July 26, 2007
Activists stand for peace, end to Iraq war
Drivers passing Wauconda's Memorial Park may notice a group at Liberty and Main streets demonstrating for peace.
Coined Lake Area Peace Partners, the group meets at 6:30 p.m. every other Thursday to stand for peace. Peace Partners is scheduled to meet tonight (Thursday) at the park. Displaying signs that read "Stand for peace," "End the war" and "Peace is possible," about 10 group members promote peace.
Started two years ago, members of the group believe there are nonviolent ways of expressing that the war in Iraq should end. Members meet weekly to plan and discuss peace actions to initiate or support.
"We can help support each other in our peace efforts," said Jean Paskalides, the group's co-chairwoman.
Paskalides is also the 8th Congressional District team leader for the U.S. Department of Peace campaign. Paskalides, who is from Island Lake, said the group gathers in Wauconda because of its centralized location in the district.
"I have a strong objection to violence," Paskalides said. "Our country's invasion of Iraq has progressed. We're using less diplomatic means and more military means."
Paskalides said many drivers will honk their horns, expressing their support. Passersby will also stop by to get more information about the group and even join, Paskalides added. "Each time we seem to be growing a little more," she said.
Group member Randi Scheurer said she joined the group when it first started. She said a lot of people agree with the group's beliefs and say something needs to be done to stop the violence.
"I think they feel there's got to be another way of dealing with the crisis especially with the loss of life on both sides," Scheurer said.
Scheurer is so committed to pressing for peace, she is running for the Democratic slot in the 8th Congressional District primary. She said after attending peace vigils and Peace Partners' events, she found more people who feel the war needs to stop.
"The consensus is that people are not happy with being in the war in Iraq," she said. "It's heightened their awareness of looking at another way to solve problems."
With nearly 4,000 U.S. casualties, Scheurer said the troops need to come home. Scheurer knows first-hand about the war's effects. Her son, Danny, returned home from Iraq one year ago. U.S. Army reservist Danny Scheurer, 30, served in the battalion that had the highest causalities, Scheurer said.
"There is an immense amount of damage that has been done, and I think it's been felt all around the world," she said.
Scheur said her son doesn't talk much about his experience in Iraq, but he did tell of his friends who were killed. Both Scheur and her son had different views about the war, and Scheur said the soldiers will bear the war's repercussions for decades.
She and her son don't talk much about the war since he's returned, although he did admit we've made a mess over there, she said.
"We have to get the message out and spread it around," Scheur said.
Peace Partners is organizing a Walk for Peace in September.
The local group is a member of the Illinois Coalition for Peace and Justice.