Late to the conversation here (I've been on vacation), but:

1. gringo_01: What is YOUR plan?

2. gringo_01: All of what you suspect as after-effect may be correct, but tell me if you disagree with this: The SOONER the troops are removed the better. The better chance for peace to take hold. The better chance for the US to find remedy. SO, shouting "lets give peach, err, I mean peace, a chance" makes total sense to me.

Peace is simple. War is what is complicated. End the war, take out the troops, let peace take hold. Here are my simple steps (from someone who considers himself a southerner).

1. Announce: All US troops and US equipment will be departing Iraq by __________ (put date here).

2. All US bases, structures, etc. will be handed over to the People of Iraq. The US disavows any claim to any remaining buildings, structures, bases, OIL (or any other resource), etc.

3. If requested, the US will provide support to the People of Iraq in the amount of: _________________ (put amount here) on an annual basis for the next ___________(put number of years here). It is recognized that this can never undo what has been done, but it can help facilitate remedy.

4. If requested by the People of Iraq, the US is willing to provide diplomats of the highest capability as selected by the US Congress to facilitate development of a Peace Plan.

My personal opinion is that the country of Iraq should be divided into a confederacy. A confederacy for PEACE. The People of Iraq need to decide who the members of the confederacy are, and what the boundaries are.

(As an aside, I think the US should do likewise).

There. I am not a professional diplomat. I'm sure many can point out the flaws. But, you asked for a plan, and in 15 minutes, I came up with this plan (although these are things I've been contemplating quite a bit lately). Anyhow, as a group, give us a bit more time, and it can be refined.

Peace,
Ken Hausle
Charlotte, NC

So far, I haven't see any actual plans how to stop the war in Iraq. I suppose this is because it is much easier to shout "Lets give peace a chance", than to propose any concrete measures to achieve peace. But again, I personally don't expect the people on this website to think beyond step 1. So how exactly do you want to achieve peace in Iraq? Okay, you want to withdraw US troops from Iraq. Fine. What happens after that? Will the civil war become more bloody and cruel? Can we expect all-out war between shias and sunnis and kurds? Maybe Iran will invade Iraq to pacify the population? Millions of people will die? If this indeed happens, would it mean that Cindy Sheehan is a warmonger - jugding by the results of her actions?
In case some of you forgot, US withdrawal from South East Asia did not end the war there. In reality millions of innocent civilians were exterminated by the communists. Of course, the proponents of the US withdrawal and cutting off the aid never admitted any responsibility. Do you think we can expect same level of irresponsibility?

Anyway, Cindy, you lost a son, and it's horrible. I understand that. But that does not make you an expert on foreign policy - just as it does not make you a rocket scientist. I suggest you stop shouting the slogans and start studying the history. It may be much more difficult and less gratifying - but it will make your efforts somewhat more productive.

Could it be that you who label others as bigots and racists are bigots and racists yourselves? Does labeling people who have a different opinion with slur words make your point stronger? Could it be that freedom of speech belongs to every citizen of this country, not just left wing idealogues? Is it right to ignore a law of the land because it is unpopular with some? Could you be setting a dangerous precedent? Your rant is pure hate speech directed at a minority population, that being white Southerners. Venom and hate spews from your mouths. Dare look in the mirror!

Cindy has too much on the ball to run as a Democratic candidate. If she wins, the'll beat her down just like they did so many other's who were ran on good platforms. She would probably be more effective if she ran as a green or independant. That way she could name her "price" for her vote if it's a swing vote and wouldn't have to vote lockstep with her party. I just quit the Democratic party after reading about Pelosi's vote on the farm subsidy bill on Common Dreams. That was the last straw.

Dear Cindy,
Thank you for continuing the fight. You embody the American people because you are truly one of us. Keep the faith and know that you have the support of millions of Americans.

Note: Have somebody edit your articles for typos before they go out.

Treeplanter asks:
"Is ignorance becoming more commonplace in this age of information?!"

Nicely put, and I think the answer is, in some ways, 'Yes!' -- in that, for as long as the 'information' is *MIS-information* or DIS-information, (courtesy of liars and cowards in / of mass media outlets) then many people are duped into ignorance.

The good news is, -of course, that in contradistinction to the 'MESS Media' we have our own lines of communication which, -whilst not perfect, do at least aspire to 'tell it like it is' and thus we inform ourselves, and in the process, -hopefully slough off some our own ignorance! :)

________________

I wonder who once invented the phrase 'Ignorance is bliss'?
Were they being sardonic or what?"
The human race needs ignorance like we need more syphilis. (Now there's a likeness: 'Ignorance is V.D. for the mind'!)

If there is such a thing as 'the dark forces' at work in the world, then certainly they would seek to increase 'ignore-ance' of verities of every sort.

Many societies (typically patriarchal ones!) have tried to stem information getting to 'the masses', and this has ensured power remaining in the hands of the patricians, whilst the poor, (including the womenfolk of course) are left to flounder in the gumph handed down 'from on high'.

The earlier Christian churches did it by trying to keep their Bibles writ in the foreign tongue of Latin. Many Muslim societies have ensured that women were denied access to education, and traditionally (male) Imams were the sole interlocutors betwixt Allah, -and their flock, who either couldn't read (their Qur'an) or who needed it to be 'explained' (-interpreted) by the Imam.
-Not completely a tragedy I suppose, if said teacher were of good moral fibre and brilliant intellect, but... ... !!

_________________________

Of course American slaves and the poor were habitually denied schooling, - and ditto all across the world, --so many have e'er been 'kept in the dark' by the power-hungry dolts at the top, who abhorred the thought that their minions might learn what they were *really* up to, and subsequently revolt!

Education, especially that of increased reading skills, is essential to offset ignorance. But the human race with it's aspirations towards enlightenment, having now gained an improved level of reading abilities, is currently being thwarted by the dark-souled ones, [vile Murdoch, Clear Channel, Disney, et al] who are approaching their task with a changed stratagem:
"Okay, ~ let the masses have information, --but just ensure that what the fools read and view is just 'the sports page', -or sexual titillation, or consumer inconsequentials, and lots of 'celebrity waffle', -and in this way we can keep them as dumbed-down as ever."

** "Punter$$$, -don't yer just luv 'em!" **
_______________

So, this is why I do not join some critics of C-D and elsewhere, when they castigate we who write on blogs and discuss issues important to us, because I believe that for as long as we are attempting to autodidactically improve our learning through self-education, plus engendering the SPIRIT of UNITY, then we are effectively countering what the mEss media moguls are up to.

...And all that is 'A Good Thing', -or so I honestly believe!
:)

How did the north/south issue become part of this discussion? I have worked in many Southern States and live in Northern Maine. My observation is that ignorance and bigotry exist everywhere. Here it's the French and Indians. People seem to need someone beneath them. Ignorance is the main problem. I had a discussion with high school teacher today ; he expressed his frustration at the system and that the kids are being taught to fill in the blanks but not being taught to think. Woe to the future if this is common. Is ignorance becoming more commonplace in this age of information?!!!!

Gee marctileston, and a bunch of you other folks on here...congratulations on your moral superiority and great intelligence.

All us poor fools from the South usually have fairly good manners and don't insult others randomly, nor do we routinely use profanity.

There are bigots and fill in the blanks of every race, creed, color, regeion and country in the world. My advise to some of you is quit wasting time on them. They are easily recognizable.

Darn.....I have to run out and get a Confederate Battle Flag, being from the South, I was too ignorant to know I was required to have one.

thanks Raoul, i know and that one i cited has all his videos and comments about "love", yet i asked him how could he pretend that his ministry is about "love" and support bush and the war..what a hypocrite!

