Just got back from Crawford; the two-day trip back has left me a bit behind on what's happening so if this post is redundant I hope you'll understand. I think the message is one worth repeating.
Most of you are well aware by now of the tremendous and historic contributions made by the Crawford Peace House, yet there are specific organizations which were among the very first to jump in with their support of Cindy and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to energize this movement.
I'm pretty brain-dead right now (just got back a couple of hours ago) so I'm sure I'm leaving out some folks, but here are five groups I wanted to herald for their courage, their dedication, and some downright superhuman endurance and determination:
GOLD STAR FAMILIES FOR PEACE
http://pages.zdnet.com/trimb/id278.htmlCODE PINK: WOMEN FOR PEACE
http://www.codepinkalert.org/index.phpIRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR
http://www.ivaw.net/VETERANS FOR PEACE
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/DALLAS PEACE CENTER
http://www.dallaspeacecenter.org/Please lend your support, encouragement and thanks to these fine human beings for the work they are doing on behalf of Cindy, our troops and their families, and for all of us.
In addition, I have to say I was so impressed by the many wonderful individuals who I met over the weekend. San Diego and Philadelphia were particularly well-represented, even though most of the folks who came from these two cities didn't even know one another! There must be something in the water in SD and Philly, for I swear those folks were everywhere!
There were lots and LOTS of Texans, of course, with large contingents from Dallas-Ft Worth and Austin certainly making their presence known, and I hope that wonderful couple from that ranch down in Hare will find their way to DU (they assured me they would). Yes, there were many brave, loving and generous individuals who came from all over the country and even from overseas, folks from all walks of life, of all ages and all political persuasions (or none, but that's another story for another time).
Finally, by sheer coincidence -- or perhaps because I arrived at the Peace House so early on Saturday, fearing I might get lost or miss participating in a morning event -- I have to relate a little story about meeting Cindy Sheehan. To be honest, I hadn't really expected to meet her at all that weekend for I knew she was being pulled in a thousand different directions from morning til night. But as fate would have it, that Saturday morning I practically jumped from my car and introduced myself to the few folks I espied having their morning coffee beneath a canopy at the Peace House, only to find myself looking (at least to me) rather abashed at the sight of Cindy Sheehan looking back, quite peacefully, at this rather forward stranger.
Extending my hand, I thanked Cindy for her courage and told her she was my hero. And then something very... almost indescribable, really ... happened. She opened her arms and gave me a long, silent, strong hug. That's too simplistic a description, truly. Because I thought I was there to give her my support, to offer up any bit of strength within me that might help her on her journey. Yet when we shared that hug, quite the opposite happened. It was if she was offering me HER strength -- it was coming from her to me, not the other way around. I can't say I've ever had an experience like that before and it's something I will never forget. Perhaps it's what we're all feeling from her, don't you think?
Anyway, I'm bone tired and it's time for bed. Just wanted to share with y'all here.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
