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Blogger Profile: Joan Wile

Joan Wile is a grandmother of 5 who founded Grandmothers Against the War over 6 years ago. Among their many activities, they were arrested and jailed when they tried to enlist at the Times Square recruiting center, in Oct., 2005, which became a world-wide story overnight. They've traveled to Europe and to Washington to speak, rally, lobby and perform. They hold vigils, demonstrations, protests, all sorts of actions, and do shows written mostly by Wile, who is an ASCAP lyricist and composer with a long career as a singer in cabarets, recording studios, on movie sound tracks, and on records.  Wile has written at least a thousand jingles, songs, film songs, as well as a number of cabaret acts, and 8 musicals, 5 of which were produced off- and off-off Broadway.  Wile's first book was published on April 29, 2008, by Citadel Press, entitled "Grandmothers Against the War: Getting off Our Fannies and Standing up for Peace."

Joan Wile's Blogs

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Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

August 15th, 2012

Peace Grannies, Moms and Vets Diss NBC's New Reality Rah Rah War Show, "Stars Earn Stripes"

In a remarkable display of unity, a number of New York peace groups joined together in just a few days to plan and carry out a protest at NBC headquarters in Manhattan regarding the debut of the new reality show, "Stars Earn Stripes."  The program is an abomination that touts war as ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

June 17th, 2012

My Illegal Abortion

We can feel the so-called "right to lifers" nipping at our heels.  Legislators, mostly male, are trying to take us back to the days of deadly back alley abortions.  In an effort to contribute to the struggle to keep them legal, I offer here the story of my own abortion at a time when they were ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

February 12th, 2012

Pillow Talk with Mitt and Anne ...a sketch by Joan Wile

SCENE:  Hotel bedroom, on the campaign trail.  MITT and his wife, ANNE, are talking. MITT:  How in hell am I going to stop this infernal yapping about our dog riding on top of the car? ANNE:  Mitt, you mustn't swear -- you know the Church forbids it. MITT:  What the hell do I ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

November 22nd, 2011

Zuccotti Park After the Police Raid

Zucotti Park is greatly changed from the bustling, overflowing, colorful encampment it was only a week ago when I was there.  All the tarps, tents, flags, banners, food tables, various outreach tents with busy computers and phones, are gone.  There are fewer people there. But, it IS still there, and still ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

October 24th, 2011

Peace Granny Cautiously Optimistic at Iraq War's End

The news hit me like an electric shock.  Was this for real?  I stared at the words on the TV screen in disbelief -- PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS ALL U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ WILL BE HOME BY THE END OF THE YEAR.  That meant that 41,000 troops will be leaving Iraq. This ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

October 19th, 2011

Police Back Off from Grandmothers as the Granny Peace Brigade Occupies Lincoln Center

Culture seekers streaming through Lincoln Center Tuesday evening, Oct. 18, were undoubtedly surprised to see a tableau not usually seen at the arts complex.  Approximately 60 members of the Granny Peace Brigade and their followers formed a semi-circle around the fountain located in the midst of the plaza surrounded by ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

October 4th, 2011

The Truth About Congressman Rangel's Visit to 'Occupy Wall Street'

There are so many people at Zucotti Park, the locale for the New York City Occupy Wall Streeters, that it's hard for the many media journalists there to keep track of what's happening. It was particularly difficult on Saturday, Oct. 1, when thousands descended on the little space to gather for ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

August 23rd, 2011

Afghan Peace Youths Feel Hopeless

On Sunday, Aug. 21, I had the privilege of speaking via conference call with several young people from the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers.  It was the occasion of what they have termed the "Global Day of Listening," during which the kids spoke with supporters and sympathizers all over the world ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

August 6th, 2011

Wake Up, America! Your House Is on Fire!

What else do we need to make it clearThat Doomsday is getting perilously nearOur safety net is torn to shredsTax breaks are given to corporate headsWhile we on the bottom and in the middleLose more each day while the leaders fiddleWe're making war all over the planetThough our citizens daily ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

July 30th, 2011

Granny Has Already Been Screwed by the Government for Two Years

Don't kid yourselves, older people, that if there are to be no Social Security cuts resulting from the current debt crisis debacle, we can thank our government for its kindness.  The fact is, we, among the most vulnerable and needy citizens of all, have seen our benefits systematically cut back ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

June 7th, 2011

DAILY DOGGEREL RE CURRENT EVENTS

Joan Wile, founder of Grandmothers Against the War, and author, "Grandmothers Against the War:  Getting Off Our Fannies and Standing Up for Peace" (Citadel Press, '08), as well as an award-winning ASCAP lyricist and composer, recently launched "Daily Doggerel Re Current Events" online.  Joan is writing a short poem (observing ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

May 19th, 2011

BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RALLY AGAINST THE AFGHAN WAR; Prove There Can Be a Youth Anti-War Movement

The day was downcast, but the wonderful high school seniors from Brooklyn Collaborative School standing in the rain on Fifth Avenue were not.  You could say they were upcast.  They were living proof that daring and principled teachers could raise their students' consciousness about the material and political costs of ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

May 9th, 2011

GET LOST, DONALD TRUMP

DONALD TRUMP, I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOUTHOUGH YOU SEE YOURSELF AS PRESIDENTNEW YORKERS HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEWWE THINK YOU'RE MERELY DECADENTWE GOTHAMITES ARE GETTING TIREDOF HEARING YOU KVELL AND BRAG AND BOASTWE'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOU, "YOU'RE FIRED!WE'VE HAD ENOUGH...TO US YOU'RE TOAST!"STICK TO YOUR MONOLITHIC EYESORESBUILD ANOTHER GLITZY ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

April 18th, 2011

SURPRISE!! THERE IS, TOO, AN ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT! IT'S JUST THAT THE TEA PARTY GETS ALL THE MEDIA COVERAGE

