Rice up singing!

Subject: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 01:51 PM

Here's a cool protest we can participate in!

Place 1/2 cup of rice in a zip lock bag, squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible.Label the zip lock back with "Rice for Peace - No War on Iraq" Place the labelled zip lock bag in a PADDED envelope.
Label the padded envelope with "Rice for Peace - No War on Iraq" and address it to:
    President George Bush
    White House,
    1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
    Washington, DC 20500
You'll need $1.29 in postage (that's 4 (yes 4) .37cent stamps), see
http://www.rmpjc.org/RiceForPeace/package.html for a sample package.
If you want to include a letter that describes your views on war, Iraq, or President Bush, go ahead.Seal the envelope and place in the mail. Send an email to [e-mail] and tell them you've mailed some rice.

This process will take 4-5 minutes if you have Rice, Envelope, and Postage. How much are you against the probable war in Iraq? Please note, that if you're going to go through the work of putting one of these envelopes together, consider putting together 4 or 5 and asking your friends to mail them in also.

If you have any questions visit the following web site, this is where this campaign started:


http://www.rmpjc.org/RiceForPeace/

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 02:10 PM

Have you ever heard of anything this STUPID before...

"The campaign helped dissuade Eisenhower from attacking China during two distinct international confrontations."

Ya know what... I'll bet it had NO bearing on the decision at all... Do you really think your government cares what "The People" think??? If you do, then by all means, go right a head and mail your little bag of rice... It'll end up in the dead letter office and eventually a land fill somewhere...

But your vote counts eh...

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: JenEllen
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 02:18 PM

Better yet, if you have spare rice laying around, how about using your dollar and twenty-nine to get that rice to a food bank? Peace begins closer to home.
~JE

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 02:23 PM

Or that JE... or that...

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 02:31 PM

If we are going to send something to Iraq it should be food, not bombs.

So why send rice to Dubya?

I hope that I'm missing something here...

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 02:33 PM

Ouch!

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Cluin
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 04:01 PM

Wouldn't this be a questionable idea considering the recent "anthrax-in-the-mail" scare?

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Kim C
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 04:07 PM

What would they do with the rice?

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 04:34 PM

How about collecting 'white-dog-shit' and send that to Bush?

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 04:37 PM

Well, it sounded good, ttr, but I like JenEllen's idea better. I'd hate to waste good rice on someone who obviously has no need. Now, if we were to send packets to the Iraqi people, I'd jump on this in a minute. Does the embargo ban individuals from sending mail over there? If so, we could send it to an intermediary, but then we could hauled into...ah nevermind.

Now, sending him condoms, I could see, to protest his re-imposing the gag order on family planning around the world.

As for getting the idea across that we are against the war, how about sending him some plowshares?:-)

kat

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 05:00 PM

He'd just pound them back into swords, Kat.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 05:12 PM

Well y'all sure know how to rain on my little peace parade... But, since I could never hold a candle to all the effective war stopping meaasures you folks have brought forth all on yer own, I guess I'll just watch and learn, OK? IMHO, "holier than thou" doesn't mix well with cynicism... unless you like things just as they are... I'm sure you'd rice to the occasion eventually!ttr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 05:24 PM

"all the effective war stopping meaasures you folks have brought forth"

What actions by the public have EVER stopped war????

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: JenEllen
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 05:27 PM

I don't think it was anyone's intention to rain on parades, it certainly wans't mine, probably more like trying to bring a little clarity to the situation. By mailing something off and expecting someone else to take responsibility for something as intangible as 'Peace', you would be denying yourself the true test. I don't believe that peace can be found without true effort and true sacrifice. Walking to the mailbox is not an effort for me. My effort is in remembering every time I go to the grocery store to buy a little extra for someone else. It may be naive, but I still believe that when all of our countrymen are adequately fed, clothed, housed, and educated, that the impetus for things like war will be greatly reduced. It isn't perfect, or 'holier than thou', it's simply an option that works for me.
~JE

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 06:38 PM

Snopes says Hoax.............sorry.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: NicoleC
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:04 PM

Um... how can a protest be a hoax? The Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center DOES exist, and they ARE suggesting this a protest method, among others.

I'm skeptical about mailing food off myself since I'd also rather not send perfectly good food to be tossed in a White House dumpster. Nor do I think it will achieve it's aims.

