Reclaiming Mother's Day Events

[fight4my3sons]

<snip>
Reclaiming Mother’s Day events are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 she wrote a Mother’s Day Proclamation and called for a day when the world would honor what mothers hold most dear: the lives of our children, of all children. The events celebrate the vision that Julia spoke of 100 years ago: mothers everywhere rising up together around that which unites us rather than divides us — our global family.

Bring your community together through events that reflect and inspire you — community cakewalks, tea parties, knitting fests, a mama’s open-mic night in the public square . . . The sky and your imagination is the limit. The events combine the essential components of costumes, free cake and action. When mothers* publicly express our commitment to children — our communities, media and government sit up and take notice. Let’s sing it out in the streets, “We will protect our children with our personal & political strength — wherever they live on earth!”

Julia wrote, “Arise, arise, all women who have hearts!” Every year we answer her call.

*mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller
<snip>
http://www.mothersactingup.org/mothersday.html

Last year I had the great pleasure of attending the first annual Mother's Acting Up Mother's Day Event in Portland, ME. If any of you were there I may have been easy to spot as my oldest son fell in love with a toucan costume at a yard sale earlier in the day and wore it that afternoon rather proudly. The event featured music, some tables with political activists, an electric car, and it was held at a nice park with a great playground. Plans are being made for the event to be held again this year.

If you would like to organize an event in your area go here for information: [e-mail]

The main web page:
http://www.mothersactingup.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtA5GcGBnFM

*mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

edited to add You tube video

[sandnsea]

1. Disarm! Disarm!

It was a specific call to end violence and war. If we really want to celebrate the vision of Julia Ward Howe, let's organize a campaign to end the war.

Mother's Day Proclamation
1870

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

[fight4my3sons]

4. The local MAU chapter was at the Portland Peace Festival

last year. The largest human peace sign (in Maine?) was formed and the news helicopter came to take a picture.

Organizing a campaign to end the war is definitely fighting for our children's best interest. You are right on target :).

[sandnsea]

7. Not what I mean

And this really upsets me. The original purpose of Mother's Day had nothing to do with "our children's best interest". It was ANTI-WAR. Any group that pretends to reclaim the "original intent", but does not focus on an anti-war message, is engaged in revisionism in my book. It's much harder to be anti-war than to engage in happy talk about "global children".

[fight4my3sons]

8. no, those were MY words not the groups' words

I'm sorry I upset you. I did not mean to. I do understand what the original purpose of Mother's Day was, but how is being anti-war not beneficial to children?

I do not organize MAU events I was just hoping to get the word out about MAU so that others might organize an event. The person who organizes around my area is a lovely woman. My kids and I had a great time at the event. I was hoping that someone out there might go to one in their area.

If you answer this and I don't respond right away it's only because I have to get my son off of the school bus.

[fight4my3sons]

5. the youtube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnwEK_8YxTw

[Breeze54]

2. Good reminder... when is Mother's day this year?

:shrug:

[fight4my3sons]

3. May 11th

[Breeze54]

6. Cool! My first child's birthday! Almost the day I became a Mom for the first time....

I missed it that year by two days...