Information (the schedule, etc.) about Cindy Sheehan's

Journey for Humanity and Accountability

is available at

www.thecampcaseypeaceinstitute.org

Donations can also be made at that site to help with the Journey's expenses and to enable Cindy Sheehan to provide help to hospitals in Iraq and to Iraqi refugees.

You can give monetary support

to Cindy Sheehan's

Journey for Humanity and Accountability

at the following Web page:

https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/gsfp/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=864

This page is part of the site Gold Star Families for Peace

Southern Music, in the 60s was a major part of the peace movement. I'm from Florida, can't get more south than that. I think growing up in that culture sent me the other way, like an alcoholic family producing kids that don't drink.

I was headed to Florida to visit my folks trying to find a good radio station! Listen to AM radio and you will see why their rednecks don't want to change.

All it takes is free thinking, and that happens to invade any culture!

Colleen and everyone else who feels a little letdown by this country:

I would first like to thank Cindy and people in America who are making their voices heard and trying their hardest to change things around. Thanks to everyone at commondreams and other news outlets who don't sugar coat every story. Thanks to bloggers and voters and the everyday American who discuss and debate tragedies like war and misguided education. It's for people like you, like us, who seem to make the world a little less backward.

Now, more relevant to Colleen's comment about the Civil War reinactments and the absence of Underground Railroad attractions. Again, there is more hope. In my rather conservative town of Cincinnati, Ohio there is a place called the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I mean, how cool is that? Check out www.freedomcenter.org to take a virtual tour and see some of the monthly events they plan.

Sometimes it's easy to get distracted by all the destruction going on around the world, but there are plenty of people who are working to clean up the debris.

Bravo marctileston.

You and I are off the main subject of this discussion which should be about Cindy's movement, but it would serve us all to be more respectful.

I've noticed a trend lately on these CommonDreams.org discussions to become unnecessarily critical and petty.

Peace is peace. You can't Kill for Peace and you can't cure bigotry by being a bigot.

Not withstanding CBH's tacky "west coast" remarks about the South I say that as a North Carolinian, I'm not surprised that Charlotte presents itself as in such an embarrassing way. I'm sorry that your impression of North Carolina was such a poor one.

Charlotte is a pathetic wannabe town and they always will be. They aren't "Hot 'lanta" and they aren't New York, they're, well, they're Charlotte and nothing more. Only someone from out of state wouldn't know that Charlotte doesn't represent North Carolina. Heck, most of the Charlotte wannabes are from the "west coast" anyway.

It's a pity Cindy's group chose to aggrandize themselves by going through a media center, as Charlotte is, in it's petty, wannabe way.

They could, and should, have chosen the smaller towns. Towns from where the solders come. Towns who aren't perfect, and who don't fit the "west coast" definition of "liberal" but they are towns where there is real concern and worry about, not just an unjust war, but about perversion of our govenrment by the privileged few for the benefit of the privileged few. Those towns seldom have a voice. She could have given them a voice, if for only 15 minutes.

Charlotte is a money-whore town, and their main john is banking which is the worst, unless you count oil. The up-scale and pampered rich folks who call Charlotte home don't volunteer for service, military or otherwise. You couldn't find a less sympathetic or more self-satisfied and smug group of people unless you pass through the Duke campus of spoiled and pampered brats.

Cindy, it's a big country, don't waste your energy in "big towns". That might be where the TV cameras want you to go, but you have more support than most know in those little redneck communities. I'd wager you have as much, maybe more support than in some of those "west coast" towns.

God be with you.

