Staff Writer
HOULTON — Horns often honk with approval Friday afternoons as motorists pass Monument Park where a small band of area residents stand silently holding signs that say “Stand with us for peace.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SILENT DEMONSTRATION — Near the Peace Pole in Houlton’s Monument Park, a group of area residents stand in silence. Facing front and holding a sign are Linda Rowe of Monticello and Janet Campbell of Ludlow next to Marilyn Roper of Houlton. Behind them are Elbridge Gagnon of Orient, Peggy Ryan and Harrison Roper, both of Houlton.
“All of this has to do with our firm belief that non-violence is far more productive than violence in solving problems,” said Marilyn Roper of Houlton. She and husband, Harrison, “have been here since well before 9/11. Initially there were over 23 people in a global witness for peace started by Archbishop Desmond Tutu” the South African activist cleric and Nobel Laureate.
“We are here year-round from 12-12:30 p.m. whatever the weather. If it’s below zero, we tend to do 15 minutes. The rest of the time we do a half hour,” said Harrison Roper. His wife drove the point of the group’s commitment home by adding: “We’re out here if it’s 30 below with a bad wind.”
On one recent Friday, several longtime supporters joined the Ropers. Peggy Ryan of Houlton said she has been part of the group for “seven or eight years because I believe in peace and I think people need to get along with one another. The alternative to that is our self destruction.”
Now living in Orient part-time, Elbridge Gagnon expressed why he backs the group and the concept. “I love the peace movement. I’d like to have it be more important.” Janet Campbell of Ludlow said she has been a supporter and demonstrator for seven years because “there are many alternatives to violence.”
Initially, the group formed as part of the Women in Black world-wide network of women committed to peace, according to Linda Rowe of Monticello. She said it morphed into Stand for Peace because men wanted to join. Rowe said she has been participating in the weekly demonstrations for about seven years “to give people 30 seconds out of their day to think about the word ‘peace’ and to contemplate peace and the power of it.” Campbell agrees saying: “There are many alternatives to violence.”
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
PEACE POLE — Houlton’s Peace Pole in the shadow of two churches on Military Street was given to the town of Houlton and has over 500 written wishes for peace on it.
They stand, near the Peace Pole in the shadow of two churches, as Marilyn Roper said “appropriately because we are vigiling for peace in our own hearts, in our communities, in our homes and in the world. This peace pole was given to the town of Houlton and has over 500 written wishes for peace.”
The Peace Pole, according to Roper, is under the care of the Southern Aroostook Ministerial Association of which she is a member, and is one of many around the world. It was a gift from a Japanese organization that has a strong commitment to non-violence following the atomic bombings that lead to Japan’s surrender to the Allies in the final stages of World War II.
Mr. Roper said he has seen a change in the reactions to their silent demonstration over the years. “When we were first here we saw a few thumbs down. We don’t seem to see that lately. We see a lot of thumbs up. People drive by and suddenly here’s this scene. And, people seem to react to it. And, mostly what I’ve seen is thumbs up.”
He explained the silent demonstration: “We are meditating. We simply are standing in silence like the sign says. Stand with us or join us and stand for peace.”
His wife added: “Each person here is doing what they feel contributes to peace. I am here for Jesus because I feel Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He taught us to love our enemies to turn the other cheek. Some people in the Houlton community are very dedicated to peace and this is the only way our species will be able to survive.”
