Source: Hemp Magazine
Author: Nora Callahan, Director of The November Coalition
Pubdate: May, 1998
Contact:   note: The November Coalition contacts are:
Email:  
Website: http://www.november.org

DISPLAY A LIGHT IN YOUR WINDOW CAMPAIGN

Before Christmas, the November Coalition was made aware of the Delaware
Cannabis Society's (DCS) "Light in the Window Campaign." Richard J.
Schimelfenig of DCS explains, "Burning a candle in our windows is a symbol
of a vigil for the return of loved ones that has a long history. It is
mentioned in the Bible, as well as many other revered documents. This
campaign touches an elemental part of each person, helping middle America
to find empathy for the many families hurt by the government's Civil War on
drug users. It is a primeval reminder that there are real people being
hurt, not for harming anyone else, but for making a choice that others
moralize about and demonize. It will help each person to reflect on their
own reasons for ending this war on ourselves."

This particular campaign began when the wife of one of our country's
cannabis prisoners contacted Richard after her two young sons had asked
that a Christmas "candle" (electric light on a candlestick) not be packed
away after Christmas, but left in the window. "We are leaving the light on
for Dad," say Dane and Drew.

Lights are being placed in windows all over the country and we ask that you
would join us in this demonstration. Many of us have followed up with a
letter to our editors, explaining why the light burns, and for whom they
burn. Some place a light for the AIDs victim who cannot use cannabis
legally, some for a loved-one imprisoned. They are all a visible protest of
our country's destructive policy of war. Please join us and place a light
in your window. 

In this country, the land of the free,
They took my dad, far away from me.

During his life, in this land of Liberty,
"Never hurt anyone," is what he taught me.

So tell me, from sea to shining sea,
Nonviolent people are imprisoned, how can this be?

When weapons are legal, a plant is not,
It makes no sense, when guns get you shot.

He sits behind bars now....oh amber waves of grain,
Send my dad home, stop my tears, heal my pain.

- -Dane, Child of War
..........
Copyright 1998 Hemp Magazine. Redistributed by The Media Awareness Project
of DrugSense by permission. 

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Checked-by: Richard Lake