Went to "Eyes Wide Open" tonight.

[Bluzmann57]

As was posted earlier here in the Iowa forum, "Eyes Wide Open" is going on at various sites throughout eastern Iowa, as well as Desmoines this week. Tonight was in Davenport, and I have to tell you, it is a moving thing.
The names of dead American soldiers were read as were some Iraqi names. This went on the entire two hours. There were tables set up with a petition for state Governors to recall their respective states National Guardsmen. After all, they are supposed to be part time soldiers, mobilized in times of state emergencies, such as prison riots, or, as in 1993 in Davenport, natural disasters. Think Florida and hurricanes on that one as well. There were around 200 pairs of combat boots, each with a name of a GI in front of them. At the aforementioned tables they were also passing out flowers to honor the fallen Guardsmen by putting a flower in or across the boots. All in all, a very moving thing and very respectful. There was no trouble and local news media was there. One reporter even asked me why I was there and I said" Because I think this is an illegal war. Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 and it's been proven many times. There were WMD's either. I am not necessarily against war, but this one is unjustified". He thanked me and walked away quickly. I don't think it'll get on the air. If it is near your town, you should attend. It goes on longer in CF than it did here and will probably go over big in Iowa City, even though the kids are gone. It all ends up in Des Moines at the national Governors conference this weekend. Buy a shirt or wristband or something. Support this thing.

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Do they have a website and will they come to Southern California?

[Bluzmann57]

2. Don't know about any Southern Cal trip

and don't know about a website either. But go to www.qcprogressiveaction.org and there may be a link to the group. I also think that it is somewhere in the Iowa forum. Maybe in the thread entitled "Eyes Wide Open coming to Iowa" or something like that. Hope this helps. It really is touching. Hope it does come to your area.
On edit-I found a website that apparently this groups site. www.afsc.org/eyes/details/iowa/default.htm See, all I met down there were local people, so I am not sure who these people are. But like I said, it is heart wrenching.

[Oversea Visitor]

3. n/t

:kick: STOP THIS INSANE WAR

[leQ]

5. until we get the voting machines on an opensource path

we're doomed to republiconism.

[Debi]

4. Thanks Bluzmann

I'm planning on stopping at the CF one on my way home today.

Debi

[Debi]

6. Went to Eyes Wide Open in CF last night

All those boots lined up on the sidewalk in front of the Public Library on Main Street.

Imagine those boots filled with live people celebrating the library's opening...or waiting to watch a parade....or heading to the Oster Regent Theater for a play....or to one of the many restraunts and bars downtown Cedar Falls.

It was so quiet, so bright outside, so sad.

Debi

[pstans]

7. I just got back from the event in Iowa City

They held it on the Ped Mall, which added to the effect. I sat there watching these 18-25 year olds walk by as they read the names of their peers. I wondered if the same faces I saw walk by would be called upon in a draft to go fight in Iran, Syria or where ever Commander Cuckoobananas sends them.

[rurallib]

8. Went to Ic event this afternoon.

Chilling is the best description I can give. My wife and I sat and listened for about an hour as the names were read. My thoughts wandered to the disrupted families, parents burying a child, children missing a parent. So disgusting and unnecessary.
One thought I had is that LBJ honestly felt bad that he had caused the deaths in Viet Nam. Nixon was slightly reigned in by his concern of how history would treat him. W has no concern for others lives, from what I've heard not even his own kids. He doesn't care about history and you can bet there is already a pack of right wing historians who will glorify him. Besides the rapture is coming anyway, so it doesn't matter.

[Debi]

9. Any time I've been in Iowa City I look forward to going to the ped mall

It's always such a lively and diverse place.

What a perfect setting to have the event.

Like I stated in my post above, I could imagine those boots filled with people walking the parkade in Cedar Falls. I can imagine those boots filled with people headed to eat or to a bar on the ped mall. Stopping in the Soap Opera or the book store (grabbing something from Sweets and Treats before sitting on a bench to watch a street performer) or eating at Pancheros after a night out with friends.

Instead all we have a their empty combat boots.

[pstans]

10. Here is a pictures I took

http://www.imageshack.us>

[Broke Dad]

11. Very sad

I took my daughter to Iowa City. They were reading the names and cause of death of Iraqi civilians in addition to the names of our young people. Very sad.

If somebody knows how to end this senseless war sooner rather than later, I want to hear it.

[DU9598]

12. No Show in Des Moines?

The website says that they were to be at Nollen Plaza tonight (Friday). I went but there was nothing there but security for the National Governors Conference. Is the Des Moines venue a no-go or did the NGC cause problems for the Nollen plaza tonight?

[DU9598]

13. Saturday

I did get to see the display at Nollen plaza this morning. What a dedicated group of people helping with the display. It was very moving and very impressive. A must see for everyone.