This photo says it all

[NNN0LHI]

Athena Nolan joins about 200 demonstrators in support of anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, during a candlelight vigil near the White House in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Sheehan started her roadside vigil outside US President Bush's Texas ranch on Aug. 6 in an attempt to force a meeting with him to argue her case for US withdrawal from Iraq. – Reuters

[Binka]

1. Fuck You Bush My Son Is Going In Three Weeks

Gawd fucking help me if anything happens to Benjamin....:cry:

[lildreamer316]

2. We will be here for you

Binka. Any time you need to talk.

[izzie]

6. I can not help but think the Founders were right--citizen armies.

That was the way they saw to have people know what was going on. We may have been wrong to get rid of the draft. After living most of my life in the middle of the service life I tell my grandchildren not to join. I do not think the country needs to be in this war.

[Clark2008]

5. Binka, many, many, many hugs for you

I am a mother of a son who is probably the age now that your Benjamin was in that picture.

We have to get rid of this war-mongering cabal! For the sake of our children! IN SO MANY WAYS!

:hug:

[Binka]

7. Actually That Is My Daughter Peyton Age 4 There Is A 20 Year Gap

Between my oldest Ben and my baby Peyton. Ben June 11 1981 Peyton May 17 2001. I also have a 21 and a 19 year old and you are right we MUST do this for the children!

Peyton and I last Sunday



Ben and I in February

[Selteri]

10. Thank your son for being willing to serve Our Country.

As much as I dislike the war, we still need people with his strength to be willing to serve our country for all our real needs.

[SunDrop23]

13. Agreed

[Clark2008]

24. I'm sorry! With her hair all wet and pulled back, I thought

it was just an older shot of your son.

Cute kids! And, if I were about 10 years younger and not engaged, I'd ask you to hook me up with your handsome son! LOL!

That's OK. I have my own military veteran. :)

[AmBlue]

28. Your children are beutiful!

And so are you! You don't look old enough to have a son 21yo. My little boys are 7 and 4. I cannot imagine the stress of having a son going off to Iraq. May he come home to you safe and sound. :hug:

[AmBlue]

29. Your children are beutiful!

And so are you! You don't look old enough to have a son 21yo. My little boys are 7 and 4. I cannot imagine the stress of having a son going off to Iraq. May he come home to you safe and sound. :hug:

[Windy]

9. You and your son are in my prayers...

We at DU stand with you!

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

11. tell your son not to go

let him not be part of this war crime plz plz plz plz. Jail is still better than a coffin. And beeing a objector/deserter is still better as beeing an accomplice to warcrime.

[SunDrop23]

12. You know we are here to do what we can, Binka.

[CoffeeCat]

17. Binka--

I just wanted you to know that your post tugged at my heartstrings.

What a cute little boy your child was. I'm sure he's an amazing young man. Does he still enjoy swimming? :)

We're here for you. You know that you can come here anytime to vent, receive support or cry on many virtual shoulders.

My children are 4 and 5--and I only imagine the gambit of emotions going through your heart and mind.

If you feel comfortable sharing--How is your son doing? Is he anxious about going to Iraq? Does he have a position on the war?

[Binka]

20. See Post #7 That Is My Four Year Old Daughter

All four of my children are FISH! I was a collegiate swimmer and probably would have gone on to the Olympics if I hadn't made Ben so young!

Ben is nervous and anxious. He is also a bit "brain trained" at the moment if you know what I mean. He is a strong Democrat and he has no use for Bush. He thinks the troops need to come home. He doesn't realize just how bad things have gotten in the past 6 months. The Marines like to keep them in the dark. This is such a dark hour for me yet I have to be bright for Peyton. It's really hard. Thanks for the support.

[NJCher]

25. get in a fight with your son

and smack your son's wrist with the phone handle. I once broke my brother's wrist that way. It works. It will keep him home. Sometimes a mom's gotta' do ....


Cher

[northernsoul]

19. Binka, my brother is there right now

I'll keep you in my thoughts. Have courage.

[Maraya1969]

22. We should have a folder for anyone who has relatives in Iraq

I can't imagine what it is like for you. I am just so sorry you have to go through it. Talking with other family members might help. PM me anytime you want.

:hug:

[vickitulsa]

27. My best friend's son will be going soon.

And he only has a few years left before he can retire from the Army he loved serving -- up until they forced him to be a recruiter for the last four years! He hated it so much, he kept trying to get back to the "Regular Army" even knowing full well he would be sent to Iraq. He'd rather be with his beloved "Screamin' Eagles" in Iraq than recruiting young people to go die in this insane war. He hated the lies he had to tell them, felt like he was betraying them, conning them, and doing a DISservice to his country the whole time he was a recruiter.

So now they've finally allowed him to become RA again, and he has his orders for Fort Hood -- and will from there be sent to Iraq. His mom, my dearest friend, is trying to deal with it because she knows he wanted to stop recruiting badly enough to end up risking his life in a war he doesn't support.

When it comes down to it, those who actually fight the wars, those who end up in combat and otherwise in peril for their very lives, fight for EACH OTHER. Mike will be looking out for the troops under his command while they are in danger zones -- and all Iraq is a danger zone these days. He has experience in Germany, Korea, Bosnia (twice) and Somalia, and he will surely help save some lives in Iraq.

But he should not have to go ... and if anything happens to him, my friend Christina would be destroyed. He's her only child, and she had to raise him alone, praying all the while he would not follow his bio-dad's example and join the Army. His dad was disillusioned fast in Vietnam, but nothing HE could say would keep Mike from wanting to serve his country in the Army, either.

May the God who cares about soldiers watch over him and your Benjamin and everyone else's child, brother, sister, friend who ends up in this war....

[lonestarnot]

31. Oh Binka... I'm so sorry!

[Roland99]

3. Nominated.

[terrya]

4. That does indeed say it all. Great picture.

That's a perfect symbol of our oppostion to this stupid, immoral war.

Thanks

[sunwyn]

8. Why does Congress sit on their hands?....

There is plenty to impeach Bush and his cronies. If they don't have the balls to act, it's time for all of them to go.

[kimpossible]

14. Link please?

Where can we go to see the news article?

[NNN0LHI]

18. It was on the front page of the Khaleej Times (UAE). They have changed it

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/index00.asp

[Binka]

21. It was on Yahoo as well

Sorry no link I am in a rush! I think it is posted in the Lounge.

[Squatch]

15. I didn't know pickles were flammable.

:shrug:

[Binka]

16. I Think It's Supposed To A Burning Bush

But hey I thought it looked like a pickle too! LOL! Way too symbolic in any case. I LIKE it!

[NoSheep]

23. Excellent!

[Imagevision]

26. Dem Senators are too damn silent for me!! and YOU!

except Conyers,Boxer,Waters etc... it seems those like Obama, even Kerry at best may offer words but actions speak for themselves, words are mere jestures. All talk no freegin action!

[Barad Simith]

30. Thanks for the new sig pic