School of the Americas poster, circa 2001 Carolyn Phanstiel archives
Carolyn’s journal note to grand-daughter Jen concerning her involvement – See paragraph 2 (Snapshot, courtesy of Carolyn’s daughter, Cheryl Ulrich)
1000 Grandmas Standing Strong: Wordless Wednesday
by MarianBeaman | Aug 23, 2023 | blog, Conflict, Education, popular culture, Uncategorized | 46 comments
Good morning, Marian! A very powerful image!
I agree! Thank you, Merril. 😀
You’re very welcome, Marian!
Sometimes you have to take a stand! Thank you, Marian.
Yes, and it’s often women who take the initiative, Arlene. 😀
Such a moving snippet from Carolyn’s journal. Thanks for sharing, Marian. xo
My pleasure, Jill! 😀
Never doubt what a group of grandmothers can do!!!
I miss my grandmothers. 😢😢
Thank you, L. Marie. I understand the infuence of grandmas and how we miss them when they’re gone. 😀
How lovely to have a journal to look back on plus never doubt the power and committment of a grandmother I say 🙂
Thanks for checking in with your thoughts, Carol. 😀
I dug down into the history of the School of the Americas, something I never really knew anything about. Thanks for sharing this history and the role of grandmothers. If I understand correctly, it continues to this day but under the U.S. Department of Defense.
You are right, Melodie. The school is still located in Georgia, but according to Wikipedia has been renamed The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the Americas. And, yes, it’s under the US Department of Defense. The SOA was once a training ground for such notorious dictators as Noriega of Panama.
I was so intrigued by the poster, I looked up 1,000 Grandmothers online. It looks as though there has been more than one organization with the name? The one I found advocates for awareness and action to fight climate change. A very heartening development!
Yes, women (and others) who advocated for change got the School of the Americas shut down. It was renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation and has a different purpose. It wouldn’t surprise me that advocating for climate awareness is among their initiatives now. Thanks, Liz. 😀
I wasn’t familiar with !,000 Grandmothers and their mission, though I can get behind anything that’s against crimes against humanity. I’ve seen many situations in my lifetime when a series of united voices is far more powerful than one.
Yes, Pete. Although I knew my friend was politically active, I was unaware of this particular cause. She certainly has been a role model for her grand-daughter. 😀
HI,
I am smiling. There’s a huge smile on my face.
I can only say, AMEN! It’s about time.
Shalom shalom
Just after I read your reply here, this quote popped into my mind: “The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.” I had to look up the lines to find the author, but it’s Edmund Burke. If he had thought a little harder, he would have also added the word “woman”! 😀
Thanks for sharing this, Marian. Great to see these grandmothers united to protest crimes against humanity. Very moving.
Thanks, Barbara. I’m glad it spoke to you too. 😀
It amazes me what grandmothers can achieve! Today I’m depending on grandson Ivan to mow the lawn for me. He is such a willing and cheerful helper, I hope I’ve had a part in teaching him that. One step at a time!
Your influence is wide and deep, Elfrieda. You can bank on that. . . especially with your family! 😀
Hurray for Grandmothers! I had to look up the School of the Americas and was heartened to see it had closed down. Hopefully, its renaming isn’t just another cover up. Powerful poster! Grandmas ROCK!
You said it, “Grandmas ROCK”! I don’t think the organization trains terrorists anymore. Our country shut it down, and the new institution is managed by the U. S. Department of Defense. Thanks for mentioning that, Patty! 😀
Wow, Marian, I don’t think I even knew about this. It doesn’t ring any bells for me. Thanks for sharing this information.
I would not have known about the group either, except that my friend was part of the effort to stop the malicious training. I’m glad you learned something new, Robbie! 😀
I have a copy of that poster that used to hang on our friend Carolyn’s wall. It was a gift from Carolyn’s Estate which her daughter Cheryl gave me when we last saw Carolyn’s son, daughter and friends at a remembrance of Carolyn’s friendship.
However, I had no idea of what the poster meant but I loved the artist’s charcoal sketch. To me the poster was moody, poignant, but a call to action. When I got it home I did some research about what the school was about and why good people were calling attention to its existence.
Good for you, artist friend. You appreciate both the art and the intent behind the poster.
Thanks for picking out an item I may have overlooked! 😀
Marian and Cliff – What a great remembrance to select! One thing my Mom was very CLEAR about is where she stood on “issues”….That was such a special evening and I really appreciate both of you making the road trip to Fernandina from Jax! Cliff I love your description of the art….moody, poignant, but a call to action. Mom’s house was definitely full of treasures, some were even hidden, like that journal she had started when my daughter Jennifer was still in my womb and continued to write in for over 3 decades….who knew?? What a GREAT gift for a grand daughter….Jen is the first born grandchild and the only granddaughter. Do you think Mom knew that from the onset?? Anyway early the next morning after the gathering, I started reading Mom’s journal she wrote to Jennifer. Lots of tears later, I saw this entry in 2006 about the event/poster and just had to send you a picture of that page. Thanks for sharing with others.
PS. Jennifer has grown to be even fiercer than her Grandmother and Mother combined. She is a woman engineer and global traveler….Watch Out World!!
I “second that emotion” from my sister Cheryl. Marian thank you so much for posting this!
Good to hear from you, Otto. Thank you! 😀
Your mom has left quite a legacy in spoken word and written word. Her deeds speak for themselves. Now her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren. I don’t know what more you could have done to honor your parents. And, thanks to the internet, more people have been inspired.
Thank you for supplying so many golden moments and know that I appreciate them–and your continued friendship greatly. Huge hugs, Cheryl! ((( )))
❤️
I find the poster quite powerful, Marian. It grabs your attention and almost demands your participation. Kudos to the artist for creating a visual call-to-action. Plus, I often learn new things from you, Marian. It’s a fascinating group.
Thanks, Melanie, I agree with your insights here. What a poster! Yes, the initiative worked and the terrorist training school was shut down for good. 😀
Thank goodness! 😀😀
The title of the poster (and your post) sure gets my attention, as well as others. Grandmothers have the mistaken identity of being sweet quiet compliant women. No NO!! May we always be firm and feisty and fight for what is right.
I love your “f” words, Pam. It strikes me that at times we can be fun and fancy while being firm and feisty and full of fight for the right when we must. Thanks for sharing your take! 😀
Alliteratively yours, (and with fabulous friendship), Pam
😀
Interesting. I’ve never seen a poster like this one. Gotta give prop to grandmas, they know what’s right and how to make a point.
I know, Ally, it’s riveting and those Grandmas are powerful!
Grandmother’s are the most formidable folks out there. Don’t mess with them!
I agree with you, Darlene. They have intimate knowledge, wisdom, and persistence on their side. 😀
Yes, a powerful image and an important cause. My good friend is involved with a group in the San Francisco Bay Area called A Thousand Grandmothers for Future Generations. They focus on climate justice. There are so many ways our country and world need help. Thanks for stirring the soup.