VETSPEAK.org

IVAW Official Statement on Occupy Movement

2011-11-30T15:38:00.002-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2011
9:07 AM

CONTACT: Iraq Veterans Against the War

Joseph Carter, Iraq Veterans Against the War
646-723-0989, josephcarter@ivaw.org

Iraq Veterans Against the War Board of Directors Releases Official Statement on Occupy Movement

We are the 99%, organization says

NATIONWIDE - November 28 - Veterans are a part of the 99%.

Most of our military is made up of the 99%. We join the military for many reasons. Some join because of family tradition or a sense of patriotism. Others join for citizenship, education or to escape poverty or violence in our homes and neighborhoods. Many service members realize the wars we fight contribute to poverty and violence in Iraq and Afghanistan communities. We are coming home to a broken economy where veterans have higher unemployment, incarceration, suicide and homelessness than the national average.

The 1% is profiting from of our sacrifices.

Our nation’s leaders have betrayed us. We have been asked to risk our lives and mental health for the defense of our country and the well being of foreign allies. The causes for military conflict have proven false while corporations profit. The military industrial complex continues to grow in wealth while the rest of the world pays for it in dollars and blood. Instead of increasing programs to attempt to repair damages, many schools, hospitals, and social services are shutting down. Programs for veterans are inadequate and are leaving us physically, mentally, and emotionally bankrupt.

Veterans have a history of effective grassroots organizing.

IVAW has been a voice for veterans and their grievances since our founding in 2004. We understand that change comes about when people speak up, organize, and demand justice. Veterans and active-duty service members have a history of organizing, from the Bonus March to the Vietnam War. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have an important contribution to make to this movement.

As veterans and members of the 99% we stand in solidarity with the Occupy Movement.

As service members we are told that we fight for human rights and democratic freedoms. However, these rights seem to be continually denied at protests across the nation, often times by police using excessive force and violent tactics. We support our members, fellow veterans and members of this movement who have been subjected to this gross contradiction, and who have refused to remain silent.

We are the 99%.

###

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was founded by Iraq war veterans in July 2004 at the annual convention of Veterans for Peace (VFP) in Boston to give a voice to the large number of active duty service people and veterans who are against this war, but are under various pressures to remain silent.

www.VetSpeak.org

After Action Report: Freedom Plaza and Beyond...

2011-10-25T16:39:00.003-05:00

By Willie Hager

www.VetSpeak.org

VVAW Fl

VVAW/OSS

When the Occupation of Freedom Plaza was first brought to our attention in September of this year, it came in the form of a press release , from a group calling itself the October2011 Coalition. It also came on the heels of an article that I had posted on these pages on September 25th entitled "Ten Years and Counting in Afghanistan", which in part questioned the effectiveness of a continuation of mass demonstrations, as they were organized and carried out, prior to Oct 6th, 2011, when the people's Occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. began.

I was wary of the cost and commitment of time that these types of demonstrations in D.C. required, given that our repeated visits had become routine in nature, and that once we left D.C., there never seemed to be an organized effort to capture the spirit and momentum of the occasion, and to take it back and share it at the grass-roots with those who were unable to attend; those who were unaware that it was even happening, and educate and inform those folks as to the issues that were relevant to their daily lives, and to demonstrate to them that by simply coordinating their talents and resources that they could do something about their circumstances, and could involve themselves in the process of confronting those issues (and those responsible for them), right there at home. I need not have been wary; that was not to be the case, this time. This time, all the forces came together and a prairie fire was lit.

My initial purpose for going to D.C. for the October2011 Freedom Plaza Occupation was because the tenth anniversary of involvement in Afghanistan was one of the core issues of the Occupation, and I wanted to do a piece for VetSpeak on the Occupation of Freedom Plaza, and the subsequent downline dynamics resulting from it and it's impact on bringing about awareness out where it needs to be; out in the heartland, rather than on the doorsteps of the institutions of government.

VetSpeak Photo-journalist Sarah Wilder

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I even recruited my daughter Sarah to accompany me as the VetSpeak photo-journalist for the piece. While we were preparing for the journey, some critical VVAW business arose that needed to be attended to, so a delegation was formed to go D.C. to meet and resolve the issues, and at the same time to represent VVAW at the Freedom Plaza Occupation and any subsequent actions that might spontaneously occur.
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At about the same time as these events were developing, a Canadian consumer Activist group, Adbusters Media Foundation called for the Occupation of Wall Street, coinciding with the already planned Freedom Plaza Occupation. Fact is, Occupy Wall Street came to D.C. wh ile we were there and began yet another Occupation there in the city, and made alliance with the Freedom Plaza Occupation. Turns out, occupations were now springing up in cities all over the US, in rapid order. A perfect storm was brewing.
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Our VVAW group was headquartered at the at the Harrington Hotel, in D.C. We arrived on Wednesday, the 5th. We had scheduled our meeting for the afternoon of the 6th, the first day of the Plaza Occupation. We were booked in through Sunday the 9th, which gave us several days following our meeting in which to participate in Occupation activities and actions. This was a prime opportunity for us to spend a few days together getting to know one another personally and to work together democratically to achieve our stated objectives.x

The purpose of our meeting was to demonstrate our nationally resolved organizational unity around stopping the war in Afghanistan and it's negative impact on our economy and society, given Obama's assertions that we were to be there at least until 2015, and to tighten up our network of still active VVAW members and Regional Contacts for the long fight ahead.

We were also there to develop an ad-hoc infrastructure for the purpose of presenting a visible and effective public face of unified VVAW activists with-in the movement, and to discuss strategy and tactics, and how we could become an active arm of VVAW in interfacing with other anti-war organizations and Veterans groups and thereby share our history, talent and resources in any future movement planning, with an emphasis on the power of grass-roots messaging and the power of the networking aspects of organizing, and the empowerment of democratic decision making, incorporating the spirit of one of the slogans/chants of the Freedom Plaza Occupation:

"This Is What Democracy Looks Like!"

Messaging, networking, and democratic decision making were three of the critical elements that enabled VVAW to be successful and at the forefront of the movement which back in the day brought about the end of the war in Vietnam, and was instrumental in bringing about the downfall of the Nixon creature's police state. And yet, here we were again, 40 years later, right back on square one; meeting as VVAW to try and bring a halt to another war of corporate, capital, and political imperialism in an increasingly militaristic America. We had to do something different for our efforts to ring about permanent change, this time around.

Those of us who met in D.C. believe that our old school formula for organizing can be a powerful tool in today's anti-war movement in order to get main-stream America into the fight. We also believe that it is our jobs, as ones who have "been there", to demonstrate how the current wars, just as with Vietnam, break down our families and our society, and is tied directly to the failing economy and to the cuts to education, health, and mobility of the 99% of us who do not share in the corporate billions in profit being made at the expense of American blood and treasure, by the remaining wealthy 1%.
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But, as stated earlier, we were also there to support and participate in Occupy Freedom Plaza. So, on the evening of the 6th, we went down to the Plaza to participate in the general assembly, and to listen to movement folks giving speeches and playing music. We wanted to hear what folks had to say at open mike, and general assembly. One of our own, Watermelon Slim was on the venue and played some movement blues for the occupiers.

Others who played that evening were a troop of Afghanistan Veterans and supporters from the Southeast who were bicycling the eastern seaboard bringing and singing messages of peace, and some local talent who helped to get the crowd revved up and in the mood for some serious protestin'.
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The most notable thing about the events in the park was the lack of ideological sloganeering and dogmatic rhetoric. There was an air of hippie festivity mixed with pragmatic determination. What appeared to be gathered here, judging from the speeches and people in close proximity to us in the park, were folks who recognized that as we harnessed the energy this time around, we needed to so in a pragmatic way, rather than in a knee jerk reactive way. That in order to win hearts and minds to the cause; it was understood that we needed to inspire rather than cajole those who weren't standing there in D.C. with us...this was new, and refreshing.
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What else was new was the all out effort to make sure that all who wished to speak could be heard, bolstered with a new phenomena called "Mike Check!". When shouted out, it required all hands to stop talking and to listen, and to repeat after every five words or so whatever the speaker was saying...it worked really well and no one missed out on the message or necessary information with this form of 21st century public speech. All decisions were being put to the crowd for affirmation through what we VVAW came to refer to as "twinkling"; extending both hands in the air, and wiggling your fingers. This was now the universal sign of consensus or approval.

Our opportunity to march came the next day in the form of a march to and a rally at the MLK Memorial, where there was to be a press conference with Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW) & Veterans For Peace (VFP) linking MLK's opposition to the Vietnam War to the premise that he would also be outspoken about our current involvement in the middle-east, and in the world wide War on Terror. In the end, VVAW, and a Veterans group named March Forward also participated in the press conference supporting the Occupation, and all gave a united message of discontinuance in our current wars, full health care for Veterans, and support of IVAW's Operation Recovery, which addresses the topic of re-deployments of service personnel identified as exhibiting symptoms of PTSD following previous deployments.

We finished the rally with a gathering under the MLK quote station addressing Vietnam, that starts "I oppose the war in Vietnam because I love America. I speak out against it not in anger, but with sorrow in my heart." We can relate, Martin...same goes for the current wars...

Our last action in D.C., was to join with Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), VFP, and March Forward in a march on the White House on Sunday the 9th, to demand a Beer Summit with President Obama. We wanted to have a beer and discuss the war and the economy with the Commander in Chief. Of course, like so many other times that we had come to the gates of the White House, no one was home...they never are when we get there, but we rallied anyway and a representative from each Veterans group delivered a personal message to the crowd, and a personal invitation through the gate guard that we wished to have a beer with Obama, and discuss the state of the nation.

By the time that we were ready to roll back to Florida on Sunday, Occupations had sprung up in 103 cities, with more to come as of this writing. There was already an Occupy Jacksonville, back home; in a town where if it can happen, it can happen anywhere. The Occupy movement, with the advent of the joining in unity of purpose of the Wall Street and Freedom Plaza Occupations, has been the spark that has lit the prairie fire that has now become the Occupy movement.
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This time, the message and energy from mass demonstrations held in far cities was getting back out to the grass-roots, and people are becoming aware, and are coordinating their talents and their resources and starting to do something about their circumstances, and are confronting the issues of corporate domination of our lives, politics, and economy, and bringing to an end wars of corporate and political imperialism, and abandoning the lock step mentality of the two main political party's who no longer speak for the people, but for the corporations and the global economy rather than your's and your family's economy.
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If nothing else came of all of this, I would like to see all involved re-register as independent voters, so that the parties and politicians could no longer lump us all into defined groups of voters, i.e., Democrats, Republican, latino voters, black voters, veteran voters, women voters, and tell us we should vote as such. As independents they couldn't say so and so voters all vote the same way, as they do now and which is racist in nature, and disrespectful of the fact that as Americans we are capable of thinking of ourselves.
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As independents, the power brokers couldn't categorize and predict our votes by our demographic grouping, and as a whole and united people we could win our Constitution back from the corporate power brokers and politicians who are only in this for political, personal, or capital gain, and replace them with those who desire to serve the people in accordance with our hard fought for and hard won Constitution and Bill of Rights, way back in 1776. We could go back to electing folks who would work for us, rather than for the money men and corporate power brokers.
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Think about it; as I see it that is the power of the Occupy movement...all of us, despite all of our differences, standing together and speaking as one against the political tyranny that has become our current manner of governance. For a short week, that spirit was alive in freedom Plaza, and it is now spilling over into plazas and parks all over our great nation. See you at Occupy Jacksonville, this Saturday. Power to the People.

www.VetSpeak.org

We the People--A New Movement: Freedom Plaza Occupation, Washington, D.C., October 2011

2011-10-14T21:06:00.002-05:00

We the People—A New Movement

Submitted for VetSpeak.org

Michael and Cynthia Orange, 10/14/11

There's something happening here. What it is ain't exactly clear...

—From “For What It’s Worth,” Steven Stills and Buffalo Springfield, 1967

We participated in the “Stop the Machine! Create a New World”

gathering in Washington DC to launch the occupation of Freedom Plaza. The occupation was the culmination of efforts from a large coalition of previously existing grassroots organizations, including the Veterans for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War. What we saw in DC and have been seeing in broadcasts from some of the other “occupations” throughout the country convince us that we are witnessing the birth of a new movement.

For months, we felt compelled to make the trip from our home in St. Paul primarily because the focus of the gathering in Washington DC was to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the US war and occupation of Afghanistan. It was also to “connect the dots” that link our imperial wars as the root causes of our country’s debilitating domestic problems. The military-industrial-media complex bears increasing responsibility for our growing economic inequity, chronic joblessness and union bashing, defunded public education and public services, decaying public infrastructure, the assault on the environment, the health care debacle, and the hijacking of our democracy by the rich and powerful.

We’re not novices at this. We’ve been peace activists for over four decades now, sustained by an abiding hope that eventually the people will rise up to take back our country. This DC Occupation is not new but it’s certainly different. It’s the latest chapter in a two-century history of struggle by Americans who sought fair treatment.

In addition to the war economy focus, the DC Occupation embraced a broader range of interests that garner wider support and are more in harmony with the Occupy Wall Street purpose. In fact, a large majority of the American people consistently support ending the wars, creating a more equitable tax system, ending corporate welfare, protecting the social safety net and worker rights, transitioning to a clean energy economy, and reversing environmental degradation. Of absolute necessity is getting the money out of politics.

We were very impressed with the event organization. This is in contrast to some of the corporate media spin that wants you to believe that Occupy Wall Street and the similar actions are led by a bunch of angry losers or old hippies who don’t have a clue. In DC, there were tents for the media, legal aid, first aid, free donated food, electronic tie-ins, and a long line of porta-potties.

The small grassy side of the totally paved plaza became a crowded campground for the hundreds who spent the night there. As the crowd grew to nearly a thousand, the buzz of hundreds of conversations from people of all ages, races, and walks of life created their own energy. There was music, dancing, laughter, and deep discussion. And everywhere, there were people with signs, most of them hand lettered:

·A Vietnam vet’s sign read: “How’s the war economy working for you?”

· A man held a sign that said, “I wish I could afford my own politician.”

· A middle-aged woman’s signs said, “You screw us, we multiply.”

· A white bearded veteran held a US flag with corporate logos where the stars should be.

· A young woman stood alone holding a piece of brown cardboard with penciled letters that read “Another single mother in foreclosure.”

· There were two children, one with a sign reading, “Please don’t steal my future,” and the other with “Toddlers Against Corporate Greed.”

· “Capitalism ate Democracy” read another.

· And there were Vets for Peace banners from across the country.

The women from Code Pink created a cardboard village with labels such as “Foreclosed Dream House.” It served as a playground for kids during the day and shelter for the overnighters to “rest” after the Park Police banned sleeping and the use of tents on the plaza.

A display of worn combat boots carried tags that listed their now-dead owners. The backdrop for the main stage was a twenty-foot-wide, parchment-colored banner, titled “We the People,” which proclaimed the text and calligraphy of the Preamble to the Constitution. In the middle of the plaza was a companion banner titled “We the Corporations” with a parody of the Preamble complete with a host of corporate logos.

To begin the formal program, the Raging Grannies from Madison sang original songs that we had first heard when we attended the massive pro-labor rallies there last spring. (photo)

During the evening program, we heard from an Iraq War vet and his artist friend who had biked 6,000 miles to bring attention through their music to the stupidity of our ongoing wars.

We spoke with event “Peacemakers” whose job was to quell hot tempers and prevent violence. They were called into action at the demonstration two days later at the Smithsonian’s military drone exhibit when an agent provocateur in the group created a violent situation.

The incident serves as an excellent example of how peace demonstrations are often infiltrated and discredited. Patrick Howley, who is an editor at the conservative magazine The American Spectator, boasted that he shoved his way into the museum and this led to the security guards dousing the group with pepper spray. This is what Howley wrote about his motives: “As far as anyone knew I was part of this cause — a cause that I had infiltrated the day before in order to mock and undermine [it] in the pages of The American Spectator.”[1]

There is a striking contrast with the two-year-old Tea Party whose members are also voicing their anger at conditions for the average person. Unlike the “Occupy” movement, the Tea Party has been co-opted by the corporate elite who have bankrolled it and used their corporate media to mold opinion and to serve their own interests and those of the Republican Party. In contrast, these occupations, like the one we attended in DC, are part of an organic grass-roots movement that actually resists outside control from even traditional progressive groups (e.g. organized labor).

Like the peace movement of forty years ago, we protesters are angry and completely frustrated by the imperial wars and the oligarchic control of the many by the wealthy and powerful few.

David Morris of the Institute for Local Self reliance describes it, “We’re mad at the devastation wrought in the last four years by the toxic combination of unrestrained greed and concentrated wealth.... We’re mad at Wall Street for taking our money and giving nothing back.... We’re mad at the 1 percent of the country who make decisions that enrich themselves while impoverishing the rest of us.” His article, “It’s Labor vs. Capital, Stupid,” is rich with the facts to back up his assertions.^{^[2]}

As Gerald Gannon, fellow member of Veterans for Peace, writes, “Let me be clear here: we are not anti-business or anti-capitalism.... The great majority of entrepreneurs, sole proprietors and small-to-medium sized business [that] provide most of the jobs in our country and practice true capitalism ... [are] more than willing to pit themselves against the competition for a fair share of the marketplace.... But the giant ‘multinational’ corporations seek to stifle competition.... These Godzilla-like corporations built on the backs of American workers and with American dollars now deny the people in the country of their origins—jobs for their livelihood, their tax dollars, the fundamental control of their own government and any allegiance what so ever. They are driven only by insatiable lust for ever greater profits with no concern at all for the American people or the environment in which we all live. They have been allowed to metastasize into traitorous monsters....”

Chris Hedges,[3] the keynote speaker for first night of the DC Occupation, has stated, “The greatest gift the occupation has given us is a blueprint for how to fight back. And this blueprint is being transferred to cities and parks across the country.” As we write this in mid-October, there are nearly 1,500 occupations in the US, and many more around the world.

In his remarks in DC, Hedges challenged us all by saying “Either you are rebel or a slave. (Hedges photo) Here are some excerpts of his speech:

“There are no excuses left. Either you join the revolt taking place on Wall Street and in the financial districts of other cities across the country or you stand on the wrong side of history. Either you obstruct, in the only form left to us, which is through civil disobedience, the plundering by the criminal class on Wall Street and accelerated destruction of the ecosystem that sustains the human species, or become the passive enabler of a monstrous evil. Either you taste, feel and smell the intoxication of freedom and revolt or sink into the miasma of despair and apathy. Either you are a rebel or a slave....

“Choose. But choose fast. The state and corporate forces are determined to crush this. They are not going to wait for you. They are terrified this will spread, as it is spreading....

“Those on the streets around Wall Street and here tonight are the physical embodiment of hope. You know that hope has a cost, that it is not easy or comfortable, that it requires self-sacrifice and discomfort and finally faith.... But as long as we remain steadfast we can see our way out of the corporate labyrinth.”

There is indeed, “something happening here.” But what it is, is getting clearer. The people are rising up to take back our country. We stand together in this new movement.

About the authors:

Michael is a member of local Chapter 27 Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and the author of Fire in the Hole: A Mortarman in Vietnam. Cynthia is also a long-time peace activist and author of Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One’s PTSD.

[1] http://theweek.com/article/index/220144/the-agent-provocateur-who-infiltrated-occupy-wall-street

[2] See http://onthecommons.org/its-labor-vs-capital-stupid

[3] Chris Hedges was a foreign correspondent who, for 15 years, covered wars throughout the world for the New York Times. He was an early critic of the Iraq War and left the paper to become a senior fellow at The Nation Institute, write books, and teach (see http://www.truthdig.com/report/category/hedges/)

www.VetSpeak.org

Clock's ticking...Bring a Friend: Occupy Freedom Plaza, Washington D.C., Oct 6th - ?

2011-10-01T12:40:00.001-05:00

OCTOBER2011 COALITION TO OCCUPY FREEDOM PLAZA
IN WASHINGTON, DC BEGINNING OCT 6^th

www.VetSpeak.org

Freedom Plaza Occupation: Oct 6, Washington D.C. Oct 6, 2011

2011-09-26T15:36:00.003-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

xxxxxx

OCTOBER2011 COALITION TO OCCUPY FREEDOM PLAZA
IN WASHINGTON, DC BEGINNING OCT 6^th

DC Occupation Marks the 11^th Year of Afghan War, Austerity Budgets and Builds on
Arab Spring, European Summer, Madison and Occupation of Wall Street
x

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Kevin Zeese, 301-996-6582

Margaret Flowers, 443-759-4635

Maria Allwine, 443-762-0892

press@october2011.org

The People’s Uprisings seen around the world and in the United States come to Washington, DC’s Freedom Plaza beginning on Thursday, October 6 whenthousands will converge to begin a prolonged people's occupation of Freedom Plaza. The October2011 Movement involves thousands of people and 150 organizations who have already signed. The DC occupation comes at a pivotal time: the beginning of the 11^th year of war in Afghanistan and a new federal fiscal year that promises austerity of everything except weapons and war.

The Freedom Plaza occupation occurs as activists in New York are occupying Wall Street and follows major protests across the Midwest against austerity budgets, the environmental protest of the Tar Sands Pipeline where more than 1,200 were arrested and protests throughout the United States on a wide range of issues.

The October2011 Movement demands that the government represent the people, not just the top 1%. The pledge signed on by thousands calls for using our resources on human needs and environmental protection, not for war and exploitation. October2011.org stands with super majorities of Americans on seven key issues:

Tax the rich and corporations
End the wars, bring the troops home, cut military spending
Protect the social safety net, strengthen Social Security and improved Medicare for all
End corporate welfare for oil companies and other big business interests
Transition to a clean energy economy, reverse environmental degradation
Protect worker rights including collective bargaining, create jobs and raise wages
Get money out of politics

The Freedom Plaza occupation builds on the experiences of Egypt, Tunisia, Greece and Spain. October2011 has joined with the Egyptian revolutionary movement in a solidarity statement based on four common principles: seeking real democracy, an end to U.S. interventionist military policy, protection of human rights through the rule of law and developing a sustainable economy that meets human needs. The Indignados of Spain have described our commonRoad to Dignity that includes the occupation of Wall Street and Freedom Plaza.

For more information visit FAQ on http://october2011.org.

www.VetSpeak.org

Reflections on the 10th Anniversary of the War in Afghanistan, and the Continuing War in Iraq

2011-09-25T16:55:00.004-05:00

Ten Years and Counting in Afghanistan...

by Willie Hager

Ten Years and counting in Afghanistan, U.S. troops still bogged down in Iraq after eight years, and a country deeply divided politically, ideologically, and now, even religiously, as a result. What a cluster fuck!

How did we get here? Well, it wasn't easy; we had to work at it in order to position ourselves to be right back where we were following the Gingrich Revolution in Congress in the early 80s; it isn't just happenstance that we here we are again, caught up in mix of a retro Gilded Age, and a painful re-emergence of Nixonian forces and money creeping back into the halls and back rooms of our government. Forces who still threaten our Bill of Rights and our Constitution.

I suggest that we are here, back from the future, because we as political and social activists have became complacent and self indulgent following our major victories of the 60s and 70s, to name a just a few; the end of the Vietnam War, the breaking down of racial barriers to voting, and the other civil rights victories of the day, including the end of the Draft, the end of domestic spying and political disruption by the FBI COINTEL Program, the downfall of Nixon, and the imprisoning of some, but not all, of his thugs. We in fact, recovered our Constitution, and re-instated the proper application of the Bill of Rights to our society. For reflection on what I think happened, I make the case for how the left actually became complacent and politically self indulgent in a piece that I wrote in 2005 entitled "The Cracker Swamp Manifesto".

But this discussion has more to do with the future, than with the past. We can't know where we're going, if we don't know where we've been; so, a quick look back for reference at what has worked and what has not is called for whenever doing any kind of strategical planning for the future, whether it is personal or political. None of what I describe above regarding our foreign policy, and the retaking of congress by the Repugs and NEOCONs could have happened, to my way of thinking, if the left hadn't of become a Babylon of minority interest groups fighting among themselves over political power and money....the spoils of victory. They sold the power of their all important UNITY in exchange for organizational, political, and cause oriented agendas and political careers that ultimately positioned them into being as ineffective as they were prior to the American social and political revolution of the 60s and 70s, as the "whole" morphed into minority special interest groups of society. The big losers? The American people.

To my way of thinking these groupings as a whole became so distracted and fragmented with politically correct self indulgence, that they lost the hearts and minds of the American people. The very hearts and minds (and votes) that that these groups, as a grand and unified coalition of ant-war and social and political justice activists, had fought so hard for so many years to win, back in the 60s and 70s. These fragmented groups, not unlike the Repugs and Neocons, and most recently the Teabaggers, ultimately came to turn their backs on all who disagreed with their particular doctrine, whether it be a racial, political, or religious platform, beginning in the 80s. But most importantly, they turned their backs on the American people in favor of their particular constituencies and careers. This dynamic was the birth of political correctness as we have came know it in our country. Prior to this rebirth, here; political correctness had been a strategy of Mao's Red Guard in the Great Leap Forward in China. Here, it's re-birth ultimately became the death knell for all of our efforts and successes of the 60s and 70s.

In face of all of the above, it is my considered conclusion that this Administration's current strategies aren't going to change until we as a "movement" change our's. Collective GASP!!! I know, I know, this is politically incorrect thinking. But, it is my critical thinking assessment that the current, and now decades old, strategies of the left must take on a new profile. This has to happen if we are to have any hope of success in saving our nation from it's second post modern political Dark Age and the continued decline of the age of free thinking, free speech, and Constitutional democracy.

