Iraq: 9 Years of War and Activism. Is It Over?

Submitted by lhe on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 4:20pm
in
Date: 
Monday, March 19, 2012 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location : 
DC

Location: Busboys & Poets, 14th and V St. NW

Event details:

On the 9th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, join us for an evening of reflection and looking forward.

We’ll hear stories from big and small actors in the anti-Iraq occupation movement about how the past nine years impacted them and their lives, and the lasting lessons for us as a movement.

See photos and videos from Feb 15, 2003, the largest mobilization that the world had ever seen, and other historic protests against the continued occupation.

Also hear short panels discussing:

- Is the occupation truly over? What are we leaving behind?

- What do Iraqis and US veterans want from us?

- How is the current posturing around Iran similar and different from the buildup to Iraq?

- What has the impact of 9 years of organizing been on the movement, the individuals who were a part of it and our ongoing collective struggles?

Featuring Phyllis Bennis of Institute for Policy Studies and Vasudha Desikan of Left Turn. 

Sponsored by: Washington Peace Center, Military Families Speak Out, United for Peace and Justice, Civilian-Soldier Alliance, Institute for Policy Studies, Busboys and Poets, CODEPINK, Veterans For Peace-DC Area Chapter, Peace Action, Peace Action Montgomery, DC Labor for Peace and Justice and US Labor Against the War.

Contact: For more information please email us at interns@washingtonpeacecenter.org.

RSVP at our Facebook Event

*****

If you're interested in sharing a story, click here to sign up and see below for Storytelling Guidelines.

Story Ideas:

  • tell a story from anti-iraq war organizing about a moment that made you realize why you were doing this work
  • tell a story from anti-iraq war organizing about something that made you realize a lesson about how to organize/movement build/create the world we want.
  • how have you felt the impact of the war and the organizing in your own life
  • how has organizing against the war changed you and your life.
  • where were you during “shock and awe” – March 19, 2003?
  • what was the moment you came out against the war and why? 
  • how did the Feb 15, 2003 protests happen?

While thinking through your stories (of which we all have so many!), ask yourself “So what?”  Why do people care about this story? What can we learn and take with us?

 “A community that loses its stories loses its memory” ~Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Storytelling Guidelines (By Candace Wolf, Storyteller)

Our history is kept alive when we bear witness to our significant life experiences—recalling and honoring our stories in the presence of the community. CHOOSING A STORY – follow these two principles:

The ‘one suitcase’ principal—

Imagine that you were suddenly ordered into political exile and allowed to take only one small suitcase. You would have to think deeply about what was most important to pack. Now, imagine that you were allowed to share ONE—and only ONE STORY from your anti-war/peace work. Be sure to tell a story that has great personal meaning, so that you can tell it with passion and conviction. Ask yourself: ‘Why is this story important to tell?’ Choose a story that you feel will INSPIRE in some way. ‘Inspire’ means to breathe again. Stories have the power to encourage us to take one more breath—to swim up to the surface, above our despair, above disappointments and failures—to go forward with our life and work with greater courage and determination.

The ‘personal’ principle—

Tell a story about something that you experienced firsthand—not just heard or read about. The story might be about a personally transformative encounter or event that is unforgettable—that still grips your soul and memory. Remember that folks listen with keen interest to compelling stories about authentic and dramatic lived experiences.

SHAPING YOUR STORY– follow these two principles:

The ‘sense of immediacy’ principle—

In order to tell your story effectively, you must reach back and reconnect with the sensations, images and emotions of the memory, so that you can take the listener on a journey through the landscape of your experience. Relive the experience in your memory and then paint a picture using vivid descriptions in order to bring the story to life for the listener.

The ‘lessons learned’ principle—

Reflect on the larger significance of your personal experience. Figure out what you want people to understand; a story is more satisfying if the listener takes away fresh insights.

Speak from your heart....and please keep your story fairly brief: 3-5 minutes