More 1970

You can listen to this as you read, if you like...

Trying to put names to faces,
On a big old picture,
Of my Junior High School classmates
Standing in front of our nation’s capitol, Washington D.C.

Some are on the tip of my tongue,
Looking as they did
When we were young, so young
When I was just a kid,
When we were all just a bunch of kids
When we were young, so young

I couldn’t find my face at first,
Until I remembered who I was standing next to,
The guy who I remember once said,
In Mr. Fava’s English class,
“Bored?
There are so many things to think about –
How could you ever be bored?”

I saw him last at his Mom’s funeral,
I was already dressed in black that day
To protest our nation’s
Current Wars,
Three nephews,
One fictive and two kin
In the military
Learning to kill
Learning to kill

There was fear in the air in those days
Some of us couldn’t go
Because there was, really, a protest demonstration
Going on just about a mile or so away
And parents were scared –
About those demonstrators
And Black People in that city
And crime in the streets
And I wish I could say
“How things change.”

I see all those Peace symbols
And wish I had one
I don’t think I ever got one
Or I’d have it still,
And I’d wear it still,
How I wish I could say
“How things change.”

I see some of those faces,
In the grocery stores in my hometown
and sometimes someone sees me
and almost remembers my name
As I do the same
As I do the same…

And there’s someone unforgettable
And I wonder how they’re doing now
And another
And another –
And there’s someone who I know is now gone

And there’s a guy in the back row
Who at the time didn’t know
He’d lose his brother
Half a world away in Viet Nam.

I just happened to be
Standing by the school’s office
When his dad came in to tell him and to bring him home
And I’ll never forget the tears in that big guy’s eyes
And how that moment stayed with me
And how that moment changed my life
How that moment lives again every morning
As I watch the TV news –or read how
Only about one in four Americans knows
Four thousand Americans have died
In our newest war based on lies,
Just like that one was,
Our newest war based on lies…

I look back at the picture,
Try to find Kim,
My wife’s best friend,
Whose son calls me “Uncle” and ,
Emails me from Iraq
To say “Everything is fine,”
Just like he’s told to,
“It’s not at all like the Media says.”

And there’s that center row of teachers
- I saw one of them just after 9/11 with her daughter
- At a car show of all places
- Her daughter wearing a big Peace symbol
- I said “Hello,” but I could tell she didn’t remember me
And that big tall guy with the funny name
He once came to our Peace Vigil, up on the Bethlehem Green,
and of course, there’s Ted, who I often see around:
I play guitar with him and we love a bunch of the same songs
And we even sing together, because together
We manage to remember all the words to the songs...

And there’s one of the best teachers I ever had
Who helped me remember things I’ll never forget
Because he knew that laughter opened up young minds
And old ones too, and you know he’s gone now too
And I probably don’t have to tell you,
Perhaps you already knew
And it’s how you remember him too…

Hey! - and there’s a guy with the same last name
Who made us boys laugh
When he called me “Mac,”
That year there was no shop class.
He’d probably get a good laugh
If I told him about all the famous people
Whose antiques I repaired and restored,
Even tho’ I never made my Mom a breadboard.

And there’s Jocko, who’d just gotten that new name
And Ed the Shred, the young kids call him,
His surfer, and now snow boarder, name;
And there’s someone else now gone,
And another probably in jail or about to be,
Wearing those Peace signs upside down,
I remember him pinning them on like that,
Saying he’s in favor of the War
- I saw him once when a band I was in
- Played at a place we called “The Bucket of Blood,”
- Where they bolted the tables and chairs to the floor
- So people wouldn’t use them to break the front window…

There’s Rita whose picture I saw in the paper,
Holding her pet snakes when she was stationed at Pendleton,
Days after I moved back home from San Clemente
Back in the days when that was the only thing you could see
Up in the hills on the other side of Route 5…

And I must’ve looked again about 20 times,
And there’s always someone else I find,
And the clock is watching me
And my coffee is cold
And there’s that big list called “To DO,”
That I’m trying to find…



Monday, March 31, 2008

1970

My 8th Grade Class Trip to our nation's capitol, Washington, D.C.

About a mile or so away, right behind us, something else was happening...

Some News

Army Holds Annual 'Bring Your Daughter To War' Day



In The Know: How Can We Make The War In Iraq More Eco-Friendly?



Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early


In The Know: Our Troops In Iraq


Delicious Snacks Distract Congressmen From Horrors Of War


Immigration: The Human Cost

See more at: http://www.theonion.com/content//
I'd post more but I'm headed to the local BMW dealership...