Here in the 21st century, we need to develop our own strategies that are more pragmatic in their direction and application. The 60s and 70s are now relegated to history. We need to refresh and re-energize our approach to social and political revolution if we are to be effective in a 21st century social and political environment. In today's environment politics vs reality on the ground as a strategy, is a failed policy. This was true for Vietnam, and it most certainly true for Iraq and Afghanistan. That dynamics won't change until our strategy is changed.

That is not to say that militancy, fiery rhetoric, and occasionally manning of the barricades, is not critical to this process; it is to say that our militancy has to be more pragmatic than symbolic, our rhetoric based in empirical thinking and objective truth, as well as documentable evidence of that truth. It needs to incorporate clearly defined and realistically achievable demands and goals. Most importantly, it must appeal to more than those of one's particular organization, race, religion, ideology, and/or political party affiliation. And, it must be designed to democratically find the core issues that are common to all of us and rally around them in unity, and leave the ideological, racial, organizational, religious, and personal differences at the door. The keys to success in my paradigm are Mutual Respect, Unity of Purpose, and Mission Focus.

We are after all, all in this together; and we cannot succeed without mutual support, and the support and votes of the American people, who (as evidenced by history) we are potentially able to educate to the truth of our anti-war social justice agenda, and how it applies to them as individuals, and as citizens. To my way of thinking; in today's world, this is best achieved by speaking with them, rather that at them. They must be given a reason to want to join with us and take action, not be verbally bludgeoned or shamed into it. So it is our responsibility to educate them to the issues,sort out what they agree with us on and what they disagree with us on, and act accordingly in incorporating their energy and votes into our struggle.

Another major consideration is the diminished impact of "mass" demonstrations where-ever they are called for to be held, or by whom. I can only conclude that the government actually welcomes this kind of activity anymore, since they are much more equipped to deal with then they were, forty years ago, when they worked, i.e. VVAW's 1971 Dewey Canyon III. These days they send everyone in the police approved and fenced off demonstration free speech areas home for the day, so that they can't be accessed or confronted by the revolutionary forces in the street. They reinforce the police ranks with crowd control trained riot police and ariel surveillance, and everyone gets overtime. Then they work closely with civil disobedience organizers to arrange for the orchestrated "civil disobedience arrests", for which demonstration organizers have made prior arrangements to let ourselves be arrested, celebrities and authors first, in hope that someone out there in the hinterland will see how truly oppressive our government is to those who dare to speak truth to power, in spite of the fact that the buildings we are confronting are empty, and the mainstream media is in conspicuous absence, and as a result rise up in rage against the state.

Of course participants in these national confrontations are expected to be able to provide the 100 dollar bail that goes into the city coffers...let's see 130 demonstrators X 100 = a quick 13,000 dollars into the city coffers. So, the cops are getting overtime, and the city is profiting from the demonstrations at our expense. All very surreal to this old school anti-war and peace and justice activist and journalist. It's Kabuki Theater rather than Guerrilla Theater to me. In spite of it's repetitiveness, nothing ever seems to come out of it all, except some great photos and action reports on the underground internet activist blogs and in the foreign press. In addition, these events require a lot of personal expense and energy that could otherwise be better used in furthering our cause out in the grassroots, where our true constituency lives. Too often the issues and the demands become polluted with conflicted ideologies and messaging by participants, reflecting to the public more divisions than unity. And, of course, the mainstream media, whether under duress or lack of interest, ignores us. The most recent blatant example of this mainstream press black-out is the on-going Occupy Wall Street protests.

We need to recognize that there is not one among us who has all of the answers, whether it be as an individual, a celebrity, or as a representative of an organizational or ideological agenda. Each have specific resources and tactics to bring to the campaign, but that is only becomes politically effective when rallied around in unity on mutually agreed upon specific demands; ones that are realistically attainable through pragmatic and unified message application. I believe that this process best takes place out where we all started, at the grassroots. Not on the steps of monolithic institutions, where we now all occasionally gather to voice our displeasure with our government's failed policies, both foreign and domestic. They're on to that one these days, folks, and know how to deal with it effectively; containment and media black-out. Now, just as back in the day, the power lies with the people. Remember our rally cry back then; "Power To The People!"? We meant ALL the people, not just a few politically correct ideologues and "radical fringe" dissenters from a particular group or class, as outlined in Marx's Dictatorship of The Proletariat.

There are, of course, many other opinions and choices of action, but here is what I have concluded to be essential ingredients as a result of my personal experiences and a studied review of our history, and of our current outdated paradigm for social and political action. Here is a suggested minimal guideline model that we as a "movement" can easily mobilize around and together and implement with our existing resources, in order to make a seamless paradigm shift into the 21st century world of effective social and political activism:

I. Personal Contact

First, and most important, make personal contact (no not on FB) by phone, or personal visits. Get to know one another; what we believe in, where we've been, who do we know mutually, what do we have strong disagreement on, and what do we strongly agree on. We should be friends (real ones) as well as political compatriots.
We must then agree to share resources and work together (personally and organizationally) to further the issues that we believe in, and agree to personally respectfully disagree on things that we disagree on, but keep those disagreements out of how we together, in unity, support the issue in question, publicly.

II. Prioritization of Issues

When considering issues, we can all I am sure, agree to an anti-war/social peace & justice agenda, in general terms. But we have all arrived at that agreement from diverse experiences. Those experiences all began somewhere locally, so it makes sense to consider the demographics of a locality when outreaching for recruits or volunteers, and begin by using our experience in rallying local folks around local issues that we can directly relate to the prior mentioned general agenda.
From these personal connections, build a 21st century style electronic national network of individuals, chapters, and organizations (much as we did back in the day with land-lines, and Rolodexes) that are all on the same page, and are ready and able to mobilize quickly around our agreed upon national campaign priority issues, right there in Your City, USA. Grassroots coalition building vs organizational or cause chauvinism. That's how Joe Hill would do it.

III. Modern Media Communications

Just as IVAW is currently doing, we also need to educate ourselves to 21st century social and journalistic digital media. I attended two such workshops that IVAW presented at the VFP National Convention in Portland, OR, in August. The main theme of both of these workshops was messaging methodologies. They are ahead of the curve on this one. We can learn from them.
As we have seen with the Arab Spring up-risings, social media can have a profound impact on the ability to mobilize people quickly, and it can allow for a running account of events first hand. From a journalistic point of view, the mainstream media, who never covers our events as we would like, are being sidelines, due to the ability of social media to get our message out quickly, and to be in instant communications with one another if need be.
We should all, individuals and organizations alike, learn how to use this powerful medium in a coordinated fashion to coordinate our activities in unison, at the grassroots, as well as in Washington D.C., when appropriate.

www.VetSpeak.org

Action Alert; Concert For IVAW Operation Recovery

2011-09-24T12:26:00.002-05:00

Hoodstock III. 6-9 p.m., Sunday, October 2.

Jovita's, 1619 South First, St. Austin, Tx

Featuring: The Austin Lounge Lizards, Barbara K & Richard Bowden, The Possum Posse,a silent auction and information about Under the Hood/Operation Recovery.

$10 donation is suggested at the door.

Visit our FaceBook page to let us know you're coming and invite your friends!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=240153296006349

http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

www.VetSpeak.org

Congressional Public Law 95-26: Denying Benefits to Veterans

2011-09-23T21:55:00.006-05:00

Ed Note: I met Rick Staggenborg at the Veterans For Peace National Convention in Portland, Oregon this past August. He was a panel member on a VA Benefits workshop being put on by Coffee Strong, a Veteran Owned, Pro G.I., Anti-war Veterans' advocacy and outreach project located in Lakewood, Washington. Jan Ruhman had keyed me up on Rick, and asked me to get in touch with him. Rick had recently made a unsuccessful run at the US Senate. He had also been a VA Psychiatrist and is well versed in the elusive diagnosis called by the medical community, PTSD. Here he addresses one of it's more debilitting manifestations; Bad Discharges. WH

THE “LEAVE SOME VETS BEHIND” LAW: A NATIONAL DISGRACE

In 1995, Congress codified as Public Law 95-126 the VA policy denying benefits to veterans who receive less than honorable discharges, including those who served in combat in Vietnam and subsequent wars of choice. These veterans can only receive services by going through a difficult, painful and often unsuccessful process requiring them to debase themselves by begging their former military Service to upgrade their discharge status.
x
In the process, they have to relive their combat trauma and in some cases have to contact those with whom they served. This drags up horrific memories that they have struggled to suppress, often through drugs, alcohol and promiscuity. This is the reason they acted out through drunkenness, disobedience or desertion of their posts stateside after return from combat. I know this because it has been the case in every veteran I have met who falls under the provisions of this Catch-22 implemented by a group of chicken hawks who were too busy setting the country up for economic destruction to consider the consequences of their actions on our veterans.

The men and women affected by PL 95-126 volunteered or were compelled by our own government to serve the interests of the corporations who our elected representatives feel they need to serve to maintain their positions of power. After all, they reason, someone has to pay for the propaganda campaigns that confuse the general public, justifying unnecessary wars and the real reasons for them, as well as lining the pockets of the rich by subverting democracy worldwide in the name of America. Many of the members of Congress responsible for this outrage shamelessly lied to the young, patriotic men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as their parents about the reasons they were sent to kill and die.

Now that these service members have done their duty, many of those most in need of help from the VA have been casually discarded, as were the Vietnam veterans before them. The ordeal of seeking help causes flare-ups of PTSD symptoms and reminds these veterans of the fact that their government chose to dishonor them rather than treat the wounds of war and the economic devastation that these politicians themselves inflicted on these combat veterans. The same is true when any of the estimated 30% of female OEF vets are erroneously told that they are not entitled to VA services to treat the psychological damage from the devastating psychological trauma of being raped in the service.

x
These women are often among the worst affected by symptoms of PTSD. A high proportion of them were sexually abused in childhood but were functioning well enough to serve until being re-traumatized during their terms of service by the very men who were supposed to guard their backs. Almost to a woman, they were then ostracized by their peers, often even if they chose not to report the crime. This has led to a gross underestimate of the actual incidence of this form of trauma, which is magnified by the abuse and neglect that followed from their command, in the name of “maintaining unit cohesion.”

I suspect that most veterans falling under PL 95-126 choose not to engage in this fight, knowing that even if they succeed in obtaining an upgrade of their discharge, they then have to argue that they suffer “mental illness” as a result of their service. PTSD is not a mental illness, leaving the VA to decide whether or not to resort to semantic gymnastics in order to provide the services that most of us in the VA dedicate our professional lives to providing. What they do not know if they choose to engage in this long battle is that they only stand a 50% chance of success at each step, according to unofficial sources with whom I have consulted.

What is worse, the law does not even have a provision to allow the VA to conduct evaluations of those who win the lottery in the first step. They are required to somehow obtain independent psychiatric evaluations in order to make their case. Fortunately or unfortunately, those who need the help most are generally impoverished by their circumstances, so they could get these exams through programs set up for the poor, if they are lucky enough to realize that such services are often available in the community. Because these individuals most often have divorced themselves from society in their shame, anger and despair, I suspect that few even try to navigate the labyrinth of steps required to obtain services, if they are lucky enough to succeed.

This crime against the youth of our nation, many now having grown up and producing a new generation of alienated and disaffected youth, is unacceptable. The VA may play a role because of the communication problems endemic in such a large organization, but the real fault lies with our complacent Congress. All of us who want to truly honor our veterans must demand that the members of the Veterans Committee in the Senate act at once to atone for this sin against our nation. Please call Senator Webb, Senator Tester or other members of the Veteran Affairs Committee at 866-220-0044 and demand action. I do not believe that either of these diligent and hardworking senators is aware of the problem, despite my attempts at asking for help through their aides.

When I spoke to Phillip Brady, Veteran Affairs aide to Senator Webb, he made inquiries, speaking to the DOD and VA about the problem. As the only office in either organization authorized to speak to Congress is presumably the office of public affairs, both predictably denied that it was a problem. If you are as outraged at this whitewash, please let these Senator Webb in particular know. As a decorated Vietnam veteran and father of an Iraq war veteran, he may be willing to dig deeper and speak to someone more appropriate at the VA Central Office. I suggested to Phillip that he start with the then-VA director of Mental Health Services, Dr Ira Katz. Dr Katz was a dedicated public servant who has been unfairly maligned by the media in the past but who has privately expressed his concern about this law as well.

Please contact every veteran group and veteran advocacy group that you can locate. Let them know that you share my anger at this continuing mistreatment of combat veterans and sexually abused female veterans who only wanted to serve their country while in fact being used as tools by a cynical, cowardly Congress to serve the interests of their corporate Puppetmasters. While you are at it, Let them know that the men and women who joined the military from other countries are our brothers and sisters and that we will not stand by while they are deported because of problems stemming from PTSD.

Rick Staggenborg, MD

Captain, USA (Ret)
Former VA Psychiatrist, North Bend, OR

Some Additional Research, Information, and Resources:

"Does it Hurt on the Inside? Post Vietnam Syndrome". The First Casualty Vol 2, Number 1. VVAW. Chicago (1972)

http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=319&hilite=Post+Vietnam+Syndrome

Seiberling, John. "Secret Discharge Codes". Winter Soldier, Vol 4 Number 4. VVAW. Chicago (1974)

http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=1158

Ford, Diane. "Are We Still missing The Point". The Veteran, Vol 37, Number 1. VVAW. Chicago (2007)

http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=724&hilite=

Overview of Discharge Upgrading re DOD

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fctveteranslegal.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F04%2FCh-1.pdf

What You should Know About How to Upgrade Your Military Discharge re US Army Trial Defense Service

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.monterey.army.mil%2Flegal%2Ftrial_defense%2Fhow_to_upgrade_your_discharge.pdf

Swords To Plowshares Veterans Advocacy

https://sites.google.com/a/stp-sf.org/swords-team/

Vietnam Veterans Against The War: Veteran Resources and Military Counseling Service

http://www.vvaw.org/resources/

www.VetSpeak.org

6 October 2011, Washington, D.C.: Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed...

2011-09-01T22:23:00.001-05:00

Ed Note: VetSpeak.org will be in D.C. October 6 -9, covering the End the Occupations Occupation of Freedom Plaza. We will be there seeking some of the same answers to the questions that my cyber-journalist friend Rafe Pilgrim asks in his original Op-Ed piece, published on August 26, 2011...questions we should all be asking ourselves, as our Constitution and Bill of Rights are being co-opted and reinterpreted right before our eyes by the multi-national Corporatists who are profiting from our mid-eastern losses of blood and treasure. This corporate profit sharing is at the root of our economic stress here on the home-front. Greed is an ugly word, but it is a far uglier thing to see in action. WH

Going to the October Event in the District of Corruption?

by Rafe Pilgrim

The word is out on the big protest against everlasting war and indecent governance in D.C. in October. An impressive number of activist luminaries are committed. But the nagging question remains: Will this make any substantial difference in the treacherous course our government is set upon, or will this be -- however noble and moral -- just another message to find its way into the Capitol's refuse bin?

I do feel a strong urge to get off the complaining and actually do something that makes the difference -- after 10 years! (Some would have it 30 years.)

But I am far from certain this October program is it. I want to be part of the last battle, not another sacrificial skirmish, but the battle that counts, the tough one, the honest one, the one that makes the change -- not just another display of morality.

We went up to Sodom-on-the-Potomac six years ago with 350,000 compadres. It was a good show, despite the lying press reports that our numbers were much lower, such that we got any press at all. But it did not cause a ripple -- despite rating perhaps a laugh or sneer in the corridors of power. We displayed, went home -- they returned, they won.

This left me acidly furious and emotionally crippled. And nothing has changed, despite the rise of President "Hope and Change" and -- for a brief trashed opportunity -- a Democrat (of the people?) majority in both houses of Congress -- and all of this maintained the treachery and exploitation.

Bang! Down went the gavel -- "Impeachment is off the table!" -- but WAR was still at the table! -- foreclosures and evictions were still at the table! -- trillions to the banksters were at the table! -- while such as Medicare and Social Security were on the chopping block!

Everything moral is still on the block, while the Banksters, Big Oil, WeaponsRus, Securititis, JobsExport Inc, Big Agri, Big Pharma, Tax Cuts for Billionaires, ad nauseam -- are all at the table. And when their feed runs out, who picks up the check? We do! Then Government Inc. loads up the table again at the expense of education, roads and bridges, public transportation, flood control, climate change, medical care, Social Security and everything else except More War and More More for the Elite, the Crooks and their Indentured Politicos.

Trekking to the District of Corruption for a week or so, staying in a motel, eating in restaurants, and hitting the Mall from Ten till Two -- won't cut it. That's not the fabric victory is made from. Military battles can be won in days, sometimes hours. But we depend (at least thus far!) on passive means. Our passive strength lies in morality, and profits from persistence, large numbers and weaponless courage in confrontation with the opposition, very likely armed opposition.

If October is to be our defining action, it needs to be other than just one more display of the moral cause, after 10 years of such, and one more of which could exhaust our waning credibility. We need a victory -- the victory!

I don't need everyone else to do the work. I know victory can never be guaranteed. But I'll watch October for a while. I need to feel more confident about how many compadres will be camping and eating and sleeping by me on the Mall, and how long they will persevere; how much they share my disdain for display above victory for change.

If I can bring myself to feel, not guaranteed, but good, that a decent number (a million at minimum) of stubborn (weeks, months, as long as it takes) compadres will camp together on the Mall -- then I'll be there, content to be quietly and unmovingly awaiting the Peace and the return of our Bill of Rights.

I am confident there will be discomfort. There will be sickness. There will be hunger. There will be lack of sanitation. There will be police action and, most likely, military threats.

If I can gain sufficient confidence in our numbers and our resolve to stay the course, then I will be there.

Who else is planning to go? How many are you? How long will you stay?

Let us know!

http://october2011.org/welcome

www.VetSpeak.org

Coming home from war; the hard part...

2011-08-20T20:40:00.003-05:00

Ed Note: I met Joe Wheeler, Warrior Writer and a Veteran who was deployed during the first year (OIF I) of the Iraq war, with the 240th Forward Surgical Team and attached to the Fourth Infantry Division as a surgical assistant, while at the recent VFP 2011 National Convention. After returning home from the convention, I saw a Facebook posting of a poem by Joe entitled, "Coming home". When I read it, I experienced an emotional deja vu flash to an interview that I did with Waldo Salt, screenwriter for the movie Coming Home, back in the mid 70s, when he asked me what was the hardest thing about Vietnam for me, and I replied, "Coming home...". Joe, with this powerful work, has given my meaning in that statement of mine, from so long ago, new life for a new time, about the now very old problem of Veterans' having difficulties "re-adjusting" in war weary society, once they return home from the horrors of war and multiple deployments. Here is how he tells it, in his own words...WH

Coming home

by Joe Wheeler

Iraq was horrific.

The intense searing heat

that suffocated...

always.

Being shot at.

Hearing the mortar rounds

fired at us.

The waiting for the mortar

rounds to land on me or

one of my fellow soldiers.

The incoming wounded

shot in the face.

The war broke my heart.

The war broke me.

What was worse

was coming home

to a little girl

who did not know me.

Naively, I expected open

arms but to her I was

the enemy.

I was the intruder.

I was waging war

on her way of life.

This piece by Joe Wheeler was originally posted on Facebook on Monday, August 8, 2011 at 6:54pm

Special thanks to Warrior Writers and VFP...

www.VetSpeak.org

DADT: Are Gay Pride & Pride in Service Compatible?

2011-07-23T17:43:00.002-05:00

Ed Note: I originally saw this piece over at Op-Ed. I immediately called my friend, Bill Homans, and asked if I could publish it here at VetSpeak.org, and distribute it to our lists. As I suspected, he was good with it. Thanks, Bill. Bill's take on this issue sorta turns things upside down in my mind, and demonstrates a political perspective reminiscent of our early days in VVAW as we considered actions and their impact. Finally, a principled perspective on an element of a major hot button issue from someone who's been there, done that. I always appreciate Bill's speaking truth to power in the language of pragmatism and practicality. As always from Bill, some serious food for thought for us all to mull over as September 20th and the Repeal of DADT approaches. Bill wrote this on the day of the events in San Diego, and it is so dated here. WH

July 16, 2011

Gay Military Pride Parades? Clueless!

By William P. Homans

Today I have drawn a line. Each man must draw his own-- every thinking person ought to be drawing them constantly-- and when I see that gay servicemen and veterans are going to be marching in formation, military music blaring-- a horse detachment!-- at the San Diego Gay Pride Parade, I had to get out my stick and dig a ditch deeply across my own mental sandy patch.

Active and former military service members march
in San Diego's Gay Pride Parade earlier this month.
(Mike Blake, Reuters/ July 23, 2011)

The justification that will be made for such blatant endorsement of our military mission is that DADT Repeal isn't about war and peace, it's only about discrimination. One ordinarily sage commentator on my political discussion board, a gay man who never served, takes this myopic position.

I strongly, irrevocably disagree with him.

This is NOT a major step in gay equality. It is a SHUCK. I AM one of those discharged for being gay decades before there was anything called DADT. I am almost undoubtedly the only such person you know; mathematically speaking there are not a lot of us, only some 13,000 discharged under DADT, and undoubtedly quite a few less in the entire history of the service.

The Perennial Winter Soldier
Bill Homans, Washington, D.C. 12-16-10

Now my friend Denny doesn't have any idea, gay or not, what telling that lie when you step forward and raise your hand to take the oath is all about. I do. I HAD to enlist. There wasn't any question about it, my family military history made that a done deal, it wasn't a matter of IF I would enlist, it was only a matter of when.

But I knew I was telling a lie when I took that step forward and raised my hand, because although I LIKE girls, and I like sex with 'em, I also was DYING to be with a guy and know what that was really all about (I do not regret finding out, lol). I was a virgin (technically) with both sexes until I was 20 and in Vietnam!

I am determined to save one, two, more young gays, and other young people who have given no thought to the entire military mission, and who are seduced by the recruiting fairs, the video games, the enlistment incentives (which have nothing to do with patriotism)-- the Fred Karger Republican electoral bait-and-switch specifically targeting gays and students-- from committing the grave and stupid error of joining a FUBAR mission FOR THEIR MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT RATHER THAN FOR THE CLEAR DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Or merely for more inchoate reasons of personal or familial economic desperation.

And Denny is mistaken here. If patriotism-- to say nothing of a real urgency to fight off invaders-- was the major impetus for people to join the military they wouldn't need the freaking recruiting fairs with their slick and seductive video games.

No, it is personal material (which includes educational, since that's what you get educated for, so you can make more money, or even get rich) advancement, or today, desperation to help their families because their parents are now long-term unemployed, that brings 90% of enlistees in.

I know one 21-year-old, no father since 7, grunt laborer/jack of any trade you'll hire him for, been the man of the family taking care of his mother and sister since then. I asked him whether he had thought about going into the service (this is a muscle twink, a freakin STUD, tell you what, and almost certainly dead straight).

This normally macho poor-white-trash Mississippi kid said, "I don't guess I will, I ain't got no problem with them other people in other countries. I'll just keep workin'."

"I always have..." he smiled.

It was clear that he HADN'T given joining up any serious consideration. Well done, Daniel (the young man's name). But most of 'em do, and enough of them join to keep this mess going, and the reasons they join have nothing to do with defending the USA.

And that is why even the APPEARANCE of gay support of military objectives, whether, as Denny continues to argue, that necessarily implies the SUBSTANCE of that support, is a negative example that, apparently, gays are not only ready but EAGER to set for the impressionable children, including gay children, coming up behind them.

Somewhere, Denny, one must draw a line in the sand. And I have drawn my line, speaking now as a bisexual male of retirement age, at the gays of today being behaviorally manipulated by the Republicans-- and by God, by OURSELVES, if these freaking parades full of gay soldiers in nice neat formation are going to become a ubiquitous thing-- to acquiesce to a continued enhanced amount of gay enlistment in the military.

I just won't take it lying down.

And that is what is being guaranteed if there is zero progressive gay commentary, and in fact no confrontation, at planning meetings, or on the street if Pride planners can not face dissent in their own meetings. We gays will just be another RIGHT-WING-LEANING, MILITARY LOVING SOCIOLOGICAL COHORT.

Kind of like mainstream Congressional Democrats.

Is that what your idea of equality boils down to, Denny or any other gay who might be listening to me? I want to put such a concept in a pillow case and bash it against a stone wall six or seven times.

It has been so completely clear for this entire century (if it were not clear before) that not only is the military mission faulty, but our various representatives in government can't even stick to one motivation for having started these wars. They change like shifting desert sand.

No, Denny, you're very wrong here. DADT was allowed (if it actually is) in order that gays would be able to say, "hey, we won SOMETHING anyway." You see today that the Republicans are quietly-- even publicly, but quietly-- taking over the gay civil rights movement.

You supposedly "progressive" gays can't see that? Well, that's no improvement but no deterioration over January 2009. Weren't ready to help yourselves (us) then, aren't ready now.

When real, just-want-to-live-together, don't-wanna-bother-nobody gays and lesbians stop letting Aubrey Sarvis and E. Clarke Cooper and their rich, ideologically-Republican-bonded ilk call the tune for them politically, then maybe I WILL live with my man, officially, in a framework of complete civil rights.

