John Edwards: "Silence Is Betrayal"

[Sapphire Blue]

Silence Is Betrayal

Yesterday, I had the honor of speaking to nearly 2,000 parishioners at the historic Riverside Church in New York City.

Almost 40 years ago the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at the pulpit in Riverside Church and, with the full force of his conscience, denounced the war in Vietnam -- calling it a "tragedy that threatened to drag our nation down to dust."

As Dr. King put it then, there comes a time when silence is a betrayal -- not only of one's personal convictions, or even of one's country alone, but also of our deeper obligations to humanity.

Today, another president is trying to escalate another war. And once again, silence is betrayal.

Congress can stop Bush's escalation, but they'll only do so if the people demand it. That's why today -- in honor of the memory and courage of Martin Luther King -- I'm asking you to do two things:

1. Ask your friends and family to join you and nearly 50,000 other Americans who have signed the petition calling on Congress to block funding for escalating the war in Iraq: http://johnedwards.com/action/spread-the-word/issues/nofunding/

2. Tomorrow, when Congress returns to session, call your Senators directly and tell them to block funding for escalation. Click here for your Senators' contact information: http://johnedwards.com/action/senate-contact/

Let's be clear: This is not a time for symbolic speech and hand-wringing from Washington. Congress has a very real choice to make -- either they fund Bush's escalation and he risks more American lives, or they don't, and we start to bring this war to a close.

Every member of Congress is responsible for that choice -- if they know this war is going in the wrong direction and that escalation is wrong, it is no longer enough for them to study their options and keep their own counsel.

But the ultimate responsibility for our country does not lie in Washington -- it lies with us. All of us who believe that Bush's plan to escalate the war is wrong for America, for Iraq, and for the world, must do more than hope for action in Washington -- we must take responsibility and act ourselves.

Your urgent calls will help push the Senate to hold a vote on funding Bush's escalation, , and we'll deliver your signatures to Congress to help ensure they cast the right vote when the time comes.

Today, as we honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr., let's do our part for the nation he loved and the peace he sought.

Click here to ask your friends and family to join you in demanding that Congress block funding for the president's escalation of the war in Iraq.

Thank you for breaking the silence.

John Edwards

P.S. - Click here: http://johnedwards.com/media/video/mlk-day-riverside-church/ to view a video of my address at Riverside Church -- then forward the video to your friends and family.

[IndyOp]

1. Yeah - video! Thanks, Sapphire! (n/t)

[Sapphire Blue]

7. You're welcome!

:hi:

[liberal renegade]

2. We've been trying to tell you this fucking ass-wipe

was bad news for 6 years now. Talk, talk, talk and nobody does a fucking thing. Use the power of the constitution and get rid of this evil bastard, before it's to late.

[Sapphire Blue]

9. I hope you'll call tomorrow!

[k8conant]

3. Amen, brother!

Break the silence. I will be joining the Women in Black now.

[Sydnie]

4. I like Edwards

and I like Elizabeth. I hope they get some attention for these efforts. Will make my calls tomorrow. Thanks, as always, for the heads up.



Way OT, but, how are you feeling these days SB?

[Sapphire Blue]

10. I hope more & more people are hearing Edwards! I love them both!

:hi: I'm dealing w/pain a lot of the time, but not doing too bad today. Thanks for asking! :hug:

[helderheid]

5. almost posted this! Rec 5!

[Sapphire Blue]

12. I looked to make sure you hadn't posted it yet ;) Thanks for the Rec!

:hi:

[wellst0nev0ter]

6. I Only Wish He Didn't Quit The Senate

Then maybe we wouldn't be held hostage by that assclown Quid Pro Joe :grr:

[Sapphire Blue]

13. It's given him the opportunity to focus on what's important to him.

He's been pretty busy since the '06 election.

[bobbolink]

37. Absolutely! Who else is giving poverty the attention that Edwards is?

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Nope, can't think of any.

:hi: :hug: :hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

42. Social justice, economic justice... we're getting back to the soul of the Democratic Party!

Senator Edwards has a passion for justice that seems to have been forgotten by so many today... too many who regard social & economic justice as not 'popular' enough, not 'winning' issues, and, dare I say it, not 'sexy' enough. My support for him as our next president grows every day!