Keaton Simons - Masters of War - News Montage

The anti-war song by Bob Dylan, performed by the soulful young music star, Keaton Simons. Edited by anti-war activist, Bronwyn Ingram. And featuring pre-war newspaper ads by anti-war veteran Lila Garrett, of KPFKs (90.7FM) Connect-The-Dots…



There are many versions of this song at YouTube...

Naugatuck Valley Community College Students for a Culture of Peace

The Naugatuck Valley Community College Students for a Culture of Peace will have a meeting on Friday March 28, 2008 at 10:15 am in CAFE WEST. They are going to discuss the Seville Statement (see below).












SCOP also presents movies at the school:

The film "Uprooted" is scheduled for 7 PM, Sat., 3/29, 2008.
It will be shown in Room E440 in Ekstrom Hall.
There will be a panel discussion and Q&A after the film.

Bring friends.

Map & Directions:
http://www.nvctc.commnet.edu/welcome/maps.shtml

Ekstrom Hall:
Take elevator or stairs to the 5th floor walkway. Take a right. Follow thewalkway to the end. Stairs straight ahead, elevator on the right to rooms on levels 3, 4 and 6



Info on the movie here:
http://www.nnirr.org/get/get_video.html

They also ask:
“Please see how many people you can bring with you. It should be very informative! We will provide snacks and water for your convenience.”

















Seville Statement on Violence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Seville Statement on Violence is a statement on violence that was adopted by an international meeting of scientists, convened by the Spanish National Commission for UNESCO, in Seville, Spain, on 16 May 1986. It was subsequently adopted by UNESCO at the twenty-fifth session of the General Conference on 16 November 1989. The statement, then known as a 'Statement on Violence', was designed to refute "the notion that organized human violence is biologically determined".

The statement contains five core ideas. These ideas are:
"It is scientifically incorrect to say that we have inherited a tendency to make war from our animal ancestors."

"It is scientifically incorrect to say that war or any other violent behaviour is genetically programmed into our human nature."

"It is scientifically incorrect to say that in the course of human evolution there has been a selection for aggressive behaviour more than for other kinds of behaviour."

"It is scientifically incorrect to say that humans have a 'violent brain'."

"It is scientifically incorrect to say that war is caused by 'instinct' or any single motivation."

The statement concludes: "Just as 'wars begin in the minds of men', peace also begins in our minds. The same species who invented war is capable of inventing peace. The responsibility lies with each of us."

External link: Full text of the Seville Statement on Violence

http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3247&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html "



taken from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seville_Statement_on_Violence

Candlelight Vigil

Who really knows the true numbers
When you add it all up?














But, as Buddy Miller sings:
(You never ask questions)
With God On Our Side

4,000 and 82,349 – 89,867

Monday, March 24, 2008

4,000 US casualties
&
Anywhere from
82,349 – 89,867 documented civilian deaths from violence according to Iraq Body Count.


Roberta and I will be at the Bethlehem CT Green around 7pm
for a candlelight vigil. You may join us if you wish.

My address book just doesn't have all my contacts anymore and I need to straighten them out.
Please forward this very short notice posting...

"When This War Is Over"

Une impro en slide sur un titre de J.J. CALE et ERIC CLAPTON
From: patator45





"When This War Is Over"
ERIC CLAPTON / J.J. CALE
(with patator45)

When this war is over it will be a better day
When this war is over it will be a better day
But it won't bring back all those poor boys in the grave

Ain't no sense in the action, killing people all the time
Ain't no sense no the action, killing people all the time
When it happens on the street, we call that a crime

These old boys are leading us somewhere - that is plain to see
I don't know much of nothing, still it troubles me
Got to find another way, this one ain't the way to go
Got to get a plan, change our ways or no...

When this war is over it will be a better day
When this war is over it will be a better day
But it won't bring back those poor boys in the grave

When this war is over, it will be a better day
When this war is over, it will be a better day
But it won't bring back all those poor boys in the grave

Black 47

" Downtown Baghdad Blues"




Hey, that’s not the whole song! Hear the whole song (more clearly too) at their website:
http://www.black47.com/music/index.html

Downtown Baghdad Blues
Got a buddy in Najaf, he’s playing it straight
Prays to the Lord Jesus Christ every night
Got a homey in Samarra goin’ up the walls
Every time he hears an Islamic prayer call
Me, I don’t care much for Jesus or Mohammed
They don’t stop bullets to the best of my knowledge
Later for the both of you, catch you in eternity
Hopefully, toward the end of this century

I didn’t want to come here, I didn’t get to choose
I got the hup, two, three, four Downtown Baghdad Blues.

