To those going to the demonstrations weekend, speaking to the troops

[Mountainman]

I'm remembering what it was like to be in Vietnam and to hear about the demonstations going on back home. I was very confused then and did not know exactly what I felt about them. I wondered what were those people trying to say to us? Were they trying to speak to us at all?

How could you tell me that I was wrong to be doing what, I was told, my fellow countrymen asked me to do?

So I think that if you feel that you are speaking to the troops you should say. "We love and support you and want you home alive." That's all that is needed.

[goddess40]

1. Sorry, I can't say I support all the service men and women anymore

Not after hearing what some of them have done. Yes I support most of them and we do carry signs every week about bringing them home.
Their news is controlled so they only get to hear what this evil administration gives them. No matter what we say it will be doctored to look like we are against them, so we have to do what is right and protest this war and hope they have the brains to fiqure out what happened when they get back.

[KoKo]

2. Don't tell me you believe the myth that "Protestors" don't like military?

That was made up by the war hawks to stop the VietNam Protestors who were hurting their ambitions for "perpetual war and perpetual military funding.

"Mountain Man" you've been on DU long enough to know what we who protested going into Iraq are all about. How can and could we not protest the deaths of our troops in yet a second war fought for ambitions of old men who love their killing toys? We didn't want any soldiers over there. The Iraqi's didn't attack us, yet our young men and women are dying there because of Lies. "Support Our Troops- Bring them Home!" is one of my signs.

Your comments are taken but no one here needed your reminder.

[Mountainman]

3. Fine, Sorry to have bothered.

I guess this war brings back too many memories to me. My wife doesn't want to here me either.

Do what you feel is right.

[latebloomer]

4. Thanks for your point, Mountainman!

I was a Vietnam protester, and years later dated a Marine combat vet for several years. It was crucial for us to sort out some of those feelings-- resentment and distrust that still lingered from that period.

I think your point is well taken, and that we need to emphasize that we want to bring the troops home ALIVE!!

[unfrigginreal]

5. Don't let them get you down...

there's far more here that support your view than oppose it. You won't hear much from those that agree with you, but you'll hear plenty from those that don't.

[DUreader]

8. No, you are right to have bothered, always new people at DU, need to hear

[G_j]

9. Veterans for Peace

have a major involvement in this. Our bus is partially sponsored by our local VFP chapter. I've heard that some of the speakers will be vets. I think you would be heartened by the tone of the message. It's all about 'bringing them home' and protesting Bush policies.
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ATTENTION VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES & CONCERNED CITIZENS:

On Friday October 24 from 9 PM-12 Midnight there will be a Veterans Peace Vigil in the public area adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

A permit has been obtained and we are now getting a sound system. We have people working on getting media coverage with initial press releases are going out today.

We will have several hundred Liberty Torches for all vigilers to hold.
These 10 inch lights have an attachment on the top that looks like a colored flame and will make an impressive visual statement of our determination to keep the flame of freedom alive.

There will also be several banners with the slogans "In Defense of Liberty-Repeal the Patriot Act" and "Support Our Troops-Bring Them Home" which is the message of the vigil.
Representatives Dennis Kucinich and Sheila Jackson-Lee and Senators Byrd and Kennedy have been invited along with Wayne Smith, Bobby Muller and several other veteran leaders. There will also be an open mike for vigil participants to speak.

All veterans who can come to DC on Friday are urged to do so. There will be several dozen military families in town early for the demo on Saturday who will be participating. We are also asking other peace and civil liberties groups to join us.
Please spread the word and be there if you can on Friday October 24 from 9 PM to Midnight at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Dave Cline

Below is an email from Michael Moore (not the author) who initiated this Vigil

Calling all Veterans for Peace , and everyone else who wants to leave their children a Peaceful Planet:
There will be a Vigil at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial on Friday night before the BIG March on October 25, 2003.

