We travel across the country by train each year to help out an ill relative in San Diego. In the dining car, passengers are seated wherever there’s an empty seat.

Over the years, we’ve had many conversations with people from all over the country, from all walks of life. Somehow, the somewhat formal circumstance of eating together makes it possible to talk about politics civilly.

Nearly everyone with whom we have had these mealtime conversations is against the Iraq war. Don’t get me wrong – yes, there are the Quakers and longtime peace activists among them, but many are Republicans, a great number have been veterans or currently enlisted soldiers. There are grandmothers and fathers, young people, men and women of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

We have almost all agreed that this war is wrong, places our best resources, that is, our people, in harm’s way unnecessarily and does more to create enemies than it does to make us safer. And we have ALL agreed that our country is, to paraphrase Colin Powell’s recent statement, losing our moral currency around the world.

Whatever you believe about the rest of the state of things, if you believe this war must stop, please turn out today (Sept. 30) at the Waterfront Park in Bangor from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for a rally and march.

If it is in your heart: act!

Patty Ryan

Mount Desert