I wish I was back home rootin’ for the Padres’
Stead of dodgin’ bullets from Mookie El Sadr
I wish I was back in the land of Guiliani
Instead of takin’ heat from Ayatollah Sistani
Don’t know what I’m doin’, but one thing is clear
Twenty years old, I can kill but I can’t buy a beer
Keep your head down, don’t get your brain cells fried
You’ll be home by Christmas, dead or alive.

I wish I was back in the US of A
Instead of dodgin’ rockets in Fallujiay
There’s a lady with my tattoo on her so special
Dream of her and me out in the desert
She ridin’ round in her Daddy’s Ford Explorer
I’m kickin’ in doors, hey, I thought this war was over
Got sand in my nose, sand in my eyes
But the sand can’t cover up the sights of a
Sniper with my number, got his finger on the trigger
Hope my baby’s okay, I’m still waitin’ for a letter
All I get are emails, so much left unsaid
It’s hot here, baby, but it’s so cold inside my head.

Mission accomplished, yeah, up on deck
Got no armor for my Humvee, I’m left facin’ this train wreck
Shia don’t like me, want Islamic Revolution
Sunni say civil war is part of the solution
Maybe someday there’ll be peace in Fallujah
McDonald’s on the boulevard, Cadillac cruisin’
I’m tryin’ hard to keep this whole thing straight
But will someone tell me what am I doin’ here in the first place?

Eddie Vedder & Tomas Young and Universal Soldier

From:
http://www.bodyofwarmusic.com/


Eddie Vedder and Tomas Young discuss the music for Body of War.


Eddie Sings:




Universal soldier

BY BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE


Donovan



ERIC ANDERSEN

UFPJ

Please share this as widely as possible!

Stop the War Now banner stops traffic in Washington DC!
Photo: Denice Lombard

Please make the most generous donation you can today to help carry this critical work forward.

Dear Tim,

Reports are still coming in, but it is clear that March 19th -- and this whole week of anti-war action -- was historic. On Wednesday, the atmosphere out in the streets of our nation's capital was exhilarating. More than 1,000 people -- students, grannies, veterans, and more -- engaged in more than a dozen bold, creative, inspiring actions in downtown DC that disrupted business as usual. The protests made those who profit from war, and those who enable it, stop and take notice.

The energy in those activities was bolstered by the fact it was connected to more than 1,000 actions in all 50 states marking the 5th anniversary of the war and occupation in Iraq, and demanding that it be brought to an immediate end.

And all of this was preceded by 3 days of powerful testimony given by brave veterans of the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Winter Soldier hearings organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War. If you haven't already, we urge you to visit http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7HEMA38nILPZYZUGuKipdr87K8uBFA9N

now to watch these historic proceedings online.

There's much more to say about all of these actions, so please do take a moment to read the many action reports that have already been posted on 5yearstoomany.org. (If you participated in an activity, please post a report and any photos or video you have as soon as possible.)

We looked to March 19 as a day to express our outrage and sadness at 5 years of incalculable devastation and to re-galvanize our movement for the work ahead in this critical year. Thousands of people across the country rose to that occasion and stepped forward to take action.

Now we must carry that energy forward -- there is much work ahead of us.

Today is the seventh Iraq Moratorium Day, and local actions marking the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq continue through the weekend.

And unfortunately, we will very soon be observing the death of the 4,000th U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.

Click here to find a peace activity in your area,

or organize your own and post it on our calendar.

Click here for action ideas.

Sometime in April Congress will debate and take action on the Bush administration's request for an additional $105 billion for the war and occupation in Iraq. 5 years of death and destruction and they want more! We will send you information soon about what you can do to pressure your members of Congress to use their power to end this war and bring all the troops home.Together, we will end this war, and create the peaceful and just world we all know is possible.

Yours, for peace and justice,

Leslie Cagan

National Coordinator, UFPJ

Phil Ochs

I Ain't Marching Anymore

Robert Cray - Twenty

"November 1, 2004, as the sun rose over a farm near Dover, New Hampshire the Eyes Wide Open crew once again began laying out more than two thousand pairs of boots representing the U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq. But this was not a standard stop on the nation-wide tour of AFSC’s acclaimed anti-war exhibit.

The boots were being prepared to play a role in a music video for blues musician Robert Cray’s poignant new song, “Twenty”, telling the story of a young soldier, who questions his mission in Iraq, but is killed before his deployment is up.

