You really need to read the whole letter. We need to stop the madness we created ourselves. If people would have only known history this would have never happened. We go about our day in our own selfish ways. If "we the people" only knew that all the people in the white house are the same people that put the leader of Iraq in power we would have never invaded their country.
This is what we demand:
1. Bring the troops home now. Not six months from now. NOW. Quit looking for a way to win. We can't win. We've lost. Sometimes you lose. This is one of those times. Be brave and admit it.
2. Apologize to our soldiers and make amends. Tell them we are sorry they were used to fight a war that had NOTHING to do with our national security. We must commit to taking care of them so that they suffer as little as possible. The mentally and physically maimed must get the best care and significant financial compensation. The families of the deceased deserve the biggest apology and they must be taken care of for the rest of their lives.
3. We must atone for the atrocity we have perpetuated on the people of Iraq. There are few evils worse than waging a war based on a lie, invading another country because you want what they have buried under the ground. Now many more will die. Their blood is on our hands, regardless for whom we voted. If you pay taxes, you have contributed to the three billion dollars a week now being spent to drive Iraq into the hellhole it's become. When the civil war is over, we will have to help rebuild Iraq. We can receive no redemption until we have atoned.
He says he places his faith in the president and the Pentagon. He also scoffs at suggestions that this month’s election proved a mandate for troop withdrawals.
“I think the majority of Americans are behind the war,” he says. “I mean, you have a choice — you’re going to fight over here or over there — and I’d rather we be fighting over there.
“We’ve already seen evidence of terrorists’ willingness to fight over here,” he says.
I see ghosts these days of little boys who loved to eat, jump and be mischievous. I never berated them, my two stepsons. Some have said I was too permissive. Their Dad was the one who scolded. I'm sure he and his brother were scolded that way when he was raised by only his Mother. I, as stepma, had to create my own role in these two children's lives. I enjoyed their antics. They both were so athletic and intelligent and comical. I would sit and watch them silently, only yelling if they were about to do something dangerous (jumping from trees or out of windows come to mind).
Both kids loved to eat! Alex could be counted on to eat anything and everything placed on a plate. Brian was pickier. He didn't eat salad until he was 15 (sure when he was little, an occasional veggie would pass his lips). Yet, both boys and father agreed on Thanksgiving. They enjoyed my cooking up the turkey, stuffing, the green beans with onion, corn bread, fresh rolls, pumpkin pie, apple pie, banana cream pie, etc.
When Brian turned 12 and Alex was 15, Carlos and I had moved to a new home. We didn't have much furniture. So we had that Thanksgiving sitting Japanese style on cushions on the floor with a large coffee table where all the food was served. I have a picture of that day and remember every moment as precious: the cooking, the laughing, the talking, the eating. I looked at Brian at one point and noticed he was drowsy. I leaned over to Alex and said "Look, he's gonna need a nap." Alex responded, "Nah, turkey doesn't do that to him." I smiled at Alex and just waited. Not even ten minutes later, Brian was asleep in his bunk bed. He slept a few hours. I remember Alex being sssooooooo surprised that I had known that would happen with Brian. I know I did not birth those two young males, but I could and can read them both like a book. Maybe that comes from having a uterus or ESP or simply out of the pure form of love I have had for Alex and Brian.
Alex returned stateside from Iraq for Thanksgiving of 2003. He didn't make it back to Boston for turkey. However, I decided to take in co-workers whose families were in other parts of the country, some local friends and prepare a nice meal for all of us. Brian, Carlos, Carlos' Mom and our dogs, of course, were there as well. Just as we were about to sit down, the phone rang. We all rushed for it but, I got it! It was Alex calling to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving! For me, it was a blessing! He had come home alive! That, Brian, my family and my friends made that a truly wonderful day! Also, after the meal we had some wine and all learned how to play Texas Hold Em poker. Even Brian learned and won quite a few hands.
Alex was killed in August of 2004. For Thanksgiving that year, Carlos and I served turkey to homeless vets and the local veterans shelter. Several were from Iraq. Brian had not communicated with his Dad or me since the day Alex was laid to rest on September 3rd and was with his Mom in Maine. In 2005, Carlos and I were in Florida handling hurricane and tenant damage that had occurred that October on the home we so hoped to keep to return to one day. A friend invited us out to a restaurant. We went. Brian did call us that day which was the high point.
This year, Carlos and I will go to a friend's house who is a member of the Massachusetts chapter of Military Families Speak Out. Sarah and Bob Fuhro have been very supportive of Carlos and my activism. They've watched our dogs for us when we have traveled and that has meant a lot. About 30 people are expected. Sarah and Bob's son has returned from Iraq. He will be there tomorrow. I know I will greet him with love and hugs and tears in my eyes.
I will bring a picture of Alex, my favorite of him smiling ear to ear. I will look for a chair near the food and place the chair there. I will then go about my day with new friends, Carlos and, hopefully, Brian. I know I will look at Alex's picture feeling the comfort of remembering the memories I have written of here. I will wish that I could get one of his bear hugs so wonderful where he would lift me right up off the ground. I will enjoy my meal remembering how much he wanted us all to have the best that life could give us. I will thank God that I continue to have Alex as my stepson in my heart and Carlos and Brian here at my side.
Melida Arredondo is the stepmother of Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, killed in Iraq, Aug. 25, 2004.
