Black Armbands on Friday

From Meteor Blades:

Come September 21, tens of thousands of people, perhaps hundreds of thousands, will participate in the first Iraq Moratorium, a national day of locally organized opposition to the disastrous war and occupation of Iraq.

[snip]

The Iraq Moratorium is modeled on the Vietnam Moratorium of October 15, 1969, when individuals in small groups and large, in cities small and large, joined millions of their fellow Americans across the nation to challenge a government policy of lies and delusion that had brought devastation and slaughter to Southeast Asia and the greatest turmoil at home since the Civil War.

[snip]

If you do nothing else, wear a black armband to school, to work, to Disneyland, to wherever you go Friday as silent testimony to your opposition to the war and occupation, to your mourning of its consequences and to your determination to help end it. If you’ve got time, you could print a word or a few on it: Withdraw Now. End the War Now. Or some such.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a teacher, a paralegal, a student, a doctor, a factory worker, a retail clerk, an IT technician, or a homemaker, your armband will be noticed, and it can spark conversations with people who may never have thought about the war and occupation as much as you have, who may already be against the war but not know how to express their opposition. With this in mind, you might carry a couple of extra armbands with you wherever you go. [all emphasis MB]

From Natasha:

Meteor Blades asks people to wear black armbands Friday, wherever they are, to protest the war.

Barry Leiba, who provided sorely needed conversation during the march last weekend, suggests a rolling protest. This would consist of calling and then visiting your congressperson’s office with a short, prepared set of limited talking points and speaking with either your representative or a staffer.

[snip]

Tell them that the Iraq war is an emergency. That getting out of it is a high priority. And if you remember, tell them to do everything in their power to keep us from getting into yet another war in Iran.

From Iraq Moratorium:

The slow-motion train wreck that is the occupation of Iraq grows daily more of a nightmare. In 2006 America voted to bring it to an end. But our politicians have failed to grasp the strain on our military and the depth to which America’s influence in the world has fallen. We must force them and our media to recognize just how angry America is, and how massive the anti-war sentiment in this country has become.

It’s time for the Iraq Moratorium.

The Iraq Moratorium will be an escalating monthly series of actions demanding an end to the war. Starting on Friday, September 21 and on the third Friday of every month thereafter, we will take the time to show our President and Congress that our troops must be brought home, now! [...]

[snip]

With the first Moratorium Day just two days away, interest is swelling. Every day, hundreds more people sign the pledge–look for friends and notable names by clicking the link under the thumbnail photo of an IM endorser, top right. See who’s just come on board, look through the names alphabetically, or arrange them in zip order to see who else from your community has signed on!

Sign up, spread the word, and help end the war!

Arrghh, Me Hearties!

Aye, maties, ’tis yer blogwench, Ambiguous Dora Bellamy,* here t’ tell ya ’tis indeed that glorious time o’ year – International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

From the home o’ the worst dogs t’ sail the main, those land lubbers who invented… came up with …. birthed Talk Like A Pirate Day:

Top Ten Pickup lines for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?
9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?
8. Come on up and see me urchins.
7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.
6. I’d love to drop anchor in your lagoon.
5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?
4. How’d you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?
3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.
2. Well blow me down?

And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …

1. Prepare to be boarded.

Avast, me hearties! Be ye forewarned that today also be me brother’s birthday! Th’ bilge rat himself, “Drownin’ Pablo Scarr”  Cap’n Ezekiel Kookypants* [much better! - Jenn] be turnin’ a grand 32! Arr!

A round o’ grog for all t’ celebrate!

- – -

*Pirate names plundered from the Pirate Name Generator. Git yer own, or be keel-hauled, ya barnacle!