The video, directed by Robert Cray’s wife, Susan Turner-Cray stars Aidan Delgado, a 23-year-old Iraq-war veteran who served in Nasiriyah and at Abu Ghraib prison, before securing conscientious objector status and returning to the U.S. David Goodman, one of the Eyes Wide Open tour managers, has a cameo role in the video as a Vietnam Veteran.

The Crays had heard about the Eyes Wide Open exhibit, but had not seen it when they began developing ideas for the music video. They contacted the Chicago AFSC office and began arrangements to feature the exhibit in the production. After many potential sites were considered, the rolling hills behind the New Hampshire farmhouse of Todd and Kristin Adelman was offered and chosen. Cinematographer, Jonathon Millman signed on to shoot the video and other local actors and crew joined the effort – donating their time out of commitment to the concept."

In the video's first ten days online a the AFSC's website, nearly 30, 000 people watched "Twenty" and passed it on to their friends.

If the video was to be remade today, almost twice the number of pairs of boots would be needed to represent the number of deaths...

Above taken from: http://www.afsc.org/iraq/cray-video.htm

and below: http://www.afsc.org/cost/default.htm

How to watch and listen to Winter Soldier

Latest updates: http://ivaw.org/

Why we're against the war
Q: Why are veterans, active duty, and National Guard men and women opposed to the war in Iraq?
A: Here are 10 reasons we oppose this war:
The Iraq war is based on lies and deception. The Bush Administration planned for an attack against Iraq before September 11th, 2001. They used the false pretense of an imminent nuclear, chemical and biological weapons threat to deceive Congress into rationalizing this unnecessary conflict. They hide our casualties of war by banning the filming of our fallen's caskets when they arrive home, and when they refuse to allow the media into Walter Reed Hospital and other Veterans Administration facilities which are overflowing with maimed and traumatized veterans.For further reading: www.motherjones.com/bush_war_timeline/index.html
The Iraq war violates international law. The United States assaulted and occupied Iraq without the consent of the UN Security Council. In doing so they violated the same body of laws they accused Iraq of breaching.For further reading:http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/imt/proc/imtconst.htmhttp://www.westpointgradsagainstthewar.org/
Corporate profiteering is driving the war in Iraq. From privately contracted soldiers and linguists to no-bid reconstruction contracts and multinational oil negotiations, those who benefit the most in this conflict are those who suffer the least. The United States has chosen a path that directly contradicts President Eisenhower's farewell warning regarding the military industrial complex. As long as those in power are not held accountable, they will continue... For further reading:http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0714-01.htmhttp://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/
Overwhelming civilian casualties are a daily occurrence in Iraq. Despite attempts in training and technological sophistication, large-scale civilian death is both a direct and indirect result of United States aggression in Iraq. Even the most conservative estimates of Iraqi civilian deaths number over 100,000. Currently over 100 civilians die every day in Baghdad alone.For further reading: http://www.nomorevictims.org/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1338749,00.htmlhttp://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A1EF73C5A0C758DDDA10894DE404482
Soldiers have the right to refuse illegal war. All in service to this country swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. However, they are prosecuted if they object to serve in a war they see as illegal under our Constitution. As such, our brothers and sisters are paying the price for political incompetence, forced to fight in a war instead of having been sufficiently trained to carry out the task of nation-building.For further reading:http://thankyoult.live.radicaldesigns.org/content/view/172/http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6ZHYcG_EMhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=1dAXQeH7y9g&mode=related&search=http://girights.objector.org/
Service members are facing serious health consequences due to our Government's negligence. Many of our troops have already been deployed to Iraq for two, three, and even four tours of duty averaging eleven months each. Combat stress, exhaustion, and bearing witness to the horrors of war contribute to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a serious set of symptoms that can lead to depression, illness, violent behavior, and even suicide. Additionally, depleted uranium, Lariam, insufficient body armor and infectious diseases are just a few of the health risks which accompany an immorally planned and incompetently executed war. Finally, upon a soldier's release, the Veterans Administration is far too under-funded to fully deal with the magnitude of veterans in need.For further reading:http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/http://www.vets4vets.us/
The war in Iraq is tearing our families apart. The use of stop-loss on active duty troops and the unnecessarily lengthy and repeat active tours by Guard and Reserve troops place enough strain on our military families, even without being forced to sacrifice their loved ones for this ongoing political experiment in the Middle East.For further reading: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_loss_092704,00.html
The Iraq war is robbing us of funding sorely needed here at home.$5.8 billion per month is spent on a war which could have aided the victims of Hurricane Katrina, gone to impoverished schools, the construction of hospitals and health care systems, tax cut initiatives, and a host of domestic programs that have all been gutted in the wake of the war in Iraq. For further reading:http://www.costofwar.com/
The war dehumanizes Iraqis and denies them their right to self-determination.Iraqis are subjected to humiliating and violent checkpoints, searches and home raids on a daily basis. The current Iraqi government is in place solely because of the U.S. military occupation. The Iraqi government doesn’t have the popular support of the Iraqi people, nor does it have power or authority. For many Iraqis the current government is seen as a puppet regime for the U.S. occupation. It is undemocratic and in violation of Iraq’s own right to self-governance. For further reading:http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
Our military is being exhausted by repeated deployments, involuntary extensions, and activations of the Reserve and National Guard.The majority of troops in Iraq right now are there for at least their second tour. Deployments to Iraq are becoming longer and many of our service members are facing involuntary extensions and recalls to active duty. Longstanding policies to limit the duration and frequency of deployments for our part-time National Guard troops are now being overturned to allow for repeated, back-to-back tours in Iraq. These repeated, extended combat tours are taking a huge toll on our troops, their families, and their communities.For further reading: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-military12jan12,0,7198945.story?coll=la-home-headlines