You'd think there is a huge Tea Party group in the U.S. and virtually no opposition.  But, that is strictly a myth created and perpetuated by the media. To the contrary, there is an alive and well anti-war movement populated by people from all over the country.  One wonders why ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

March 26th, 2011

THREE MEMBERS OF THE GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE GIVEN THE FIRST CLARA LEMLICH AWARD

As part of the week-long commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirt Factory fire of March 25, 2011, the first Clara Lemlich Award was presented to thirty older women on March 21 in a ceremony at the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation.  Three of the recipients are members ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

March 11th, 2011

JOIN THE END THE WAR PROTEST IN NEW YORK CITY MARCH 19 IN COMMEMORATION OF 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ ATTACK

It's encouraging to see the people uprisings abroad and in our own country.  The Egypt revolt really sparked something, and, on its revolutionary heels, the workers of Wisconsin came to life and fought Gov. Walker's efforts to strip them of their rights.  People in other states being subjected to the ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

February 22nd, 2011

Why Don't We Anti-War Protesters DO It?

The massive protest in Wisconsin got me thinking.  Why can't we do the same to end the war in Afghanistan and the occupation of Iraq?  There are millions of people in the U.S. who urgently want these wasteful, tragic and unjustified conflicts concluded immediately and all troops and armaments brought ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

February 6th, 2011

Can We Peace Grandmothers Foment an Egypt-Style Revolution to End Our Wars

There we were, last Wednesday as usual, our little straggly group of elderly grandmothers and supporters standing on Fifth Avenue in front of Rockefeller Center chanting, "BRING THEM BACK...FROM AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ! STOP THE KILLING NOW!" We were into our eighth year of our Grandmothers Against the War weekly late-afternoon ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

December 3rd, 2010

"Please Stop Your Night Raides," Plead Afghan Peace Youngsters to Obama, Clinton, Petraeus, Other World Leaders

My group, New York City's Grandmothers Against the War, recently "adopted" the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, to provide moral and material support for their efforts to end our war in their homeland. The youngsters, who live in a mountain village 100 miles NW of Kabal, have accomplished miracles of peace-building ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

October 4th, 2010

New York City Super-Elderly Take a Lead in Protesting the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Just because one is 80, 90 or older, don't think for one moment one doesn't still retain the power to effectively protest the wrongs committed by our Government. Many old people wished to go to Washington D.C. Saturday, October 2, to join the One Nation March to advocate an end ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

September 23rd, 2010

Gray Panthers Urge an End to Tax Cuts for the Rich

The Panthers are dedicated to creating a humane society where the needs of people are put over profit.As the tax-cut debate rages through the Senate, the House, and among the prospective candidates for public office, the Gray Panthers are firmly committed to their stance that tax cuts for the wealthy ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

September 18th, 2010

We, Too, Saw Through the Lies

Dear Michael Moore:I applaud you for opposing the war back then when most people, including liberal big-leaguers, were so gullible and cowed that they actually supported the Bush crime syndicate's sinister plot. I know you were razzed and attacked for speaking out and I am certainly sympathetic for the hard ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

July 29th, 2010

The Disappointment

Barry, things have run amokTake the blinders off your eyesDon't you see that we're stuckin a lethal, tight'ning viseYou helped us hope once moreGot us wired and inspiredWe expected there'd be no more warFear and despair were retiredBut, things didn't change as expectedWhere did the promises go?Bad policies stayed uncorrectedYour ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

July 15th, 2010

Gray Panthers Oppose Rep. Boehner's Proposal to Raise Age of Social Security Recipients

On June 29, House Republican Leader John Boehner made news with his statement that the age for persons eligible for Social Security benefits should be raised from 65 to 70. "If you have substantial non-Social Security income while you're retired, why are we paying you at a time when we're ... continue reading

Joan Wile

Founder, Grandmothers Against the War

July 1st, 2010

Come to NYC's Most Unusual 4th of July Celebration -- In Strawberry Fields

There will always be Independence Day parades, picnics, and fireworks, but there is only one Reading of the Constitution, to be held in Strawberry Fields, Central Park, this coming July 4, starting at noon.  For the fourth year in a row, famed civil liberties attorney, Norman Siegel, and his friends will ... continue reading

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Missing Michael Hastings www.buzzfeed.com One of the great reporters of his generation died Tuesday at 33. The stories he wrote, and the ones he didn't...

Jun 19th
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Rest in peace, Michael Hastings, author of 'The Operators': BuzzFeed Reporter Dies In Car Crash At Age 33 www.huffingtonpost.com Journalist Michael...

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After Newtown shooting, mourning parents enter into the lonely quiet www.washingtonpost.com After the shooting and the politics, the Barden family suffers all...

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Jun 14th
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Senator caught in strip club with his pants down When money wins, we all lose. Join the fight to stop bribery & corruption at...

Jun 14th
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RootsAction | No New War in Iran or Syria act.rootsaction.org Sign the petition opposing war by the United States or NATO in Iran or Syria.

Jun 14th
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ICYMI -- Stop Watching Us | Stop Watching Us optin.stopwatching.us We write to express our concern about recent reports published in the Guardian about the...

Jun 13th
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Jun 11th
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Historic challenge to support the moral actions of Edward Snowden ...by Norman Solomon www.sfbg.com

Jun 10th
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Jun 10th
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Jun 10th
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Jun 10th
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Jun 9th
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Thank you, Edward Snowden -- destined to go down as one of the greatest whistleblowers in American history.

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Jun 9th
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Husain Bazzi of Mike's High School Newspaper will co-chair a panel at the 2013 Left Forum at Pace University in NYC. This Sunday at 3 pm, please come if...

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