Happy International Women's Day!

I haven't been to Hersey HS in years. For the past several years Pat has been going, but, sadly she's no longer with us.

Wasn't able to draw as many students to the table as I had hoped. Everyone was walking by with their eyes glued to their phones. But there were a few.

One young man has already enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program. We talked for a few minutes. I just emphasized that he needed to understand what he was getting into. I'm not sure they ever do. I couldn't tell from his expression if he was having second thoughts or just didn't want to think about it. I didn't tell him he was making a mistake; I just emphasized that he needed to know what he was getting into. Later I realized I should have given him our brochure on the DEP and a card for the GI Rights hotline. Darn! His final comment was "Well, someone's got to do it". I thought to myself "Really? Someone has to do it???"

This group voted 3 "no" and 6 "yes". That's the most "no's" I've gotten anywhere.

One student and I talked for a few minutes to a teacher about the March 14 walkout. He was aware and felt he couldn't endorse a position one way or the other. But he did say the students wouldn't be stopped from doing so.

Since it was Women's History Month, I put up the display about women and selective service and asked the students to vote "yes" or "no" to the question "Should women be required to register for Selective Service". Twenty-two voted "yes"; one voted "no".

One of the young women voting asked who voted "no". I told her I didn't know the name but it was a young man. To which she replied "Figure it'd be a guy". Which I found pretty amusing.

Long talk with one of the security guards who did two tours in Iraq. He feels we did the right thing in Iraq because he was there when they had their first election and he thought it was a positive step forward. Generally people have the opposite opinion - they think we were somewhat justified in invading Afghanistan since they had harbored the 9/11 bombers but that we had no business in Iraq. He seemed to suggest that he had returned with his own set of demons but feels he was fortunate in finding help.

Talked to a few students about the proposed March 14 walkout. Most seemed oblivious. It's possible more interest will be generated closer to the date. I will be at a school on the 12th and 13th so I'll see if there is more interest.

Not a lot of interest in making valentines even though it was only two days before Valentine's Day. Here are some of the quotes we picked to put on the valentines:

If you want to end the war then Instead of sending guns, send books. Instead of sending tanks, send pens. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers. Malala Yousafzai (17 year-old Noble Peace Laureate)

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. Albert Einstein

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. Martin Luther King, Jr.

More than just an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Written night before he died)

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. Desmond Tutu

The young woman who planned to do a gap year stopped by. She's decided not to do a gap year. She's going to Harper instead.

Libby

We tried to mix Valentine's Day with Peace - with mixed results. We brought materials to make valentines including some peace-related quotes to put on the valentines.

I couldn't get anyone else interested so I made my own. Maybe rich, suburban teens do store-bought valentines or electronic.

But a very nice fellow wearing one of our buttons came to the table at the last minute and got materials to make a valentine.

Lynne