Q: Why do Iraq Veterans Against the War call for the immediate withdrawal from Iraq?
A: There are several reasons why immediate withdrawal is the critical first step toward solving the problems in Iraq.
The reasons and rationale given for the invasion were fraudulent. There were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq during the time of the invasion according to US officials and former chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix. The idea that Al Qeada and the 9/11 terrorist attacks were connected to Saddam Hussein and the Baath party were proven false in the 9/11 Commission Report. Members of the Bush Administration have admitted that they “misspoke” in the run up to the war.
The presence of the US military is not preventing sectarian violence.The US occupation of Iraq has proven to be unable to prevent sectarian violence and halt an escalation towards a civil war. Despite having an average of 140,000 troops in country since the occupation began, internal violence and attacks against civilians and Iraqi security forces have been on a steady incline.
The occupation is a primary motivation for the insurgency and global religious extremism.The insurgency can be broken down into many individually named factions with various goals, beliefs, and techniques. However, our membership of veterans believe that the occupation of Iraq is the primary thing encouraging the insurgency and giving it legitimacy in the eyes of many Iraqis. Likewise, other people of the Islamic faith are encouraged to resist America ’s policies internationally based on how they perceive our military operations in the Middle East.
We can no longer afford to fight this war of choice.The financial burden is destroying our domestic programs that could be used to protect us from natural disasters, provide medical programs, or help improve education. We are jeopardizing the US economy and putting strains on the budgets of important government agencies like the Veterans Affairs Department.
National security is compromised.Funds that could be used to protect our ports and transportation are being stripped away while our National Guard units are on constant deployments instead of being used to protect and defend us here at home.
The world is becoming more dangerous.International terrorist attacks have increased and it has become more dangerous for Americans to travel abroad. Approval for US policy has decreased and the dislike of Americans has increased.
Our national “moral authority” is being undermined.The US has lost credibility to much of the world as the defender of liberty and freedom and our national identity is eroding. We can no longer deploy our armed forces for peace keeping measures with the good faith of the international community. We need to regain the respect and faith of the global community. This begins by withdrawing our troops from Iraq and helping the Iraqi people rebuild their country and society.
The majority of American citizens, Iraqi citizens and US military would like to see an immediate end to the war in Iraq. If we are truly a democracy and we aim to create a democracy in Iraq our leaders will represent the will of the citizens and lead according to their wishes.
The military is broken.We are abusing the small population of armed service members with multiple deployments while using inadequate vehicles and equipment. Less than one half of a percent of the American population is serving in the active armed forces, which is the least amount in the last century. Only 25% of the troops in Iraq are there for their first tour, while 50% are there on their second tour, and the remaining 25% are there three times or more. We continue to involuntarily extend soldiers with Stop-Loss, recall them repeatedly for additional service using the Individual Ready Reserve, and send soldiers with diagnosed medical problems into combat.
To download a printable PDF of this page, click here.



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Can You Attend a Vigil on Wednesday?

From TrueMajority (http://www.truemajorityaction.org/) & MoveOn.org (http://www.moveon.org/), I found this about "Can You Attend a Vigil on Wednesday?"