You know, every once in a while I get someone leaving a comment on my blog. Today someone left a comment on my old blog in a post from over a year ago. Thursday, May 5, 2005
This person is the other side of the spectrum from me and why we are divided. This person has put religion in place of God in their lives. I don't think that one person is any better than the next person. I believe in treating the people who cross my path all the same. I do to others as I wish to be treated. I don't treat others as they treat me. I try to be the better person. I don't take revenge on someone because they do something to me I don't like.
I believe that human life is precious and you don't use other people to gain wealth and/or power. I don't believe our president should use our brave hero's who would give their lives for our country; our president shouldn't send our troops to kill other people unless there’s a damn good reason. I don't believe in torturing other people because you think they are a threat to you. I don't believe in taking away a persons rights in a court of law because you believe they are a threat to you. I don't believe in letting the corporations get away with what they will to the citizens whom the country belongs to. We all knew the gas prices would go up after the election and they have. We are puppets who have to play the game those in power have set up for us. We have no choice but to play the game to survive in today’s society.
What's wrong with our country is some people let religion control who they are instead of really having God in their hearts. God wouldn't end the world in a rapture. God loves all humans, all races, all souls. God wouldn't hate someone because of their sexuality, the color of their skin or if they speak English or not. If we could only stop thinking we are better than the next person, stop trying to create fear in other people who we live on this planet with...If only then will we not be so divided and come together for the better of all humans.
I don't know if this person but I can tell you they will never change. The people who support the actions of this president at this point will never change. 31% of our country will live in fear and hate other people. Nothing will change these people until the government comes after their family members to make them fight in a war. Or until they are thrown in jail without any rights and all the property they own is taken away in eminent domain. At least the rest of the country is waking up. This 31% will never change.
May peace be inside all of us,
Cindy
This entry has 1 comments:
All y'all are lunatics and traitors. 200 years ago, many of you would have been shot or hung as such. I feel badly that Cindy, as well as more than 1000 others, has lost a loved one in Irag. I feel a lot worse knowing that she has reduced her son from being a hero who voluntarily gave his life for his country to her level of sniveling cowardice. The number of those who proudly displayed their colors on Veterans Day shows you are in a minority, still.
You really need a come to Jesus. If you aren't a bible read Christian, you probably won't undersand why I say this. If you have read the number one best selling book in
In answer to your question of what happened to our country, it is the continued removal of God from our lives. You can look back to the 60's through present at statistics on crime and behaviorism and see a direct correlation of social and economic disintegrtion as we (as a nation) get further from God. Our only hope of reunification, as a nation, is the revival of spirit and dedication of ourselves to the service of God through Jesus Christ.
Comment from achinarnie -
May peace be inside all of us,I didn't know much about GWB before 2000 just like I didn't know much about Kerry before 2004. I found out who they were.
I did something I never did before in 2000. I put an AL Gore sign in my yard because I had a really bad feeling about GWB...who I didn't know, just had this really bad feeling in the pit of my soul. I've always voted, never got involved in any campaigns. Court's decided who would be our president. I thought that was my bad feeling.
9/11 happened. I thought, this was my bad feeling. I found out that GWB admin. knew, had a memo, this was going to happen. This had to have been my bad feeling...They let it happen. So I perceive.
Something happened which I didn't see our country, the USofA, America doing. We declared war on another country. I never thought there was any good reason to go to "war" with Iraq. Living in my own little world I thought we were the "good country" and would never do such a thing. With all the death, and for what?!?, in Iraq - I thought...this is my something bad. It's what I perceive.
Katrina blew through my state last weekend killing 11 before she decided to strengthen and hit the gulf. I waited and watched for day, people dying, people waiting for help. No help came. I have heard so many stories where FEMA didn't let the supplies in the area. So many stories about help being promised but help never came. Every thing I have seen so far and everything I know about living in hurricane area's....the state did it's job, the feds did not. It's what I perceive. I thought...this is my bad feeling...the bad feeling that sat in the pit of my soul from this man who I didn't know, GWB and his friends.
I still have the bad feeling more will come...wish I didn't.
I don't judge by ones words. Words come so easy to people. I judge by one's actions. Actions prove the true colors of oneself. Many talk the talk, few walk the walk. Walking the walk to better ourselves as humans.
It's not about politics, It's about humanity. Doing good for all...
Cindy Sheehan has called for a protest at the White House from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, from November 6-9. The protest is in opposition to the war in Iraq and the possible war in Iran, but will develop into a protest of stolen elections should evidence of election fraud emerge.
More information: http://www.gsfp.org
On the evening of November 7, citizens will turn Lafayette Square Park, in front of the White House into a Blue Revolution, one of many events around the country. Crowds dressed in blue will be holding vigils outside election offices to demand an accurate counting of votes in at least these locations: AZ-Maricopa, AZ-Yavapai, CA-Kern, CA-Orange, CA-Santa Barbara, CA-San Luis Obispo, CO-Adams, DC-District of Columbia, IN-La Porte, IN-Lake, IN-Porter, MD-Baltimore, MD-Howard, MN-Waseca, MO-St. Louis, OR-Washington, NY-Onondaga, TX-Lamar, WA-Clark, WA-King.
More information: http://www.bluerevolution.us
At 11:00 a.m. on November 8, Sheehan will lead the delivery to the White House of huge stacks of signatures and comments from the 75,000 Americans who have signed a petition opposing an attack on Iran. Sheehan and others are prepared to risk arrest if the White House will not accept the petition.
More information: http://www.dontattackiran.org
Sheehan has written about her reasons for this effort here:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/14990
She has spoken about it in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhzF5J94VRE
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