Original Mother's Day Proclamation - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

HarmlessRabbit · 05-09-2004, 07:54 AM

Did you know the original Mother's Day was a politically-charged call for peace? I didn't. Here's the text:

Quote:

Here is the original, pre-Hallmark, Mother's Day Proclamation, penned in Boston by Julia Ward Howe in 1870
"Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war.
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace."

More here:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18623

seretogis · 05-09-2004, 08:38 AM

HarmlessRabbit · 05-09-2004, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seretogis
<insert obligatory "Why is the Federal Government sponsoring a holiday like Mother's Day?" Libertarian wacko comment>

I thought it was Hallmark that sponsored Mother's Day?

05-09-2004, 08:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
seretogis Huggles, sir? Location: Seattle	<insert obligatory "Why is the Federal Government sponsoring a holiday like Mother's Day?" Libertarian wacko comment> __________________ seretogis - sieg heil perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames