This is what democracy is…

Today I spent seven hours at a student demonstration against the war, in Parliament Square. It was just.. amazing. Inspiring, heart-warming, uplifting, upsetting. The underlying fact that we are fighting against something which is estimated to cause one million deaths was something which everyone felt, but, not to be too corny, there was such a sense of unity – we are all fighting for the same cause, the same reason, young people from all over London coming together to oppose this horrible war, that it was also a fantastic experience. We took around seventy people from my school, there were two hundred from Fortismere, one hundred from Stokie, all of William Ellis.. so many children. On the bus on the way down, there were old ladies bemoaning the state of youth today – at first it annoyed me but then made me laugh. They’re so small minded and stuck in the past that they should be pitied. How anyone could describe what I went to today as children being ‘unruly’ or ‘irresponsible’ is impossible. Everyone there had one motive, to stop the war.

Wow, I rarely wax lyrical about things like that, but it affected me so much. I’m not a particularly political person usually, but on this topic I have very strong opinions. I’m watching BBC News 24 now, and to be honest, this war disgusts me. I can see all the smoke and fire over Baghdad from the bombs dropped, and just thinking about the children and adults alike, terrified for their lives makes me so upset. Rose made a banner which Rachael and I carried, which said ‘We refuse to study while you bomb Iraqi schoolchildren’ on one side, and ‘Stop this dirty war’ on the other.

There were speakers too, who were great and very inspiring. A girl from my school who is very active in these circles spoke as well – she’s fantastic!

Ok, well, I’ll stop going on about it now, I’m going to say nothing more than you better all get your backsides down to London or some other big city for the demonstrations on Saturday! There’s no excuse not to.

Aside from the demonstrations.. what have I done? I bought a lovely new bra and some sunglasses, and made plans with Rose and tons of other people to go out on Saturday night to Purple Turtle, probably, because Martha is staying after the demo, and wants to go to the pub. I texted Olivia and she couldn’t come, so there’s no chance D will be coming. Never mind. I’m quite glad, at least I’ll be able to relax and have fun with my friends 🙂

lots of love, and STOP THE WAR!!

xxxxxxxxxxx

i’m glad you feel the same way i do..its good to know i mean i wonder if they relize how many ppl are against this whole thing..

Keep the war going… its happening you cant stop it so let it be…

musical sock

March 20, 2003

I admire your staying power! But I for one am going to stop campaigning against the war. I’m still anti-war, for certain, but my efforts were concentrated in actually trying to prevent the whole event, so it’s largely redundant for me, personally, to continue campaigning against something I have been unable to stop.

I think our efforts would be better concentrated in keeping an extremely close eye on UK/US tactics, collecting accurate data on civilian deaths, etc. (not US/Iraqi propaganda) It’s a terrible thing to us to have started this war (especially without UN backing), but it would be even worse to start a war against Saddam and lose it. By ‘stopping the war’, we have pulled out, and effectively lost.

So surely our efforts should go towards the poor bastards who also have no say in this – the troops? And ‘stop the war’ efforts would also be put to good use in ensuring the regime change does not result in a US puppet ruling the country, placing a big oil pipe in Iraq to go straight to America. We’ve failed in stopping the war – but we can make things better for the future.

RYN: And yes, I think you are a prime candidate for eating ice cream on the sofa. May you scoff with pride. xxx

Me and my phone are reunited! Yay! All round campus at the mo is “Fighting for Peace is like screwing for virginity” Very true!

i do fear this country is getting no where fast..do you agree with me..

rin0a

March 22, 2003

i like this entry. woo. even though i don’t like the war..i do agree with what ‘musical sock’ said.

Go you!! Stand up for what you believe in. And until then, buy alot of clothes and look beautiful!! 😀 😉

i really wanna get it done i’m sure it will look good on me at least i hope so

I’d have been there in a second if I had wings. I’d love to have my brother as well as the rest of our boys home right now. I can’t even express how awesome that is to stand up for what you believe in. Right on sistaaaaaa!

I had the most horrendous headache, but I managed to go out the next night too, and last til four although that wasn’t my fault!

wow you’re so lucky you got to do that, pupils at my school got suspended if they tried to protest!! that entry really inspired me! people at my school just won’t do anything and if i share ideas with them they all just shrug it off with things like “you won’t make a difference” and i probably won’t by myself but you can and you will and i love you and go stop wars emmy, go!! xxxxxx

I respect your opinion, but I also respectfully disagree. War is a terrible thing and I am saddened by the fact that my country and yours have had to resort to force to disarm Saddam Hussein and his regime, but it had to be done. He has slaughtered way too many innocents to be allowed to stay in power. Read the stories about Human Shields whose minds were changed by Iraqi citizens, and the…

stories of some of the Iraqi people themselves. This war is a tragedy, but the things he’s done to his people are even more tragic. The citizens of Iraq will be better off when this is all over.

grovelhog

March 26, 2003

And you texted me to see if I was coming… freaque girl!! The youth of today… not remembering who’s in France and who’s not. Possibly everything will be better for the Iraqis post-war… so long as the Iraqis get to run Iraq. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

well, this is best for the iraqi people…people always bitch about how we’re having all these civilian casualties – funny about how you didnt protest saddams reign when hed kill his OWN people.this is not a horrible war. its necessary, saddams a threat to the world. if youre not going to support your own troops (thanks to the brave english that are fighting) – go and live in iraq. -The Chea