Kucinich supporter makes cross-country voyage

[LWolf]

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/17/3f8f620338402

The walk across America for Dennis is underway. I'll be joining the last leg in CA!

He speaks from the treads of his soles, worn-in tennis shoes with almost 800 miles of previous experience. Like a disciple following his leader, Jon Meier plans to plod from coast to coast carrying the campaign message of Democratic candidate, Dennis Kucinich.

"He's become one of my heroes and that doesn't happen very often with politicians," Meier said.

<snip>

In the winter of 2002, Meier walked more than 800 miles from Ames to Washington, D.C. to participate in a peace rally.

"To me, walking represents a lot of the change I wish America and the rest of the world would go through," Meier said.

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"My heart is calling me toward this venture and I know deep inside why I'm walking, but I don't know if I can express that accurately."

"He's acting with his feet and his self and not just going to a voting booth," Kaplan said.

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While Kucinich has not yet drawn huge amounts of support, Meier doesn't consider the possibility of him dropping out of the race.

"I feel like I have enough hope and faith in humanity. Maybe I'm just being naïve, but I feel like he can win this."

[eridani]

1. A friendly comment on the subject from India

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1031017/asp/nation/story_2470404.asp

Mahatma Gandhi’s historic Dandi March of 1930 will serve as inspiration in America tomorrow for one of the nine candidates seeking the Democratic party’s presidential nomination in 2004.
The padayatra on behalf of Congressman Dennis Kucinich will kick off from Portland in Maine, America’s border state with Canada in the northeast, with a rally and an initial walk of about 10 km by Kucinich’s supporters towards Portsmouth in New Hampshire.

Thereafter, each morning they will walk 10 to 12 km and another 16 to 20 km in the afternoon across this huge country.

The first phase of the walk will end at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi opposite the Indian embassy in Washington. A second phase will take the padayatris to Des Moines, Iowa, and the third lap to San Francisco, California, on the west coast.

[LWolf]

2. Excellent!

:kick:

[diamondsoul]

3. Was that cool or what?!

That's the kind of article US press should be running.*sigh*

[genius]

4. I'm glad someone is dong it.

Little Natasha had said she wanted to do something like this a while back and I know a lot of people put down her idea. Personally, I was impressed that a kid would want to do something like this. It's probably safer for someone older though.

[no name no slogan]

5. kick n/t

:kick:

[diamondsoul]

6. Jon made his first Journal entry tonight-

here's the link-

http://us.denniskucinich.us/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1086

[goodhue]

7. kick n/t

[goodhue]

8. New Hamphshire

Johnathon and Dennis met yesterday in New Hampshire.
And then Dennis posted a blod entry . . .
http://us.denniskucinich.us/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1040

[LWolf]

9. Great thread.

I've been browsing, but not posting...these 11 hour days are killing me!

I want to read/see/hear about Jonathan's walk in mainstream media. On a regular basis. I want them to follow him. What are we doing to get it out there?

[LWolf]

10. Finally...some press!

http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8862~1719996,00.html

Meier said he chose to walk as a method of awareness and expression in a nod to the civil rights marches by Martin Luther King Jr., and the walk across the nation by Dublin, N.H., resident Doris "Granny D" Haddock for campaign finance reform.

As Meier walks he carries a sign for Kucinich, but he believes the message of his mission lies more in his mode of transportation than the cardboard sign he carries.

"As I walk I'm asking America to slow down a little," he explained. "The country needs to stop for a minute and think about our actions before acting. It's a simple but revolutionary idea."

<snipped>

And more:

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D7UCPKL81-296.shtml

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — A supporter of Dennis Kucinich´s campaign for the president made a brief stop in Vermont Friday as part of a coast-to-coast walk to raise awareness for the Ohio congressman. Jonathan Meier, a 20-year-old Kucinich supporter who hails from Iowa, started walking from Portland, Maine, on Oct. 17, and plans to arrive in San Francisco on Feb. 29, two days before California´s primary.

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The Kucinich walk is not Meier´s first. For 26 days between December 2002 and January 2003, Meier walked from his home in Ames, Iowa, to Washington, D.C., in protest of the pending war with Iraq.

"It was a pilgrimage of sorts," said Meier. "And I felt now that it was time to do another walk."

A recent college graduate with a major in religious studies and a minor in philosophy, Meier said he was attracted to the Kucinich campaign because of the congressman´s focus on peace as a message.
"Although others have spoken out against the war, (Kucinich) is the only one who is pro-peace," explained Meier. "I found his message and stance on all the issues, especially the establishment of a Department of Peace, a very hopeful one for this country."

[no name no slogan]

11. Cool coverage!

And another :kick: