The day I marched for my grandson's future
I wrote a weekly column from 1993-2000 in the Navy News (now defunct) in Bremerton, Washington (near Seattle). On November 30, 1999 I joined thousands of other people in one of the largest demonstrations held in Seattle since the Vietnam War. We were there to protest the heartless plan by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and their ongoing effort to take advantage of workers all over the world under the guise of "free trade."
Sadly, 6 years later, things have become even worse for workers across the globe. Since then the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been put into place. It's just a continuation of "business as usual" for the greedy multi-national corporations or as I prefer to call them the ANTI-national corporations.
The following column was my attempt to illustrate what's at stake if we fail to act...the future of our children and grandchildren!
FROM INSIDE THE GATE
Mark A. Moshay
For Navy News 12/8/99
The day I marched for my grandson’s future
It’s 12:30 am, December 1, as I sit here in my office to write this column. Fourteen hours ago, I stood among thousands of people from all over the world at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. We came together to march on behalf of workers everywhere. We came to send a message to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Our message was simple: “The WTO must adopt policies to protect workers, the environment, but most of all our children.” The short version we chanted along the march was, “WTO - fix it or nix it.”
There is no way that I can describe the feelings of pride, hope, and compassion I felt during the rally and march. I have spent the past hours struggling with how I could capture, in words, the intensity and significance of this event. Truly, the whole world was watching.
Though our march was totally peaceful, there was violence later that day. It’s sad when a few extremists can take the spotlight away from the real issues at hand. That was a major disappointment. Regardless, we made an important statement to the WTO, but more importantly, to the world community.
I decided that most effective way for me to relate my thoughts would be to share a letter that I wrote. The letter was to my grandson:
Dear Cameron Mark,
I am writing this letter to tell you about a very important event that occurred today. It will be several years before you read this, because you are only two years old. But someday, I hope you will read these words and understand that on Tuesday, November 30, 1999, I marched in the streets of Seattle for you.
You see Cameron, your grandpa has always believed that men, women, and children should be guaranteed certain basic rights. They deserve to have food and shelter, fair wages, and a clean environment. But, not everyone believes that these things matter.
There are some people who believe that the most important thing in life is how much wealth they can accumulate. They are so driven by their desire for money and power that they are willing to look the other way as millions of people are forced to live in terrible conditions.
A lady spoke at our rally today. She was a mother not much older than your mom. She was from Central America. She said that last week she had worked 74 hours. Her wages for the week were $69.00, less than one dollar per hour. The lady said that she was unable to properly care for her family on such a low income.
A man from Malaysia said: “At this very moment it is midnight in Malaysia, and children as young as four years old are working right now. They are pressing the rivets into blue jeans to be sent to the United States. Clothes they can not afford. Other children are making toys for children like you. Toys that they will never get to own or play with.
Cameron, I learned a lot today. I realized that your future depends on the things that I do right now. I can’t do it alone. But I want you to know that, today, I met men and women who will help your grandpa make sure that you will have the basic rights that I spoke about.
Your mom and dad gave you your middle name in honor of me. I am very proud that you carry my name. One day I would like you to carry something else for your grandpa. I want you to carry on the work that we started here in Seattle today.
I hope you will always be willing to stand up for those who are unable to stand. I hope that you will be willing to march for those who are unable to march for themselves. Today Cameron Mark, I marched for those kinds of people, but I also marched for you.
Love Grandpa Mark
Sadly, 6 years later, things have become even worse for workers across the globe. Since then the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has been put into place. It's just a continuation of "business as usual" for the greedy multi-national corporations or as I prefer to call them the ANTI-national corporations.
The following column was my attempt to illustrate what's at stake if we fail to act...the future of our children and grandchildren!
FROM INSIDE THE GATE
Mark A. Moshay
For Navy News 12/8/99
The day I marched for my grandson’s future
It’s 12:30 am, December 1, as I sit here in my office to write this column. Fourteen hours ago, I stood among thousands of people from all over the world at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. We came together to march on behalf of workers everywhere. We came to send a message to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Our message was simple: “The WTO must adopt policies to protect workers, the environment, but most of all our children.” The short version we chanted along the march was, “WTO - fix it or nix it.”
There is no way that I can describe the feelings of pride, hope, and compassion I felt during the rally and march. I have spent the past hours struggling with how I could capture, in words, the intensity and significance of this event. Truly, the whole world was watching.
Though our march was totally peaceful, there was violence later that day. It’s sad when a few extremists can take the spotlight away from the real issues at hand. That was a major disappointment. Regardless, we made an important statement to the WTO, but more importantly, to the world community.
I decided that most effective way for me to relate my thoughts would be to share a letter that I wrote. The letter was to my grandson:
Dear Cameron Mark,
I am writing this letter to tell you about a very important event that occurred today. It will be several years before you read this, because you are only two years old. But someday, I hope you will read these words and understand that on Tuesday, November 30, 1999, I marched in the streets of Seattle for you.
You see Cameron, your grandpa has always believed that men, women, and children should be guaranteed certain basic rights. They deserve to have food and shelter, fair wages, and a clean environment. But, not everyone believes that these things matter.
There are some people who believe that the most important thing in life is how much wealth they can accumulate. They are so driven by their desire for money and power that they are willing to look the other way as millions of people are forced to live in terrible conditions.
A lady spoke at our rally today. She was a mother not much older than your mom. She was from Central America. She said that last week she had worked 74 hours. Her wages for the week were $69.00, less than one dollar per hour. The lady said that she was unable to properly care for her family on such a low income.
A man from Malaysia said: “At this very moment it is midnight in Malaysia, and children as young as four years old are working right now. They are pressing the rivets into blue jeans to be sent to the United States. Clothes they can not afford. Other children are making toys for children like you. Toys that they will never get to own or play with.
Cameron, I learned a lot today. I realized that your future depends on the things that I do right now. I can’t do it alone. But I want you to know that, today, I met men and women who will help your grandpa make sure that you will have the basic rights that I spoke about.
Your mom and dad gave you your middle name in honor of me. I am very proud that you carry my name. One day I would like you to carry something else for your grandpa. I want you to carry on the work that we started here in Seattle today.
I hope you will always be willing to stand up for those who are unable to stand. I hope that you will be willing to march for those who are unable to march for themselves. Today Cameron Mark, I marched for those kinds of people, but I also marched for you.
Love Grandpa Mark
posted by Mark Moshay at Friday, November 04, 2005
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