Woman Needs Way To Get 80,000 Cans Of Silly String To Iraq

[frogcycle]

DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Marcelle Shriver has about 80,000 cans of Silly String and all she needs is a way to get them to Iraq.

For almost a year, the New Jersey woman has been collecting Silly String to send to troops, who use it to detect trip wires connected to bombs. She's already shipped about 40,000 cans to Iraq through the military but is struggling to find someone to send another shipment.

"They're sending these cargo planes over there every day, and I know that my shipment would be a speck on one of those planes," said Shriver, standing near boxes of string stacked outside at a friend's business.

more:
http://www.nbc10.com/news/13968746/detail.html

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Imagine if she channeled this organizational energy to ending the war.

MKJ

[porphyrian]

2. Can't she just give them to the military here?

It's for the troops, won't they ship the stuff for her?

[frogcycle]

3. they say it's not on the list of stuff they want for the troops

It ranks right up there with not wanting the proven better body armor, I suppose.

Just illustrates the frustration of everyone on the outside looking in. The beat goes on, and whatever well-intentioned effort one makes is likely as not to go to waste.

I forget now what it was, but right after Katrina there was an announcement to stop donating something or other - maybe it was clothing - because they had far more than they could use. Meanwhile, of course, people were dying.

And after 9/11 people heard that the rescue dogs needed foot protection and like a gazillion sets of booties were sent, which inundated them, and they later said the dogs would not wear anyway...

sigh

It is tough watching the world go to hell in a handbasket and being powerless


This woman has a son over there and was trying to do something - anything - to try to make it safer.

[porphyrian]

6. That figures, and yes, it's frustrating and depressing. - n/t

[Mz Pip]

7. That's pathetic

If the stuff works, why the hell not use it?

Probably Halliburton has some similar thing that costs thousands of dollars a can. :eyes: Wouldn't want to cut into their market with a cheaper item.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[frogcycle]

8. the article says it was popular in 2004 but now not so much

it may be that trip wires have gone out of style - remote-detonators or pressure detonators may have largely replaced them. So it MAY be that 80,000 cans of the stuff AREN'T useful. i still feel so sorry for her, trying somehow to do SOMETHING...

And some guy donated 2000 cans.

I guess the Silly String people love it.

[Hieronymus]

4. They use it to detect bombs .. really.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. On edit, I believe you.

MKJ

[The Straight Story]

12. Indeed - I posted a thread about it some time ago, thought it was sorta 'silly'

but as some people pointed out to me it is cheap, easy to use, and works

Could not dig up the one I posted quickly but here is someone else posted:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2886725

[madeline_con]

15. Is this another item the US military won't provide?

I say cover the WH gate with it! DISSENT!!!

edetred 4 speeling

[Dr.Phool]

9. Contact that company that sent 2 washers for $500,000.

She could probably get it shipped for about a billion, since it's a donation.

[Bluebear]

10. If this is so life-saving, why isn't our military buying it?

Is this like the soldiers having to buy their own body armor?

maybe Halliburton doesn't make Silly String.

[frogcycle]

11. right on both counts

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. How about ending the damn war

instead of enabling the effort to blow Iraq off the face of the earth?

The other thing that just rubs me raw about this is that with the defense budget in this country, the damn military can afford to buy their own silly string. What a wasted effort on this woman's part. Sheesh.

[frogcycle]

14. agreed

she's got a kid over there and is manically trying to do something motherly halfway around the globe. Sad.