National ‘Iraq Moratorium’ on Sept. 21

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 15, 2007 |

“I hereby make a commitment that on Friday, September 21, 2007, and the third Friday of every subsequent month I will break my daily routine and take some action, by myself or with others, to end the War in Iraq.”

– Iraq Moratorium pledge

Disatisfied with the “progress” in Iraq? With the Iraq War itself? With your legislators? With the trends in public policy? You are not alone ; you are in the company of the famous, infamous and an increasing number of average Americans in cities and towns in all 50 states.

Danny Glover, actor. Coleen Rowley, FBI whistleblower. Noah Chomsky, activist, linguist. Tom Hayden, activist. Eve Ensler, writer. Howard Zinn, historian. Susan Sarandon, activist. The Freeway Blogger. Cindy Sheehan, Goldstar Mother. Jabbar Mcgruder, Iraq veteran.

“Basically I have been so frustrated with the disconnect between the real war and the politicized war that I felt this film would at least acknowledge that war changes people, especially this war. We had a major legacy of suicide and homelessness and heartbreak after Vietnam; why should we repeat it?”

–Susan Sarandon in Newsday

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Sections: Events, Issues, Politics | 1 Comment »

March on DC: Buses without permits turned back, fined at D.C. border

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 15, 2007 |

“Has Washington closed its doors to the public?”

A new and little advertised law implemented a month ago was apparently designed to ensure no illegal border crossings into the D.C. city limits by undocumented buses. The immigration of protesters and other mass arrivals of voices of dissent who arrive by motorcoach are being turned back the ‘border’ by vigilant police, park police and homeland security personnel.

Many of the incoming activists are expected to participate in a march to the Capitol and a “die-in” at the Peace monument under shades of the 60s, when tens of thousands of Vietnam protesters gathered in the shadows of the Washington Monument to voice their dissent with the war policies of that era.

On September 15, thousands of Iraq war protesters and peace activists will mobilize in Washington for what is being describe as “not just another war protest” but a massive rally and a week of direct action that includes a “die in,” lobbying, and “truth in recruiting” workshops.

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Sections: Politics | 1 Comment »

Pace: The Iraqi Army ‘disintegrated’; Gates: “Avoid appearance of failure”

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 15, 2007 |

“One of the mistakes I made in my assumptions going in was that the Iraqi people and the Iraqi Army would welcome liberation, that the Iraqi Army, given the opportunity, would stand together for the Iraqi people and be available to them to help serve the new nation.”

– Gen. Peter Pace, on the Iraq War

On Friday, General Pace, outgoing and soon to be retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke publicly Friday about what he termed “mistakes made” at the onset of the Iraq War. Pace clearly admitted the assumption that the Iraqi Army would hold together and fight was wrong.

“They disintegrated in the face of the coalition’s first several weeks of combat, so they weren’t here.”

Pace said that if he had realized this disintegration would happen, he would have increased the number of troops deployed at the outset of the war. Pace said that he would not have escalated deployment of troops at the start of 2006 because he was working under the expectation of building and equipping an Iraqi Army and turning over security duties to it.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, also speaking out on Friday, said all the President’s senior military advisers are in agreement with those recommendations. Gates said the next steps taken by the United States in Iraq:

“… had to avoid even the appearance of American failure.”

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Sections: Politics | 1 Comment »

Lamentations: An artist’s view of land before and after the rivers

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 15, 2007 |

Lamentations, an exhibit of work by artist Beverly Riggins Parker, will open Sunday, September 16, with a reception from 12-4 p.m. at the Stewart County Public Library in Dover, Tennessee.

Pictured above is Beech Roots, Bear Creek, from the collection.

Lamentations, a series of hand-painted Lith photographs is “a pictorial view of communities in Stewart County before and after the acquisition of land for Land Between the Rivers.” The exhibit runs through October 11.

Parker is native of Stewart County. The library is open M-T-Th-F from 8-8, Saturday from 9-3, and is usually closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Directions: Turn left at the light in Dover, Tennessee (from highway 79) and go about one mile. The library is on the right.

Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments

Iraq war and another deployment changes everything for family

By Debbie Boen | September 14, 2007 |

Over the weekend I met the most wonderful couple. They had a new baby and had a lot of great ideas about nutrition and similar interests in the outdoors. He’s going back to Iraq in January.

“Oh, then you’ve got a little time,” I said.

What a stupid thing to say. It really eats me up to meet someone as neat as that and know that we (I) am sending them back into a war. Bush said that he wants permanent bases in Iraq.

He has no intention of leaving. We’re paying over $450,728,500,000 (I can’t even say that amount) on Bush’s war. Some 71,720 to 78,296 civilians have been killed; how to picture that? Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City filled to the max (Google it).

And we blame the Iraqis for having a civil war. Who wants them to be in a civil war? Mr. Bush does. Stay the course. Our soldiers dead, 3,774 (the bloodiest summer yet) and 27,767 wounded.

But all of them are wounded. You can’t go occupy a country with 71,000 people dead and how many injured and not be wounded by that. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | 4 Comments

Irate reader, soldier chastises as “un-American” the voice of opposition

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 14, 2007 |

I received an irate e-mail for my views on September 11, the war in Iraq and Bush’s America as a whole. I was called unpatriotic for not flag-waving Bush’s war. I was told to “grow up.” Sorry, but I did that the first time I buried a friend killed in Vietnam. He was 19.

But Iraq is not about Vietnam, and not really about September 11th; that was just the excuse that triggered a rush to war in oil-rich country.

Here’s the letter:

“Wow, did you really write that in the Clarksville Voice? If so, you really should be ashamed of yourself, and consider renouncing your American Citizenship (since you seem to be so angry and ashamed of the actions we have taken to prevent another attack) and go live among those “innocents being slaughtered” you so fondly speak of.

“I personally remember everything about that awful Tuesday morning six years ago. I was awake, but still in bed in my apartment in Nashville, TN; when one of my friends and my Dad called nearly simultaneously to alert me about this terrible “accident” at the World Trade Center. I immediately turned on Fox News and within seconds, the second plane hit the other tower, then news of the Pentagon being attacked, and then ANOTHER plane going down en route to the White House.

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Sections: Opinion, Politics | 6 Comments

President Bush says war in Iraq ‘will extend beyond my presidency’

By Christine Anne Piesyk | September 13, 2007 |

“Iraq will require U.S. political, economic and security engagement that will extend beyond my presidency.” – President Bush

No kidding. It’s obvious that whoever is elected to succeed Bush is being handed a mess, a quagmire that some members of the administration say could require U.S. presence in Iraq for ten years or more. It’s not an idea drawing popular support.

~~ 5,700 troops home for Christmas ~~

In his speech to the nation tonight, President Bush said he will continue to stay the course without actually saying the words “stay the course.” Despite the fact that he has pledged to return 5,700 troops stateside by Christmas, that still leaves approximately 155,000 troops in Iraq, including 25,000 of the “surge” troops. These troops were already scheduled to return home. The only difference is that they will not be replaced. Do the math. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments

BBQ, fundraiser, auction to benefit local hunger, shelter programs

By Debbie Boen | September 13, 2007 |

St. Bethlehem United Methodist Church is holding a day-long fundraiser on Saturday, September 29, to benefit F.U.E.L., Helping Hands, and A Room at the Inn, three programs with mission of providing food to local children, food for the homeless, and other services.

The day’s events begin with a breakfast, and continue with a flea market, an auction at 1 p.m., and a country store marketing baked goods, canned goods, cookbooks and more.

A carnival with plenty of inflatables and bouncy things will provide plenty for children of all ages to do and a BBQ dinner will be served from 4-6 p.m. for just $7 per person. A talent show will be held during the BBQ.

The church is located at the corner of Rossview Road and Russellville Pike.

Sections: Business, Issues | No Comments