Stand for Peace 3/20/05

Chicago Peace March 3/30/2005: Remembering the innocent child victims of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Chicago Peace March 3-20-05: Chicagoans honoring and remembering those on both sides who have died in the invasion and occupation of Iraq

Chicago Peace March 3/20/2005: People, young and old, representing the many faiths and the ethnic diversity that is Chicago stand together to Wage Peace.

Chicago Peace March 3/20/2005: A member of Gold Star Families for Peace shares stories from her fallen brother's journal

Chicago Peace March 3/20/2005: Gold Star Mother addresses the crowd and memorializes her son who was killed in action.

Chicago Peace March 3/20/2005: Lowering the US and Iraqi Flags to half mast to honor American soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have died as the result of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Culture of Life?

I watched with great interest yesterday as President Bush scurried back to Washington to sign a law to "save" Teri Shiavo. As sad as it is, Mr. Bush is some 15 years too late.

Perhaps that time would have been better spent formulating a plan to withdraw from our pre-emptive wars and rethinking the mistaken belief that democracy can be brought at the point of a gun.

You see, I don't think we can have a "culture that promotes life" while fighting wars of choice...against an "enemy" that presented no threat.

As Mr. Bush insinuated himself into a sad family tragedy that has played through the court for years, at least one more American died, on his orders, in Iraq.

Choosing the WRONG Mom to Disrespect

By Cindy Sheehan, Mother of Hero: Spc Casey Austin Sheehan KIA 04/04/04
Co-Founder of Gold Star Families For Peace http://www.gsfp.org/
February 28, 2005 Dallas, Texas, PEACE ACTION

"I'm so glad George Bush is a uniter and not a divider," I sarcastically thought to myself as the retired Marine Viet Nam Veteran was screaming at me and the other volunteers at the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit (presented by the American Friend's Service Committee--AFSC) in Dallas today.

The man was beside himself with fury.

He accused me and the AFSC of being shameful and that the AFSC wanted to see all of our soldiers who are fighting in Iraq "tried for war crimes."

I just sat at the hospitality table trying to let the Veteran blow off some steam-I couldn't answer his concerns at that point anyway- I felt his accusations were for the representatives of the AFSC.

The very, very angry man finally screamed one thing that I couldn't ignore. He was practically frothing at the mouth when he roared: "You people are all cowards. You wouldn't die for anything."

That's when I had had just about enough of Mr. Marine's tirade. I stood up to him and I said: "You are wrong about that sir. I would have gladly gone to Iraq instead of my son. I would have died in his place without question."

This simple, but true statement, which any parent would make, took the wind out of Mr. Marine's sails.

He got tears in his eyes and he said: "I'm so sorry for your loss, ma'am. I would have taken your son's place, too."

Then we hugged each other and both of us cried..me for my devastating loss..and I'm not sure what the Veteran gentleman was crying for? My loss, or the losses he experienced as a soldier in Viet Nam? Maybe a little of both?

At that miraculous and rare point in time, a Blue State, peace activist mom and a Red state, Bush/War supporting Veteran, found common ground!! It was a very unusual and sacred moment. When we found common ground, we were able to open up an honest dialogue, which is so rare in this country these days.

There were about 50 protesters out today at the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit.

They were there because they were under the mistaken impression that the AFSC wants all soldiers serving in Iraq prosecuted for war crimes.

That would make me mad, also: if it were true.

Most of our children in harm's way are just trying to save their lives and the lives of their buddies. But this notion about the AFSC, is totally absurd and false.

How did these otherwise, seemingly intelligent protestors get such a whacky idea??

Well, the protesters were told that this was true by a hate-mongering radio talk show host named Darell Ankarlo. He told his listeners: "Eyes Wide Open is in actuality anti-war/anti-American/anti-troops display suggesting that our military "be brought to justice" for crimes against humanity." Ankarlo also told his listeners that this statement was on the AFSC website.

Of course, this is not on the AFSC website. But don't take my word for it. Do something that Ankarlo's listeners did not: check it out yourself. www.AFSC.ORG. It's amazing to me that the protesters would come out and waste hours of their time on a beautiful Dallas morning to protest something that they didn't even verify!!

Like I said in my speech at the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit today: "Whether one thinks this war is moral or immoral, we all agree that the 1496 young people represented in their empty boots behind me, are brave and honorable people who deserve the highest of honors and our highest respect."

I have been all over the country protesting this war and trying to expose the reasons for going to Iraq and staying in Iraq for what they were and still are: lies.

My experience in Dallas has convinced me of a certain fact: standing across from our philosophical opponents and screaming slogans at each other is not very productive. Having knee-jerk reactions to hate mongering talk show hosts is also very counter-productive! I think we as Americans have more in common with each other than not and we need to find that common ground. quickly!! We need to join together to stop the next war before it even begins this time.

Exhibits like AFSC's Eyes Wide Open is a wonderful way to honor our children's sacrifices and to bring an awareness of the true human cost of war to our nation. Click on the link to the AFSC website and you can view a short movie on the exhibit, see the list of scheduled upcoming cities where Eyes Wide Open will be, and sign a petition for peace.

Repeated calls and e-mails to Darrell Ankarlo's station in Dallas from members of Gold Star Families for Peace have not been returned. We are demanding that Ankarlo apologize to the AFSC and to GSFP for lying to his listeners.

__________________________________

You can link to the American Friends Service Organization's video presentation on the icon below. I encourage anyone reading to attend the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit if it tours near your home. Unlike Mr Ankarlo's description, the exhibit is a quiet and profoundly moving memorial to our fellow citizens who have died in combat in Iraq. It also memorializes the Iraqi civilians who have died.

