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We continue to be part of the vigil at Crawford, Texas, even as Cindy Sheehan had to leave to be with her mother

by Open-Publishing - Saturday 20 August 2005
1 comment

Demos-Actions Movement Wars and conflicts USA

Dear Julieanna,

We continue to be part of the vigil at Crawford, Texas, even as Cindy Sheehan had to leave to be with her mother, who suffered a stroke. We pray for her mother’s recovery and for Cindy’s return.

On Thursday, we had a wonderful “mother’s day” at the camp where all day long, women at the vigil and around the country wrote letters to Laura Bush asking her to intercede with her husband on Cindy’s behalf. In just 24 hours after putting out the call, we received over 500 letters to the First Lady from the women of America-one more poignant than the next. We’ll include a sample on our website, and if you’d like to add your own, email it to laurabush@codepinkalert.org.

In the afternoon, we had a women’s circle where woman after woman-many of them military moms-told heart-wrenching stories about how this war has affected them. Women who had been to Iraq as humanitarian workers talked about the devastating impact of the war on Iraqis, especially Iraqi women. Then about 100 of us gathered the letters, lined up along the road, and singing and chanting, marched down the 2-mile road in the blistering heat to the entrance of George Bush’s ranch. There we were stopped by the secret service, who refused to take our letters. But on our insistence-and to our great surprise-a White House staffer appeared, took our baskets of letters, and promised to deliver them to the First Lady!

Today, Friday, we had a lovely interfaith healing circle, and the first meal in our new camp. Instead of being crammed along the side of the road, we now have a lovely one-acre plot smack in front of Bush’s ranch, where the Secret Service is located. It’s quite a miracle that just at the time when our old campsite was becoming untenable due to congestion and safety concerns, a wonderful neighbor of Bush’s appeared to offer his land (actually a cousin of the gun-wielding neighbor from earlier this week). But then again, here in Crawford, miracles happen every day.

We can’t tell you how inspiring it has been to be by Cindy’s side and see this movement blossom. CODEPINK will be here until Cindy gets her meeting with Bush, or leaves at the end of August. Meanwhile, we’re planning for the big march and events in Washington DC on September 23-26. Please mark your calendars and commit to joining Cindy and us in Washington as we continue to show George Bush that the people of this nation-especially the women-demand an end to this bloody war.

With love and optimism,

Alicia, Dana, Farida, Gael, Jodie, Medea, Tiffany and Whitney

democracyinaction.org

Forum posts

  • This is a poem being sent from a Marine to his Dad.
    For those who take the time to read it, you’ll see a letter from
    him to his Dad at the bottom. It makes you truly thankful
    for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.

    THE MARINE

    We all came together,
    Both young and old
    To fight for our freedom,
    To stand and be bold.

    In the midst of all evil,
    We stand our ground,
    And we protect our country
    From all terror around.

    Peace and not war,
    Is what some people say.
    But I’ll give my life,
    So you can live the American way.

    I give you the right
    To talk of your peace.
    To stand in your groups,
    and protest in our streets.

    But still I fight on,
    I don’t bitch, I don’t whine.
    I’m just one of the people
    Who is doing your time.

    I’m harder than nails,
    Stronger than any machine.
    I’m the immortal soldier,
    I’m a U.S. MARINE!

    So stand in my shoes,
    And leave from your home.
    Fight for the people who hate you,
    With the protests they’ve shown.

    Fight for the stranger,
    Fight for the young.
    So they all may have,
    The greatest freedom you’ve won.

    Fight for the sick,
    Fight for the poor
    Fight for the cripple,
    Who lives next door.

    But when your time comes,
    Do what I’ve done.
    For if you stand up for freedom,
    You’ll stand when the fight’s done.

    By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps
    USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

    March 23, 2003

    Hey Dad,
    Do me a favor and label this "The Marine" and send it to
    everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I
    want this rolling all over the US; I want every home reading
    it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you
    please send this for me? I would but my email time isn’t that
    long and I don’t have much time anyway. You know what Dad?
    I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK
    said in His inaugural speech.

    "When the time comes to lay down my life for my country,
    I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it."

    Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity
    to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful
    wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would
    do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made
    for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish
    I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I
    love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon Give
    Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.
    Aaron

    If this touched you as much as it touched me, please forward it on.
    Let’s help Aaron’s dad spread the word ...
    FREEDOM isn’t FREE
    .. someone pays for you and me.

    Dick and Merlene Carlson,
    1109 North Main Street,
    Winterport, Maine, 04496-3418.

    "We can’t change the winds but we can adjust our sails."