Till then, I guess I have to hope that the do-nothing Democrats will actually PASS the legislation that more than half of Republicans will fight tooth and nail against, despite their granting gays a headline or two.

Or that Republicans will go ahead and vote for gay rights as long as we will go ahead and acquiesce to indefinite wars wherever the US cares to declare them, or not even declare them, just go and start bombing, as we did in Yemen (It doesn't matter in this context that a Democrat did it. Bush set the precedent for unilateral action, and the Republicans will be perfectly happy to say, "well, Obama did it."). We didn't tell anybody, we left the American people to read in the papers that we had already started military operations there.

You may turn your head, Denny. You may argue all you like that the issue is merely civil rights, and not the endorsement of the military mission in general.

Just a civil rights issue? My hind foot.

I insist that gays need to be ANTIWAR, not parading down streets across the country endorsing military service, and by dressing all strack and military-shipshape, making sure that gays/students (for that's who the 2012 campaign to co-opt the votes of the gay community is about) have a nice example so that they too will join up and go fight for Uncle Sam-- and then fight for their PTSD compensation, clean the depleted uranium out of their systems (don't hold your breath, ha ha), and try to make some kind of a civilian (or family, where the two do not necessarily coincide within any specific gay relationship) life for themselves.

The Republicans' intention, whether you will turn your head from it or not, Denny, is this:

To engineer a nice compliant gay population (like the rest of the population) who will make no more noise than the rest of Americans when multi-billion dollar lies are told, and outrages and atrocities are committed, IN THEIR NAMES. Who will go ahead and join up, and make sure that whatever happens in their own little civil-rights area, AMERICAN BUSINESS AS USUAL, which means WAR and MAXIMIZATION OF PROFIT ON EVERY SINGLE THING WE EAT, DRINK, USE, OR BREATHE-- will go on pretty much without a peep from them.

Give 'em their dinky little right! The power to make war-- the power to induce these little rights-demanders to make war in return for their poxy little "right" to be honest about whom they make love with-- is far, far more important, and that is going right over their heads. All the better!

Gays, for Crissake (no, for YOUR sakes, and for ours), stay out of the service. Please, y'all, exhibit better sense than American heterosexually-exclusive people!

William P. Homans
Clarksdale, Mississippi
A non-heterosexual-exclusive, unterrorized American with his eyes open!

www.watermelonslim.com

www.VetSpeak.org

VFP Memorial Day in Minneapolis

2011-06-01T17:46:00.002-05:00

Memorial Day Commemoration, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 27, Minneapolis-Saint Paul

5/30/11

Michael Orange, Member since 1991

For the Unknown Enemy

By William Stafford from his book, Every War Has Two Losers

This monument is for the unknown good in our enemies.

Like a picture, their life began to appear:

They gathered at home in the evening and sang.

Above their fields, they saw a new sky.

A holiday came and they carried the baby to the park for a party.

Sunlight surrounded them.

Here we glimpse what our minds long turned away from.

The great mutual blindness darkened that sunlight in the park, and the sky that was new, and the holidays.

This monument says that one afternoon, we stood here letting a part of our minds escape.

They came back, but different.

Enemy: one day we glimpsed your life.

This monument is for you.

Love your Enemy

First observed several years after the end of the Civil War, Memorial Day was originally intended to commemorate soldiers who died during that war. The observance has expanded over time to become a day for remembering all who served in the military. I want to further expand that circle of remembrance to include others who have been poisoned by war: The families and friends who share the soldiers’ sacrifices. The civilian dead, who now account for over 90% of war deaths. And the dead from our internal wars—Native Americans who sought treaty rights; women, minorities, and prisoners who sought civil rights; and workers who sought fair labor rights.

On this Memorial Day, I want to circle back to the holiday’s original intent, which was to honor both Union and Confederate soldiers. It is fitting that we are now commemorating the 150^th anniversary of that horrific conflict when fellow countrymen were enemies of each other.

“Love your enemy,” is Jesus’ most challenging teaching, but what did he mean by love? In the early Greek version the Old Testament, the word is agape, which means a more general understanding of and compassion for all of humanity, without pre-conditions.

This is my story of wrestling with this teaching. I did so in stages. In Vietnam, I discovered what the Dalai Lama meant when he spoke of how our enemies can be our best teachers. When I joined the Marines at nineteen, I learned nothing about the North Vietnamese Army other than that the NVA was my sworn enemy. I was expected to hate and expected to kill. At first, I only feared my enemy, then I soon grew to respect him. Let me offer an example.

In the summer of 1969, we went up against the NVA in their strongholds in the Que Son Mountains. Before we helicoptered in, we threw everything short of nuclear weapons at the entire area for more than five hours. But the NVA didn’t retreat. Those who survived that hellish bombardment waited until the second wave of our choppers came in—my wave, and then they attacked and pinned us all down with precision fire that almost brought down our choppers. They wounded one hundred Marines and killed twenty, and we killed ten times that number of them.

I came away with respect for my enemy’s skill, determination, courage, and most importantly, his sacrifice. I even envied his clear sense of purpose as he fought in his country’s civil war. Respect was my first step towards agape; a first step towards understanding my enemy.

Years later, after studying the war and the rationales for my enemy’s motives and tactics, I did make it to the next stage of agape, the understanding stage. The enemy has been a great teacher. I’ve become a veteran for peace.

Over time, battlefield enemies can become friends. North and South united in our country, Japan and Germany are now our close allies, and Vietnam and Russia have become our trading partners. But what about current enemies? How do we foster a general understanding of and compassion for terrorists, religious fundamentalists, insurgents, Al Qaeda? How do we “take the Devil for our countryman,” as James Taylor advises in the haunting song Leon sang so beautifully? (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55uWEFoPI4M&feature=share)

What you choose to put into your head matters. A recent survey of attitudes about torture by the American Red Cross revealed that a majority of Americans—59% of teenagers and 51% of adults—thought torture was sometimes justified. If most of us are willing to torture a fellow human being, it’s no surprise we’re willing to wage war on countries that pose no threat to us. As my bumper sticker says, “We’re creating enemies faster than we can kill them.”

I know how terribly hard it is to progress beyond the understanding stage of agape and get to the heart of the matter—having compassion for the whole human condition, even for our enemies. But we must. Gandhi said, “It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion.”

William Stafford, who erected a monument to the “unknown enemy” with his words that I read before, lived in a camp with other conscientious objectors during WW II. Through his actions and his words, he affirmed that it is possible to think independently when fanatics act, and to speak of reconciliation when nations take sides. That he grieved equally for all who war touches is apparent in his poem of three lines called “Memorial.” “In Nagasaki,” he writes, “they have built a little room, dark and soundproof, where you can go in alone and close the door and cry.”

Memorial Day is a time to grapple with the imponderable atrocity that is war and, I will add, to extend compassion for all its victims—and perpetrators. It is a time to be alone, “close the door and cry.” It is a time to contemplate the central challenge of our time—perhaps all time—the teaching from that enlightened rabbi of 2,000 years ago who implored us to “love thy enemy.”

www.VetSpeak.org

Sortin' Out Truth From SPIN regarding Bin Laden & Justice

2011-05-27T15:28:00.012-05:00

Ed Note: This piece came to me through the VFP list serve at the beginning of the month. This at a time that Bin Laden, Iraq, and Afghanistan began to slide off the media radar screen, due to the media's frenzy to stir up emotions with "breaking news". News that consists of loop replays of the the most horrendous footage of disasters, and then goes in and exploits the emotions of the victims, all in the name of ratings. I believe in my heart that the administration gained some relief from these disasters, inasmuch as they took focus off Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Libya and Pakistan, while they scrabble for a save-face policy regarding our military and political interventions in the mid-east. Mike Frenetic speaks for me as he speaks truth to power, at the same time speaking of hope and a means for a major effective change in our ntional priorities. I hope he speaks for you, too, and that you will take action and share his piece with a friend. I, like Mike, still believe that one spark can ignite a prairie fire. WH
x
In From Veterans For Peace:

Justice Has Been Done?

May 3, 2011

“Justice has been done,” said President Obama.

“Justice has been done.”

“Justice has been done.”

Justice has been done!? Justice? Justice?? For the last ten years, we’ve been engaged in an exercise of justice? That’s what you call what we’ve been doing?

Are we supposed to take out a large magnifying glass and a delicate pair of tweezers and from within a bottomless pool of blood, gore, death, suffering and devastated economies, isolate one raid that killed Osama bin Laden …and then celebrate that “Justice has been done?”

We cannot. It is simply not possible to call what we’ve been doing these past ten years, “justice.”

Real justice and a real call for celebration would have been to treat the attacks of September 11, 2001 for what they were, a massive, international criminal act and then set about dealing with it as we would any massive international crime – using international police forces to identify suspects, apprehend them, charge them, try them and punish the guilty. And we could have secured more than justice.

On September 12, 2001, a grieving world stood in full sympathy alongside the U.S., ready to assist. America, looked up to by so many, could have led the world into a new day where nations work together to prove once and for all that war is not the answer. Justice and so much more were within our reach.

Ah, but our government leaders weren’t interested in justice. They were interested in taking advantage of a rare “opportunity” to forcibly expand the Empire into a strategic corner of the world, no matter the cost in blood or treasure. That’s what we’ve been doing for a decade after Osama bin Laden became infamous. Of the millions of tragedies we could count in this past decade we can now add one more: May 2, 2011 will be remembered as an historical footnote for the day bin Laden, his wife and a handful of aides were killed.

The much larger story will be that millions of innocent people were killed, wounded, orphaned and displaced; ethnic and religious hatreds were fanned into wildfires; cities and towns from Maine to California grieved the death or the disfigured crippling of a loved one; our entire economy was thrown into chaos – because we spent over a trillion dollars not pursuing justice, but empire.

Collateral damage? That foul term, come to popularity in these wars, includes every extended family of a war casualty, every city and state struggling to forestall bankruptcy and still provide fire protection, police, schools, medical services, libraries…

In fact, it is impossible to understand the cost of Empire’s wars in the aggregate. It is simply beyond human comprehension, and for good reason. It would send us into shock if we were to grasp it. The only way we can get a taste of it is to stop for a moment and feel a mother’s pain as she’s handed a folded flag at graveside; visit, ghost-like, a mud-brick home in the middle of the night in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan and sit quietly with sobbing parents trying to make sense of why their youngest child was just incinerated by a drone strike and their oldest poisoned by the only water there was to drink; listen to the 50 year-old father from Ohio cry because he has just been thrown out of work and his family is soon to be thrown out of their home.

If every American tried this exercise in the quiet of every night for only two weeks, a tsunami of grief and righteous anger would spring from every town, overcoming every political institution in its path until our country was finally set on a direction to where the needs of common people matter more than the dreams of war profiteers and craven politicians doing the bidding of Empire.

....Mike Frenetic

216 S. Meramec Avenue

St. Louis, MO 63105 (314) 725-6005

www.veteransforpeace.org

www.VetSpeak.org

Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One's PTSD

2011-05-08T19:29:00.001-05:00

Ed Note: This just in, via e-mail from Michael Orange. He's getting word out on his wife Cynthia Orange's latest accomplishment. That being, the much deserved recognition for her recently released book on living with PTSD; Shock Waves . Both are periodic contributors here at VetSpeak, their last pieces being from Madison, Wi, written in March of this year; . They are our voices, speaking truth to power. WH

http://vetspeakblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/madison-next-revolution-was-born-here.html

http://vetspeakblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/heres-just-quick-note-about-rally-last.html

BIG NEWS!! Cynthia's latest book, Shock Waves: A Practical Guide to Living with a Loved One's PTSD, won a Silver Award from the prestigious Nautilus Book Awards!

The Nautilus Book Awards recognizes books that promote spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, green values, responsible leadership, and positive social change. Past winners include Deepak Chopra, Barbara Kingsolver, Thich Nhat Hahn, the Dalai Lama, Mathew Fox, Thom Hartmann, Amy Goodman, and Julia Cameron.

I'm so proud of her work and delighted that it's getting this well-deserved national recognition.

http://www.nautilusbookawards.com

Michael

J. Michael Orange

1211 Bidwell St.
St. Paul, MN 55118
651-457-8793
orange_michael@msn.com

www.VetSpeak.org

The Price of the Continuing War in Afghanistan...

2011-04-23T16:49:00.001-05:00

Ed Note: This piece is actually taken from the comment string from the lisa Grey Winona360 Op-Ed that I posted on Friday, April 22d. It was written by Andrew Wilfahrt's father, Jeff, who has a healthy grasp on the causal aspects of our currently depressing national situation, including seeping loss of blood and treasure in foriegn sands . It is an especially poignant piece for families, but it is also a motivating piece for the rest of us, to do more to end our involvement in these illegal and/or unnecessary wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now; Libya. America has paid it's dues to the world community, now it is time to collect reimbursement of those dues from our own government, who have abandoned the principles of Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, at a horrible cost.WH

Who's Gonna Pay The Fiddler?