Gold Star Families for Peace is an organization of families who have lost a loved one in the war in Iraq and believe that war is not a way to bring democracy or liberty to another country. - Army Mom

Democratic Afghanistan or "Narcotic State"

Afghanistan's largest export: The opium poppy (AP)

One of the things the President did not share in his recent addresses with the American people was the growing problem of Afghanistan's cash crop for export - the opium poppy which is the raw ingredient for the production of heroin.

I have seen some rumblings on the net over the last few months about this subject including the fact that the newly elected democratic government of Afghanistan is not inclined to take drastic steps (burning the fields and/or spraying to kill the crop) to slow the growth of this illegal, but income-producing crop. Production of the opium poppy has tripled since the US invasion to oust the Taliban and represents an estimated 40 - 60% of the total economy of Afghanistan.

A recent report to Congress from Secretary of State Rice describes Afghanistan as being on the verge of becoming a "narcotic state." Not quite the picture of an "emerging democracy" that was portrayed by the President in recent months...at least to my mind.

Bloggers Links

I did a bit of tracking to see who links to my blog. Interestingly, most of the inbound links seem to be from young people...some in high school and college.


Welcome and thanks - I believe that YOU play an important part in the Peace Movement. I think YOUR words are important because a lengthy war will impact your lives directly and for a very long time.

As a high school student, my life was impacted directly by another war. Friends did NOT come home. Others came home physically...but not mentally. We see some of them now, shadows of humanity, living homeless because society has no place for their shattered psyche. Their numbers could fill a large city.

And sadly, I see that some have forgotten that time and those people. And the lessons we thought we learned will be taught again. Those lessons are costly....and overwhelmingly sad.

Reflections

Loss

We hear much about what the President says regarding the Global War on Terrorism. We have heard the infamous quotes like “Bring em on” and saw the sign that declared “Mission Accomplished.” We learned that we were exporting democracy and liberty in the President’s Inaugural Address

We heard Mr. Rumsfeld tell a national guardsman that “You go to war with the Army you have…and not with the Army you would wish to have.”

We have heard that we must “fight this war in Iraq” so we don’t have to “fight it at home” despite the fact that we entered Iraq on faulty intelligence, now proven false. Our success in Afghanistan, too, is tenuous at best. We have not “smoked” Bin Ladin out of his “hole” and the largest exportable cash crop sustaining the economy of Afghanistan is the opium poppy.

This week we lost our 1,500 service person in Iraq. The list of those severely wounded grows daily. The official report says that we have suffered 11,500 injuries with the highest number of amputees and brain injuries that have ever occurred in any other war. Medical experts state that we can expect to incur a high number of psychological injuries, one in six, returning from Iraq. With over a million people deployed thus far, that represents 166,000 individuals who have already been affected. Combined this puts our casualty rate at 17.9% or nearly one in five.

As the second anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq approaches, I decided to look at what the people who are fighting this war and their family members at home have to say. All of the quotes are taken from recently published material. Some people believe in the “mission” – others do not. But all show weariness in fighting a war that has no end in sight even as the rhetoric from Washington heats up with challenges issued to Iran and Syria.

"This time I have to think about having a wife and a daughter back home, I'm responsible now for bringing home my guys alive to their family." - Sgt. Joshua Butler of Jackson, MO. on his return to Iraq. Sgt Butler was part of the force that captured Baghdad during the invasion in 2003. Since returning from Iraq the first time, Sgt. Butler married and became a father. (AP)

"It's not just being gone that's the hard part; the hard part is getting ready to leave, preparing your family for it and everything you do to prepare your family for it reminds them, and yourself, that you're leaving, The few months before you leave are hard; the first few months after you get back are hard." - Staff Sgt. Jason Barr of Roswell, MI. Sgt. Barr is the father of two and was part of the force that captured Baghdad in 2003. (AP)

"My God, I can't believe I'm here again, I thought I was going to get out and go back to school." - Spc. Desmond Lackey, who was due leave the service this month. However, under “stop loss” the Army has told him that he won't be allowed to leave the service at least until his unit goes home next year. (AP)

“Another BORING day here in Iraq. But, boring is bliss for me. I am not in a hurry to get shot at.” – the author of the soldier blog “Boots on the Ground”. He was recently re-deployed to Iraq after being home less than a year.

"We'll be back several more times." - Sgt. Micki Nixon of Jacksonville, FL. (AP)

“I survived a war, and I’m going to make damn sure I survive peace.” – the author of the soldier blog “In Iraq for 365” shortly after returning to the U.S. from Mosul, Iraq. He speaks here of his adjustment to civilian life.

“We begged people not to forget our sons were beloved real people whose futures we had hoped for, and we implored them to work to stop the war.” - Celeste Zapalla, Mother of Sgt. Sherwood Baker who was killed in action.

“As I leave my metal box, that I have called home for the last year, I carry two duffle bags. The first is full of the gear and clothing that has offered me survival and protection. The other bag is harder to see with the uncompassionate eye. I have filled the second with guilt. The shame for the part I have played in this campaign in Iraq. It is more useless then the first. However, it is a burden I must carry.” – from the soldier blog “Fight to Survive” posted by a soldier who calls himself simply “The Heretic”.

"There is much hardship that a family encounters when their loved one is in the military. And unlike their soldier, they didn’t volunteer for these challenges. Spouses face lonely months with soul mates half a world away. Children take their first steps, participate in their first concert, or play in their first little league game with out the support of one…or both parents because their jobs take them far from home. Parent’s hearts skip beats when someone knocks at their front door…because they know their life can forever change in an explosion of grief if that visitor wears a somber face…and a uniform. War does not come without a terrible price. Soldiers and their loved ones pay that price in blood…and in tears." – Marge Haracz, mother of a soldier training for deployment.