"The war in Iraq has gone on for nearly five years. The unbearable costs at home and abroad keep mounting. It's clear that Americans are ready for a real change in direction.On March 19th, tens of thousands of people across the country will gather to observe the fifth anniversary of the war with candlelight vigils. We'll commemorate the sacrifices too many families have made, and the billions of dollars wasted in Iraq that could have been better invested at home..Join us at a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, March 19th. Honor the sacrifice. Change our priorities. Bring the troops home.
Click here to organize your own vigil, or sign up for one near you."

I put in my zip code here:
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?rc=partner.truemajority&action_id=112

And got these results:

Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 5:00 PM
Candlelight Vigil to mark 5th Anniversary of Iraq War - 8 miles away Plaza in front of Town Hall as done last year 2 registered participant(s) (100 maximum) Byram Plaza,, in front of Town Hall washington depot, CT 06794 Hosted by sandra canning Description A candlelight vigil to mark the 5th anniversary of the war we held this same kind of event last year.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 7:00 PM
Candlelight vigil and rally with Ned Lamont - 16 miles away Amity Regional High School: Front Entrance 10 registered participant(s) (500 maximum) 25 Newton Road Woodbridge, CT 06525 Hosted by Zachary Kirwood Description The New Democrats Club of Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge will be hosting a vigil to mark the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq at the front entrance of the school at 7 PM on March 19th. After a short candlelight ceremony, former US Senate candidate and anti-war activist Ned Lamont will address the crowd. All are welcome.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 7:00 PM
Danbury Vigil - 17 miles away Danbury Library Plaza 19 registered participant(s) (100 maximum) Corner of Main & West Streets Danbury, CT 06810 Directions: In the heart of Danbury's downtown area. Parking on street or at the Patriot Garage a few blocks away. City Hall parking two blocks away may also be available.Hosted by Michael Toto Description Silent, Candlelit Vigil sponsored by the Danbury Peace Vigil Attendees and Veterans for Peace Chapter 18 (Fairfield-Litchfield Cty's/CT)and a number of local Move-On members
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 12:00 PM
New Priorities Vigil - 18 miles away Torrington City Hall, Main St. 12 registered participant(s) (30 maximum) Main Streete Torrington, CT 06790 Hosted by jeanne cassidy Description Vigil will be in front of Torrington City Hall which is handicap accessable.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 7:00 PM
5 years and 2 trillion - 20 miles away Stop and Shop courtyard corner of Broad and East Main 7 registered participant(s) (100 maximum) corner of Broad and East Main Meriden, CT 06450 Hosted by Kim Morris Description Silent vigil-one hour. Respectful quiet and contemplation for the loss of the civilians and soldiers in a pointless war. I respectfully ask everyone coming to bring candles (beeswax is best, no petroleum used to make those) matches, and signs.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 5:30 PM
GIve Iraq back to the Iraqi's - 20 miles away chapel & college st 32 registered participant(s) (100 maximum) corner of chapel and college st @ the green New Haven, CT 06511 Directions: please call me if you are unfamiliar with new haven, otherwise, you should know the location. For those of you who participated in reading the names of those killed in the war, it will be the same location.Hosted by AnnaMaria Mauhs Description Come and join the nation in promoting peace not war! It is time to give Iraq back to the Iraqi people. Too many lives have been lost and a nation has all but been destroyed.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 5:30 PM
Peace Vigil - 20 miles away Corner of Whitney and Putnam Aves. 0 registered participant(s) (300 maximum) Corner of Whitney and Putnam Aves. Hamden, CT 06517 Hosted by Michael Ross Description As we did 5 years ago, we will gather to express our opposition to Iraq War through a solemn vigil. Why has this war gone on so long?
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 7:00 PM
candlelight vigil - 26 miles away corner of main and farmingtton 17 registered participant(s) (200 maximum) corner of main and farmington west hartford, CT 06107 Hosted by nancy urban, Sherry Affleck Description this is a candlelight vigil to remember those who have sacrificed so much for five years in a war that never should have happened in the first place.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 6:30 PM
Vigil - 5th Anniversay of the Iraq war - 27 miles away Durham Town Green 17 registered participant(s) (250 maximum) Durham Town Green, Main Street Durham, CT 06422 Directions: The Durham Town Green is located on Main Street, Rt 17, at the intersection of Maple Avenue.Hosted by Laurie Stevens Description Please join us for a candle light vigil on the town green to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and to honor the sacrifices made by our troops and their families.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 6:00 PM
Prayerful Vigil for an End to War - 28 miles away In front of Town Hall 1 registered participant(s) (150 maximum) Ripley Hill Road(Rte. 318) and Rte. 181 Barkhamsted, CT 06063 Hosted by lisa candels Description This will be a Prayerful Vigil for an End to War. I will bring extra candles. We may sing songs of love for America, the earth and for peace.
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008, 7:00 PM
5th Anniversary Sunrise Hill Vigil - 29 miles away Elizabeth Park Hartford side 14 registered participant(s) (200 maximum) Prospect Ave Hartford, CT 06105 Hosted by Tracy Gale Description Candlelight vigil on the 5th Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Winter Soldier 2008

