Famous Quotes about War&Peace #28

"For me, to end the war and occupation means to understand that all bloods are equal and that killing in guerrilla fighting is not more cruel than by tanks and airplanes, that sophisticated rockets and home-made bombs kill just the same, and it takes so little to kill a child and so much to keep a child alive."

Dr. Nurit Peled-Elhanan

Sent by Charles A Beers

 

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Your message is getting through to the Western World

It might surprise you how many people in Canada feel exactly the way I do. I am 60 years old and lived through the Vietnam War. During that time I never took part in a demonstration. Last Spring before Bush's War; my wife and I participated in a march against Bush's idiocy. We were joined by over 4,000 people in Halifax- the capital city of our province of Nova Scotia. I even have e-mails from Americans who for the first time are questioning there citizenship because of the actions of that IDIOT.

 

Hassan, my name is Ted; the e-mail address is in my wife's name. Don't for one moment believe that your message is not getting through to the Western World. It is loud and clear, and there are people listening. However this AM; I tried to access Al-Jazeerah and it was blocked. The truth hurts certain people who have their heads buried in the sand!

 

Ted

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

 

 

 

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Elegy for a Dead Soldier

 

As I continue to see the terrible turmoil in Iraq and all the people getting killed, especially the American GIs . I am especially sad to see all the gloating and joy shown by so many Iraqis at the sites of such grisly incidents. I say that because I know at least one of the GI's over serving there who is a nephew of mine and a very fine man. He is a medic with the US Marines. When he left, he went with the idea of helping the Iraqi people--for no other reason. I know the man well, and he is a fine man.
With all that is happening in mind, I would like to quote a small portion of one of my favorite poems, "Elegy for a Dead Soldier," by the American poet, Karl Shapiro.
The long poem describes the American soldier of World War II and his death in war, but I think it can be applied to an American soldier of any war, including the American soldier in Iraq today. The poem recounts a funeral for a soldier who has died and is about to be buried. The section that I read often is below:

"EPITAPH

Underneath this wooden cross there lies
A Christian killed in battle. You who read,
Remember that this stranger died in pain;
And passing here, if you can lift your eyes
Upon a peace kept by a human creed,
Know that one soldier has not died in vain."

John Meekins

 

 

 

 

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Anti War Demonstration In Leeds... Importance: High

Hi all antiwar activists with apologies if you get this more than once

Following the change of plan the last time LCAW were organising a regional demo (national STW called for it to be a London one in the end) we have decided to organise a regional demo on Saturday 26th June starting in Leeds city centre at 12 Noon.

The route has not been planned yet but we will be going round the city centre and ending with a rally.

The reason for the demo is that on 30th June the US and the coalition of the willing (not many of them left) are supposed to hand Iraq back to the Iraq people ( whilst keeping over 120,000 troops plus the mercenaries employed by Blackwater and others. The whole handover is a sham compounded by the appointment of the butcher Negroponte to replace the 'delightful' Bremer.

Take to the streets of Leeds with the slogans END THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ TROOPS HOME NOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE

By then the EUROPEAN ELECTIONS will have taken place and with a little effort in voting for GENUINE antiwar politicians Mr Bliar will be on the run. Now is the time to keep the pressure on.

If you haven't seen it this is what 52 former Ambassadors and High Commisssioners have said about BLIAR.

"The conduct of the war in Iraq has made it clear that there was no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement. All those with experience of the area predicted that the occupation of Iraq by coalition forces would meet stubborn resistance, as has proved to be the case. To describe the resistance as led by terrorists, fanatics and foreigners is neither convincing nor helpful" followed by

" The international community has now been confronted with the announcement of ArielSharon and George Bush of new policies which are one sided and illegal and which will cost yet more Israeli and Palestinian blood. Our dismay at this backward step is heightened by the fact that you (BLIAR) yourself seem to have endorsed it.Abandoning the principles which for nearly four decades have guided internationalefforts torestore peace in the Holy Land"

They have also called Dubya's middle east policy "one sided and illegal"

LCAW look forward to welcoming all those who want peace on 26th June.