The human faces of the Afghan peace vigil for Obama
October 25, 2009 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Please watch the Afghan youth struggling happily to raise the voice of peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkTmzCyJtw4
Text of video
The Afghan youth tucking in for the night at the peace vigil
The peace volunteers spend their night in a makeshift tent
When struggling together, humans can bring some warmth to the cold
Like new breakthroughs, waking up can be tough
Zekerullah’s morning vapor
The cold of Afghan autumn nights will not stop us as we raise the voice of peace
Abdulai’s morning vapor
The human faces on the 4th day of our Peace Vigil at Bamiyan Peace Park
tucking in for the night
the cold autumn in the vigil tent
zekerullah’s morning vapor
abdulai’s morning vapor
Day 4 Peace vigil at Bamiyan Peace park
Dear Afghan youth peace volunteers,
Here are a few photos from our place of vigil. We’ve had the opportunity to really talk to over 300 people about your message. Several thousand have seen your message as they drive by the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteer signs in their car or truck.
We have a few videos that we will send soon.
It does seem that the recognition you have requested from 2009 Nobel Prize Winner could be very significant. Most Nobel Peace Prize winners are good writers and some have given great speeches. We’ll ask Obama to consider delivering his response to your elegant appeal for the Reconciliation of Civil Hearts in the form of a speech.
Peace be with you inside your hearts. . .
. . . soon in your lands.
We love you,
Vigil with Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, Olympia WA
Dear friends of Iraq Memorial to War at Olympia, W.A.
Thank you for all your hard work for peace in our hearts and the world.
The human face and voice of peace needs to be raised ABOVE the noise of war and politics.
Love and warmth from Bamiyan, Afghanistan
Hakim
On behalf of the youth in Our Journey to Smile
Friday evening vigil for Afghan youth
Dennis and sign
pat and mike
Afghan Peace Vigil for Nobel Peace Laureate President Obama
October 23, 2009 by
Filed under Journey Updates
Please watch Afghan youth raise their voice of peace and at their ongoing peace vigil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3VAq06TNGY
Text of Video
Bamiyan youth held a cultural event at Bamiyan Peace Park, attended by internationals and Afghan youth
The youth read peace poems, enacted a peace sketch, sang & played the flute for peace.
They read their message of peace ( http://ourjourneytosmile.com/blog ) for the Nobel Peace Prize Winner President Obama
We’re keeping a peace vigil at this Peace Park till the voice of peace is raised in Afghanistan & the world
Afghan youth peace volunteers, led by 13 year old Abdulai, keeping warm in their tent at night as their vigil continues till President Obama acknowledges their message of peace
Progress of our peace vigil
Life progresses principally when individuals struggle together for something worthwhile, especially when these individuals hardly know each other, but do so because they recognize the common human values that hold Mankind together.
Because of this kindred human spirit, otherwise described as love, we will not give up.
Below are the emails we’ve received from wonderful groups and individuals who are standing for peace too.
We are deeply grateful to each and every one of them. Thank you!!
Just wanted to say I admire what you’re doing and wish you and especially the children the best of luck and much happiness. I too look forward to a day of peace with no wars – ever.
Sincerely,
Laura
Dear Laura,
Thanks!! May our shared wishes gradually come true!
I’ll let the children know your kind wishes.
Peace!!!
Hakim
Hi Hakim,
Hope you don’t mind that I reposted this on my blog, Dandelion Salad.
Is this our Afghan moment of peace? 13 year old Afghan boy will keep peace vigil with other youth
Hopefully many around the world will be with you in spirit for peace in Afghanistan.
Have you sent this to President Obama? He needs to see this.
much love,
Lo
Dear Lo,
Our hope is to keep the day-and-night vigil at Bamiyan Peace Park from the 22nd of October onwards, while waiting for Obama to acknowledge the receipt of our letter; which we will send through the US Envoy in Bamiyan.
