Thank you DU, you are the only support we have

[Mari333]

I know I freaked out about that military family support group calling me and harassing me..it was scary. I realize now I was being harassed, I was contacted by Nancy Lessin of mfso.org and she told me this has been an epidemic of harassment to military families who speak out against the war from other families who are angry and in denial about it.
The reason, Nancy Lessin told me, is why many military families wont speak out about their anger about this war, is fear of harassment.
Therefore, Nancy suggested to me that we make a story out of this, perhaps contact the Detroit news and expose this type of harassment thats going on.
I am also writing as we speak to Sen Levins office and giving him the information, and names, and numbers of those who harassed me today.
If I didnt have DU Id go mad, and thats the damned truth. My husband and I are all alone in this, we have no friends here who are in the situation we are, and we are even afraid to go to town as we are considered dangerous anti war people. pffffft!!!!
I was terrified when I got that call that Michael might be in some jeopardy because of what I say in my speaking out. Thats what the woman on the phone suggested. I am worried enough about Michael, this made me worry even more.
Thank you, DU, for being there for me and my husband when the shit hits the fan, and for being kind. Sometimes you make me cry because kindness is so damned rare these days.
Thank you DU.

[greenbriar]

1. you need to make a HUGE issue of this

and retain a lawyer.

I hope you feel better now. You have many friends and it will be fine.

[Skittles]

2. YES INDEED

the American public needs to know the fascist tactics that are being applied to squash dissent. Dear God, harassing a family whose son just got sent to Iraq? It's beyond low, it's just sickening.

[Union Thug]

3. Expose them.. YES, there is no alternative...

The reason this sort of harrassment exists is because it goes unsaid, unreported and remains protected by the shadows. To chase away the cockroaches, turn on the light.

[Career Prole]

4. We're with you, Mari...

...as for the rest of 'em? Pffft!
We love you, girl...strength to you, your husband, and Michael (may he be home soon!)

[MadProphetMargin]

5. Keep on keeping on, Mari.

Run it back at the bastards. If you need any help, of any kind, just ask any of us.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Mari333 It's hearing stories like yours

that make me figure every last cent donated to DU is money well spent. I am glad DU members are there for you and I'm glad too that I've been able to play my part in supporting DU with a few bucks here and there to help make it all happen. You have to figure that you're making waves if they are trying these types of tactics to try to scare you into shutting up. Keep up the fight, hang in there and stay safe.

[roguevalley]

7. Love ya, honey. I have four draft baits in my family. I remember my nephew

in Kosovo during the war. I can't hug you enough, sweetie. I know what you feel. Its incredible that others can be so damned mean. Hugs and more to you and yours.

[Octafish]

8. You're not alone!

And the lawyer to call in Michigan is a good Democrat by the name of Geoffrey Fieger. He'll kick the BFEE right smack hard in the yarblockos.

[Bunny]

25. Yes - Jeffery Feiger (sp) will kick ass!

Call him if you can.

[LividLiberal]

9. I just saw the other thread. How horrible for you!

I'm so glad you have support here and a fighting this.

Hang in there!!

[Vadem]

10. Mari, we're here for you! We've all been there with you...

on your posts about Michael and have cried with you and sworn at the BFEE with you and your husband! We are praying with you and your husband that Michael comes home safe to you both! Thank you for your activism and speaking out, for you also speak for us as well.

[Rowdyboy]

11. We should all cry for our lost country

and fight like hell to win her back. You're doing more than your part. Wish I was doing nearly so much. Thank you and your husband and your stepson for your service.

[MadProphetMargin]

14. Cry my ass. I'm PISSED.

And, yes, we WILL take it back.

The bullshit stops in 2004, one way or the other.

[madrchsod]

12. that`s why we are here

to support people in need. tell us who to right to and it will be done....

[Mel]

13. Sounds like

your doing just what I thought you would. You've got grit I like that and another thing I wouldn't want to get on your bad side ;)
Give em' hell they deserve it for what they did to you bad enough Michael's in Iraq and then these people have the gall to harass you! Ummph! That's a disgraceful support group they have there :eyes: it's just crazy the very people that are suppose to support you are turning on you like rabid dogs. I hate you went through this but I still think they messed up when they messed with you!

