"Are you blind?" he asked the American people rhetorically, with a look of deep sadness.

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Reflections from Candlelight Vigils - by Dick Kazan ~ Candlelight Vigil No. 77, 7/11/07

Read about all the Candlelight Vigils at http://www.saneramblings.com

(Posted with permission)

"We are human beings," said the bright, articulate man in his 40's, who is a combination of Iraqi and American. "That is the most important thing."

This man was driving by shortly after I began the vigil, and when he read the sign, he reached over and shook my hand, saying he would park his car and come talk with me. Moments later, he walked up and began one of the most important dialogues since the candlelight vigils began.

Speaking of our future perspective of ourselves and the world's perspective of us, he said, "A lot of us will question what you were doing when this criminal Administration hijacked the nation? Everybody is going to be asked, what did you do? What did you stand for? How come your voice wasn't heard?"

He referred to the German people being a vast majority who fell under the spell and control of the Nazi government in the 1930's and 40's and later claimed they didn't know what was going on which is why they didn't try to stop it. "In the age of the Internet," he said, "It was easily available to you . It was a matter of conscience."

"Are you blind?" he asked the American people rhetorically, with a look of deep sadness. "Don't you see the pain? Don't you feel for other human beings? That's what my cousins in Iraq say to me."

"My mother says the has changed. Something has gone fundamentally wrong. This reliance on institutions. It was an association of people that made our country strong. People speaking to each other just as you and I are doing."

Today, "What do to people? This is not a war of liberation. This is a war of degradation of both people. Look at the health system in Iraq, or the educational system. They're killing professors there. my father was a professor."

His point is that the war has largely destroyed the health and educational systems in Iraq, which is having a terrible affect on Iraqis now and that it will impact them for generations to come.

"What makes America is that it made a difference in the world. Kennedy's Peace Corp shipping grain to people in need."

"I am passionate about this country. I look at the American flag across the street and I get goose bumps. Look," he said to me as he held up his arm and goose bumps clearly stood out.

"When an American walks in the room anywhere, see hope, possibilities, ingenuity, creativity, compassion. But right now what do they see? Who is representing us? Is this government looking out for America? No! It is entangling us with future enemies."

"Americans feel it is hopeless. It is government by the people, for the people this government is not serving the American people."

"The Iraqi people had never attacked the U.S. Had never had animosity for the U.S. The government it had was a criminal government but why should the people of Iraq now be punished for it?"

"I translate for U.S. soldiers and many of them are hurting deeply inside because something has been taken from them." . This situation is impossible. Either you are with us or against us. There is no justice, no mercy, no compromise."

"Your generation stoodup against an unjust war and it fought for Civil Rights. It forced the American government to get out of the Vietnam war."

"This generation with the Internet, YouTube, you can see the war and yet there is complete apathy. How long will you wait ? Till it happens to you personally?"

"We are our brother's keeper, no matter who they are in the world. When are you going to take care of your brother? When will you standup for his rights as a human being?"

"In a democracy, who gave the power to do this ? And how can I take it back from them?"

"Humanity came to the U.S. from all over the world . Americans should be repulsed by occupying anybody. Did we feel good when the British occupied us?"

"We ask a Christian what it's like to be a Christian. It is to be Christ like, which is an expression of love. Absolutely not."

"There is nothing heroic in traveling 12,000 miles to bomb people. , what were the intentions of your deeds? To liberate the people of Iraq? We could have planned much better ways to do it."

" we know there are people here who need medical care, food, education and other services. They say, 'charity starts at home.' Well this is our home.

"After the 1st Gulf War , there was a 12-year Embargo . This destroyed Iraq's infrastructure, health care system, you name it, it it. I lost 4 of my uncles, 2 of my aunts and , 36-children before the age of 5.

Now on top of that came the war, came the bombs. It is horrendous!"

"With the Bush Administration, if their intention was to bring freedom and liberty to Iraq, they would have the people of Iraq in a dialogue. Its intellectuals in a dialogue, inviting the United Nations so that when Saddam Hussein's government fell, there would be a plan in place. A plan the Iraqi people helped to create."

"Instead, the Iraqi police had no job(s). The Iraqi intellectuals had no job(s) ."

"A person of goodwill plans for people who are not even in the room. Setting up bank accounts for future generations not yet born. Planting parks for future generations to enjoy. This is what good people do. Did the Pentagon do this for the Iraqi people? No!"

"The U.S. troops that were killed in World War 2, what did they get out of it? They had vision and a mission to bring liberty and democracy against the tyranny of Europe. To defeat fascism, those soldiers laid down their lives for future generations. That is what made them great. They sacrificed their lives for future generations."

By contrast, today's brave soldiers are losing their lives for no clear mission, for no great purpose, as the U.S. government occupies Iraq, and their families bear enormous heartache, and in many cases, bear it alone and forgotten.

To end this war, "this is how it starts with one person at a time and it will make a difference," this Iraqi American man said. He then looked me in the eyes, shook my hand firmly and gave me a big hug, as he thanked me for conducting this candlelight vigil.

Additional words of support came from others driving by, two of whom shook my hand and one of whom wanted to make a donation which I respectfully declined. But this man's words which came from his unique perspective continue to occupy my thoughts and I strongly encourage you too to give them careful consideration, for they contain very powerful insight and a call to action.

Dick
http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=176

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1. Very moving.

Thank you, Dick

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2. Morning Kick N/T