Quotable

"War is the greatest threat to public health." - Gino Strada, Italian war surgeon and founder of the UN-recognized Italian NGO Emergency

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Let's Really Honor Veterans - Support HR 3699

Friends,

There has been quite a bit of discussion surrounding Veterans Day on the radio today about the psycholocigal effects of war on returning veterans and how to help them.  But I have not heard one word about preventing psychological trauma by keeping these men and women from ever having to engage in war in the first place.  While we continue to pour ever increasing amounts of tax dollars into war, we spend a trickle on efforts at peacemaking.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon, President and Congress quibble over how many more troops to send to Afghanistan.  When will the madness end???  When we, the people, stand up and say ENOUGH!!!  I share the following request from Peace Action asking us all to honor our troops by keeping them home.  The invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have demonstrated that peace can not be won at the point of a gun.  Now is the time to tell Congress to fund peace, not war.

Peace,

Leonard

P.S. - Learn more about HR 3699 at govtrack.us.

Summer's last sunflower at the fence separating Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action from the Bangor Trident nuclear submarine base

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In 1954, President Eisenhower declared that Veterans Day would be a national holiday where "all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose" of peace. In honor of all the veterans who have lost their lives in war, it is time to put war behind us. Ask your Representative to support HR 3699 to prevent funds for more troops to Afghanistan.

This Veteran's Day we must reflect on the steps forward and backwards we have made in this pursuit. Today will be a day to mourn for all those who have lost their lives because of war. Not only American veterans, but the people who have lost their lives needlessly in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Peace Action would urge all people to honor our troops this Veteran's Day by e-mailing your Representative in Congress and asking her or him to keep our troops safe by keeping them home. E-mail your Representative here and tell her or him to support HR 3699.

Sincerely,

Paul Kawika Martin
Political Director
Peace Action

P.S. (from Leonard) - A phone call is even more powerful than an email.  Click here to find your Representative's phone number.

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