[maggrwaggr]

15. I'm glad we can make you feel better.

but I gotta say it really pisses me off and makes me sad, at the same time, that you don't have support in your community and you have to find it here.

America has become a cowardly nation.

Good luck to you, Mari, and your stepson. God Bless Everybody.

[Generic Other]

16. Best wishes to you Mari

I don't believe for a minute that any soldier in Iraq tonight would hold it against another soldier for questioning the mission or for wanting to come home.

Soon, a whole lot of soldiers are going to return and we are all going to hear what they think. My bet is lots of them think like you Mari.

[Stephanie]

17. Mari, everyone here supports you & your husband & stepson

That's thousands. We have your back.

[G_j]

19. thats right

you are not alone and you know if you ever need calls made, letters written etc.
we are here to help in anyway we can.

[Rex]

18. Keep your chin up, you protest this unjust war because it is the right

thing to do. Your stepson is doing more than should ever be required, he could give George Bush some lessons on what real courage is all about. Cheers to you and your family Mari.

:toast:

[rasputin1952]

20. You and Hogarth have been through hell...

my heart goes out to both of you, and may you have the strength to see this through till Michael comes home to a Grand Reunion!

Her at DU, you have access to not only sympathy and grace, but also strength and dignity. There are some of the finest minds in Progressive issues as well. There are people of all types of professions and there are people that have access to organizations that can help.

If you are being harassed by a bunch of buffoons, you can turn the tables on them quite easily, through the Patriot Act, (now tell me that isn't appropriate). In the Act there are several clauses that mention "terroristic threats", you may want to get in touch with one of your Senators or your Rep, and let them have a go at it. They can bring Federal forces to bear, and at the least start an investigation that can get the dogs off your heels. All you have to do is call their local office, and explain that you have been threatened and harassed. Just make sure you sit down and get all of your facts together, document all you can and get independent witnesses. In time, you could own the town your in! Make the Patriot Act work for you!

My warmest thoughts go to you and Hogarth; you are two of our shining lights, and your strength and courage are an inspiration to us all. May this burden be lifted from you and your family, and your days be free from fear.

O8)

[playahata1]

21. Good for you, Mari.

Keep us posted on what's happening. Peace.

[YIMA]

22. Hang in there!

[October]

23. Blessed be, Mari333

[catmandu57]

24. I don't know where you two find the strentgh

to soldier on. You guys have to be some of the strongest people alive, (to steal a line). It sure fits though, when this is all said and done if you guys want some r and r I'd be more than happy to show you where some of the best crappie fishing in the world can be found.
Hang in there and to repeat we've got your back.

[Mari333]

26. I havent heard from Michael in 4 days thats what worries me

and I am wondering if they are trying to shut him up from writing to me...thats what worries me..!! I usually hear from him every day or every other day....I wonder if they arent allowing him to write?

[redqueen]

34. Maybe his letters have been delayed for some reason

Please try not to worry too much. Your family is in my prayers. I hope you hear from him very soon.

:grouphug:

Kudos to you both for sticking to your convictions - you don't deserve that harassment but that's what rocking the boat always gets you! :yourock:

[Palacsinta]

27. I'm watching all this closely............

My foster daughter goes to basic training in April (Air Force.....training in Texas. We have no idea where she's going to be posted, for her advanced training and beyond, as she hasn't been assigned a job yet..............which really worries me!! Is that unusual? When my daughter was in the Army Reserves, she knew BEFORE BASIC, exactly where she would go afterwards.). Anyway, I live in Bush country. I have no intention of keeping my mouth shut. Anything I can do to keep this child and others' children safe......I'm gonna do it.

I'm with you, Mari, stay strong!

[Mari333]

29. Join us at military families speak out

http://www.mfso.org
we are here for you.
the best group of people you could ever meet...!!!!! and then you wont be alone. We are here.

[Palacsinta]

32. Thanks so much for the site!

I think I'm going to need it!