Many hundreds of the Liberty Torches will be provided starting at 9 pm so our combined light can shine in our nation’s capital as a symbol of the American people’s demand for a return to the Liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

The visual effect of even 50 of these multi-colored Liberty Torches in one spot is stunning - any cameras near by will be irresistibly drawn to capture this very colorful and poignant moment. Our intent is to focus attention on the growing numbers of Real Patriots who are willing to keep Shining their Light on the Founding Principles of this great country.

We intend to vigil from 9 pm to 12 midnight, so please attend . With enough people participating, it will attract media attention and be a fitting prelude to the march.

We are a small but dedicated group of concerned citizens whose numbers are growing daily. We intend to sustain this symbolic action of taking up and passing on the Torch of Liberty until the so-called "Patriot" Act is repealed and our troops are on their way home.
Contact Michael Moore at <>[e-mail] for more information
Or if you would like to help in any way.
Or if you are just ready to be a Torch Bearer for Peace!
......
October 25 March on Washington; Solidarity Marches in San Francisco and New Orleans
Attention Veterans and Military Families,
Several of us from the Bring Them Home Now campaign (VFP, MFSO, VVAW etc.) have been participating in planning meetings for the October 25 demonstration in Washington, DC which is cosponsored by United for Peace & Justice and International ANSWER.

[Mari333]

6. I cant be there my son is leaving tommorrow

so, if any of you would PLEASE march for me and him..Id really appreciate it...put his name BOBBY on a peace sign, because on Friday at 4 am he has to drive to the National Guard camp and sit and find out what is going to happen to him even tho he is legally supposed to be discharged on Nov 13. He is livid. At this point, I am hoping on Nov 13 he just walks out and says Okay Bye Im discharged.
Last night he said MOM ITS A CLUSTERF*CK AND A FRAGGING about what they are doing to all the units.
For some of you who are anti troop..remember..many of them are like my son, and signed up during Clinton years, and are weekend Guard units..and had no idea that Bush would use them to be murdered or murder in this debacle.
www.bringthemhomenow.com
www.mfso.org
edit to add: there will be MANY military families marching, so please be kind...their kids are freaking out over there and so are the families and they want to come home.

[KG]

7. my motto: 'Bring the Boys Home, Bring Them Back Alive'....(NOW!)

if that ain't a message of support, i don't know what is.

[liberalhistorian]

10. Exactly!

I have friends in the military and my ex-boyfriend's son is a Marine in the front lines (my ex and I are still good friends, so I know how this is affecting him, especially since it's his only child). It makes me physically ill to see how the troops are being so cavalierly used and abused by this misadministration and the Boy King Impostor, who used daddy's name and money to get out of Vietnam and has never spent one hour in any kind of combat zone.

And none of the others surrounding Shrub ever served, either, with the exception of Powell. Cheny said he had "other priorities." Well, I'm sure there were plenty of soldiers sent to Vietnam who would have like to have had other priorities as well, especially those who didn't make it home.

The military is now being used to gratify Shrub's ego and further his misadministration's political and imperial ambitions. That is not what the military is for. The military is there to protect us, not to play life and death games for the juvenile currently in office.

He treats their lives like pawns, cuts their pay and benefits by millions, refuses to increase their current pay, cuts the VA budget by millions, forces the reserves to continue serving past their enlistment time, treats the wounded soldiers like shit and they even are billed for their food, refuses to allow media coverage of soldiers returning from his little political playground in boxes, etc., etc., and WE'RE the ones who aren't supporting the troops? I don't think so!!!!!!

My own son (he's 12, I'm a single parent and he'll be my only child, and we're very close) in just a few more years will be old enough for the military. If he does choose to serve, I hope to God that he will not be used in the way the current troops are being used and abused. I cannot even bear to think about losing him under such circumstances!

BTW, my uncle is a Vietnam vet (he was a front-line Marine for two years, '68-70), and he HATES Shrub and his whole misadministration because he knows exactly what Shrub is doing to the military and how they're being so casually used.