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Monday, September 12, 2005

Cindy Sheehan's Coming to Town

I'm very happy that Camp Casey has pricked the conscience of a lot of folks this summer. I'm happy that Cindy Sheehan will be in Albany on Wednesday, and I expect I'll see her at some point.

And yet - I still get the feeling that it won't matter. Colin Powell was interviewed on 20/20 last Friday, admitted that he was suckered into believing the WMD info, acknowledged that it was a stain on his career that will be with him the rest of his life. Yet, he still believes in "staying the course."

Someone: please give me some encouraging words that will help me believe that this war will end sooner rather than later.

Thhe schedule, for those who might care:
10 a.m.- set up Camp Casey on the Capitol Park West
12 noon-rally in front of the Capitol
7 p.m.- forum in Chancellor's Hall, State Education Bldg., Washington Avenue



This is Constitution week. Friday and Saturday are Constitution Days. I would have totally missed this except that my wife asked me to find material so that she can prepare a lesson plan dealing with the Bill of Rights on Friday.

I do think the irony is palpable that this President, who signed the so-called USA PATRIOT Act, has put his signature on a law plugging the Constitution.
Meanwhile, this conversation is taking place in the Letters to the Editor in the local newspapers, and other papers, I gather; the "logic" is this: the soldiers are in Iraq "protecting American freedom and our way of life" ; one of those freedoms is the right to dissent; but that we ought not to use that right because we'll undermine the troops and provide succor to the enemy. I'm sure that the opposition to the American occupation, or the Iraqi liberation, depending on how you view these things, is sitting around waiting for Cindy Sheehan to plot her next vigil so that they can strike.

1 comment:

Roger Owen Green said...

Apparently, according to something wife heard, Ms. Sheehan herself won't be here, but some of her Crawford supporters will.

REMINDER: Please invite your families, neighbors and friends to join you TODAY in Albany in coming out to support the Bring Them Home Now Bus Tour from Crawford, Texas to Washington, D.C. As we join with those who stood with Cyndy Sheehan outside the Bush ranch this summer, let's make it clear to our fellow citizens, our communities and our leadership that the people of this nation have turned a corner in building a groundswell movement of opposition and dissent. An encampment, "Camp David Fisher", will be set up all day in the west Capitol Park named for a 21 year old local National Guardsman killed last December and in memorial to all whose lives have been lost or irrevocably scarred by the war. There will be opportunities throughout the day to leaflet as well as speak with tour participants from Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace as well as GoldStar Families for Peace, an organization co-founded by Cindy Sheehan. Local poets and musicians will perform throughout the day From 12:00 - 1:00 there will be a "Bring Them Home Now"
rally with tour participants followed by a press conference at the Legislative Office Building from 1:00-2:00. At 6:30 pm, a memorial service which will highlight the loss of 88 NY State citizens will be conducted in the west Capitol Park; this will be followed by a march around the capitol. Finally, at 7 pm, a forum will be held in Chancellor's Hall across from the Capitol in the old State Education Building, east end on Hawk St - at which participants in the Bring Them Home Now Bus Tour will bring us the word from Cindy Sheehan, Crawford TX and all who hunger for a nation defined by the pursuit of peace and justice.
For more information: 518-378-2909