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8 weeks so far and still going!

2/24/2012

Eight weeks of walking up and down the sidewalk each morning in front of a rural school, carrying a protest sign.

This last week had a bonus protest, as there was an open house at the school at 7pm.
My hubby and I both were there.
It was dark - so I outfitted my sign with pink battery operated lights.

A car pulled up and the woman asked, "What are you doing?"
I told her I was protesting.

We chatted and then she thanked me and shook my hand.

I have met some lovely people since carrying my protest sign.

I have enjoyed the fresh air and the walking up and down the sidewalk each morning has been enjoyable too.

I have "regulars" who drive by and smile and wave.

There is the man in the red car who always flips me the bird.

Yesterday, a little girl who walks to school brought me a
flower.

Also, yesterday, a woman drove by and I smiled and waved and I thought at first she was saluting and it turned out that she put her hand up to the side of her face like a blinder on a horse.
Oh my gosh!
THAT was funny!
"I can't see you. You must not exist."
Oy.

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Sign the petition link.

2/20/2012

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SIGN THE PETITION

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How much is too much?

2/16/2012

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Here is a list of Military Visits on the school calendar so far this year.

- 5 October - Navy
- 20 October - Air Force
- 2 November - Navy
- 17 November - Air Force
- 7 December - Navy
- 15 December - Air Force
- 4 January - Navy
- 19 January - Air Force
- 2 February - National Guard
- 16 February - Air Force
- 22 February - Marines

This is for a school that has a class size of 34-40 per grade. PER GRADE!

Now, some of these recruiters have been no-shows - but nonetheless - the school is OK with them being
there this often.
I am not OK with this.
I can guaranteed you that colleges have not made the trek to this school as often as the military recruiters.

This is my new sign that I will carry in front of the school each morning until they make a rule to allow each recruiter from any organization 2 visits per year.

I have been summarily dismissed by the superintendent - he says he has spent enough time on this matter.

I, too, have other things I can do with my time.

But, I have made a choice to stand up for the children in this school district who are unaware of the lopsided choices presented to them.

The current wars are perhaps winding down and the need for cannon fodder may be diminished - but there inevitably will be another war and I just want rules in place for kids in this rural district that keep recruiting efforts balanced.

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Uh huh.

2/15/2012

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“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
Mahatma Gandhi

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Ain't done yet.

2/10/2012

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School Board Meeting was last Thursday night.
There are now some rules IN WRITING, that will not allow recruiters to contact the 7th an 8th graders.
Well.
That only took me a year to get that simple moral task done.
Geez.
The board did NOT limit all recruiters to two visits per year.
Sometimes military recruiters are scheduled every other week at this rural school.
That means that 9th graders, 14 year old children, can still visit with Armed Forces trained salespeople twice a month.
My job is not done.

First two stanzas are my
mantra for now.

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Week SIX of my protest - School Board Meeting Tonight

2/9/2012

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Six weeks of walking up and down the sidewalk each morning with my protest sign for 1/2 hour before school starts.
Yep.
SIX weeks.

Yesterday a woman pulled her car over to talk with me.
We had a great talk.
So nice to meet other like-minded people in my area.
It is hard to meet people in a rural area - so my protest has been positive in more ways than I anticipated.
I am actually enjoying the walk in the fresh morning air.
I keep 3 coats in my car. Two scarves and 2 pairs of gloves and a big umbrella. I am prepared for any weather!

School board meeting is tonight and a Recruiter Policy discussion is on their agenda.
I will be there.

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Making an impact.

2/2/2012

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Week 4 of walking up and down the sidewalk each morning with my sign in front of the school.

Today I noticed the power of persistence and a good sign.

This was parked right in front of where I walk and gave me a bonus, as all the vehicles had to slow down to a one-way pattern in the road to get past this legally parked SUV.

My sign does not say that
I am anti-military.

It does not say that I am not a patriot.

It does say that I don't think military recruiters should be
soliciting 12 or 13 year old children.

That's it.

Nobody honked.

I think this SUV may belong to the woman who yelled at me yesterday. (see previous post)
I think freedom of expression is wonderful.
Rudeness, not so much...

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Week 4 on the protest picket line

2/1/2012

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I have met some nice people who walk their kids to school.
Some people walk across the street to avoid me.
If anyone walks by - I greet them.
It is getting lighter in the mornings and today was just gorgeous.
I probably get a good mile to mile and a half in each morning. But it is the same block that I walk up and down.
Today and old guy in a truck slowed down - gave me a wave and a thumbs up. Ahhh. That was nice.

I had to pick up the kid after school for an appointment, and I thought to myself, "What the heck. Why not get there early and do the picket line for a bit while I wait for school to get out?"
Usually, I am just there in the mornings.
Traffic was much lighter than in the morning.
One woman in a truck, rolled down the window and yelled out, "Why don't you give it up and just go home! We WANT recruiters here!"
Well.
That was rude, but insightful.
It means that she has seen me day after day and that she has read my sign.
Good.
That means I am making my point.
That rude woman was a good sign.

(If it is a good sign, it is a miracle! )

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8 weeks so far and still going!

Sign the petition link.

How much is too much?

Uh huh.

Ain't done yet.

Week SIX of my protest - School Board Meeting Tonight

Making an impact.

Nobody honked.

Nobody honked.

Week 4 on the protest picket line

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