Okay you "care package people".. I have THREE new names

[SoCalDem]

There were several people who offered , and then we had SO MANY , that I asked them to wait.. My in-box is soooo "&^%$#@(*&^ ed up", I may never find your request.. Please indicate here if you want names for Care package Round Two.. or you want to add these new guys to the list you already have..

These guys are writing back, and even sending little tokens of friendship, so the packages are being appreciated.. BIG TIME..


I REALLLLLLY appreciate the response.. Like I said in the other thread.. I have known Jimmy since he was a little boy, and these guys are his friends and they all "take care of each other", so anything we can do to make their stay there a bit more bearable, is wonderful, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.. His Mom was overflowing with wonderful things to say about all of you who have adopted her son and his friends :):)



Link to thread with pictures

[JackDragna]

1. I'll go in for it.

Lay a name on me and I'll send a little something of Louisiana. Maybe some pralines. Everyone likes pralines except god damned pinko commies! Oh..calm down..dangit. I hate it when I channel Joe McCarthy.

[newyawker99]

2. kick

[pinerow]

3. While I am generally supportive of troops in spite of the bad

decisions made by those who are in Command and Control,particularly the civilian chickenhawks; I do not understand this notion of being "Rushrodded and Foxed...which according to your previous thread certainly claims to be the case (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=235204&mesg_id=235204)

Why not send them clippings of what is being told to them and butress that information with articles that are being written all over the world about this unprovoked invasion for the sake of oil.

Prior to the invasion. Saddam was "Mayor of Bahgdad", and I certainly cannot see the peace and prosperity we have foisted upon the people who inhabit present day Iraq leading them to a road towards democracy.

One cannot "impose" democracy, it like all good things on Earth have to be seeded, nurtured and defended, from those who are all to willing to send our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers to defend their right to "oil".


You want to send care packages?

Go right ahead, but in that package of prlines, and chocolate chip cookies you bake; make sure you send them an editorial by Paul Krugman, or perhaps Greg Palast, joe Canason would not be a bad isea either.

When I was in Vietnam first, then the rest of Southeast Asia; information was not that difficult to get, but in order to know what is going on in the world around you; you must WANT to be informed.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Pinerow I think that is uncalled for

Believe me the soldier that wrote back to me is p*ssed at being there and I figure he's not voting for AWOL.

These guys are in a hellhole and I want to do my best to brighten their day. All I mentioned in letter I enclosed in my package about politics was that I got his name from a friend of Jimmy's mom who hung out on an internet board where we're not fans of Bush and Rummy.

I'm not going to politicize this.

[magnolia]

5. I disagree....

...when someone is drowning, you don't holler out how deep the water is. At all cost, they need to be positive and I'm sure that's hard enough. Why add to their mountain of reasons to be depressed and angry. What are they suppose to do...take that Palast article to their commander and say "this war is injust...send me home at once"????

[pinerow]

7. One can always tell when a response is based on reason

or emotion;

I'd like you to take a walk by the Vietnam Memorial Wall, and ask anyone whose son or brother, father or uncle gives a rat's behind what brought them to that place.

I'd rather keep them from jumping in the water knowing I have done all I could do to save the next man, than to keep that and others like him FULLY informed as to what the real reason was behind invading a country that was of no consequence to the U.S.

I'd rather have my sons with me, than allow them to die for the further enrichment of the oil companies.

Please don't tell me these men and women are not cognizant of the real reasons they are there; that is an insult to them.

p.s. Ask any Mother or Father who has lost a loved one in any war whether it was worth it or not.

With the exception of WWII, my guess is that there has not been a war risking the lives of our men and women in the last fifty years; and if we (you and I included) continue to bury our heads in the sand, or put our fingers in our collective ears, all we'll get is more of the same.

A true sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.

[RamboLiberal]

10. Pinerow - I have walked The Wall I have seen the names

I've cried and cussed how worthless was their deaths. I've wondered what contribution they would have made to this world. The children they never had. The children and loved ones they left behind.

I had a cousin who went to Nam - he was lucky and came back. I know Nam vets who to this day have a hard time talking about it with someone who wasn't there.

I have lived through the Nam era, the protests, etc.

These guys in Iraq are there - they know what the hell is happening, they know that someone in this admin screwed up, who sent them, etc.

I would hope their families discuss this with them in their emails and letters.

I'm a stranger to these guys. I'm not sending a package with a political message at this point. I may say a couple of things in a letter if I start to get to know the soldier.

Sorry but on this one I think you're wrong about suggesting we politicize it. If we knew the soldiers then I think you'd have a point.

[SoCalDem]

11. Hi, Pinerow..

Along with the note telling them "why" a stranger is sending them goodies, I sent them magazines that "just happened to have some scathing articles about *", and some news anout the war..Newspaper Editorial pages make good "packing material" too.:)

We really do not want to send them mixed messages or to have them feel that the goodies come with strings attached.. They already have too many strings attached..

and , about the Wall, I have friends who are on that wall.. I was 18 in 1967, so I knew a lot of guys who did not have rich Daddies..THEY went to Viet Nam, and some did not make it back alive..

These young guys are operating on testosterone,dehydration,anxiety,insomnia, and adrenaline, so we have to expect that some of them may be "pumped up" about their "mission".. They almost have to be, in order to survive..

And about the Rush & Fox reference, it's no secret that during their "regular duties" prior to the "war", those types of programming are used as "background".. Brainwashing is not only for the enemy :(

Not everyone wants to , or even needs to send stuff, but as a Mom , I know how thin the bravado and bluster really is, and these guys are scared, and a long way from home, so if I can make someone's day a little better, I really don't care if he's a gung-ho soldier or just homoesick.. A dialogue is usually opened , and after they become familiar, they will have an avenue to "vent" and we will have more opportunities to find out what they really think.

[pinerow]

16. Thank you for taking time out with a response (no joke) we all lead

busy lives, I do not object to sending "care packages"; there is nothing as demoralizing as it is to not have your named called.

On that basis I commend you and everyone who does as you do...I have sons that could very well be in that situation; luckily I was able to employ the Bush Dodge (Daddy dot him into school) although they have earned every good thing they have in their lives today.

Recruiters used to call my boys when they were seniors in High School, the only they did not promise was the 72 Virgins.

They asked for advice and I gave it freely...go to school and if things get too bad here, we're all headed to Costa Rica.

Good luck on your endeavors, but sneak a Joe Conason or Greg Palast article, kudos to you for your work.

ps. It helps to know more than one language.

[Lucy]

6. Count me in

I'll look forward to sending a little bit of California.


Lucy

[NoKingGeorge]

8. OK, how do I proceed?

How do I contact you for these names? OR how do you contact me?

[SoCalDem]

12. You need to activate your mailbox, so I can send you the names

You need to activate your mailbox, so I can send you the names

go to options, ...modify preferences.. activate your mailbox..and I will try later :)

[Andy_Stephenson]

14. Send me some names!

I will help out as well.

[Justice]

9. I am In

How Do you contact me. My eight-year old daughter wants to send a care package to someone.

She asked me in church yesterday why this war wasn't being called world war III. amazing.

[SoCalDem]

13. You need to activate your mailbox, so I can send you the names

go to options, ...modify preferences.. activate your mailbox..and I will try later :)

[watercolors]

15. include me please

would like to get my students involved

[Skittles]

17. ME, ME

Someone at work gave me some cute beanie babies - excellent filler for a package and the soldiers can give them to the Iraqi children.
Thanks.

[SoCalDem]

18. Check your inbox, please

incoming :)

Thanks :)