Topic: Peace

‘Good Riddance Attention Whore’

May 28, 2007 |

Cindy Sheehan is a woman warrior who has spoken for many Americans. Her son gave everything, and she has given up much of her life on this altar of protest.

I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed and especially since I became the so-called “Face” of the American anti-war movement. Especially since I renounced any tie I have remaining with the Democratic Party, I have been further trashed on such “liberal blogs” as the Democratic Underground. Being called an “attention whore” and being told “good riddance” are some of the more milder rebukes.

I have come to some heartbreaking conclusions this Memorial Day Morning. These are not spur of the moment reflections, but things I have been meditating on for about a year now. The conclusions that I have slowly and very reluctantly come to are very heartbreaking to me.

The first conclusion is that I was the darling of the so-called left as long as I limited my protests to George Bush and the Republican Party. Of course, I was slandered and libeled by the right as a “tool” of the Democratic Party.  This label was to marginalize me and my message. How could a woman have an original thought, or be working outside of our “two-party” system? «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 2 Comments

Peace rally planned

By Christine Anne Piesyk | May 23, 2007 |

The FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties will sponsor a Peace Vigil on Sunday, May 27, from noon to 4 p.m. at Patriot’s Park on Fort Campbell Bvld. in Clarksville.

This peaceful event will include a prayer service, spiritual readings, music, guest speakers, and a reading of the names of Kentucky and Tennessee soldiers killed in the Iraq conflict. The public is welcome to attend.

While many of us oppose the War in Iraq, we join with Americans on both sides of the debate in sharing the same concerns for the men and women on the front lines, our soldiers serving overseas and those about to be deployed. We support our troops (that message seems universal) but not the flawed policies and politicians that have immersed them in this escalating conflict.

As this Memorial Day approaches, fatalities in Iraq are escalating rapidly and another landmark number, 3500, is quickly approaching. That number does not include fatalities in Afghanistan, or the civilian death toll in either country. At home, many returning troops and their families face both physical and psychological difficulties from extended (and multiple) deployments. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Events, Issues | No Comments

Hope

By Bill Larson | May 7, 2007 |

This short animated film is a story of native American prophecy. It is the story of mankind, heading down the wrong path, with the hope we will one day find the path of peace and love.

“Hope” is a unique and powerful film with a message of peace for the future. Combining animation, archival footage and live action, in a multi-layered non-linear story, the film brings the viewer on a fascinating journey through human existence. ‘Hope’ is shaped around the knowledge and ideas of Willy Whitefeather, a man in his sixties of Cherokee ancestry, a storyteller, healer, survivalist and an individual of wisdom and heart.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Issues | No Comments

Political music videos

By Bill Larson | March 30, 2007 |

Here’s a collection of protest music as a continuation of our Dear Mr. President article from the other day. Each of the videos below pose questions which deserve answers, but will likely never receive one from this administration. Oh well, I guess we can look forward to the next one in 2008.

Eve of Destruction

Barry McGuire’s classic anti-war song, Eve of Destruction. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | No Comments

What hurts our troops!

By Bill Larson | March 23, 2007 |

The House debates the U.S. Troops Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act. The House of Representatives has a choice: either endorse the President’s open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq or demand accountability, support our troops and set a timeline for the phased redeployment of our troops. It passed 218-212. Of course George W. Bush Jr. says he will veto the measure.

This is a portion of the debate from Rep. John Murtha  (D-PA)

This is a good example of why people who really support the troops are also peace activists. You don’t send our troops into harms way when they are not trained, equipped, and ready for combat. You don’t send them to war without an achievable plan for victory. You definitely don’t send them into combat without support systems in place for when they come home again. You don’t send them into battle while at the same time cutting the medical benefits that were promised to them and their families. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | No Comments

Peace activists gather at eternal flame

By Christine Anne Piesyk | March 20, 2007 |

Opposing forces on the Iraq War issue gathered at the Pillar or Fire, Pillar of Clouds  in downtown Clarksville last night. The FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties held a peace vigil at 7 p.m. Monday acknowledging the end of the 4th year of the Iraq War,  calling for an end to the conflict and the safe return of our troops from what they deem is an unwinnable war. Jeff Mackens and a half dozen pro-war pro-Bush supporters also gathered, waving flags at passers-by. Ironically, both groups offered the same basic message: support our troops. Their differences rest in issues of policy, not people.

At the center of the peace group was a large, stark white sign reading Every Life Is Unique, illuminated by a floodlight and clusters of candles at its base. The group also clustered candles on the marble base of the eternal flame to illuminate it, since the flame itself is not lit. Using songs, drumming,  poetic readings and personal statement, the group spoke of their support for the troops and their opposition to U.S. policies and censured the official lies that launched the war. In a moment reminiscent of the Vietnam era, the  sang Give Peace A Chance. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Events, Issues | No Comments

Peace vigil planned

By Christine Anne Piesyk | March 19, 2007 |

The FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties will hold a candlelight vigil tonight at 7 p.m. the Eternal Flame at Public Square and Main Street in downtown Clarksville. The Vigil marks the fourth year of the Iraq War and follows a national movement of protests and rallies against the war that have been held across the country over the past three days, including the “Walk in the Shoes” rally in Nashville on Saturday. The public is welcome to attend this peace event.

Sections: Events, Issues | No Comments

Peace rally draws hundreds

By Christine Anne Piesyk | March 18, 2007 |

Therapist Mary Coe spoke Saturday to hundreds of activists and angry Americans gathered in Nashville for the Walk in their Shoes rally protesting the fourth anniversary Iraq war and call for the safe return of our troops from what was repeatedly called “an unwinnable war” being waged on faulty policies.” The event at Owen Bradley Park was sponsored by the Nashville Peace and Justice Center and was attended by members of Clarksville’s FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties and Clarksville Online.

Coe, who was profiled on 3/14/07 in Clarksville Online, made a brief but eloquent statement on the mental health facing troops and their families after multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. “Families are devastated” by the problems returning troops experience upon their return. ” Children are afraid, they feel ‘anticipatory’ anxiety over future deployments” or are struggling to adjust to returning parents who are moody, angry, and feeling rage. Coe said that the second deployment saw returning troops with a much higher level of emotional problems, and is afraid of what will happen when troops return from a third deployment that is expected to leave soon.

Among the speakers at the rally was Linda Englund of the Chicago-based Military Families Speak Out. She stood at the podium with a photo of her son, a two-time Purple Heart and Bronze Star marine. Her message was clear: “bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here.”
«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Politics | No Comments