[David Zephyr]

8. John Edwards 2007 is Howard Dean 2002

While I wish that John had had the good sense to see it Howard's way back in 2002 and early 2003 on the subject of Iraq, when he could have made a difference in the Senate, I am glad to see that Edwards is now not holding back.

I welcome this assertive John Edwards. I like everything I am from him seeing lately.

[Sapphire Blue]

14. He speaks from his heart!

[bluewave]

11. It's unfortunate that you voted FOR the war

You might be a nice man IRL, but I simply can't trust you.

[Sapphire Blue]

15. It is unfortunate... and he has expressed his deep regret.

[porphyrian]

16. If he keeps it up, I might just have to like him a lot.

;)

[Sapphire Blue]

18. He will, and you will!

:hi:

[porphyrian]

23. I really hope so. - n/t

[Nutmegger]

17. Edwards 2008!

:kick::thumbsup:

Thank you SB. This is for you: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

19. YES!!!

And here's a :hug: for you!

[NewJeffCT]

20. The RW must be a bit scared of him...

I heard somebody calling in to a local radio show today whining about how Edwards is a hypocrite because he is a "millionaire trial lawyer" yet talks about poverty and the minimum wage. (I don't know how that makes one a hypocrite, but that is what the caller said) Limbaugh must have used this line recently.

[Sapphire Blue]

29. They probably are.

[wordpix]

58. the caller should know Edwards came up from poverty & he doesn't forget his roots---RW doesn't like

that story.

[MethuenProgressive]

21. Who is being "silent"?

Is this an attack of some kind on the other contenders? Seems to be just empty rhetoric.

[lonestarnot]

22. woot!

[Sapphire Blue]

28. !

:hi:

[lonestarnot]

46. kick

:kick:

[KoKo]

24. "Silence is Betrayal?" Is this former NC Senator John Edwards speaking?

:shrug: He's talking about Iraq and Funding it ...and all that other stuff that goes along with Invasion and Occupation?

[Sapphire Blue]

27. You can hear Senator Edwards right here:

http://johnedwards.com/media/video/mlk-day-riverside-church

[EFerrari]

25. Yeah! #10 here!

K&R

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

26. ..

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

30. ..

:kick:

[EFerrari]

31. Kick

[mdmc]

32. That read like a 2002 Kucinich email

:yourock: 2007Edwards!

[Sapphire Blue]

34. You've got to watch the video!

[goclark]

36. Ready for the video! thanks Sapphire nt KICK

[Sapphire Blue]

39. Have you had a chance to watch it yet?

[mdmc]

45. not yet . my laptop has no sound

he wouldn't be saying what I want to hear (imho, he was pandering).

I dig his new campaign, but still lump him in the lesser of two evils crowd (better then Hillary, not as liberal as Kerry, no where near as right on as Kucinich).

That being said, I think that he is our best candidate, unless Gore returns. Even with Gore, if it is the 2000 Gore, then no thanks. If it is a progressive Gore, then bring it on.

[goclark]

51. Yes! He was wonderful as usual nt

I met him in 2004.

I was very impressed.

[nam78_two]

33. K&R.nt

[Sapphire Blue]

35. Thanks, nam78_two!

:hi:

[jazzjunkysue]

38. Here's my first hand account: I was at the Church and heard him speak.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3121595&mesg_id=3121595

[Sapphire Blue]

40. Video link is @ the bottom of the OP (& here:)

http://johnedwards.com/media/video/mlk-day-riverside-church

I listened to the live webcast yesterday, then Edwards video today. His address was so good! I wish I could have been there!

[mdmc]

57. kick

first hand:kick:

[EFerrari]

41. kickers

[deacon]

43. k + r

[Sapphire Blue]

48. Thank you, deacon!

:hi:

[zippy890]

44. everybody- watch this video!!

Very powerful speech by Edwards.

big kick:dem:

[Sapphire Blue]

47. !

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

49. Time to contact your Senators!

http://johnedwards.com/action/senate-contact

[Sapphire Blue]

50. kick

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

52. kick

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

54. ***** Capitol Toll-free number (***** 1-800-459-1887 *****) is still working *****

:kick:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

53. It Was A Great Speech And He's Dead On Too. Thanks For Posting The Video! I Look Forward To

watching it later.

[porphyrian]

55. Everybody saw this, right? - n/t

[calimary]

56. I got this via email. Good to see it spread around farther.

KICK! Great words. Great thoughts. And Great men. For a change. (Literally!)