother and sister in law for Christmas. It has taken me 3 months to get rolling.

There is much going through my head currently. I suppose I shall begin mid-thought.

I attended a massive peace march this past Saturday to commemorate the one year anniversary of the U.S. invading Iraq. I always have mixed emotions when I attend events such as this one. On the one hand I appreciate and am moved by all the energy, on the other hand I always come away with an unsettled spirit. Perhaps an example will help illustrate. My husband and I arrived late to the march. We were getting there in time to join in at the very end of the mass of people. There was a small group of individuals (I’d guess around 30) with pro-Bush, pro-Israel, and pro-Iraqi war signs who tried to join in at the end of the march in order to represent ‘the other side.’ They were not warmly received. Granted when you’re brave enough to come in front of anywhere from 5,000-20,000 people (I can’t even find a legitimate estimate of the numbers who showed up…), you’re bound to encounter some hostility—which is still not justifiable. This is where my frustration with the peace movement arises.

People against the war began shouting at the pro-war group and thus the back and forth banter started. I had to cover my step son’s ears at one point because it was not appropriate for him to hear the words being said. And what impression will he now have of the alleged Peace Movement when he witnesses so much unrest?

I am anti-war. I don’t care for the president’s foreign policies. But I don’t harbor a deep resentment for him as the human being that bares the image of God. I see him as a man in process just like the rest of us who needs to be redeemed. Will he be accountable for his actions? Yes. Will his actions as leader of our nation be called into account? Yes. Do I think the solution to this administration is to march through the streets of America with signs that say “Fuck Bush” ? No. Where does that get us? Nowhere.

The anger behind the anti-war groups seems just as deplorable as the act of war itself. Where is the spirit of reconciliation, forgiveness, and love?

It was interesting to have my 5 year old with us during the march. He had many questions, especially upon seeing the swarms of police decked out in riot gear. Some of his questions were: Why do they carry those big long sticks? And, Why do they have guns? We’ve tried to instill in him that the police are good, yet he couldn’t wrap his head around why they had guns which are bad. I suppose this is the first of many contradictions he will face in life.