"My cousin just got killed in Iraq a day before he was to come home"

[sintax]

I just got in from holding banners out in the streets. A man was driving by and with a big thumbs up of support for the message on the banner I was holding, horn blaring, he stopped right in front of me in moving traffic,stopping up in traffic for a moment and said, "My cousin just got killed in Iraq, a day before he was scheduled to come home", he drove off. So damn sad.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. Christ, we have to stop this madness.

One death is too many for this wayward cause.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

[goclark]

2. My prayers for your family

Cindy has the answers for this madness!
This war must end.

[sintax]

10. Just to be clear it was the man who pulled over whose cousin had died

I was on the street corner holding a banner at a busy intersection as I do for an hour or more every day while Cindy Sheehan is in front of the Peerezidents various palaces.

None of my cousins are in the military, though a few had served.

I was pretty much stopped in my tracks and sickened in my heart. I too wanted an explanation.

I'm fuckin' angry, I want to know where is the outrage from everyone. I want to know why people aren't in the streets screaming it out!!! I want to know.

[goclark]

12. Thanks so much for clarifying -bless you

[orpupilofnature57]

3. A true shame, being there was no reason for him to be there. Sorry

[DIKB]

4. My friend

Andrew (middle name) in my sig was scheduled to come home, he died 2 weeks shy of the date, on his 2nd tour. We need to stop the right wing murder machine, NOW.

[Karenina]

5. Murder machine.

That is an accurate moniker. That is what it is.

[WiseButAngrySara]

6. Keep up the good work sintax; What did your banner say? So sad

about all of the senseless death in this senseless war.

[sintax]

11. The banner said "Cindy's Son Volunteered and Died, Barbara's Son

Deserted and Lied", a slogan concocted by DUer mopaul. The lettering is in bold big letters of red, blue and black. A large banner that is extremely visible which was lettered by a local artist. Three people pulled over today to take pictures of it. One guy got out of his car came over and asked "Who is Cindy?" I gave him a synopsis, he shook my hand and said "My name is Mark, keep it up."

That support helps and it is kind but personally I don't give a damn about any accolades, I'm not doing shit.

PLEASE get out there, please find the courage, please find your voice. One big event in DC isn't gonna do it. Gotta do it every day.

See ya' in DC and elsewhere.

[WiseButAngrySara]

17. Bless you! Why don't you ask someone to take a picture of you, and

you can post it here? I'd love to see the banner! Did you hear about the mayor of Salt Lake City holding a rally against *? Cindy has lit a fire that hopefully will not be put out. I wrote a poem about her last weekend while crying. Needs some polishing, but I'll do aomething with it! Maybe a banner.

[sintax]

19. Just read about the Salt lake City Mayor

Things are different now and every day visibility is key. It keeps it on peoples minds or in the case of the freeps in their face to let them know we are not going away, quite the oposite. Otherwise it is back to the apathy of the last two years and that is unacceptable at this fragile moment.

Lives in the balance.

Yes, in fact a roommate is going to take a picture tomorrow or Monday and then I'll try to post on DU. If it gets e-mailed, which is the plan, then I'll try to figure out how to put it in the message board. I'm not sure how that is done.

Ain't it just like the night to play tricks when you're tryin' to be so quiet?
We sit here stranded, though we're all doin' our best to deny it. - Bob Dylan

[tinfoilinfor2005]

7. I had dinner with friends tonight and I talked about the war...

and even though they were big Kerry supporters, they said, "Well, we haven't really followed politics much since the election."

I was just stunned. And then I started to talk. I told them that I had three grandchildren ages sixteen, eight and three, and within the blink of an eye, they could be in Iraq and God forbid, home in a box. (They have a dozen grandkids). I told them that Cindy Sheehan's main objective is not to stop the war, but to get the war back on the front page of newspapers where it belongs. Where other parents and grandparents will discuss it and steer our leaders to a resolution of some sort, be it ending the war or finding leaders who will continue with a plan and with proper supplies and an end strategy for our soldiers.

And amazingly they listened and reacted and questioned and...agreed.

Thanks Cindy for telling me that I have to keep talking every day.

[orpupilofnature57]

9. Shrub has instilled a robotic response to politics in all of us, Desolation

[Generic Other]

8. What an intense moment

Sounds like he needed to tell someone.

[quiet.american]

13. Damn! How awful! n/t

[seemslikeadream]

14. Rose is a friend of mine Her son is 1st Lt.Brian Slavenas he was buried

yesterday. I have stood with Rose on a street corner for over a year protesting the war, every Friday night from 5 to 6. This has been a very sad time for us all and I find it extremely difficult to even speak of it. I will give her your thoughts.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=711414

[sintax]

15. I'm am sickened & outraged by this group of War Criminals- We Must Act Up!

Keep it going and visible. there will come a day when more will join you in your vigil. It MUST happen.

How much more will people take.

Your silence will not protect you- Audre Lorde

Seeing things and remaining quiet about them will change nothing, not even ourselves. But saying things - having the courage to testify to our own forbidden knowledge - could be the way the world changes.

[Ilsa]

16. I bet anyone with kids in the range of 14-20 years old,

give or take a few years, is paying attention if they hear stuff like the Army expecting to be in Iraq at least another four years. They know recruitment is low, and a draft may be inevitable.

[XOKCowboy]

18. So far I haven't lost any relatives in Iraq...

I have several nieces and nephews coming of age very quickly and I hope beyond all hope that they don't get caught up in this mess. I hate this war and the people who brought it upon us so much right now. I don't know what I'd do if I lost a loved one in it.

[sintax]

20. Silence Kills- Speak up for the weak

Seeing things and remaining quiet about them will change nothing, not even ourselves. But saying things - having the courage to testify to our own forbidden knowledge - could be the way the world changes.