By Jeff Wilfahrt | Wed, 2011-03-30 09:19

I have something I want to say to every American willing to read.
x
“Who’s gonna’ pay the fiddler?”

The jig would seem to be up and it may be time to pay the fiddler.

Those of us born in the shadow of World War II feared the atomic end of life as we know it; it was to be quick and sudden like a heart attack. While we watched and waited trying to avert an untimely end to America and all of its ideals, a slow malicious cancer grew among us.

In the late 1800s corporations gained the same legal status as living, breathing humans enjoyed. It has become an insidious cancer to our collective being. While we watched for the heart attack the cancer grew. President Eisenhower warned us in stark terms but we failed to heed his caution. The cancer now owns our politics. We have ceded our political institutions to corporations.

The politics of the left often use the pronoun “we”, while on the right of politics we hear the pronoun “me”. The press is full of derision of each approach and it all comes down to money. Perhaps the Tea Party should be referred to as the TBaalParty as in the Golden Calf of the Moses story. A friend once pointed out that the only known time Jesus lost his temper was in the Temple among the money changers. Like me this friend was a product of a parochial education in New Ulm.

The wealth of America is finite. It has not gone away; it is here somewhere among us. Our state budgets are in debt, our social contracts with the needy brutalized, and yet don’t the Judeo-Christian texts tell us the poor and needy would always be among us? We must be our brother’s keepers; the message is clear, “Everyone does better when everyone does better,” it is not that hard to figure out. Minnesota Gov. Dayton is correct to cite his father, to those whom much is given, much is to be expected.

So where has the wealth gone? Who’s gonna’ pay the fiddler? The wealth is in our wars. We have allowed our financial largess to be used for war. This is such a waste on our parts. War is the jig; war is the devil’s tune. We have cloaked our blood lust in the flag, and it is well known that patriotism is sometimes the last refuge of the scoundrel.

It is a myth that soldiers die for honor, freedom, patriotism and the flag. Those notions may spur them to enlist but soldiers die for those to the right or left of them. They are little concerned with our politics back home and only long to be with us once again. Ask them yourself, as we did here in our home just a few weekends ago, two of them fresh from Afghanistan, one of them right off of a plane. To a man they see no progress.

Lt. Gen. John Kelly is quoted in the Washington Post as saying “I just think if you are against the war, you should somehow try to change it,” and adds later, “Fight to bring us home.” I think he is trying to tell us it is time to end the jig and pay the fiddler. Please contact your representatives, let us now fight to bring our soldiers home as we did over Viet Nam.

This family now has blood in Afghani soil; we have some skin in the game as they say. Please, on our behalf, start thinking in terms of “we”, sacrifice is something done for another, not the “me”. Our family, despite its loss, rededicates itself to do good for others every day; we have paid the fiddler our share.

Let us end the devil’s tune, the longer he plays the greater the price to the rest of you.

In honor of CPL Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 552nd MP Company, KIA 2-27-2011, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

(Photo: Lisa Grey)

Sincerely,

Jeff Wilfahrt, father of Andrew.

Lt. Gen. John Kelly’s article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030106355.html

www.VetSpeak.org

Update: Afghanistan & Collateral Damage on the Homefront; Broken Hearts & Smoldering Embers......

2011-04-22T13:45:00.002-05:00

Ed Note: This piece came in from a VetSpeakNet subscriber...thanks. It originally appeared as an Op-Ed piece in the Winona360, a news and feature outlet in Minnesota, made up of college, community, and internet contributors. The piece is timely and relevant. It strikes at the heart of the political, moral and social contradictions inherent in serving ones country. For those who serve, it is an altruistic undertaking on behalf of America and it's citizens, rather than as politically motivated operatives of either political party, or any self-serving political initiative, such as corporate, political or nationalistic imperialism. For their families, it is hell on earth. Ending these wars of imperialism will require each of us to take action. This piece offers some good reasons, and some suggestions. Honor the Warrior - Not The War. WH

Op-Ed: It's Time--A reflection on War, Family, and Action

Article | 03.28.11 | By Lisa Gray

The headline in The Washington Post March 2, 2011 read: “Lt. Gen. John Kelly, who lost his son to war, says U.S. largely unaware of sacrifice.”

No truer words have been spoken. Until recently, I could stand on one side of that statement and hang my head in shame because it’s clear he was speaking to me. On February 27, 2011, Corporal Andrew Wilfarht, cousin to my husband, and son to Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt of Rosemount, Minn., was killed in Afghanistan.

This begins a story I did not know needed to be told.

An uncle of mine served in Vietnam. He survived, came home to receive a purple heart for his efforts, and rarely spoke of it. Later, he would enter counseling, conquer alcoholism, and forgo having his own family because he didn’t trust himself. He has spent an entire lifetime battling the demons we civilians won’t know by becoming a counselor himself. He made several return trips to Vietnam, and later produced a video for returning soldiers called, “Coming Home.”

My own cousin was a Marine and later became a part of The Green Berets, a special forces unit of the Army. He served as the medic in his team and the trials he endured go untold. We know he served the Bosnian refugees during their plight. Stories are rumored to be told of babies delivered in fields en route to escape. But he’s always come home.

I have friends with relatives in the service; other relatives who’ve served; and I was shuffled along as a kid to the Memorial Day Parades and patriotic concerts around the 4th of July; and like anyone, can describe in great detail what I was doing when the towers fell.

What I can’t explain is why I did nothing after the towers fell.

So enter Andrew Wilfahrt, a young man I met at various family gatherings with the Wilfahrt crew. They are a silly bunch with a bit of a musical streak. Andrew was by far the most gifted; composing and mastering the piano and clarinet and any other instrument he touched. A stand-out memory includes my husband on guitar, mother-in-law on accordion, uncle on guitar, and Andrew on clarinet. It was Christmas and they were “performing," but it was so ridiculous that Andrew honked his clarinet consistently throughout due to laughter. He didn’t show off and gamely participated in mediocrity with the rest of the family band while we held our lighters aloft in delight. Later, this same young man’s eyes would sparkle as he played with my kids in a way that suggested enjoyment rather than endurance.

When Andrew joined the Army, it was a surprise move made at the age of 29. He’d done many things and gone many places and battled some of his own demons. His mother, Lori Wilfahrt, told Minnesota Public Radio her son was an “interesting, wonderful young man” who joined the service because he was “looking for a purpose.” Andrew wanted to be with a “group of people that would be working together toward something.”

Still, our thoughts weren’t firmly in place as to the enormity of the decision. Besides, Afghanistan and Iraq were like old wallpaper in the guest bathroom. It’s there; no one likes it; yet no one really pays attention to it. This is not to say I didn’t worry about his safety, but for months he was in Hawaii—bored, sick of it, and then…deployment to Afghanistan. Our ears perked as we rigorously paid attention to the news, but we would soon learn the price to pay for complacency. I wouldn’t consider myself a peace activist, yet who admits to being “for war”? But I learned, through a shocking introduction to icasualites.org—which tracks the deaths of all of our fallen soldiers—that I have been living foolishly under the assumption that “they” doesn’t really mean “me."

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it best in this email to a reporter from The Washington Post: “I worry that we could wake up one day and the American people will no longer know us, and we won't know them.”

Later, in a speech given by Lt. General Kelly, he said, “We are in a life-and-death struggle, but not our whole country. One percent of Americans are touched by this war. Then there is a much smaller club of families who have given all." He spoke of the anger that some combat veterans feel toward the war's opponents. "They hold in disdain those who claim to support them but not the cause that takes their innocence, their limbs and even their lives.”

Lt. General Kelly then clarified in an interview that he is opposed to indifference, not dissent. "I just think if you are against the war, you should somehow try to change it," he said. "Fight to bring us home."

And this is where I am left. I can no longer be indifferent after attending Andrew’s funeral, which was executed in full-on military style. Andrew would be the first to claim that his life was no more important than another’s, but the Army clearly felt differently. There were high ranking military officials in attendance along with Governor Dayton. To look at that small box of Andrew’s remains surrounded by grieving family on a crisp winter day where 154 “Patriot Riders” stood at attention with a firm grasp on their flag is to be touched in a way that changes the shape of the heart. The guns fired, Taps played, and sobs echoed throughout Fort Snelling.

I looked SPC Kevin Gill, Andrew’s platoon mate, in the eyes as he told me the story of Andrew’s last patrol. Andrew was handing out candy to some Afghani children; children he loved as much as any children he’s met, and shooed them away. Platoon 3 marched over 100 meters of control wire where three IED’s were remotely triggered. SPC Gill walked over one and Andrew another. Only one of the three detonated—Andrew’s. I soaked in SPC Gill’s pride and pain, and felt his tears while realizing this man is forever changed.

It seems disrespectful to return to life as we know when a bright, colorful, articulate, gentle soul, is gone simply because he wanted to be part of something bigger.

I, too, want to be a part of something bigger. I want to be a part of a country that doesn’t let those who are fighting for an idea that we take for granted every single day go unnoticed. I want them to be remembered and respected and I want them to come home. We, I think, have done our time in Afghanistan. We have sacrificed too many to those who clearly can’t find their way even with our help. Ten years is long enough and every day the number of families and soldiers who will never be the same increases.

Andrew’s platoon members went back to work within 36 hours of his death.

It’s time for us to join those who have been trying to no avail. Contact your representatives. Attend a peace rally. Send an e-mail. Start a letter writing campaign. As Jeff, Andrew’s father said, “Prayers aren’t cutting it. Prayer has been going on since the beginning of time and clearly, it’s not enough.” Join in being part of the message to our leaders that says it is time bring our soldiers home.

Please don’t look away from the next headline. That wall paper is someone’s life. The next name you see is also Andrew’s; his family’s; my family; yours. These are people whose hearts are in complete disrepair, and we owe them nothing less than our willingness to speak out on their behalf. Andrew did it; I am trying. I need more to join me. To not do so is nothing less than shameful.

Submitted photo of Corporal Andrew Wilfahrdt

To further educate yourself, please consider these resources:

1. The article from the Washington Post in its entirety can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030106355.html?sid=ST2011030106452

2. Icasualties.org tracks the loss of life from Iraq and Afghanistan.

3. Lori Wilfahrt was interviewed by Cathy Wurzer and the audio can be found here: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/04/mother-remembers-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan/

4. Jeff Wilfahrt was interviewed for the CNN news blog about viral celebrity tweets versus our interest in the war here:

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/10/viral-post-pits-coverage-of-sheen-fallen-soldiers/

5. Contact your local representatives from Winona and area districts: https://writerep.house.gov/htbin/wrep_findrep

6. Please take one minute to seek out this website where your name will be added to a petition seeking to bring our soldiers home from Afghanistan: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/july11_withdrawal/

www.VetSpeak.org

A Veteran's Commentary on American Values & Priorities...

2011-04-16T14:16:00.003-05:00

Ed Note: My friend, Rafe Pilgrim, first posted this piece to OP ED News, on 8 April 2011. When I asked him for permission to re-post on VetSpeak, he informed me that it was available to all who would share it with their readers. I find it well worth sharing...so, here it is...hope y'all will share it, too...WH

The Old Lie: It is Sweet and Fitting to Die for One’s Country

By Rafe Pilgrim

Guest Contributer

www.VetSpeak.org

In my small town on the bay side of central Florida, our demographics consist of 2 percent Afro-American, 3 percent Hispanic, and 95 percent Other. The Other is more or less equally divided between, on the one hand, Retirees from northern states (whose incomes consist of social security entitlements, pension checks, investment earnings, etc.) and on the other hand, Workers, mostly of local origin, who service the Retirees as electricians, plumbers, mechanics, bank tellers, wait staff, small business operators, grocery clerks and cashiers, etc., many who when losing a job, must immediately depend upon unemployment compensation for their subsistence.

The very latest official unemployment index in my county is in excess of 12 percent, significantly less favorable than the national index, but nonetheless a gross understatement of the county's economic woes since many of our Workers -- once so abundantly employed in the pre-2008 housing construction boom -- have now been unemployed so long beyond the parameters of the government's unemployment rolls that they have disappeared from not only the entitlements of the system but also from the embrace of the statistics. Moreover, the local imbalance between the former construction workers and those of other occupations is skewed beyond what is typically the case with unemployment statistics across other areas of the country. This presents us with a deceptively low official unemployment index, with actual unemployment of our local Workers probably ranging from the mid-to-higher-twenties percent range.

Addressing this bifurcated milieu, one might expect extreme differences in their socio-economic persuasions, but strangely they congeal in two aspects. One is in their religiosity in which God will provide the answer to all of our problems, and -- make no mistake -- He has no use for Muslims! The other is in their obeisance to Republican political fundamentalism: we've got to put an end to these freeloaders, those unions, the welfare state, all foreign aid, and tell the U.N. to get lost.

