Greene County holds peace rally
WAYNESBURG – Nearly 100 spectators gathered on the Greene County Courthouse steps Saturday morning for a peaceful vigil to protest a possible war with Iraq and to show support for a peaceful resolution. Bystanders carried or planted along the sidewalk signs heralding slogans such as “Give Peace a Chance,” “Cursed are the Warmongers” and “Peace & Love.”
During his speech and prayer rites, the Rev. Peter E. Ostrander of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Waynesburg said that while competitors to peace breed envy and anger, the path to a peaceful world is to have citizens who make neighbors, who listen, speak and respect the views of others and who have the “good fruit of the spirit,” characteristics such as love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness and self-control.
“Some don’t realize that we refuse to understand the culture and world views of others,” said Ostrander. “We feel that a case has not been fully made for a second war in Iraq, and the consequences of war have not been made clear.”
Jeanne Williams, an organizer of the vigil and main speaker at the event, said 100,000 people die in Iraq each year because of political sanctions. Williams said that those who believe in a peaceful world will achieve the peace they desire for their children and their future.
“We must make our voices heard to those who close their ears to sanity,” said Williams. “We must make the faces seen for those who closed their eyes to humanity.”
To the cheer of the crowd, Williams announced that the Greene Doves, a Greene County-based Internet peace group that fought for peace during the Gulf War, has been reactivated.
“We joined people all around the world in rallying for peace on Feb. 1, and we join the nations who strive for peace now. When they ask whether we are against the war with Iraq, we say, ‘Add Greene County to that list.'”
To further illustrate the need for peaceful action, Williams quoted a U.S. senator: “To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. We stand passively mute in the U.S. Senate on the grievances of war. Only on newspaper editorial pages do you hear the argument.”
Jeffrey Kisner, a Presbyterian minister and professor of religion at Waynesburg College, posed the question: “Will we be part of the burden of the Iraqi people or will we help to relieve their burden through Christ’s gospel?
“Perhaps what we need now is a faith-based initiative for peace in Iraq and in the world,” Kisner said to the cheer of the crowd.
Kisner said that, according to the Presbyterian stance, putting names and faces on the people of Iraq would make it harder to go to war with them.
According to Williams, the vigil came together in 16 days after its mention.
The organizers wanted to do something for those of Greene County after receiving news of people traveling to Pittsburgh rallies, not having a local one to attend.
A vigil attendant and Greene County resident for nine years, Jane Cooley described the event as orderly and peaceful, instead of a protest march or demonstration.
“I come full of prayer for a fix to this problem,” Cooley said as she placed a bag of rice inside an envelope that will be forwarded to the White House, symbolizing that generosity is the answer to dispute. “I just have real concerns. We must do anything we can and take as much time as we can. We must work with our allies and the United Nations to avoid war. I am a prayerful person and I hope we will do more…we can do more. I am hopeful that war will be averted.”
Jennifer Dalenberg, Williams’ daughter, traveled to the vigil from Clarion County not only to publicly sing a Russian song of peace with her mother, but to show support for peace with Iraq.
“I’m here to support peace,” Dalenberg said before her performance. “I am against death and the killing of innocent lives which would result from war.”
During the singing of the Russian peace song “Mir, Oh, Mir,” bystanders’ voices rose in song along with those of Williams and Dalenberg.
After the song, attendants grew still and bowed their heads for a three-minute silent vigil.
The Bella Voce Children’s Choir in Waynesburg, an ensemble of 13 area children, stood on the courthouse steps, singing “The Storm is Passing Over,” among other songs with piano accompaniment.
“I figured what better way to demonstrate peace than through children and song,” said Angela Smith, director of Bella Voce.
Rev. Ostrander said after the vigil that he was drawn to the event based on the real concerns he has about a war with Iraq.
“If a war could be averted, it would be better for everyone,” said Ostrander. “I believe in the power of prayer. It can change the hearts of everyone. It is the way we should go.”