Social Action Archives

1/21/03

Greetings, beautiful people!

Thanks for checking in at www.suewitty.com! Many friends and I gathered to participate in Atlanta's MLK March (Monday, January 20th, 2003) in honor of the birth of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students in the Candler School of Theology engaged in peaceful protest to the possibility of war, quoting Dr. King, Jr., on handmade posters to signify the necessity for (and principles of) peace. Like Jesus and Gandhi, Dr. King proposed that advocating for peace does not strictly mean avoiding war; it involves a longing for justice. If you take a moment to peruse the new photos that Alayne posted on this site, you will bear witness to the thousands of individuals who seized our constitutional right to freedom of speech in order to demonstrate the hazards of war and the necessity for peaceful resolution to any crisis with terrorism and with countries harboring "weapons of mass destruction." I am proud to be surrounded by so many individuals so committed to justice that they are willing to march repeatedly, waving banners and signs, until our collective voice is heard and acknowledged by our governing body.

der Frieden,
~sue

Sue & Friends at SOA Protest

11/19/02

Dear Friends,

Greetings to all of you! I am absolutely speechless about this weekend's School of the Americas protest. If you are unfamiliar with the School of the Americas, please check out the website: www.SOAW.org. Saturday's workshops and lectures proved to be an invaluable source of heart-wrenching information about the exploits of this military base in its endeavors of training Latin American soldiers. Sunday's events, including the "funeral procession" honoring the innumerable individuals murdered by graduates of the School of the Americas program, left everyone hypnotically silent and brought many to tears. Though unable to attend this year's march, social activists Susan Sarandon, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Martin Sheen, and Pete & Toshi Seeger (among other celebrity-status individuals) sent words of support, encouragement, and solidarity. Atlanta's own activists, the Indigo Girls, sang three songs (including "GO!" and "Our Deliverance"). The bottom line of the event is that if we as a nation are going to protest acts of terrorism, we need to begin addressing our own hypocrisy.

For photos from the rally, click here!

Peace, & God bless.

~sue

11/9/02

Greetings, all!

Exciting news! Many friends and I participated in another peaceful demonstration opposing war with Iraq again today. It was called "People's Passion for Peace." Thousands marched through the streets of Atlanta, beginning at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and ending down on the lawn of Centenniel Park. The crowd was absolutely amazing, overflowing with love, energy, and devotion to an alternative resolution to the Iraqi crisis. Banners and signs soared above people's heads. Percussive rhythms and chants resonated through the sea of people. My heart wept over such enthusiasm and longing for a peaceful way of confronting the dilemma at hand. I wish you all could have been there! We spotted local singer-songwriter Gerard McHugh (of Daemon Records) among the crowd just as Elise Witt took the stage. The Indigo Girls sent their condolences for not being able to partake in the event due to a prior engagement (playing a show down in Tampa, Florida, with our dear friend Paul Melançon opening up!). I'll close this entry with the contents of the banner I carried: "All we are saying is give peace a chance... (John Lennon)... for "a distant nation is my community..." (Indigo Girls). Please, no blood for oil.

peace,
~sue

Greetings, friends!

Just wanted to update you on the latest goings-on here in Atlanta. Although I was unable to get away for the weekend, many people I know participated in the Washington DC demonstration to protest war with Iraq. One friend informed me that there were easily over 100,000 people there. I spent the weekend involved in a lecture/information session about gifted individuals with physical and mental disabilities. It was an outstanding series (continuing from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon). The artistic and literary work on display truly amazed me. I think I may have even found a potential CD cover for the upcoming CD, "Lapis Lazuli." Yeah! Last night (Sunday, 10/27/02), several friends and I attended an Iraq Discussion Forum here on Emory's campus. I found it extremely engaging and informative. Faculty and students raised insightful questions and comments regarding any "clear and present danger" with Iraq, U.S. security issues, and longings for further elucidation from our government about our presence in Iraq and the Middle East. The concern was also raised that, while some of us might be in disagreement with going to war, we have not focused enough energy on creating alternatives. Thanks to everyone who checks out this website. God bless all of you. The new CD release date is set for May, 2003. I'll be sure to keep you posted as the recording progresses!

Peace and hugs, ~sue

"I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be." Martin Luther King, Jr.

10/19/02

How have you been? Things are going really well here. The Candler School of Theology at Emory University (at which I am a student) proves to be a hotbed for social activism. In light of President Bush's recent visit to Atlanta, many of us participated in a peaceful demonstration outside the downtown Marriott Marquis Hotel in opposition to war with Iraq.
And I am excited to share with you that today I spent a few hours volunteering with others to raise awareness of Exxon-Mobil's environmental negligence. I encourage all of you to check out the following web site, sponsored by Greenpeace:

www.DontBuyExxonMobil.org

If you have a moment, you may also want to surf on over to: www.greenpeaceusa.org.

On another note, please allow me to enthusiastically alert you to the goings-on of a dear friend of mine, Paul Melançon. Paul was recently signed to Amy Ray's record label, Daemon Records. His latest recording, Camera Obscura (released last month) totally rocks!! Paul will be opening for the Indigo Girls at several of their Florida shows next month, so check out his web site (www.paulmelancon.com), complete with sound clips, and try to make one of those shows if you're in the area. He is AWESOME!!

I hope you are all doing well! Please come out to some of the upcoming gigs (which my good friend and manager Alayne Wood has posted on the "Gigs" page of the site), so I can say hi to you and give you a big hug!

Peace & blessings to all of you!

~sue

 

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