But hoax? Nope.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:05 PM

Really think so Sorcha? Hmmmmmm. Got it from a good person... Oh. well... I guess I'm having rice for dinner tonite, and fascism for desert... ttr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:15 PM

Yeah, Clinton... the thought comes to mind that historically, the best results for the ending of war have come from people dieing off in vast numbers... Would you prefer to go the traditional route then? Or shall we at least try something new? ...and then go with the tried and true methodology... ttr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:30 PM

ttr, no offense intended on my part. JenEllen pretty much summed up my feelings.

However, further searching of the site you mentioned, led me to this and I have changed my mind. I will send rice to the shrub. I don't think he'll be as thoughtful as Eisenhower was, but anything is worth a try to keep us from going to war. Thank you.

Here's the bit about how this worked in the 50's, folks, worth a read; I know we were a more naive world back then and there was less cynicism, but it still is worthy, IMO:

In the mid 1950s, the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation, learning of famine in the Chinese mainland, launched a "Feed Thine Enemy" campaign. Members and friends mailed thousands of little bags of rice to the Whitehouse with a tag quoting the Bible, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him."

As far as anyone knew for more than ten years, the campaign was an abject failure. The President did not acknowledge receipt of the bags publicly; certainly no rice was ever sent to China.

What nonviolent activists only learned a decade later was that the campaign played a significant, perhaps even determining role in preventing nuclear war. Twice while the campaign was on, President Eisenhower met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to consider US options in the conflict with China over two islands, Quemoy and Matsu. The generals twice recommended the use of nuclear weapons. President Eisenhower each time turned to his aide and asked how many little bags of rice had come in. When told they numbered in the tens of thousands, Eisenhower told the generals that as long as so many Americans were expressing active interest in having the US feed the Chinese, he certainly wasn't going to consider using nuclear weapons against them.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 07:37 PM

On that basis then shouldn't they be suggesting sending couscous instead of rice? (:<))

Frankly, I don't think the Shrub has a tenth of the brains or humanity of Eisenhower and Ike was "the man who won the Big One." The story is believable from the standpoint of Eisenhower at least having a soupcon of concern and understanding.....something Bush lacks.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 08:32 PM

If packets of powdery couscous started arriving in the mail addressed to Bush you can be certain they would totally freak out.

In fact I suspect it might be a bit dangerous sending them. There's probably a standing order to come down with maxiumum force on anyone sending any kind of whitish powder through the post. That of course might make it a more effective protest.

Rice might be safer, but I wouldn't bank on it.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Cluin
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 08:57 PM

Popcorn might be a better symbol.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 09:02 PM

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer - PM
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 05:12 PM

Well y'all sure know how to rain on my little peace parade... But, since I could never hold a candle to all the effective war stopping meaasures you folks have brought forth all on yer own, I guess I'll just watch and learn, OK? IMHO, "holier than thou" doesn't mix well with cynicism... unless you like things just as they are... I'm sure you'd rice to the occasion eventually!ttr

I get the protest idea, I'm not sure mailing rice. Whose idea was that? The Rice Board's??

This administration does listen to opinion polls. Why don't you take your 4 37 cent stamps and mail a note to four of your friends asking them to mail four of their friends.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: *daylia*
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 09:27 PM

Jack here's a link to information re the 'Rice for Peace' campaign. IMO if the White House cares at all about opinion polls, then this initiative sounds like it's worth a try, especially if a letter is enclosed.

As for me, I guess I can't send rice to the Canadian parliament, but they are getting my letters. They have to wait till they get their orders from shrub anyway ;-)! My 20-yr old son is sitting here with his friend, joking about how they'll just shoot themselves in the foot so they won't have to go to war if conscription starts. They really don't know how expendable they are if worst comes to worst. And I sure hate to burst their bubble - but this is so serious it's sickening.

I've seen recruiting ads for the Canadian Armed Forces on television this week, the first I've seen in many years. I have three sons between the ages 20-25, and ... and ... nuff said. Thanks for the opportunity to express my worry here.

And thanks for posting this Ttr. Onwards and Upwards!! I'd post it in rhyme but somehow this has dampened my poetic urges - so you're spared!

daylia

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 11:15 PM

Snopes etc. Sorry, Snopes won't copy a page; only the home site. Ask Search for rice/

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Cluin
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 11:29 PM

Yes, Snopes will give you the URL for a page there. It's always given at the bottom of the page.

This one was http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/rice.asp

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: rangeroger
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 11:31 PM

daylia, tell your son that shooting himself in the foot won't necessarily work. In 1966 I was working in the OR at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego when we got a Marine from Camp Pendelton with a bullet wound to his foot. He said he got it while fast drawing from a shoulder holster with a.25 cal semi-auto pistol. We tried to recreate the incident and there was no way he could have hit his foot unless he aimed directly at it.

