I`m sick to death of war.

[democrank]

My decades of protesting began during the Vietnam War when some of my blue-collar friends went from living and breathing to lying cold and motionless under a gravestone. Most of them had never heard of Vietnam and although they could survive a harsh New England winter they knew nothing of jungle life....or jungle death. They weren`t as lucky as Junior Bush. None of them had an important last name or a father who could get them a free pass out of harm`s way. Not one of these guys ever lived long enough to buy a new car or marry an old flame. They were cannon fodder for the war designers, just like it was supposed to be. A couple of my friends did make it back but they`ve not drawn a sober breath in decades. I don`t blame them. Their "tunnel rat" job not only stayed with them but got hung up in their spirits.

Back during Vietnam, our network news station gave a body count every night. It turned out to be a lie, but at least someone was counting. I was sickened that we didn`t even bother to count in Iraq. We were busy shopping. No caskets, no problem. No count, no worry. USA! USA! USA!

Now we`re watching more death and destruction in the Gaza Strip. It`s like euthanizing a whole kennel of dogs because one bit you. I`d say someone has to stop this madness but I know better. After all, we have robot soldiers now and drones and Psy-Ops and White Phosphorus and torture planes and land mines and cluster bombs and Hummers and waterboards and who knows what else?

It`s odd. During Hurricane Katrina nobody could figure out how to help an elderly woman cross flood waters in her wheelchair from one side of the street to the other but at the same time we managed to fly umpteen hooded Iraqis through the airspace of several countries so we could practice our government-approved torture on them.

Congress should pass a War Law. Anyone who votes for or who is in favor of a war fights in it.

http://icasualties.org/oif/

[knowbody0]

1. our youth days were days of death

our demonstrations taught them to never again televise the revolution. the birth of disinformation and thought control. there are a few kinks to work out, but we are well on our way to the new world order, one bank, one military, corporate rule.

[spanone]

2. me too, me too

[G_j]

3. I'm with you

and I've also been a peace activist since the Vietnam war.
I registered then as CO.

ENOUGH!!!

[democrank]

5. Blessed be the Conscientious Objectors.

~PEACE~

[madokie]

11. You were a lot braver than I was

and I commend you for that. thank you for helping to lead the way to the end of that unjust war, my contribution didn't help much, actually it was only making it worse.
thank you for having the balls to stand up and say no way no how not me.

Peace:patriot:

[G_j]

13. got draft counseling from the Quakers,

American Friend's Service Committee, they were so very helpful!

Still, I was turned down for a CO. I appealed, It's a long story, but I managed to stay out of Nam until the draft ended.
Crazy times.

Watching Afghanistan and Iraq unfold killed me! Now this horror in the ME. I am ashamed!!

[EFerrari]

4. You know it.

:kick:

[ixion]

6. you said it

it makes me very sad on a day-to-day basis. :(

Over the years, it becomes unbearable.

[virgogal]

7. As long as powerful men rule(and it's usually men) we will have

war. Get used to it.

The glass can be half full,you know.

[ixion]

10. I don't have to get used to it or accept it

I do, however, understand it.

And you can be very sure that it will be our downfall.

[FraDon]

8. • On Point • k&r

It's a racket and immeasurably too profitable.

[blues90]

9. I really thought after Vietnam we had finally learned

But it appears not and war is a great profit maker. We sell out machines of war all over the world.

I couln't believe it when the gulf war began and then here we are again.

They did learn by our protests what to avoid and what to hide on what's is so jokingly called the media.

I fear there will never be an end to wars until someone pushes the big red button.

[bvar22]

12. I am too!

But get ready for 8 more years.
Since the Anti-WAR movement has NO voice in the Democratic Party, my wife & I have decided to de-fund it ourselves.

We have reduced our taxable income to near poverty levels.
We no longer use "credit", don't have a mortgage, build everything ourselves, buy "used, 2nd hand, or salvage" directly from previous owners, and Barter, Trade, or pay CASH to avoid all taxes whenever possible.
As much as possible, we have stopped consuming in the Corporate America sense of the word.


In 2006, we quit our jobs, left the Big City (Minneapolis), and moved to our new place in a very rural unspoiled/undeveloped area of The South with an abundant clean water supply surrounded by National Forest (plenty of wildlife, long growing season, low energy demands, very low property taxes).

We have planted a large vegetable and fruit garden, have two healthy HoneyBee colonies (expand to 4 colonies next Spring), and keep a dozen chickens. More fruit trees and a large BlueBerry Patch will be added this year. We are freezing and canning this year for consumption over the Winter. Next year we will be drying BlueBerries, Figs, and Lavender for marketing.

We ARE registered to vote, and supported the Democratic Party 100% this election, but don't hold much hope that anything will really change. Our focus has become local Humanitarian/Community Issues, and methods of denying support for Corporate America and our One Party system.

We realize we are very fortunate to be in a situation to do this. We have no dependent children, and are in good health. We miss the advantages of Urban Consumption, but have no desire to return.

We pray that an Obama administration and a Democratic Congress can turn things around for America, but see no signs that this will happen.



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[G_j]

14. the Anti-WAR movement has NO voice in the Democratic Party

that is true, and extremely depressing!

[deaniac21]

15. Obama will end war.

[yellerpup]

16. Excellent memory and excellent points.

Progeny of weapons manufacturers and investors first. K&R :kick:

[barbtries]

17. thank you for sharing

sometimes i feel as if i am hopelessly out of step with the world because i believe in the possibility of peace. i am also sick of war. all war, but especially the ones that didn't even have to happen at all.