War is Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things!
Lorrianne Schneider
In 1967, Lorriane Schneider a mother of four children created the poster that would become the icon of the anti-war movement. Her motivation was one shared by many other mothers. Her son was eligible for the draft, and she feared he’d be sent to Vietnam.
She was following an old tradition. Mother’s Day was originally intended to honor mothers who had lost sons, brothers, and husbands during the American Civil War. “Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead,” wrote Juliet Ward Howe. “Let them solemnly take council with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace.”
Schneider’s poster went on to become the symbol for Another Mother for Peace. The group founded by six women opposed to the Vietnam War continues its work promoting peace to this day. It is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to ending war, one every mother who loves her children should support.
The group’s first action was to organize a mass sending of Mother’s Day cards to Washington. Perhaps, it is time to send cards to The White House again. A few days ago, the United States government voted down a previously agreed to resolution for a cease-fire in global conflicts to help troubled countries better fight the COVID 19 pandemic.
What do you think?
Here is a link to cards you can print out, color (get children and students involved!), and send. Or better yet design one of your own.
More about the history of Mother’s Day.
Let us know when you send your Mother’s Day card. It can be sent any time, not just on Mother’s Day, and as many times as you wish.
We welcome your thoughts and comments!
My Cambodian son came over as a refugee unaccompanied minor at age 10 in 1982. I sat with him recently and he told me his story and I have put it into a book called it’s Time To Tell My Story. The Catholic Church sponsored these young people and I am encouraging them to use his book to start a discussion about war and small children. May I have permission to use your War is Not Healthy art to send with the book? I have some cards when we as a family marched against the war in DC but would like to order more. Please advise.