Turns out his outfit was leaving for 'Nam the next day. The bullet had missed the bones so there was only soft tissue damage.We patched him up and sent him back to Pendelton marked as fit for regular duty.

rr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 11:46 PM

Reading what snopes has to say, still shows that this campaign is a legitimate protest, only that the Eisenhower story is false. Whether it happened in the past or not, there's no harm in trying it now. It would be better if they corrected their claims, though.

kat

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 12:28 AM

Listen guys, let's just fill a bag with dog shit, set it on the White House porch, light it, ring the bell, and run like hell?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 01:25 AM

Well now... this has been quite an education! Let's just say I'm not sending any rice to the President. I don't think he would eat it, and so... sorry for being snippy 'bout it...

Really though, isn't there anything we can do? We can be way right on all over the place, but still the war dance looms unlisteningly.

Gosh. ttr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: NicoleC
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 01:48 AM

Well, there's always getting your butt out to the protests the 15th & 16th. The more the merrier, and if you are worried that you might not agree 100% with the political views of the rest at the protest, make your own sign. Can't get to DC or SF? Hold one of your own and invite the local newspapers.

Bush & Co. may say they don't pay any attention to protesters, but when 200,000 folks are marching in DC, it's hard to ignore and even harder to ignore the fact that for the first time people are protesting BEFORE a war in such huge numbers. Even the mainstream media is hard pressed to ignore that kind of story -- particularly since the organizers are bending over backwards to keep it safe and peaceful.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 08:09 PM

Just my 2 cents- I think doing something physical is often effective, if only to get the "do-er" out of their complacency and into action. I agree that Bush does not have the intelligence of Eisenhower, but he does seem to relate to the physical. We need to get his attention somehow, I maen what part of "no" doesn't he understand?
BTW,the directions also included a religious element which might actually appeal to some vestige of conscience in his fevered brain.I added "Put our money where their mouths are"

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 11:45 PM

How about a cow chip throwing contest on the lawn of the white house. And a lot of cow-chips. So many, that when Bush walks out the door, he gets the message that we are tired of his bull-shit.
Peace. Rustic
Sorry Thomas, I don't mean to be cynical. I am just really fed up with his bull-shit.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 01:05 AM

No need to be sorry, Rustic... you're in good company, and I would venture to add that I am in full agreement with you. Maybe some of Little Hawk's childhood concoction could be used to great effect also! *BG*

ttr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Kim C
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 01:49 PM

I think the sentiment is good - but I also think the rice could be better used.

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 01:57 PM

I suppose sending pretzels might be seen as a bit hostile...

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: open mike
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 02:49 PM

the rice thing was for China-makes sense.
i agree that couscous would be more appropriate
considering the diet of the mid-east.
but how about cooking it first,
then sending!
since i doubt the food value of any
pkgs sent will be enjoyed by the
hungry, the message would be that
the war plan is a rotten one...

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: *daylia*
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 02:21 PM

Now here's a brave but chilling way to protest the war! Leave it to New Yorkers ... he he he!

daylia

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 04:31 PM

Cool! Nothing like lovely naked ladies making a political statement that goes against the multinational corporate grain! You go girls! Creative protesting is so much sexier than new cars! ttr

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: *daylia*
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 10:02 AM

Looks like I was wrong about Canadians not participating in the "Rice for Peace" campaign, according to this this CBC link. Information here about a Mennonite initiative for fasting and prayer, too.

Still like the courage and audacity shown by those barenakedladies at the last link I posted though!

Peace and hope

daylia

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 10:37 AM

Nude protest? Hey....Check it out......FILM at Eleven!!!

daylia, I think they could have been a lot more effective if they had disrobed and then started to shave their pubic areas while chanting "No More Bush"...............just a thought.....

Spaw

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 11:27 AM

Cool! Trust those Aussie women at Byron Bay to do a nude protest as well. It's one of those places!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! - OY OY OY!

Subject: RE: Rice up singing!
From: *daylia*
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 12:52 PM

Spaw (((((((((( :-) ))))))))) he he, eh!! Maybe an artistic trim to shape the bush into a peace sign would be appropriate too! Too bad we can't just shape the 'shrub' the same way ....

Jenny you girls down under sure have it easier than us northern types for this type of protest! Since I've already caught pneumonia once (from those 'barefoot races in the snow' as a kid), I can't convince myself to organize one of these for a couple months anyway. But I'm thinkin about it!! But this is one case where I'm NOT going to abide by the old "DON'T WAIT TILL SPRING - DO IT NOW!!!"

daylia