[LeahMira]

28. So glad.

Therefore, Nancy suggested to me that we make a story out of this, perhaps contact the Detroit news and expose this type of harassment thats going on.

Bravo, Nancy! Do it, Mari. If it happened to you, it is happening to other families. If there's a Divine Plan or an Order in the universe, it happened to you because you have the strength and spunk and connections to deal with it very well.

I am also writing as we speak to Sen Levins office and giving him the information, and names, and numbers of those who harassed me today.

Good for you!

My husband and I are all alone in this

No. You are not alone.

:grouphug:

[Mari333]

31. I just called the army chaplain at Ft Dix

called her and she was livid about what happened to us...the fact that some woman called me and told me my stepson in Baghdad is in jeopardy because of me speaking out...she said shes taking it to her superiors, and she will call me back in 24 hours..she said its NOT ALLOWED THAT ANYONE CAN CALL ME AND HARASS ME FROM ANY UNIT AND TELL ME MY CHILD IS IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE I SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE WAR
Therefore, I am going thru the proper channels and this needs to be addressed pronto.
I will not stop speaking out. The Chaplain told me what that woman did was very wrong and that my stepson has every right to email me and tell me he is okay! Im still worried because I have gotten NO emails from him in 4 days and I worry that someone is harassing him there because I spoke out so much against the war. He shouldnt have to deal with that.

[LeahMira]

36. Don't jump to conclusions.

Im still worried because I have gotten NO emails from him in 4 days and I worry that someone is harassing him there because I spoke out so much against the war.

Those things happen. You will certainly hear something very soon.

Way back during Vietnam, we used to deal with the lapses in mail delivery by planning all the things we were going to do when they got back home. So, maybe spend a little time perusing the good hotels to stay at in Las Vegas or whatever!

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

30. Let us know what happens, Mari

If we all tell people far and wide that there are people out there who are trying to prevent the free speech of military families by harrassment, maybe it will help more people to wake up to what is happening in this country.

I was reading this morning about talk radio hosts who are telling their listeners to try to go out and disrupt protests. We all have to keep speaking out and prevent these people who hate free speech from succeeding with their thug tactics.

On edit: I read about this on Orcinus, he was writing about the freeper that tried to disrupt in Fresno:

"But I've preserved them here because they encapsulate the right-wing mentality that's floating about out there, stirred up by two years' worth of drum-beating about liberals being traitors and not real Americans, an "evil," as Sean Hannity describes it, on an equal footing with terrorism. The product is a growing eliminationism directed at liberals. The campaign I saw getting its test run in Montana is all primed and ready to go for this summer's presidential campaign.

Last year, in the runup to the invasion of Iraq, we saw an early version of this strategy: Not content merely to hold their own pro-war demonstrations, right-wing radio hosts began inviting their listeners to invade peace rallies, disrupt them, and shout them down. They succeeded in doing so on several occasions. At other times, they did not. Accompanying the campaign was a steady patter of eliminationism and death threats directed at war protesters.

So expect to see a lot more of these kinds of open provocations this coming year: Bush supporters invading and disrupting Kerry rallies; threats of violence directed at anyone supporting the "traitors" and "appeasers"; and eventually, the eruption of actual violence. It's hard to say which side will shoot first (the right-wingers are more likely, since they have the guns, but you never know how these things will play out), but it's looking increasingly like someone's going to get hurt.

Worst of all, it's also looking like law enforcement is going to be part of the problem."

http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_03_21_dneiwert_archive.html#107989722028798935

[sangh0]

33. Thank YOU Mari333

You're the one on the front lines. You're the one who's taking risks and making sacrifices to benefit others. The support we give you is nothing compared to what you're doing.

Thank YOU!

[Lars39]

35. Glad you got your second wind, Mari !!!!

You have plenty of us to lean on. :grouphug:

[Festivito]

37. Take a deep breath, and GO GET 'EM.

I pray for your strength and wisdom.

These people need some firm correction, I hope they encounter.

[indigo32]

38. Mari333

your strength is an inspiration. We are glad to be here...and I'm willing to help in any way I can.