This
Mother's Day, we honor all mothers affected by war, in particular those
who have suffered the ultimate loss of a child from war. These days, we
must count the losses of our soldiers killed in action, but also those
who die by their own hands both on and off the battelfield, as military
suicides now exceed the number of combat deaths.
IVAW
is focused on ending the Afghanistan War, and our Operation Recovery
Campaign is working to end the deployment of traumatized troops and
fighting for service members' right to heal from war so no more mothers
have to experience the losing a child to war.
Today, we honor the origins of Mother's Day as an international call to end all wars.
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This year, Brave New Foundation is remembering and honoring the origins of Mother's Day in this short
online video (
HERE). Through the power of compassion and womanhood, we hope to work towards peace.
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Mother's Day Proclamation
by Julia Ward Howe, 1870
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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In Solidarity,
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Afghanistan Veterans Against the War Committee