Williamsburg [VA] Procession & Vigil for Peace

College of William & Mary Staff Digest | March 19, 2004

[HenryLeeII]

This was waiting for me in my Inbox this morning. If I didn't resent body odor and Patchouli Oil as much as I resent ignorant groupthink, I might attend...

To: Staff Digest
Subject: Procession/Vigil for peace
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2004 11:10:49 EST

19 March 2004, Friday @ 6:00pm:
Williamsburg Procession & Vigil for Peace:

In solidarity with actions to be held all over the world, on the anniversary of elevated hostilities in Iraq, we will gather at the Wesley Foundation and process to College Corner (confluence of Jamestown, Richmond, Duke of Gloucester, and N. & S. Boundary Streets, a.k.a. "Confusion Corner") to mourn for the pain, loss, & suffering of all concerned; vigil for the well-being & safety of all individuals, and pray for the non-violent resolution of conflict between all peoples.

Time for silent reflection, as well as time to address those gathered, will be included; candles & signs in support of our troops and the promotion of peace will be most welcomed.

Heh heh heh, this could be fun! I guess I have a little different interpretation of "promotion of peace" than these flakes do. Signs like "Iraq War = Iraq Peace" or "Wage War for Peace" would have to be welcome, wouldn't they?

[HenryLeeII]

In the immortal words of Ann Coulter: "Who Would Jesus Kill?" That is so un-PC, so perfect!

[Ditto]

Glad to be of service, Sir.

Good luck at the Freep and watch your back. Those fake Pacifists can get violent real fast.

[cake_crumb]

That's a good one too.

[iceskater]

Wish I could but I'm off to Annapolis for a skating competition.

[iceskater]

It would be lost on those morons though. They only undertand revisionist history. In this case, George Washington could not possibly understand freedom since he owned slaves. Therefore, all of his words on freedom are hypocrisy.

[shhrubbery!]

Above FReepers have contributed some good sign ideas. There were some great signs by counterprotestors at rallies last year, e.g.

"War never solved anything...except for Ending Slavery, Fascism, Nazism and Communism."

Btw, is it true that lots of faculty have left W & M recently, and many more are planning to leave (I guess as the result of budget cuts)? Any good profs still left?

[HenryLeeII]

Yep. The College has lost many faculty and staff, and stands to lose more if salaries and facilities aren't improved. Our hard sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.) are some of the best in the nation, outranking many much larger institutions in various categories, but the buildings (inside) and classrooms look like mediocre high schools. We're a state college (a "Public Ivy" due to our quality), and as state employees we have received a 2.5% pay raise in the last three years. So, after factoring in inflation over that time, we've lost ground. Now, for a professor making $90K and with no kids at home, that's not a lifestyle-threatening situation. But for those of us in the lower salary ranges with families, etc., its time to start looking elsewhere.

[HenryLeeII]

I guess "Nuke 'em till they glow" is out of the question?

Well, I guess it depends on your definition of "promoting peace." Since the terrorists would be dead and not killing innocents any longer, your sign is hereby approved. Please move to the front of the crowd and wave it proudly for the newspaper photographers! I'll be waving my "Why Peace?" and "Peace Kills" signs!

[bluesagewoman]

Bump, so I can find this later. You guys go!

[Montfort]

I just looked at a document listing average pay at various levels for all colleges and universities in Virginia. I seem to remember that W&M was pretty high compared to almost all other Virginia schools (which it ought to be, because it is right at the top in terms of quality). From what I have heard, it is extremely challenging, where grade deflation is arguably more of a problem than grade inflation.

They excluded med school professors, which suggests to me that well-paid law school profs at UVA, UR, W&M and George Mason might have brought the averages up for those schools.

[4CJ]

Well, I guess it depends on your definition of "promoting peace."

Actually, I am partial to Reagan's "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."

Listen here

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

I am sorry for being a wet blanket but I hope this war doesn't cost GWB the election.

A "free Iraq" (a delusion of Wilsonian proportions and like WJC Haiti project) is not worth a Kerry presidency under any circumstances. This war bleeds votes and unless GWB himself wants to be one term president whose legacy is he took out saddam for the benefit of the world, he ought to plan on getting out.

Declare victory! We have saddam. Announce a plan to get out within a year (a la Nixon's vietnamization) and try to get out sooner. Billions are spent on this not even mentioning the worst young men and women dying strictly for foreigners at this point (Saddam captured, no WMD)
Announce a budget that addresses concerns of working Americans (without regard for race or sexual orientation I hope I can add)

[ppaul]

[moneyrunner]

”I am sorry for being a wet blanket but I hope this war doesn't cost GWB the election.”

So do I, but for other reasons than the ones you imply.

”A "free Iraq" (a delusion of Wilsonian proportions and like WJC Haiti project) is not worth a Kerry presidency under any circumstances. This war bleeds votes and unless GWB himself wants to be one term president whose legacy is he took out saddam for the benefit of the world, he ought to plan on getting out.”

”Declare victory! We have saddam. Announce a plan to get out within a year (a la Nixon's vietnamization) and try to get out sooner. Billions are spent on this not even mentioning the worst young men and women dying strictly for foreigners at this point (Saddam captured, no WMD) Announce a budget that addresses concerns of working Americans (without regard for race or sexual orientation I hope I can add)”

This isn’t about a 2nd Bush term. The war we are in is much bigger than the fate of any one man. Bush understands that. I am sometimes puzzled why more people don’t. We are in a war whether we choose to wage it or not. There are times when a generation is asked to think of issues bigger than its potty little lives with naval gazing bloviation about addressing the needs of “working Americans.” The first thing working Americans need is the understanding that they will not be blown up by Islamofacists with bombs or 757s filled with fuel.

We are not in Afghanistan and Iraq on a humanitarian mission. To be sure that is a byproduct of our actions. But we are there because a large and violent group of people have shown they have the will and the means to come to kill us – wholesale. The Bush administration understands that we cannot counter this war with defensive measures. To keep us safe, we need to go and defeat those who would do us harm.

I suggest that you would be more comfortable with the Peace at Any Price wing of the Democrat party.

[Clodia Pulcher]

Prof... I am a W&M graduate and my family founded the College. I told Sullivan that his grand scheme of merging the State colleges would never work, and his real option was going private... which W & M could more easily do than the other state institutions.

The place has always been underpaid and a crummy facility ... and that REALLY doesn't matter much.

If you leave ( in this lousy job market) some just as good will plop right in your slot.

What does matter is Sullivan has become a querlous old man... and is catching the Liberal disease from other college presidents and that Adams is an idiot as well...

This will turn off the alum spigot... The bake sale was just one example.

[FreedomCalls]

[HenryLeeII]

Yes, W&M is up there near the top in Va., but we also have one of the best state systems (W&M, U.Va., Va. Tech, George Mason, Va. Commonwealth, etc.), so in order to attract and retain top quality people, we have to be able to pay very well and have top facilities, which are beyond our budget right now. We only get about 18% of our budget from the state. The rest is private endowment money (and some federal grant money, but not much of the overall pie). Re: the med. school profs: Not every school has a graduate med. school (W&M doesn't), so leaving out those salaries makes sense in order to avoid the salary inflation you mention.