Season for Peace (article on the growing antiwar movement among veterans)

[RagingInMiami]

Almost four years ago, as the nation was gripped by hysterical patriotism, President George W. Bush stood on the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln and proclaimed that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

May 1, 2003, was a proud day for the president as he stood under a banner that stated "Mission Accomplished" in giant letters as hundreds of service men and women roared their approval.

It was also a proud day for many Americans, the majority of whom supported the war after they had been led to believe that Saddam Hussein not only possessed weapons of mass destruction, but that he played a major role in 9/11 as well.

Back then, anyone voicing opposition to the war was deemed unpatriotic and accused of "not supporting the troops." That charge was leveled even if those opposing the war happened to be military veterans who just never bought into the urgent need to go to war.

"We used to get counter protesters that would show up to our protests," said Dave Patlak of Miami, a 25-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard and member of the South Florida chapter of Veterans for Peace, an antiwar veteran organization that opposed the war before it even started.

"We don’t get counter protesters anymore. They’re all gone now."

http://www.category305.com/mobilize/war-protesting-is-cool-again.php

[Tuesday_Morning]

1. k & r!

I was at one of MoveOn's honk and waves last week and it was incredible. So many people waving and cheering and flashing peace signs - I began to feel like a movie star as I was waving and smiling back at them. I started counting off ten second increments in my head and came up with an average of 5 positive cars (honking, waving, thumbs up) per 10 sec. A lot of people looked like we had really made their day.

Oh, yeah. And we saw one red-faced angry older guy flailing around in his car but we couldn't tell what he was saying. His windows were rolled up.

Thanks for the great article, Raging!

[JeffR]

2. K & R!

:kick:

[intheflow]

3. 200 Vets for Peace are coming to volunteer on the Missisippi Gulf Coast in March

This is a follow-up action to the march the had last year to draw attention to the fact that Katrina recovery is being neglected as funds are being diverted instead to the illegal and immoral war in Iraq.

Kicking and recommending for these true patriots! :patriot: