the following is from the original mother’s day proclamation which was written in 1870 in reaction to the american civil war and the franco prussian war. who knew that mother’s day was started with the belief that woman have the responsibility to shape their societies at the political level? all these years i just thought it was just another hallmark holiday.

“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…”