Arise, all women who have hearts! (Mother's Day Proclamation)

For the first time in my adult life, I am actively and consciously celebrating Mother's Day. Although I've been a mother myself for almost 7 years, I have never done anything special to celebrate it, because I understood (or misunderstood) it to be just another consumer spending day... until I discovered the Mother's Day Proclamation.

The "Mother's Day Proclamation" by Julia Ward Howe was one of the early calls to celebrate Mother's Day in the United States. Written in 1870, Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation was a pacifist reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War.

This short and sweet piece of writing touched me. I think we need this message today more than ever. Mother's Day is not just about appreciating mothers and giving them gifts, it's also meant to unite us and remind us that we all want what is best for our children. They deserve a better world -- a world where they won't be cannon fodder for the ones who control our society.

“The solution to adult problems tomorrow depends on large measure upon how our children grow up today.” - Margaret Mead

Here is my little Mother's Day project, the first video I've ever made. (I'm sure better readings exist. Please share it in one form or another with your friends and family.)

"Arise, then, women of this day!

Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with 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, the 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 plough 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 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 someplace 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."

Happy Mother's Day!

reply to post by eMachine


Explanation: S&F!

Happy Mothers Day (to my mum especially)

Personal Disclosure: Bumped for Justice!

This proclamation Beautifully sums up what motherhood is all about .
the wisdom shown by Julia Ward Howe is awe inspiring.

she wrote this in 1870 what is it going to take for the MEN of this world to wake UP!


great thread eM S&F

Originally posted by eMachine

Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with 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, the 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 plough 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 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 someplace 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."

Happy Mother's Day!

Same for all the women out there. Have a good day and take care. They are the ones that make miracles happen everyday.

That's beautiful, I'd never read that before. Very emotional. Happy Mother's Day.