With Apologies to Shakespeare and Steinbeck, This Winter Goes Beyond Discontent

The Chicago-based group, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, is currently experiencing The Winter of Our Discontent. Sure, you might say, aren't we all? One of many of them, in fact, starting in the winter of 2001. But no, this isn't just any winter of discontent, this is a thirty-some day fast being held in Washington D.C., by five members of VCNV, which seems to be the current incarnation of Voices in the Wilderness, a group that disappeared last year after being forced to pay a $20,000 fine for bringing medicine to Iraqi citizens in violation of the sanctions.

Five peace activists will conduct the 34-day fast in Washington as part of a series of activities called the “Winter of Our Discontent” focusing on ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Citing the destruction caused by 15 years of economic and military warfare waged against that country, they seek a commitment from the U.S. to provide full funding for the reconstruction of Iraq. These objectives stand in sharp contrast to the agenda of the Bush Administration which is seeking an additional $120 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while announcing that it will seek no additional funds for Iraq reconstruction. (from the press release on this action, The Winter of Our Discontent.)

The press release gives the background to the action, but this report by Mike Ferner, There are Lives in the Balance, is a first-hand look at what the activists in D.C. are experiencing. Mike is a veteran labor and peace activist who served as a Navy Hospital Corpsman during Vietnam, received an Honorable Discharge as a conscientious objector, and is a member of Veterans For Peace. This article is primarily a plea to all of us to join, in whatever way we can, VCNV, during this action.

We are primarily fasting to let you, our friends, our colleagues, our comrades in the peace movement know that we are trying whatever we can think of to up the ante. We are doing our very best as individuals to throw a mighty wrench into the gears of the war machine. But our effort will be nothing more than a small, noble gesture if you don’t stop…and look into your heart…and think what it is you can do that is more than you ever thought you could.

The fast will end in a non-violent protest and civil disobedience action at the Pentagon on March 20, the third anniversary of the start of this war. If you happen to be in D.C. during this time, drop by a fast/vigil location (the Capitol, the Pentagon, the White House, the IMF building, here's a schedule), grab a sign, hang out with these dedicated people for a while. If you're too far away for that, then join in their vigil and fast - as the Carmelite Sisters of Charity around the globe are doing - and send them a word of solidarity, let them know about your participation.

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