Topic: Peace

Photos of Tehran, Iran

By Bill Larson | January 30, 2007 |

I received this via e-mail and felt that we should all take a long hard look at these pictures. See the land, the scenery, and the people. When you come right down to it, it looks a lot like America, doesn’t it?

View at least a few of the shots and see if you still have the same mental picture of Tehran that you might have had before you watched. They certainly blew me away. Kind of like people in other countries thinking we’re all cowboys, eh? - Sarah Good

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Lieutenant General William E. Odom, U.S. Army (Ret.) on withdrawing our troops from Iraq

By Bill Larson | January 28, 2007 |

It’s not just the liberals or Democrats folks! All “sane” people are calling for the same thing. Get our troops out from harms way now! Don’t wait do it now! It is simply not possible for us to win in Iraq. Our presence will make the coming civil war there much worse than it would be if we left now.

It would be beyond foolish for us to even consider going into Iran as the President and his administration are currently setting us up for. Their play book is same one they used to trick the public into supporting a war in Iraq, but we can put a stop to this one before it even gets started. Say no more to the lies, half truths, and distortions! Oppose further conflicts which are intended to enrich the military industrial corporate complex at the cost of American soldier’s lives. The drum beat to war is sounding again and we havn’t been able to win any of the other wars President Bush has foolishly gotten our nation into yet.

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Anti-war speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Bill Larson | January 16, 2007 |

This is just as applicable today as it was in 1967. All you need to do is swap out the word Iraq with Vietnam, and Iraqi with Vietnamese. It’s frequently said that those who forget the past, are doomed to repeat it. This is something I think is absolutely on target. We forgot…

Martin Luther King speaks out against the Vietnam War.

This speech was released by Black Forum records, a subsidiary of Motown, and went on to win a Grammy in 1970 for the Best Spoken Word Recording.

Excerpts of a Sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on April 30, 1967.

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U.S. casualties in Iraq hit 3,000

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 31, 2006 |

The FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties held a Peace Vigil Sunday at Patriot’s Park in Clarksville to mark another milestone in the Iraq War: 3,000 troops lost over the duration of the war.

Coming on the last day of 2006, the 3,000th death marks a sad ending to a grim year of loss, and sets a tragic baseline from which to start the New Year.

Large signs placed facing both north and southbound traffic asked the question: “3,000 dead; how many more have to die?” They also cited statistics that included the number of non-fatal injuries (45,000+) and the high incidence of mental health issues including post-traumatic stress that according to government reports affect about 25% of returning soldiers, a number some local psychologists and therapists feel is grossly understated. Iraq civilian casualties are estimated to be between 52,000 and 57,000. (Statistics from icasualties.org)

The vigil was organized by FreeThinkers founder, artist and activist Debbie Boen and activist/writer Christine Piesyk. Boen was saddened and frustrated by today’s milestone number, which has been relatively unheralded, unnoticed in the bustle of the holiday season. «Read the rest of this article»

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Iraq casualties approach 3000; vigil planned

By Christine Anne Piesyk | December 30, 2006 |

FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties will hold a Peace Vigil Sunday, December 31, at 3 p.m. at Patriot’s Park on Fort Campbell Blvd., in Clarksville

Just before Christmas, the number of soldiers killed in Iraq stood at 2950. In just a week that number has creeped up daily, hitting 2997 this morning. The “3000″ number is another landmark number arriving  just as we are about to usher in the New Year, and another year of combat on foreign soil that is claiming too many lives. The grim “3000″ number hovers as we move into another year of failed Bush foreign policies, a growing insurgency in Iraq, and increasing American discontent with the war effort.

As 2006 draws to a close, the Vigil, which includes a prayer service and readings, acknowledges the Iraq War fatalities, which are edging close to the 3000 mark as the New Year approaches.  That number does not include Afghanistan fatalities, or death incurred by military forces of other nations, nor does it reflect the tens of thousands of physical injuries and psychological trauma affecting U.S. troops in Iraq.

The public is welcome to attend this event.

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Peace on Earth

By Beth Robinson | December 9, 2006 |

Peace on Earth, good will toward men. Have you heard these words this Christmas season?

I’ve heard of Darfur but admit that I barely know where Sudan is except it is in Northern Africa. I’d guess alot of people said “I don’t know where Aushwitz is” before WWII.

Darfur is our 21st century Holocaust. Genocide. People are slaughtered. Families and children no longer have homes and are starving refugees.

There are days when I’d rather look the other way, change the channel, and pretend the problems don’t exist. After seeing a 60 Minutes piece about the horrors of Rwanda, I decided I must do something to help end this current human suffering.

Join me in contacting our representatives in Washington and tell them we care. We demand the US lead the international community to immediately send UN peacekeeping forces to stop the genocide in Sudan.

Get a pen and paper. Write that it is important to you that the US support a UN peacekeeping force in Sudan. Send your letter to President Bush, Senator Alexander, Senator Corker, Rep. Blackburn or others.

Be a part of the solution. Be a good Samaritan. It may be a small thing but it is something.

Peace to all this Christmas season.

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