Widow of Maine soldier urges Americans to question policy

[MaineDem]

EDEN, Vt. — The widow of a Maine National Guard soldier killed in Iraq last month is calling on Americans to question their government´s policy in that country.

Lavinia Onitiu-Gelineau, clutching a pink teddy bear her husband gave her when they last met in February, said Wednesday it was good for Americans to be patriotic but people need to question whether the things the troops are doing in Iraq are right.

"I am very angry," Onitiu-Gelineau said. "I am very angry. I was angry before, but I didn´t want to say anything."

Now, both she and her father-in-law, John Gelineau of Eden, said they planned to speak out about U.S. policy in Iraq, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of American service members.

"The funeral is over," John Gelineau said. "Now it´s our turn to speak."

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D82CL3BO2-125.shtml

Good for you, Lavinia! Be strong.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Ok folks the spell is coming to an end

Good for you, and welcome aboard

[UrbScotty]

2. <APPLAUSE>

:thumbsup:

[Wind Dancer]

4. Ditto!

[Amerpie]

8. Tarheel

Welcome to DU from a fellow North Carolinian. It helps to show folks that all of us didn't love Jesse Helms...

[Just Me]

3. HOORAH!!!!

I am so sorry it had to go this far.

:cry:

[Az_lefty]

5. Sad to see it's taken a large number of KIA's to open peoples eyes

but it is finally happening.

[Paradise]

10. toiletbush? lol i just love it! thanks :) n/t

[Amerpie]

6. Many more like her

One of the groups I organize with, Military Families Speak Out, has members from over 20 "Gold Star" families. http://www.mfso.org

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Sadly many do not know what that means any longer

I do... very well... by the way, PM me and let me know how I can help

Hubby retired from the Navy very recently, but I feel I need to do more than just CALLING Congress

[mainer]

9. His story was in the Maine papers when he died last month

A sweet-faced, smiling young man. I seem to recall he was his parents' only child, and he had excelled in school and just wanted money to pay for college. It breaks your heart.

[Maine-i-acs]

11. WOW! The local news just gave her airtime too!

She was well-spoken despite her grief. My heart goes out to this young woman - and all the other broken families created by Bush's folly.

[Zhade]

12. The effects of government propaganda are evident...

"...said Wednesday it was good for Americans to be patriotic but people need to question..."

Questioning one's government and its actions is the very definition of patriotism.

As happy as I am that she's finally decided the obviously illegal war is wrong, it looks like she's swallowed the line that it's unpatriotic to dissent. That really disturbs me.