Winter Soldier: Hundreds of Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Gather to Testify in Echo of 1971 Vietnam Hearings

Hundreds of veterans and active-duty soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are gathering today for the Winter Soldier hearings. The soldiers plan to give eyewitness accounts of the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War, the gathering is modeled after the 1971 Winter Solider hearings organized by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. [includes rush transcript]
AMY GOODMAN: How do you feel about those who say this is the greatest outrage, for soldiers to be speaking out against their service?
TANYA AUSTIN: I think it’s just the actual 100 percent opposite of that. There’s no one who knows better than the soldiers. No one knows better than those of us who have served in today’s military, who have seen what we’ve seen, heard what we’ve heard and done what we’ve done. And for all of us that are here, I see nothing more than absolute patriotism by coming out and speaking out about what we see and what we’ve done.
AMY GOODMAN: Are you afraid of suffering repercussions from within the military?
TANYA AUSTIN: No, because I know what I’m doing is right. And doing what is right and what is easy is often two different things.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/3/14/hundreds_of_veterans_of_iraq_and

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/3/14/stream

"Winter Soldier", –excerpt from film about the 1971 Winter Soldier hearings by Milliarium Zero and the WinterFilm Collective. More information at Wintersoldierfilm.com

BETWEEN THE LINESTHE WEEK ENDING MARCH 21, 2008

Listen to the RealAudio version of program:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/ram/btl032108.ram(Needs RealPlayer)
Listen to the MP3 version of program:http://www.btlonline.org/download/btl032108v32.mp3

1) Bush Vetoes Bill Banning Torture
Interview with former CIA analyst Mel Goodman, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, conducted by Scott Harris

In RealAudio:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/ram/goodman032108.ramText summary/related links:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/btl032108.html#1hed

2) Iraq, Afghan Vets Testify on Realities of Warat Winter Soldier Hearings
Interview with Geoff Millard, Washington D.C. chapter presidentof Iraq Veterans Against the War, conducted by Scott Harris

In RealAudio:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/ram/millard032108.ramText summary/related links:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/btl032108.html#2hed

3) Nader Vice Presidential Running Mate, Matt Gonzalez, Advocates Electoral Reform
Interview with Matt Gonzalez, Ralph Nader's vicepresidential running mate, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

In RealAudio:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/ram/gonzalez032108.ramText summary/related links:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/btl032108.html#3hed

4) This week's summaryof under-reported news
Compiled by Bob Nixon

* After the militant Islamic party, Hamas, won the 2006 Palestinian election, the Bush administration orchestrated a counter-offensive to force Hamas out of the Palestinian government. * A former KGB agent turned Russian arms trafficker, was arrested in Thailand by investigators posing as buyers from the Colombian guerilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. *The number of homeless in New Orleans has doubled since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city. The bulk of 52,000 rental housing units destroyed have not been replaced, and hundreds of liveable units of public housing have been destroyed.

In RealAudio:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/ram/news032108.ramText summary/links:http://www.btlonline.org/2008/btl032108.html#news====================================
AUDIO INFORMATION:
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org/

Contact Scott Harris at (203) 268-8446 or email: betweenthelines@snet.net for more information on how to subscribe via CD delivery, free MP3 download/RSS, or Pacifica Radio Network satellite feed.

Days Left to Impeach from My 2008 Calendar

"Why is impeachment not on the table?"

Turn, Turn, Turn!

Pete Seeger and others tell the story about this song…



To everything (turn, turn, turn)There is a season (turn, turn, turn)And a time for every purpose, under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to reap. A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to laugh, a time to weep. To everything …
A time to build up, a time to break down. A time to dance, a time to mourn. A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together. To everything …A time of love, a time of hate. A time of war, a time of peace. A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing. To everything …A time to gain, a time to lose. A time to rend, a time to sew. A time to love, a time to hate.
A time for peace, I swear its not too late...



