Mothers' Day

Mothers' Day was first proclaimed by social activist Julia Ward Howe in 1870. She conceived of the holiday as a day on which mothers would give back to their communities, working for social justice and other causes larger than themselves and their families. The current Hallmark celebrations of the day came later, and the original purpose slipped slowly out of cultural memory. But once, this day was not for breakfast in bed and rose-tinted cards, but for tree-planting, organizing, marching, and writing letters to one's representatives.

So this morning, I think I'll hang out with my Mom and take my Grammy some pastries and flowers, because I do love and appreciate them. And tonight, I think I'll make a few donations to causes I care about. And write Barbara Boxer that thank-you note I've been procrastinating on, because she's a great representative, and I never have to call her, because she's always already on my side. And I'll join MoveOn.org's Moms Rising campaign.

I think the holiday can (and should) be both a celebration of our own mothers and a celebration of the power mothers have to change the world for the better. Celebrate with me?

Mother's Day Proclamation

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 our 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,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

— Julia Ward Howe