The last time I went to Italy the Iraq war had just begun. The Christ Child and I would sit at breakfast and I would read the morning paper to him, detailing the unraveling of the campaign of Awe and Shock. Later, I would catch him watching MSNBC in an effort to verify what I was telling him the Italian newspapers were saying. He was surprised to find his mother knew Italian.

He also was quite surprised that the Italian people did not take us for Americans and were mildly startled to find we were Americano. I will always remember the one woman who leaned over a counter and put her forefinger gently in my chest, saying "Right now our two countries don't see eye to eye, but your people and my people know the real thing between us and we don't forget that and all that's gone on for many generations . " Her forefinger then pointed back and forth between the two of us as she looked deeply into my eyes and smiled. This was the typical response we received from these beautiful and generous people.

And then there were the flags. They were rainbow striped and they were everywhere. In the tiny villages, all through the city, in the villas, off the apartment windows, hanging from fences, draped across chairs, in store windows, hung from railings, these brightly colored flags that said PACE. The Italians were not highly verbal about our war and our role but rather maintained their stance as gracious hosts and conservators of the world's greatest art treasures in a time that was tricky to navigate worldwise. But there was no mistaking what they were feeling; those flags...those flags fluttered everywhere, a silent but bright reminder, an admonishment, an encouragement. Pace. Pace. Give peace a chance.

So now I go back, fully four years later, and we are still in Iraq. We have lost 2500 men and women who more properly should have died of old age. The Iraqi have lost chilren and parents and still live in the most rudimentary of circumstances, now with Americanos nell'occupazione. Since when did democracy become imposed by the government, rather than as the voice of the people? As I start to end with how did the whole thing go so wrong? I realize that that's not the question. I realize there is no question. This war was a threat to the fate of humanity from the pre-inception and was and is wrong. The rainbows of Italy serve as silent witness to the devastation of aggression and occupation; our crimes against peace can go on no longer. Our Americans in Iraqi must have our highest support and be brought home with no further delay.

We fly the rainbow flag at Bellemaison in support of our troops and in support of peace and note the Prayer for Peace of The Holy Father, John Paul II.

Hear our voice,
for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and violence
among individuals and nations.
Hear our voice,
for it is the voice of all children
who suffer and will suffer
when people put their trust in weapons and war.
Hear our voice,
when we beg you to instill
into the hearts of all human beings
the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice
and the joy of fellowship.
Hear our voice,
for we speak for the multitudes in every country
and in every period of history
who do not want war
and are ready to walk the road of peace.
Hear our voice
and grant insight and strength
so that we may always respond
to hatred with love,
to injustice with total dedication to justice,
to need with sharing of self,
to war with peace.
O God, hear our voice
and grant unto the world
your everlasting peace.

JBelle

Bellemaison

The 'Kan EWA