Now it has been seven years since the US invaded Iraq. Somewhere between 95,751 and 104,456 civilians have died in Iraq, as have 4386 US soldiers.  The US Treasury has had to spend $713,527,286,000 plus there. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has cost the US $261,120,386,000 plus and 1025 lives. I went to San Francisco to see the signs and share the experience of caring about  the situation with others from the peace community. I had to do something to mark the event. I didn't like the war when it started, and I still don't like it.

        

I got there after the march had set out to raise hell in the streets. I didn't know where it was, so I just browsed the booths. It was nice because there was plenty of time to talk to people without having to be rushed by fifteen other people that wanted their attention more. The big news is that Carol Brouillet has come out with a new perception dollar, and also one with an Obama mask on it. Let me know if you want one of each. I've a few, and I'd be glad to share.

       

The woman with the tea bags wanted to remind people that drinking tea is about sharing peace around the table.

BTW: When tea bags come up nowadays, I like to mention that I ended up with the left over tea bags from the Green Party of California meeting in San Jose. I'd love to see some Tea Party activists drink Green Party tea. I've got the tea, I'll provide the place, but I don't have the contacts to make it happen. If you have any ideas on how to make this happen, please let me know!

     

        

     

The fine print on that black and white poster asking "Who are the biggest high tech murderers of Innocents?" explained that Americans have done some very bad things. Whom else can you think of that has dropped an atomic bomb on a large population center? The funny thing was that there was a guy cowering behind the thing that didn't want his picture taken. Shooting the poster was apparently okay though.

About then the march got back. The plaza was quite a bit more crowded for a while after that.

        

        

  

That BIG pink banner was too hard to photograph. The top half asked "Where is our change?" Below that it asked "Where is our hope?" Some of the people carrying it are people I consider to be influential code pink activists.

  

See that "TRUTH" above the marchers and to the left of the statue? It's an art project that has been on the side of that building for many years. Somewhere I have a clipping of a picture from a newspaper of me (and about a dozen friends) marching towards city hall years ago, right about where those kids with the blue and white sign were when I took this picture.

     

I gave my STAY HUMAN shirt to my brother... I still like the idea though.

        

     

        

  

        

The woman with the big smile is the director of Corner Store, a movie about a Palestinian that came to San Francisco and ran a corner store for 20 years. Then he went back to visit, and that visit was a key part of the movie. Click her picture to find out more.