NOBODY is expecting this to work out ; if you have a way of raising publicity and sending the Afghan youth’s peace message ( which I’ll add to the post tomorrow ) to Obama, it would be deeply appreciated.
Love and Peace!
Hakim
It is time.
And beyond all word – we thank you.
I will be standing with you. Listening to you.
Can we broadcast the speech in real time here in the US?
Young people want to join you – standing.
We’ll do it in Washington D.C. – can you set it up so that the broadcast
could be heard and/or seen in real time here in United States?
There will be 20 or more at the vigil tomorrow afternoon.
Peace is our wish for all Afghan people.
Douglas Mackey
Website: iraqmemorialtolife.org
Dear Douglas,
We also cannot thank you enough!
We apologize that the technology in Afghanistan would not allow us to do real time broadcasting……
The event went well. There were originally 10 who covenanted to keep the vigil but 1 dropped out, so there are 9 of us. We are now keeping the vigil at the Peace Park till an acknowledgement comes from President Obama.
The 9 of us keeping the vigil have been talking about the ridicule, criticisms that we’ve heard and other worse scenarios that may arise. We are ready to face whatever comes.
We had no specific request except that the voice of peace be raised and heard in Afghanistan and the world, through his acknowledgement of our message of peace.
We will not give up here.
Struggling and standing with you,
Hakim in Bamiyan, Afghanistan
On behalf of all the Afghan youth with us
…will remember your cultural event on Thursday night with prayers.
Take care and cheers
LiLian
Praying!
Keep believing, keep hoping (: something we never take away from hearts that cry for peace.
Love
Liza
So, where does the power come from, to see the race to its end?
….From within! Eric Liddell
press on!
chiew wan
Best wishes for your vigil for peace! I hope you are wildly successful. I will keep you in my thoughts.
Susan
There are some in our city of Olympia in the state of Washington (not the Capital of Wash.D.C.) who stand in solidarity with you. We find ourselves unable to stop our government from attacking people around the world. It is not the common people that hate, it is in the hearts and minds of men in government and the military who want to play with big guns and have others bow down to them.
But it is not only those in our country, it is men all over the world who hunger for dominance of others. It is men in many of the governments of the world who can order the deaths of those whom they despise. Our government is no better or worse than many others in this regard.
And so we also stand in vigils for peace and are ignored, even by our neighbors who feel weak and helpless in the face of those giants. Our government officials have even ordered our own military to shoot civilian college students who were protesting the U.S. invasion of Vietnam. Much like the Chinese government ordered their military to shoot civilians in Tianamin Square for wanting a more democratic form of governance.
There are many of us around the world who want a more peaceful world and stand for those ideals in many ways. I will be so bold as to speak for them in saying we honor you and support you in your efforts.
“Peace is not a passive act. Peace is the courage to stand for compassion while staring hatred in the face.” T. Zander
tezzer
Dear Abdulai ( 13 year old Afghan boy keeping the vigil )
We have not heard from each other for a while; I know you are very busy with school and other things.
I really hope that you, your friends, and your family are all doing well.
It is my birthday on Saturday, and I remembered how you said you do not know your birthday.
So, I will wish you a happy birthday even though you are not sure when it is.
I wanted to tell you that I asked my classmates to pray for Afghanistan and the world on Peace Day.
Also, I read that you are keeping a peace vigil. It’s a really great thing and I wish to join you in speaking out about peace.
Please take care and God bless you.
Your friend,
Elisa ( 14 year old American girl )
peace vigil youth in their tent at night
Love you guys! Will watch video tomorrow when I can use another pc (mine is too slow). Just wanted to send congratulations and thank you for bravery. Will write again soon Kyle Christensen
We, an interested group in Singapore, are with you in your peace vigil. Everyone on this earth is entitled to peace..especially you in Afghanistan who have gone through so much hardship through no fault of yours. We are very glad that your voice of peace is being heard,at least by some of us now,,,and by more to come. Cecilia & friends