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Grandmothers for Peace InternationalActivism > Other Granny Groups > Grandmothers Against the War |
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Grandmothers for Peace InternationalActivism > Other Granny Groups > Grandmothers Against the War |
Three elderly (but youthful) grandmothers flew to Berlin on March 16 to speak before peace groups there. The grannies are among the 18 grandmothers arrested and jailed on October 17 at the Times Square Recruiting Station in New York City when they tried to enlist.
The women, Molly Klopot, almost 87, Chair of the New York Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Joan Wile, 74, founder/director of Grandmothers Against the War, and Barbara Walker, 72, an assistant director of Grandmothers Against the War, were invited by Reverend Peter Kranz, head minister of the Luther-Church in Spandau-Berlin to speak to peace congregations.
The grannies made the arduous journey because of their belief that it was very important to show people in other countries that America is not populated entirely by war-mongering Bush boobs but rather to demonstrate that there is an active and large resistance movement. They also welcomed the opportunity to thank Germany for its courageous efforts to prevent the invasion of Iraq in their opposition to it in the United Nations Security Council.
Molly, Joan and Barbara were hosted in grand style by Reverend Kranz and his wife, Elizabeth, and a coterie of friends, all of whom wined and dined them lavishly and carted them around hither and yon with tremendous good spirits and humor. It is suspected that each grandmother gained approximately ten pounds as a result of the delicious German food served to them at least five times a day.
The ladies spoke to three church congregations of their opposition to the war and the reasons why they placed themselves in a position to be incarcerated. Joan Wile, a professional singer and award-winning ASCAP lyricist/composer, performed at each meeting her two songs expressing the grandmothers’ mission, “The Granny Anti-War Song,” and “I’ve Got To Take Back My Country.” The songs and the grandmas’ remarks were very enthusiastically received by the Berliners, even though the American women spoke English for the most part. Volunteers did their best to translate the granny speeches.
Several women leaders of the Berlin peace movement met with the grandmothers and told them of plans underfoot to attempt to make Germany a sanctuary for all military personnel wanting to opt out of the war, including Americans. One activist also advised the American women of her desire to create a movement to have the German Parliament outlaw the use of the American air base at Ramstein Airport for the dispatch of planes on bombing missions. She explained to the grannies that 80 percent of such missions emanate from that air base, and expressed her belief that they could literally stop the war if they can successfully prevent the bombing flights.
The grandmothers were invited back to a possible big demonstration at the air base later this year, which, if the various old-age infirmities don’t kick in, they will, of course, be happy to accept.
After four days, the three jet-lagged and stuffed-to-the-gills grandmothers flew back home, exhausted but confident they had sent out some good vibrations and made some important bonds.
At the end of each meeting, Grandma Joan repeated the credo guiding the ladies, as espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”