In addition, any endeavor to examine issues of American military behavior is to be shouted down with the "Support Our Troops" mantra. Examination of issues or debate becomes unpatriotic, and dissent treasonous. Reasonable doubt becomes "conspiracy theory." So, as with "the colonel's lady and Judy O'Grady" our financially cosseted retirees and our jobless who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, are in these respects bizarrely "sisters under their skins."

We have our share, or more, here of casualties of our historically disgraceful War (What was it for?) in the Middle East, not surprisingly with most of the deaths and amputees from families of economically challenged status. (It is difficult to resist the lure of the $40,000 enlistment bonuses or even the modest subsistence of barracks life in favor of crowded survival in a "single-wide" staked off a dirt road.) None of these pitiful casualties is reported as a victim who wasted his life by hazarding to step on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, the newly coined weapon-of-man-destruction of this war) but always as a "hero protecting us and defending America," or something very similar.

Military funerals here are more than sincere expressions of grief and family loss, assuming a celebratory context. Individual caskets are tracked by the press, out of the Eastern Hemisphere and into Dover Air Base in Delaware, then to the hometown, then to the local church for the service, then to perhaps Arlington National Cemetery. Between stops there are parades featuring military color guards, flags and banners, and large public attendance (in most casual attire) at the local football stadium to celebrate our heroes' sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." Horace penned it with an air of idealistic superiority. Wilfred Owen knew it for the exploitive lie it had become. When will we learn -- as he knew -- the cost of this treacherous propaganda? When -- by anyone's God! -- will we spare the deaths and the amputations of our youngsters in the service of the greed masters and those who lust for power?

Our captive media heap napalm upon the vicious fire, extolling the War (of Lies) and beatifying its American victim-soldiers, while suppressing any criticism or even questions. One Florida newspaper, the Citrus County Chronicle, recently featured as its top page-one headline, in expose fashion, the tale of a local high school teacher (who also serves as the school's basketball coach) who dared to show his class in government a video questioning the official version of the cause of the World Trade Center's collapse in 2001. In additional columns farther back in the paper, the account ran on of the visits by "mad" parents protesting the teacher's conduct, but it was noted that this teacher had an otherwise outstanding record. Nonetheless, the County Superintendent of Education would initiate an "investigation" into the matter.

The Citrus County Chronicle chose not to print my letter to its editor, wherein I offered my appreciation to the pilloried teacher "for introducing an exceptional example -- however contrary to popular sentiment -- of the uncompromising importance of inquiry and the supreme need for truth to our students." The Chronicle did several days thereafter, however, feature an editorial headlined: "Conspiracy theories have no place in the classroom."

Where does this leave us? It seems that Inquiry is now Conspiracy. Truth is now Unpatriotic, perhaps Treacherous, as well as Career-Threatening.

"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." The seductive lie goes on and on -- and very likely will until it destroys us all.

.................................................................................

www.VetSpeak.org

After Action Report: Washington, DC - 19 March 2011 & Quantico, Va - 20 March 2011

2011-04-06T16:40:00.008-05:00

Ed Note: In spite of having posted on these pages my own journey to DC for this event, I am now posting Bill Homans' journey, as well. More expansive than mine, his is a two part report; Washington, DC on 03-20-11 & Quantico MCB re Free Bradley Manning, on 03-21-11. We both came up from the Southeast, he from Mississippi, and I, from Florida. We both brought OIF/OEF folks with us; members from the Baton Rouge and the Savannah chapters of IVAW. We were both there, not only for the demonstrations, and CDO actions (we were both arrested at the White House), we were there to rally other VVAW folks sitting at home, who might have thought VVAW wasn't still in the game, and to hopefully inspire others to commit to action, once again, through our example of presence and unity of purpose with the our other co-endorsing anti-war Veterans' organizations; VFP, IVAW, and March Forward, in future similar actions. Finally; Bill's report on Quantico is a very powerful piece, on it's own. No one can tell it, or play it, like Slim.WH

By Bill Homans AKA Watermelon Slim

VVAW Life Member & VVAW Ms Contact

Washington, DC - March 19, 2011

On Thursday the 17th, Army Iraq vet Zach Choate and Coast Guard vet Ethan Crowell (who served in SE Asia) drove up from Baton Rouge, after Zach had picked Ethan up in Mobile. We took off from Clarksdale. We hammered it in about 16 hours, 955 miles, getting into Washington early into the afternoon.

After a few misdirections by our GPS, who was known as either "Linda" or "Shutup, bitch," we pulled into the Harrington Hotel. As soon as we got into a room, it was time to go to the big music-and-briefing meeting at the coffee/internet bar, Busboys and Poets.

Watermelon Slim @ Busboys & Poets
(Photo: Sue Thompson)

I was able to give people an inspiring moment when movement musician and band-leader-for-the-night Margaret Flowers brought me to the stage to sing my song, "Blues for Howard" about Howard Zinn, with the band, that had actually practiced it!

I assured them that the spirit of my dear comrade Howard was with us all, just as it was in the last communication Howard ever sent me. In that letter, Howard Zinn sent me $1000 and told me to do what was best with it. I gave it to IVAW toward the WSI in Austin.

After some other magical, if rough, musical moments with the band over the duration of the meeting, I finished the show with Sweet Home Chicago (honest, it was on their set list!). Tip o the hat to y'all up in National.

A beer or two was had at Harry's, at the Harrington, and we got a good night's sleep. In the morning, after a good breakfast served by sympathetic people, it was off to the site, where everyone busied themselves about all the things that are required for a good demonstration. Stage erection, literature ready, PA system there and working on time (as a musician, I'll tell you that one's real important, lol), tables set in place.

It is the same in the movement as it is in the music-festival business: the movement culture sustains itself through volunteers and volunteerism.

The speeches of Ralph Nader, Daniel Ellsberg, Chris Hedges and Ann Wright are all on Youtube now, so I won't summarize them. My remarks, representing VVAW, on the morning of Saturday, March 19, were short, and directed to President Obama.

Col Ann Wright Speaks at Lafayette Park

(Photo: Willie Hager)

I noted at the beginning that the President was not currently there and listening, but urged whoever was listening to take notice. I declared that several things having to do with the wars in Afghanistan (and Iraq, whether they will still call it a war or not) were unacceptable.

"First, bankrupting our children and grandchildren with the need for ever more deficit spending to cover two wars-- economically unacceptable!

Militarily overextending US forces for years, to the point that there would not be sufficient forces to bring to bear in the event of attack by a potential real enemy like North Korea-- militarily unacceptable!

And the creation of more and more combat veterans, maimed in body and mind, in a war that has no real prospect to end-- socially and morally unacceptable!

Mr. Obama, these started as Bush's wars. They are your wars now, and I can't believe I'm having to say that. Why not bring our troops home and let the country reap the peace dividend of the net difference between logistically supporting two wars, and threatening in other theatres, and bringing the troops lunch on the southern border?

I have a suggestion for you: why don't you bring our troops home and station them on the southern border if you want to satisfy both right and left at the same time? If you provide a military mission that honorably defends America, you will never lack for recruits.

A US combat role in Afghanistan through at least 2014? Utterly unacceptable!

Mr. Obama, the Vietnam Veterans Against the War are back in Washington, as we were in 1971 when the man in the White House was Richard Nixon. We're saying now exactly what we were saying then:

VVAW returning medals, Washington DC, 1971 - Operation Dewey Canyon III (Photo: VVAW File)

Bring 'em home. Bring our brothers home. Bring our brothers and sisters home-- NOW."

VVAW Silent March to Fontainebleau Hotel (Nixon Bunker), RNC, Miami, Fl 1972 - Operation Last Patrol (Photo: VVAW File)

(Photo: Willie Hager)

That night, there were IVAW events which raised significant money for Operation Recovery. This reporter sat back in room 533 at the Harrington and played his guitar, thinking to go to sleep early-- big day tomorrow in Quantico-- but ended up doin' a little concert for VVAWs Willie Hager and Marcia Westbrook, as well as former VVAW brother Scott Camil, and some of their friends from Florida, and some other VFP and Code Pink folks, we had the room pretty full pretty late. I knew Zach, Ethan and I were going to highball back south as soon as we were done in Quantico, so I had to pull out the instruments sometime, lol.

(Photo: Willie Hager)

Quantico MCB, Virginia - March 21, 2011

(Photo: Willie Hager)

We got to Quantico Marine Base, south of Washington in Virginia, early Sunday afternoon. There were somewhere pushing 1000 people at the first action in Washington-- probably 800-- and my estimate of the crowd which eventually assembled on the land across from the Iwo Jima Memorial was also around that.

(Photo: Willie Hager)

I would say that there was more press at the second action than the first, though brother Ward Reilly says he saw plenty at the first. One thing about a world where Japan's reactors are threatening to melt down and the US is projecting military force into Libya-- which they did, it is not to be forgotten, on the very day we are deploring in infamy, the invasion of Iraq in 2003!-- antiwar demonstrations might easily get lost in the shuffle!

Zach Choate was first to speak. The 10th Mountain division turret gunner was given the Purple Heart when he suffered injuries from an IED attack. He resurrected all the ghosts of Operation Dewey Canyon III when he asked, "What does this Constitution mean, when Bradley Manning is being treated like this?" He tossed the pocket copy of the US Constitution to the ground.

(video: sgtfritter)

"What do all these ribbons mean? They're worthless, if he's being treated this way." And with that ripped medals, Combat Action Badge, Unit Commendation and name tag off his dress greens, leaving nothing on the shirt but a "Free Bradley Manning" button.

L to R: Ward Reilly, Bill Homans, Willie Hager - VVAW, Unidentified Member - VFP, Tassie McKee (behind Zach) and Jason Hurd - IVAW & Ryan Endicott - March Forward (Photo: Sue Thompson)

Zach had to really work hard to get through his speech, but he had his brothers standing behind him. This is a young man with a great soul.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

Among the other speakers was David Hames (sp?), who somehow has been able to see Bradley Manning. This is a spectacular looking and speaking young "computer scientist", as he identified himself. I suggested to him that he was a special person for Bradley Manning, and to keep on being there for him.

Eventually, after I had played Taps, Choate, Ellsberg, Wright, Camil and several others were able to go and lay flowers at the Memorial. Or-- no, wait a minute, at the last moment, the police, or the Marines, or the DoD-- never was clear about that-- denied the representative group access to the grounds to actually lay the flowers on the Memorial.

At the Barricades, Quanatico MCB - 03-21-2011

(Photo: Ward Reilly)

The flowers had to be laid through the fence. Rather significant symbolism, I thought, but there was no help for it. Eventually, Ellsberg, Wright and 28 others were arrested by the Virginia State Police for sitting down in the road opposite the Memorial.

Daniel Ellsberg, Col. Ann Wright and 28 others stage sit-in, and are arrested

(Photo: Willie Hager)

I have written at length on agents provocateurs, and their role in the furtherance of right-wing policy throughout my 40 years of political history. It was, in fact, in March of 1971, while loading wetcast concrete forms in one of my various dead-end jobs of the early 70s, that my ruminations on the war were reaching a climax. A month later I would be in Washington for my first great moratorium march. I was a VVAW the next month, and I'm a Life Member today.

It is up to those of us who have the hard, first-hand experience (one defendant in the Gainesville Eight Trial was present at both actions, and arrested-- voluntarily this time-- in DC) with agents provocateurs to police the movement. At the Quantico action we identified two police posing as protesters, circulating through the crowd-- big, burly, buzz-cut fellows, couldn't have been more obvious.

(Photo: Willie Hager)

A few people loudly baited them. The more serious among us surveilled them. Pictures exist, digitally and in people's minds. Those two fellas will never be effective undercover in the antiwar movement. Job done, even though there might have been more of them that we didn't catch.

Personally, and as a Vietnam Veteran Against the War, I was honored to speak from the same platform as Daniel Ellsberg , Ralph Nader and Col. (Ret.) Ann Wright Saturday morning before being arrested at the White House fence again. Ellsberg and Wright were arrested for committing civil disobedience twice in successive days, first in Washington, and then in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial, at Quantico.

I was also honored to have joined Ellsberg in arrest twice now, though my musical role, and my security role, were more important at Quantico. We had to get home, and could not spend the night in a Virginia jail, so we busted ass back for Mississippi, or in Zach Choate's case, Baton Rouge. He oughta be as far south as Jackson now, on the Blues Highway (US 61 runs right from Clarksdale to Baton Rouge).

I will be back in Washington again. The wars are not going away.

And no one protest is going to make them. This is not Egypt or Tunisia, or Libya.

The political, social and economic system of the US is built with quantums more redundancy of responsibility and chain of command than it is in those countries. There are no peasants in America; even the illiterate have the boob tube. All the better to behaviorally modify you with, my dear!?

