Cindy Sheehan: Where have all the giants gone?

[AnOhioan]

We have an old saying in my adopted state of Texas and you may have it in your own state too: "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." America is not unique for perpetuating a history founded on genocide and where violence is constantly relied upon for problem solving, but this is our country and how can we finally learn the lessons of war and corrupt regimes?

Our history is also rife with giants who have gone before us who either affected true and relevant change, or who have at least alleviated temporary suffering. Women now have the right to vote and participate fully in our government due to giants such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Jeannette Rankin. Slavery was abolished because of the brave efforts of some such as Harriet Tubman, Bronson Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Frederick Douglas. The Civil Rights movement was enriched by the presence of ministers such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Joseph Lowery. Active duty soldiers joined with the anti-war movement during the Vietnam conflict to help bring a close to that other most recent illegal war of aggression.

We have had government officials of gigantic stature also. Senator Wayne Morse from Oregon was only one of two Senators who prophetically voted against the Gulf of Tonkin resolution in 1964 and lost his seat in 1968 because he encouraged active protest against the Vietnam conflict. Jeannette Rankin, the first female House Representative, voted against entry into WWI and WWII and was an uncompromising peace activist her entire life. Senator George McGovern of South Dakota was a highly decorated WWII pilot who also became a peace Senator and currently has a very reasonable plan for ending the war in Iraq. House Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) was the first and only one in either house of Congress to vote against the September 2001 Authorization to use Force which earned her accolades from the peace movement but death threats from the war movement. A few current Congress Reps voted against Bush's War of Terror and always vote "nay" on giving him more money to fund his killing sprees: Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Ron Paul (R-TX) among just a shamefully few others.

More at http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1029

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Cindy has been talking about Jeannette Rankin for awhile now

Time to read up on her.

[sandnsea]

2. She's great,

Whenever there's a peace thread or women's movement thread, I make sure she's listed. She was the first woman in Congress, from Montana. In Missoula, there's the Jeanette Rankin Peace Center which brings items from third world country for resale. It's been there since the 80's, way before "fair trade" products were heard of in most circles. She was one of those rare progressive Republicans.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=jeanette+rankin&btnG=Google+Search

[enough]

3. Cindy Sheehan -- a GIANT.

[az chela]

4. This was posted earlier but good to read it again

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. (((Cindy))) A truth seeker and speaker.

:hug: MKJ

[Reterr]

6. Oh wow-a Cindy thread without the usual

pile-up from the haters! Yay!
K&R