Photo By Graham Lienhart

Peace is more than a theme for a rally. (L-R) Greg Hogg, Julie Wilke and Demico Dunn participate in a write-a-thon, sending letters to policymakers.

What do a first-generation American Muslim man, a Roman Catholic nun and a World War II conscientious objector have in common? They are among many in Greater Cincinnati opposed to the U.S. war in Iraq.

More than 100 groups will come together for a peace rally and march at Fountain Square March 19, declared a Global Day of Action marking the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Despite their conflicting ideologies, their shared conviction is that the U.S. occupation of Iraq should end and troops should return home. Made up of Democrats and Republicans, Christians and Muslims, the groups believe peaceful solutions are the only answer.

Their work goes on all year. The March 19 rally is one way to bring attention to the ongoing efforts to focus on peace, according to Sister Alice Gerdeman, coordinator of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC).

"The protest is a call to action," she says. "The theme is the costs of the war."

Opening others' eyes
The march will pass in front of those social service agencies that are losing money as a result of cuts to domestic programs as the government spends $5 billion monthly to fund the military action in Iraq. The immediate costs in human life are high:

· More than 1,500 U.S. soldiers killed

· More than 100,000 Iraqis killed

· More than 10,770 U.S. soldiers wounded

Even though the media broadcast a tally of the dead and wounded, the real-life destruction isn't always comprehensible. To remedy that, Ray Woodruff began Peace Seekers at a picnic in memory of the Rev. Maurice McCrackin, a well-known Cincinnati peace activist.

"I'm opposed to war and I won't take part in it," says Woodruff, a conscientious objector in World War II. "I opened up (the group) to anyone who wants to find an alternative to war."

Woodruff says he's struggled all his life with the question of how to nonviolently deal with Hitler and potential Hitlers. To build a personal understanding of peace, his group studies both sides of an issue through lectures and discussions on topics such as the war in Kosovo, violence between Palestinians and Israelis and techniques of nonviolence defense.

"We just heard from a person who's doing a lot of relief and rehabilitation work in Indonesia with victims of tsunami," Woodruff says. "She spoke about how relief efforts are being hampered by the violence of civil unrest in that country."

Keeping the issue of peace timely is another group of concerned citizens, American Muslims. Saed Safi, a board member of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and a first generation American, shares the mission of his organization: to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

"Unfortunately, it seems like there are a lot more bad experiences (for Muslims) because of people's lack of knowledge on differences," he says.

Safi believes if something isn't right he's obligated to "open up other people's eyes" to what might be wrong. Presenting peaceful alternatives to ethnic violence and encouraging a greater awareness of cultural, religious and social customs is why Safi is involved in CAIR and the March 19 protest.

"I was born in Kentucky and I've got hillbilly blood in me, but people treat me differently because my hair is a little darker," he says. "I think education is the key to really having people understand and be accepting of others."

A chance to talk
Many of the groups involved will distribute literature at the protest. In addition to being able to ask questions and openly discuss concerns, protesters will have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life.

"I think people feel isolated, particularly those who may be sort of center or left of center," Gerdeman says. "The protest gives them a chance to realize, 'No, I'm not the only one thinking like this.' They may not have a formed complete idea (about the war) but together we can come together and come up with a complete idea."

This makes sense to Ann Kersker, a grandmother and mother of a 20-year-old son who worries about the potential return of the draft.

"I, for one, felt like I was alone in my thinking in an area that's so conservative," she says.

Kersker shares her frustrations about returning troops dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder, the suffering of the people in the areas affected, environmental ramifications and the families she sees being destroyed (see "Not Ready for the Storm,").

"They say it's defending our freedom," Kersker says. "I don't know what they mean by that."

As Cincinnatians struggle to reconcile the rhetoric of war with the reality of violence, the groups involved in organizing the protest offer a host of activities to assist. The IJPC's annual Write-A-Thon combines individual beliefs and practical action.

"It's an effort to get people to think through their own positions and verbalize them in writing and send them to people in positions of power within the system to make change," Gerdeman says.

Peace Seekers will continue their examination of how to deal with an opponent in a calming way that helps our opponent address and us the point of conflict.

Gerdeman encourages anyone interested in learning more to attend the rally.

"The wording will be strong but it will be perfectly safe to bring your children," she says.

In addition to music, speakers and information, people from all walks of life will have an opportunity to talk among themselves and send a collective message to everyone listening.

"That energy that comes out of people does make a difference," Gerdeman says.

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The anti-war rally is at 1 p.m. March 19 at Fountain Square. For more information, visit www.ijpc-cincinnati.org/ index.shtml.