Ray McGovern: Witness at the White House Fence

[unhappycamper]

Witness at the White House Fence
by Ray McGovern
Published on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 by CommonDreams.org

“Show me your company, and I’ll tell you who you are,” my grandmother would often say with a light Irish lilt but unmistakable seriousness, an admonition about taking care in choosing what company you keep.

On Thursday, I could sense her smiling down through the snow as I stood pinned to the White House fence with Daniel Ellsberg, Chris Hedges, Margaret Flowers, Medea Benjamin, Coleen Rowley, Mike Ferner, Jodie Evans, and over 125 others risking arrest in an attempt to highlight the horrors of war.

The witness was sponsored by Veterans for Peace, a group comprised of many former soldiers who have “been there, done that” regarding war, distinguishing them from President Barack Obama who, like his predecessor, hasn’t a clue what war is really about. (Sorry, Mr. President, donning a bomber jacket and making empty promises to the troops in the middle of an Afghan night does not qualify.)

The simple but significant gift of presence was being offered outside the White House. As I hung on the fence, I recalled what I knew of the results of war.

Into view came some of my closest childhood friends — like Bob, whose father was killed in WWII when Bob was in kindergarten. My uncle Larry, an Army chaplain, killed in a plane crash.

[bananas]

1. Great article, worth reading.

Thanks.

[Poboy]

2. Ray McGovern: American hero.

[w8liftinglady]

3. I was fortunate enough to meet most of these people in Dallas

during the Bush Library opening.They are so dedicated to this cause and SO open to discussion.Most wore jeans and were right there.There was definitely no "star syndrome" going on here.