1. Palindrome The technical definition of a palindrome is a word or phrase that reads the same forward as it does backward This project embodies the general essence of a palindrome because the sentences can be read from top to bottom as well as from bottom to top. While the sentences are not inverted, (they are still read from left to right) the lines of the prose poem are inverted for a new message.

2. The actions a person participates in with a group may express one thing (forward), but that person’s individual thoughts or motives may have different meanings (backward). Thus, it parallels a palindrome.

3. “War is Not the Answer” Denver Rhetor

4. A peace vigil…the mental image produced in the minds of many is a rally with hundreds, if not thousands, of people in attendance. At least that is what my expectation was while driving to the Denver State Capitol for a Buddhist Peace Vigil addressing the Iraq War. Here is what I discovered instead-

5. A cold, breezy day with cloud cover and the smell of rain hanging in the air; characteristic weather for a 7:00 a.m. Colorado morning in early April

6. Four people holding placards spread along the sidewalk in front of the Capitol building

7. Their Purpose Taking an opportunity to voice their opinions Raise awareness and, hopefully, even gain some additional support They are not trying to change the world

8. Group Story

9. We cannot understand all the reasons and motivations behind this war But, regardless, we can still voice the opinions we hold in regards to the conflict even though What is said might not evoke change, it also could. However

10. If we can potentially arouse an emotional response in just a single new person, it would be worthwhile. On any one day, Our thoughts, which we turned into words, have provoked another to think, possibly that was you, so Now

11. Voice what is racing through your mind and the minds of others like you Can you be heard by those who have enough influence to Inspire a change. CHANGE

12. At this point in time, even a small change would be welcome So we need to take steps that would facilitate these changes and All we want is for an individual to change their line of thinking in the course of the day Raising concern in the minds of multiple people would be a success. But really…

13. Getting enough support to make this stand so it could garnish significant publicity would be challenging So there comes a point when it must be realized that The ideal situation can’t always be reached. For us right now, that is the goal, to simply stand here with this handful of people because

14. We will find individuals who share the same beliefs and There is hope that As people drive by in their cars or pass by on the street We can be seen taking a stand Hopefully that way, many more will go away realizing “War is Not the Answer.”

15. The sooner more people feel comfortable openly expressing this The sooner it gets dramatically obvious to those who have the power That we want our troops home and It is mostly because, “War is Not the Answer”

16. Individual Story

17. It is mostly because, “War is Not the Answer” That we want our troops home and The sooner it gets dramatically obvious to those who have the power The sooner more people feel comfortable openly expressing this

18. Hopefully that way, many more will go away realizing “War is Not the Answer.” We can be seen taking a stand As people drive by in their cars or pass by on the street There is hope that We will find individuals who share the same beliefs and

19. For us right now, that is the goal, to simply stand here with this handful of people because The ideal situation can’t always be reached. So there comes a point when it must be realized that Getting enough support to make this stand so it could garnish significant publicity would be challenging But really…

20. Raising concern in the minds of multiple people would be a success. All we want is for an individual to change their line of thinking in the course of the day So we need to take steps that would facilitate these changes and At this point in time, even a small change would be welcome

21. CHANGE Inspire a change. Can you be heard by those who have enough influence to Voice what is racing through your mind and the minds of others like you Now

22. Our thoughts, which we turned into words, have provoked another to think, possibly that was you, so On any one day If we can potentially arouse an emotional response in just a single new person, it would be worthwhile However

23. What is said might not evoke change, it also could. But, regardless, we can still voice the opinions we hold in regards to the conflict even though We cannot understand all the reasons and motivations behind this war

24. “War is Not the Answer” Denver Rhetor