Kimberley Snow: How did the Women's Peace Walk get started?
Betty Hatch: Kimberley, I was depressed for about three months after the 9/11
attack. I knew no one involved yet I was very upset. I wanted to
"do something" but I didn't know what I could do. This past
December a vision of the WOMEN'S PEACE WALK came to me during a daily meditation.
I asked three friends what they thought and all three said, "Betty, if
you will do it, I will walk with you!" Next I asked a monthly women's
support group what they thought and all said basically the same thing.
One announced that she had not been so excited about something in
a long time. The week after Christmas I wrote the guidelines, got the
permit from the Police Department in Santa Barbara, sent out e-mails to most of
my address book and handled all of the logistics. This included, printing,
creation of flags, making name tags for assistants and writing their job
descriptions.
Q: What is the purpose of the Walk?
A: The purpose of the walk is noted at the top of the Guidelines, " To
promote an experience of peace. We will show what peace looks like, sounds
like, behaves like and feels like. Our message is in the experience.
We are not connected with a political party, faith or particular philosophy.
Q: How many people showed up for the first Walk?
A:
My husband counted 365 (one for every day of the year) while we stopped to
sing
"Let There Be Peace" in the park.
Q: What was your experience of the first Walk?
A:
I had told the police department that I had no idea how many people would
show up. The officer suggested that I take a guess and I said, " 25
to 200? He said, "Fine, put that down." When 365 showed
up, I was shocked! It was moving to see so many women of all ages dressed
in white showing up to walk in peace. There were two girls about seven
years old in front of me. I asked about half way through the walk if
they were tired and both answered "yes." Then I asked if
they were ready to stop walking and with smiles from ear to ear, they both
said in unison
"no." When I left the park, two elderly ladies, one 95 and
the other 98, discontinued their walk assuring me they would return "next
time."
My experience of the first walk was one of joy, connection and inspiration.
Q: The second?
A:
The second walk was even more work for me, being the entire staff! I
entered all the names and e-mail addresses of the women who walked, rewrote
the guidelines to handle changes that needed to be made, contacted media,
wrote releases ( which I had not done the first time) answered e-mail questions,
had posters made and reprinted on my home printer 250 guideline and song sheets.
I also found 8 women who were committed to peace willing to assist me during
the walk and met with them.
Only 220 walked with us on 02/02/03. I expected many more to show. It
turns out there were seven events at the same time in SB on that day! When
I became aware of the conflicts, I was grateful for our turnout.
My experience was even more profound this second time. The affect of
over 200 women in white walking down the main street of Santa Barbara in silence
was profound. The love, gratitude and awed response of those watching
seemed to penetrate throughout my being. We communicated with smiles,
nods and eyes sparkling from love and the brilliant sun that shown on
us on 02/02/03.
Q: How do go about planning a Peace Walk?
A:
The work that I have done to create the walk is on my web site at www.selfesteem.org and
on our new website www.womenspeacewalk.net. My hope is that those who
wish to "do something" in their home town will not have to start
from scratch but be able to use the outline that I created in SB.
Q: What have you learned during this process?
A:
So much! The enthusiasm, vitality, purpose for being is enlivened when
we do something from a place of service and passion. I have always
wanted to have more hours in the day. I find that, when I get six hours
of sleep at night, it is sufficient!
Q: What surprised you the most during this process? Pleased you the most?
A:
The bonding and support that I have received from women I have never met.
Women are so able and willing to do what needs to be done. I've been
overwhelmed with their passion and accountability.
Q: Why aren't there men in the walk?
A: The vision I had during meditation was of women. I can only surmise that it is due to the fact that we have given birth to all those who have been and may be killed in war and a part of us dies when our children are killed. Women historically are Peace Makers. It is an easy role for us to play.
Q: Do you have a background in activism? Planning & Coordinating?
A: Well yes, I owned and operated a professional training school for 28 years. My strengths lie in communication, co-ordination, co-operation and organization. This training has enabled me to create the Women's Peace Walk. I also had the support of my husband and family who assisted physically, mentally and emotionally in the project. I was President of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce in 1990 and was on the board for 13 years. It was a marvelous training ground. In 1992 and '93, I was President of the National Association for Self-Esteem. I met many amazing people who are making a difference in the world during those two years. My desire to do the same was augmented by that experience.
Q: What do you see at the future of the walk?
A:
My vision is a NEW WALK--one that is peaceful, inspirational, silent and
beautiful.
One that will capture the hearts and vision of the future activists--the ability
to change thinking with different behavior. I can see this WALK replacing
the militaristic marches of the 1960's and showing the rest of the world
that we too, desire peace for all.
Q: How can we expect the world to know about WPW?
A: Kimberley, my web site www.selfesteem.org is visited by countries located all over the globe. Some of them I have never heard of. The site is averaging 2500 to 4100 hits every day. Those who come to the site seeking information on self-esteem will also see that women in America are uniting in their desire for peace.
Kimberley: Thank you, Betty, both for the interview and for organizing the Women's Peace Walk. To say nothing of keeping it going. You are an inspiration to us all.
Betty Hatch is the founder of "La Belle Professional
Training School, La Belle Model and Talent Agency and La Belle Foundation.
She retired in 1991, after 28 years in business. Betty served as President
of the SB Chamber of Commerce, the SB Industry Education Council and the National
Association for Self Esteem and, for ten years, as a director of Cottage Hospital.
She is on the Advisory Board of Mid-State Bank and Trust and the founding chair
of: the SB Council for Self Esteem, Leadership SB County, SB County Film Council
the Media Committee of SB and, of her current passion, WOMEN’S PEACE
WALK.
Betty
Hatch
P.O. BOX 599
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
(805) 682-6839 fax
e-mail Betty@selfesteem.org
Kimberley
Snow, who taught writing and women's studies classes for many years at UCSB,
is the author of several books including Writing Yourself Home and Keys
to the Open Gate: A Woman's Spirituality Sourcebook. Her memoir, In
Buddha's Kitchen: Cooking, Being Cooked, and Other Adventures in a Meditation
Center, Shambhala Publications. She is also the webmistresses of www.womenspeacewalk.net
as well as other sites.