http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/87524.html
May 5, 2011
Julia Ward Howe on Mother’s Day
Posted by Lew Rockwell on May 5, 2011 09:55 PM
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Howe, author of the murderous Battle Hymn of the Republic—written to glorify Lincoln’s war—had the honesty and decency to reject war after she saw its results. In 1870, she advocated the institution of a Mother’s Day. Here is her radical and moving proclamation:
Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
“We will not have great questions decided 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 bosom of the 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 out 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 at 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.
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I said something like this in “CHURCH 10●19●62”:
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“Adjutant?”
“Yes, Miss Marie!”
“Ahh, Miss Abigail again; bucking for promotion” she teased. “Well, would you please have the Duty Officer to extend my compliments to Miss June, Master Sam, and Brother Kevin and inquire if they can join me in an hour?”
“Yes, Miss Marie. Thank you, Miss Marie. You’re my hero.”
“Isn’t it heroine?”
“No, Miss Marie, in our new world run by women, there will be no sex discrimination. We control the box.” With no hint of self- consciousness or shame.
“Dear, that’s not a nice way to say it. And, box is very crude. I’m sorry I used it but I was … incensed that war should happen. Maybe you could say ‘we control the future generations’?”
“OK, but those balls will be blue before I let my man start another war.”
Knowing she’d done all she could, Marie said, “When this is all over, we should talk my dear. We should really talk. Now away with you. Carefully mind you.”
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— character “Marie” discussing how women can stop war in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 263
Not very nice. But then neither are all these Mothers’ sons and daughters dying for the whims of politicians and bureaucrats!
What better way to celebrate Mothers’ Day?
Bring the girls and boys home.
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Posted by reinkefj 
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