Above: Solo Roger McGuinn version; below: Byrds Reunion version.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone

More about the Department of Peace

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Peace
The Department of Peace and Non-violence is a proposed cabinet-level department of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The original idea of a Peace Department in the United States dates back to the administration of George Washington, but has been most recently reinitiated by Rep. Dennis Kucinich beginning in 2001 and formed a part of Kucinich's presidential campaign platform in 2004 and 2008. A bill for this purpose, HR 3760, was previously introduced in the House of Representatives on September 14, 2005. It has most recently been re-introduced via HR 808 on February 5, 2007 and 65 co-sponsors have since quickly signed on.
The Peace Alliance organization supports the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace and Non-violence. It is an independent grassroots political movement that operates autonomously. The ongoing movement is supported by Kucinich and the author and popular motivational speaker Marianne Williamson. This movement actively lobbies for the endorsements of congressional leaders. It has local grassroots chapters in over 264 congressional districts…
Example anti-violence or anti-war language from HR 808 includes:
The formal title is the "Department of Peace and Nonviolence"
The department is partly designed to "work to...divert from armed conflict"
The department is to:
"…monitor and analyze causative principles of conflict"
"…develop policies that address domestic violence, including spousal abuse, child abuse, and mistreatment of the elderly"
"…develop policies to address violence against animals"
"…develop new approaches for dealing with the implements of violence, including gun-related violence and the overwhelming presence of handguns"
"…develop new programs that relate to the societal challenges of school violence, gangs, racial or ethnic violence, violence against gays and lesbians, and police-community relations disputes"
"…advise the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State on all matters relating to national security, including the protection of human rights and the prevention of, amelioration of, and de-escalation of unarmed and armed international conflict"
"…help with the enforcement of international arms embargoes"
"…submit to the President recommendations for reductions in weapons of mass destruction"
"…make annual reports to the President on the sale of arms from the United States to other nations"
"…study the role of the media in the escalation and de-escalation of conflict"
Proposed additional positions include: "Assistant Secretary for Arms Control and Disarmament"
Proposed transfers include: "Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control, and the International Security Affairs of the Department of State"

External Links:

Establish a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence - The Peace Alliance Campaign
Text of House Resolution 808: To establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence
The Propeace community
U.S. Department of Peace on MySpace
Americans For a Department of Peace (AFDOP.org) San Diego County, California
Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace Los Angeles
Florida Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence
Maine State campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
Maryland State campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
Massachusetts Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
International People's Initiative for Departments of Peace
NPR: Peace Department Proposal Rattles Small Town
United States Institute of Peace
Representative Dennis Kucinich's Personal Site Discussing this Legislation
New Mexico Dept. of Peace and Non-Violence Campaign
Idaho Department of Peace Campaign
Arizona Dept. of Peace Campaign
New Hampshire Dept. of Peace Campaign
COLORADO Department of Peace Campaign
Colorado DoP MySpace
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Peace"

Kucinich

On issue after issue, Dennis Kucinich has demonstrated his courage and his leadership. In particular, when nobody else would raise their hand he stepped forward to call for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney.

Please step forward now yourself now to encourage Dennis to continue standing strong on the issues.

Because of the strong stands he has taken on the issues for us, Dennis is under attack by corporate special interests trying to force him out of Congress altogether. But you can help him fight back now. For every donation of $100 dollars or more, Dennis will send you a special commemorative edition of his pocket constitution, just like the one he protects and defends every day. And if you can donate a thousand dollars or more, Dennis will personally autograph it for you.



from: http://www.usalone.com/thank_you_dennis.php

Will It Change Things?

Will It Change Things?
by Shishka Bob c 2008

If I stand in a single spot long enough, will it change things?
If I stand in a single spot long enough, will it change things?
If I stand in a single spot long enough
Thru rain and snow and things that’r tough?
If I stand in a single spot long enough, will it change things?


If I make a little sign and hold it up, will it change things?
If I make a little sign and hold it up, will it change things?
If I make a little sign and hold it up
Even though the newspapers won’t write me up
If I make a little sign and hold it up, will it change things?

(Above: Bethlehem Peace Vigil)

(Below: "Step It UP!" New Haven Green-

Yale Community College in back ground.)

“Peace, not war”, “Don’t use fossil fuel”
My kids think it’s a prison but they call it a school
Everybody has a right to their opinion
You’ve got yours and I’ve got mine
I’ll listen to you if you’ll give me the time
Life’s so short and I can’t wait
If they don’t stop the war I’m gonna demonstrate

If I sing my little song long enough, will it change things?
If I sing my little song long enough, will it change things?
If I sing my little song long enough
Will it carry you thru when things get rough?
If I sing my little song long enough, will it change things?

Sent to me on:

Saturday, March 1, 2008 11:21 AM

"Inspired by one of my heroes who plays with the best jug band I know."

Bob