Soulbird would like to wish all mothers around the world a very Happy Mother’s Day!  In the United States, Mother’s Day began as an anti-war rallying cry in 1870 (the American Civil War lasted between 1861 and 1865).  We salute the millions of women around the world who continue the struggle for peace and the fight for social justice.

Karen Cocq of Inter Pares, a Canadian-based not-for-profit that works for international social and economic justice, wrote in an email:

[Mother's Day] began as the inspiration of committed and strong women who were seeking out ways to value the role of women in their communities and in society, and as a moving rallying cry for women to not be complicit in the crimes of war, but to stand staunchly and firmly for peace with justice.

The Mothers’ Day Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe, from the Inter Pares Web site:

The Mother’s Day Proclamation was issued in 1870 by Julia Ward Howe, one of the three founders of modern Mother’s Day. As a pacifist, she was distressed at the sight of Europe being ravaged by the Franco-Prussian War so soon after the carnage of the American Civil War. Believing that women are the most deeply affected by war, and that they have a responsibility to shape their societies politically, she called on women to oppose war and promote peace.

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
“We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.”

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: “Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.”
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace.