It's Deja Vu all Over Again by Cindy Sheehan

[proud2BlibKansan]

It's Deja Vu all Over Again

3000

In Search of Peace
with Cindy Sheehan

Gerald Ford, an incompetent, never-elected past-president, is being memorialized by one of his good buddies, and close confidantes, Dastardly Dick, today. The execution of Saddam Hussein is being celebrated by a blood thirsty media and another never elected, execution-happy, incompetent president. Dozens, if not hundreds more innocent Iraqis were killed today and the 3000th soldier crossed the threshold from life into the next world, more than likely.

We have seen this movie and heard this song before. As Yogi Berra once said: "It's deja vu all over again!" In September, 2004, our nation crossed the blood-soaked 1000 troop line during a heated campaign between someone who actually went to war that was branded a coward and someone who went AWOL from the military at the same time and was glorified as a tough leader.

In October, 2005, our inept leaders' policies killed the 2000th soldier. While I, and two dozen others were getting arrested during a “die-in” in front of the White House, MoveOn.org was organizing the 2nd candlelight vigil in little over a year at another one-thousand troop mark.

On June 16th, 2006; the 2500th soldier was pointlessly killed and White House; press spokes-liar, Tony Snow said that it was “just a number.” As when the Writ of Habeas Corpus was taken away from all of us; when Bloody George added a signing statement to a Senate bill that institutionalized torture; and when yet another criminal against humanity was approved to replace the previous war criminal as Secretary of War; we, en masse, exclaimed, “that’s horrible! What can we do to stop these maniacs?! Then a vast majority of us, numbering in the millions, “shook it off," shrugged our shoulders in defeatist hopelessness and false helplessness, then went about our business of being Americans, disregarding the fact that while we are being “Americans” there are billions of humans on this planet that are not, and millions of humans in Iraq that are being ravaged by the malevolent forces in DC.
When the “number” reaches 3000 today, or tomorrow, another pain draped coffin will be coming home to a mother whose heart will be forever folded in abject despair, whether she agrees with Bloody George’s war or not. Another mother’s head will be bowed with grief as the flag that covered her child’s coffin is handed to her after it has been as carefully folded as her child was carelessly sent to war. The father will age 10 years in a few hours and perhaps a husband or wife will lose a life’s companion or a child will have to endure the pain of losing a mother or father way too early.

As I was laying on a freezing cold floor dressed in black and white prison stripes in Waco, Tx the other night feeling sorry for myself for a minute, I thought of our brave young people in Iraq whom corporate greed has sentenced to a prison of a war that is turning more nightmarish by the minute, and I didn’t feel so bad. I thought of the innocent Iraqis who cannot escape from the prison of an occupation that is killing them by the hundreds of thousands every year and I felt downright fortunate. Then I recalled that Bloody George and his “Holes in the Head” gang were just contemplating sending upwards of 40,000 more troops to Iraq (and in fact, that was why I was in jail that night), and I got downright terrified.

As Bloody BushCo are contemplating escalating the mayhem, I know that many groups and communities are already planning candlelight vigils, which should be held to honor our wonderful and brave young people who have been killed for no reason. However, candlelight vigils will not stop 3001 or 3002---and saints forbid that we will be mourning number 4000 sometime too soon in the too near future.

Gold Star Families for Peace as a group and individually deeply mourn each and every loss no matter what color the skin or what religion was claimed by the deceased. GSFP strongly abhors and disagrees with any troop “surge” and call for a new commitment to radical-non-violent, activism through a “peace surge.”

Do your candlelight vigils. Sing “Give Peace a Chance,” and/or “We Shall Overcome.” Before the last note has died down, head over go to your Congress Rep's office and do a sit-in and urge your representative to vote “No” on any future funding for killing and “Yes” to accountability for Bloody BushCo. Tell him/her that you are not leaving until he/she agrees to do what you tell them to. Your elected official works for you---not the other way around.

Hang signs off of freeway overpasses. Support the Military Redress petition which active duty soldiers are organizing. Send money to peace groups and/or progressive media. Come to Washington, DC and march with us on January 27th. Come to Camp Casey at Easter to demonstrate on the president’s door step. Reduce your dependency on oil and oil based products. Simplify your life. “Live simply so others may simply live.”

We all have the dreaded experience of being asked by someone who is not such a close friend to help them move. I am going to presume to ask you to help me move. Help me move the world closer to peace. Help the countless people working in the vineyard of non-violence in this move. Sometimes the task is arduous and we have to sacrifice a great deal; sometimes the move is joyous and we revel in companionship, love, and the reward of each baby-step taken and every small victory celebrated. However, the movement is always sacred and more urgent than ever.

3000 dead! So who’s counting? I can guarantee that there is a dear loved one of a soldier somewhere holding his/her breath, praying that their soldier doesn’t become “just a number” to Tony Snow or another dollar in the blood-bank to the war profiteers.

3000 dead. I can virtually guarantee who is not counting: Bloody George who readily admits that he gets a good night’s sleep every night while he has condemned millions of people all over the world to agonizing nights of intensely worried or anguished insomnia. Why should Bloody George lose sleep? War business is booming and his own children are safely surrounded by Secret Service. I can never remember a time when peace has been so absent, yet so urgent.

Won’t you do one thing everyday to help prevent the next thousand Americans and next one-hundred thousand Iraqis? Please?

[roody]

1. Thank you Cindy. Protest at noon today in my town.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. We have one today too

And again tomorrow for the 3000th death. It is still not official yet. But I am assuming anytime now.

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. k&r

n/t

[rsmith6621]

4. I Have To Finally Disagree With Cindy...

Ford was not incompetent. and Ford was not never elected his presidency proved the constitutional process worked by defacto he was elected.

Cindy Im sorry I have to draw the line, dont go insulting perhaps the one of last presidents that at least stood up for your rights and made sure they were protected.

Cindy Take a day off the publicity is starting to go to your head....

[Jeanette in FL]

5. I will march for peace in 2007

One of my new years resolutions, is to be the boots on the ground for peace. I had always supported the different groups with money, but this year, I am going to support the peace process with my body and my soul.

I live near Gainesville Florida, but the last two peace marches were cancelled. If anyone knows of any in my area, please let me know.

I am going to be one of the numbers that they will not be able to ignore, for Cindy, for the other parents, for my children, for my grandchildren and for my nation.

Peace, there is no alternative.

[Mabus]

6. Candlelight Vigil, the day after the 3000th death at the County Courthouse

Lawrence, KS holds a candlelight vigil at the County Courthoue to support bringing the troops home from Iraq.

What: "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar" Candlelight Vigil for Peace in Iraq

When: 7:30 pm on the day after the 3,000th U.S. military death in Iraq is announced on www.icasualties.org/oif/

Where: 11th and Massachusetts Streets
Who: Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice and coordinated nationally by the American Friends Service Committee and United for Peace and Justice

The "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar" vigil will commemorate those lost in Iraq – both military and civilian, both American and Iraqi – on the day following the sad announcement that the 3,000th U.S. citizen has died. More than 200 communities nationwide have planned memorial activities. Coordinated nationally by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the war memorial events will mourn the human cost of war, call for the troops to come home now, and support funding an Iraqi-led reconstruction of the war-torn country.

So far, more U.S. lives have been lost in Iraq than in the first four years of the Vietnam War. In addition, more than 20,000 U.S. soldiers have been seriously injured in Iraq. Estimates of Iraqi casualties vary widely, but a recent Johns Hopkins study published in The Lancet put the figure as high as 600,000 Iraqis killed.

"This event is a testament to our commitment to change course in Iraq," said Christine Smith of LCPJ. "We call for the withdrawal of American armed forces from Iraq, to begin now and to be completed no later than July 1, 2007. Instead of increasing troop levels in Iraq, the U.S. should begin funding the speedy departure of all U.S. troops out of Iraq and Iraqi-led reconstruction of their country."

For more information about this event, see the AFSC’s "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar" web site at www.afsc.org/3000 or email [e-mail].

United for Peace and Justice is planning a major national demonstration calling for and end to the war in Iraq for Washington on January 27. For more information, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org.

www.lcpj.org