We have not felt the pinch of an economy sufficiently desperate and a government sufficiently oppressive simultaneously to make the middle class vote in an enlightened manner, i.e., run against and throw out all the bums responsible for our messes (very crudely stated). And we certainly have not reached the beyond threadbare shape of a Libyan society that had to resort to arms against the longest-ruling dictator (oh, that one on the island doesn't count).

I don't know what it will take to truly threaten the American people into taking to the streets, into being a society in which being in "the movement" is a reality for a majority, instead of what I acknowledge that I am, one of the commited hard core of; a relatively tiny minority. I would question whether more than a few million people in the US-- maybe 10?-- have even done so much as to send a check to Vets for Peace, or VVAW, IVAW, ANSWER, March Forward!, or any of the liberal orgs like MoveOn, PDA. etc.

As for real activists-- well, I'm purty sure that nationwide we've got hundreds of thousands of people who will stand on the corner with a "Stop the War" sign, or will go to a demonstration if it's not too far away. People who are actually ready to do civil disobedience (and this has been the civilest disobedience I ever took part in; the cops, Capitol and Park primarily, were exemplary in Washington), are probably in the thousands, maybe 10s of 1000s nationwide, but it's hard to tell that, because the people just haven't been pinched enough.

However, those numbers could go up with stimuli as direct as $5.00 at the pump, or as indirect as an unseen cloud of radiation from Japan.

An aside on police relations:

I would say that relations between protesters in Washington and police have never been so good! We were literally being asked for consultation as to what we intend to do, and they were allowing us to do it. Of course, we won't be lulled, but I've had first-hand contact with one high-ranking police person, and he was very cordial.

Along the way, in DC, I committed a funny tactical error: I had myself all nicely chained up to the White House fence when one of the cops came by and told us that the arrest area would be some distance down from where I was chained. So after thinking about it, I concluded that I was going to have to unchain and re-chainup further down the fence.

Wrong move. As I was taking my leisurely time (seeing as how the police were being so nice) finding another spot, the captain supervising the entire police presence tapped me on the shoulder and told me they couldn't just let me do that. "You were already chained up, you had your chance," he said, shaking his head.

Bill Homans & Officer Friendly re chains
(Photo: Marcia Westbrook)

He was cordial, I didn't plead much with him. He said something quite cool too, as I was removing the chain and giving it and the lock to him personally: "I'm just trying to protect my people the way I know you'd be protecting yours." Given my proactive attitude toward security, he was righter than he knew.

VVAWs present included Bill Perry, Ward Reilly, Al Kovnat, Sam Adams, Doc Bjornson, Pat McCann, Marcia Westbrook, Willie Hager, and a whole raft of brothers from the old days who wear the VFP colors too-- but there were certainly 30 wearing ours. I am encouraged (though only slightly so; I would have sworn the good weather would have brought out more "sunshine patriot" movement supporters. Those who came were dern sure enthusiastic, and many constructive contacts were made!

Others will undoubtedly report, but this'll be the longest and most personal of 'em, I'll wager.

Free Bradley Manning!

VVAW's Roots Run Deep - 1971

(Photo: "The New Soldier", Collier 1971)

www.VetSpeak.org

After Action report: Washington, DC, 03-19-2011...

2011-03-31T01:17:00.006-05:00

Once More Into The Breach...

Willie Hager

www.VetSpeak.org

VVAW Fl

Sue Thompson - Photo-Journalist
(Photo: M.Westbrook)

Jason & Rushelle - IVAW Savannah
(Photo: Jason)

I had traveled north from Jacksonville, Fl. In our vehicle, we had our own small coalition headed north. Sue Thompson a Global Peace Rally advocate, and professional photo-journalist had come up from Orlando to share a ride to DC, and to document the actions for VetSpeak, and for ANSWER Coalition, too. We left Jax at 11;30 p.m, on March 17th. We got to Savannah around 2 a.m. and picked up Jason Hurd, IVAW SE Organizer, and his partner, Rushelle Fraizier. We then (mostly Jason) drove straight through, and got into DC at approx. 11 a.m., Friday morning the 18^th. Bill Homans, VVAW Ms, did the same, up from Baton Rouge with Zach Choate, and a new face to me, Ethan Crowell of the newly formed Baton Rouge chapter of IVAW. We all arrived at the Harrington Hotel, VVAW hdqtrs in DC, at about the same time. Most of that first day was spent seeking out VVAW types, and getting caught up on the plan.

Zach Choate & Ethan Crowell - IVAW Baton Rouge

David Ross - VVAW/VFP Vermont

Willie H & Scott Camil
VVAW & VFP FL

There were VVAW groups from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Ohio, and the Southeast, as well as many other VVAW members from the Northeast region, there in DC. One of them was a VVAW member named David Ross, from Essex Junction, Vermont. I had crossed trails with David, as far back as the Gainesville 8 trial, when we all had camped out on land donated by the city of Gainesville for VVAW supporters of the Gainesville 8, who came to town in convoys to support the 8. Bill Perry of Philly chapter was VVAW POC, and Ward Reilly was liaison with the parade organizers and police. Here in DC, today, VVAW was still strong in spirit and organizational skills, if not in numbers reminiscent of the day. VVAW, the tie that binds so many together over the years, was now bonding them together, once again.

Sam Adams, Doc Bjornson, Al Kovnat - VVAW Philly

This time, although far fewer in numbers than back in the day, VVAW had come to DC to link arms with Veterans of other major anti-war Veterans organizations; Veterans For Peace (VFP) & IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against The War), who, together had come in protest of America’s continued involvement in Afghanistan, 11 years and 1513 US KIA, later. This in addition to 4441 KIA in Iraq, to date. VVAW had come to participate in a STOP THESE WARS – EXPOSE THE LIES – FREE BRADLEY MANNING march on the White House, and to also participate in a civil disobedience (CDO) action with other Veterans, once we arrived there. What we missed in numbers, we still had in attitude; it was planned that, following the march we would all take to the fence of the White House, and refuse to disperse when ordered to by the US Park Police, and we all agreed that we would be arrested, if it became necessary….”we’ll all go down together…”.

Jim Baldridge (R) & Member - VVAW Baltimore

Bill Homans - VVAW Ms
Chains At The Ready!
(Photo: Willie H)

The Mission: We would all be arrested on Obama’s doorstep for bringing a message of peace, justice, and compassion from America’s warriors, to the President of the United States. Unlike back in the day, the arrests were pre-organized by the march organizers, and would be carried out by the Commander- In- Chief’s Park Police, who would, image wise, be arresting America’s Veterans for the crime of attempting to speak truth about the wars that they fought in, and publically calling it a misdemeanor offense (PP19690 – Failure to Obey - Bail $100.00). A powerful image of dissent back in the day and, we believed, still a powerful message, today…if we only we could get it out to the American people, as some of those present had managed to do at the same White House fence, on 12-19-2010, including my brothers Zach Choate ( IVAW), and Bill Homans (VVAW). I would say that the mood of the troops was solemn, rather than reunion festive, which wasn’t the case of several other of the groups in attendance. Another hold over, from back in the day.

Amber Stone - IVAW
(Photo: Willie H)

Prior to the march, there were a couple hours of speeches by various organizational representatives. Most notable and on message to me, were those of

Code Pink - ON STAGE!

Michael Kern of VFP, and Amber Stone and Zach Choate of IVAW. The rest, it seemed to me, were simply sophomoric revolutionary political rhetoric by ANSWER affiliates, with political theatre provided by Code Pink.

And so it was, as we prepared to march forth from Lafayette Park on the morning of the 19th, 2011...

(Photo - Bill Perry)

Jason Hurd - IVAW & Willie Hager - VVAW
(Photo: Bill Perry)

I was privileged to be on the lead banner for the parade, along with Jason Hurd. It was a strong image of Veterans’ unity around the march’s demands, the VFP banner demanding STOP THESE WARS – EXPOSE THE LIES – FREE BRADLEY MANNING, flanked by Veterans in IVAW and VVAW colors. As I looked back down the line during traffic pauses it appeared that the march stretched out for blocks, and was rich with marchers, signs, and color. Solemn Veterans shuffling along silently, in lead of a colorful and chanting contingent of pissed off protestors, a rewarding visual. Zach, Ethan, and the rest of the IVAW troops gathered behind Jason and I, with an IVAW banner sandwiched in between the “official” VFP banners. Our cadence was a Korean Drum group that marched right behind the Veterans.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

As we approached the White House, the area immediately in front of it had been cordoned off.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

There were cops everywhere; walking, on motorcycles, and riding horses. They had a

(Photo: Bill Perry)

little booking tent, and two awaiting Metro buses already in place…right out in the middle, blocking the view from the street on the other side of their cordon, which was filled with protestors. On the business side of the booking tent, Veterans had begun lining the Whitehouse fence. There were other folks there as well. Daniel Ellsberg and Col Ann Wright came too take a stand, and be arrested with us. The effervescent Code Pink ladies entertained with political cheer-leading routines as the rest of us tensely awaited the order to disperse.

It didn’t come for a long time. When it did, it was low key as Ward negotiated the arrest of Daniel Ellsberg, and Ann Wright. Shortly after that they arrested Ward and began to arrest the remaining individuals, one at a time, including the Code Pink ladies in their regalia, a very surrealistic scene. It was a long process that was intended, I am sure, to dampen our spirits. But, it didn’t work. During the whole process, I saw no Cable or Network news groups, but plenty of alternative media. It was all so unspectacular, that it became apparent that the powers that be realized that low-key was the way to go. They were well organized for the task, were courteous enough, and were, these days, well schooled in managing dissent. Not to mention making all that overtime and bail money that they realized, as a result of our efforts. There were ultimately 113 arrested, at $100.00 a pop. They finally took us to a county holding facility, where they were all set up for a quick n’ easy processing-out for all of us who had defied their order to disperse

(Photo Credits: Bill Perry & Sue Thompson)

Later, as we were released, we gathered just off jail property where pre-arranged shuttles were picking folks up and carrying them back to their hotels. I and a few others were picked up in a van driven by Elaine Brower, who I had met at a GI Organizing work-shop in Savannah a year or so ago. She works with a group of GI Rights activists in New York. Thanks, Elaine, it was getting’ sort of chilly, out there. After we returned to the hotel, it was down time. We were all sharing one of the Harrington’s “large” rooms.

Ward & Slim
(Photo - Willie H)

Scott & Zach
(Photo: Willie H)

My new friend, Marcia Westbrook of Ohio was our benefactor, and allowed us to share her room with her. It sort of became the Harrington Hotel VVAW hospitality room. We had a cooler of beer and plenty to smoke. Watermelon Slim played tunes throughout the evening, and Scott Camil came up with the members of his Gainesville VFP Chapter, who had traveled up and marched, getting arrested along with the rest of us. With Dave Ross in the room with Slim, Scott, and myself, there were VVAW types that went back together, forty years. What a great PTSD therapy session that evening. Then, all too soon, it was time to turn in, as we were all headed to Quantico MCB, to protest in support of Bradley Manning, the next morning, the 20thof March.

The downside of the past week-ends actions in Washington, DC, is that the “anti-war movement” had to go back, again…how many times does this make that we have traveled to DC, over the past 8 years in protest of continued US involvement in Iraq & Afghanistan? Anyone else think maybe Obama and Congress are just not listening? Or, is there a message, that we as an “anti-war movement” should re-group and reconsider the effectiveness of our current strategies?

Now, 8 years into Afghanistan (I don’t like to think of it as an “anniversary”, but rather, as an annual gathering of militants to protest the continued waste of American blood and treasure in the desert sands of the mid-east, in wars of un-necessity), and 8 years into Iraq, and 10 in Afghanistan; I suddenly find myself, on 03-19-2011, once again, in the streets, being arrested. It all seemed sadly desperate, looking back on it.

How was it that all of that political ground, and all of the momentum that we had gained with our mass demonstrations, and blood, sweat and tears back in the day, was lost over the ensuing years of complacency and political infighting that followed the then victorious and politically unified Democratic party, a merger of civil liberties and ant-war movements....what power! Whatever the reasons; here we were again, mobilizing mass demonstrations just as we did so many years ago. In a further twist of irony; in this -latest “limited incursion int0 Washington DC”, the 03-19-2011 Vietnam Veterans Against The War contingent was made up of several individuals who were part of those mass demonstrations and political victories, way back in the day. I, among them.

(Photo: Bill Perry)

Would I do it all again? For the right objectives? Not just YES, but HELL YES! But I do think that we should all rethink our long term position in light of the economy, and the new age of instant communications and electronic networking, and perhaps begin to design some winning strategies out in the grass-roots, and bring our message to America’s door steps, rather than to just Obama’s. I sadly believe now that “they” have figured out how to deal with the tactics that we have carried over from back in the day. We must build an effective and modern grass-roots anti-war movement for the 21st century…all the rest is history.