"I don't walk about belief - whether or not we should have started this war. Rather, I walk because we shouldn't live our lives as if all is normal. People are suffering every moment because of this war - U.S. Soldiers and their families, Iraqi soldiers and civilians and their families - and this question of what we can do to end this suffering should be with us every day."
a Concord (MA) area resident - in a letter to the editor regarding her own participation in a public vigil each Friday morning at the town center - 'We Walk for All Who Suffer Because of War.'
this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war and other disasters
we honor courage in all its forms
cross-posted at DailyKos, Booman Tribune, European Tribune, and My Left Wing.
image and poem below the fold
Coffins of two police recruits lie inside a vehicle in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) northwest of Baghdad, March 2, 2006. Four police trainees were killed after gunmen opened fire at them, police said.
REUTERS/Stringer
Dear George Bush
by Kristin Prevallet
( part 2 of 3)
I've overheard some astute political commentary
just listening to people on the street.
"They should execute him publicly
and live on TV just like they do over in those countries,"
and "Look around the world. You see
that there are only two choices: Capitalism or corruption."
From my standpoint, there are some logical problems
with these heartfelt opinions
(the former makes the ranter into the thing he most hates,
and the latter obviously did not lose his life savings when
Enron executives pocketed over a billion dollars
before the stock tumbled).
I am one of many
who does not believe that these good people,
and they are good people,
represent the viewpoints of the citizens of the U.S.A.
I know you hate that word, citizen.
And that this is not a new thing.
The principals of democracy are threatened by the big game
you're playing with those energy corporations:
they contribute to your campaign,
you put them on your cabinet
to set environmental policy--
did you really think we wouldn't care?
Of course I know that the 1st amendment was being threatened
long before you took office
and long before this current discussion of "homeland security"
terrified the people,
putting the country into a state of siege,
making it easier for you to control.
I remember the Republican National Convention
in Philadelphia, July 2000.
The police raided a warehouse
where protesters were making puppets
because the materials
chicken wire and cardboard
could have been used
to make bombs.
They destroyed the puppets
and put all of the protesters in jail
initially charging them
with the intent to incite riots
when in fact they were intending
to inspire people to participate in democracy.
I remember being corralled like cattle
at anti-globalization protests
and marching along wondering
what happened to freedom of assembly?
I remember racial profiling,
and how all of these other constitutional violations
have been used for centuries,
especially against the African-American community,
and that minority citizens and immigrants
have been subject to some of the grossest
infringements of civil liberties--
the two words that uphold the very power of democracy--
for a very long time.
(part 3 tomorrow)
- - -
put a meaningful magnet on your car or metal filing cabinet
read Ilona's important new blog - PTSD Combat
view the pbs newshour silent honor roll (with thanks to jimstaro at booman.)
take a private moment to light one candle among many (with thanks to TXSharon)
support Veterans for Peace
support the Iraqi people
support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)
support CARE
support the victims of torture
remember the fallen
support Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors - TAPS
support Gold Star Families for Peace
support the fallen
support the troops
support Iraq Veterans Against the War
support Military families Speak Out
support the troops and the Iraqi people
read This is what John Kerry did today, the diary by lawnorder that prompted this series
read Riverbend's Bagdhad Burning
read Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches
read Today in Iraq
witness every day