I was born in the south without any role in that decision. Much like the Iraqis who die for being born in Iraq, we southernors are plagued by the bigotry, illiteracy, false bravado, racism, incest and stupidity that are all epidemic in the south. Many of my neighbors still fly the confederate flag thinking that their slaves have been stolen from them not knowing that they in fact have become the slaves. I imagine that back in the day, all a white southernor had to do was be intellectually superior to the slaves whom were deprived books or even the right to learn to read. For these neanderthals, the thought process has simply been shut down. By virtue of attacking, belittling, intimidating, or otherwise degrading most, they can feel adequate with themselves. Apparently that is much easier than actually thinking or reading, or understanding. For these brainless shells that evolution forgot, just knowing that somewhere, someone is being killed while they are not is comforting. To eliminate poverty would mean that now they become the least fortunate. You see, down here, as long as some folks are worse off than you, then you're a success. Having empathy would be counter productive. Why, if we act to improve the quality of life for others, then they may not be seen as inferior to us!! Clearly, the culture of the south has always been to exploit others in order to avoid putting forth any effort on our own behalf(slavery). Perhaps that belief is prevelant in many places throughout America today. But particularly in the south, many people still cling to the belief that work is for others, and wealth is for those who are "smart" enough to manipulate others to do it for them. Slavery may have been abolished but it's practices are still fully operational. Wages offer little more than food and housing, at times not even that. Not so very different from slave plantations, who even then, had to house and feed the slaves. But in understanding how or why the near poverty level hardworking rednecks still think of themselves as superior one must call into question their intelligence if not sanity. Down here, we often hear of the virtues of hard work, and the value of the fear of God. I believe that the inner conflict created by actually replacing the slaves has distorted many a southern man's mind. But as a last resort, he clings to the idea that God wants us all to labor in the fields, except on Sunday, which everyone knows is NASCAR day. So they willingly submit to the powers that be, not as slaves but on slave wages, not without the right to learn to read, but certainly without the requirement, or the educational system to promote real analysis of the situation. And something inside of them, something innate, or sub-conscious, demands that they notice. But instead of further inspection, what we get is anger, and ignorance...
God help us!

colleen,

I don't believe in war, nor do I think it glorious. But still, you don't know how long the confederacy would have kept its slaves, or what would ultimately have become of them when slavery did end - or, indeed, what sort of laws would have kept african americans poor and unable to immigrate. I remember reading about the underground railroad in elementary school; but the south could have erected a "berlin" wall to stop it from happening once they had their own country. But it is so easy for white people living in the 00's to sit back and say that slaves would have been just fine. With two Irelands, two Koreas, with India and Pakistan, you have two very hostile nations, sometimes pointing nuclear weapons at one another today.

I moved to the south from the "west coast" five years ago. I can never get used to this southern christian bullshit that allows for all this racism and bigotry. The rest of the county views these people for who they are...abunch of uneducated toothless hillbillies. This is George Bush's "base". Good luck America.

More power to you Cindy! Trying to drum anything worthwhile into a dumb southerner's head isn't for a person with a weak stomach! Lincoln should have left the whole south to languish in it's ignorance and let them succeed from the union. Everyone concerned would have been the better for it.

Siouxrose

War is the exception and has caused us all nothing but pain and anguish. In order to get people to fight in war it has to be glorified. Most people innately will not go to war. Most of us find it difficult to kill.

The US was economically strong after WWII because the other nations had been destroyed by war. The nations that can avoid war will imo be the economic winners. Nations that invest in war will win a pyrrhic victory because their social structure will be weakened by using funds for war instead of for education and health and the raising of children.

The US is being weakened from within by using limited resources for war imo. And that war is being driven by people who are making profits on the war and on oil.

Cindy, You are doing great.
You have peace and truth in your heart and have stood up to the test of the haters who try to provoke us all to violence which is the root of our fear and endless wars.

I loved the way you recomended Gen Smedly Butler's "war is a rackett" as a must read.

We need a leader like you who takes a chance for peace.

Love, Jim

UNCOMMONDREAMS: Interesting and evocative post. Just yesterday I was contemplating the issue you raised, that mankind has SCANT representations of peace to emulate. By and large societies (at least in Western culture) have moved from one war to another. One reason why I "turned off" history was it seemed to me little more than a chronicle of the scores of war: redundant inanity.
It's true peace must begin within individuals, as it's been embodied by the likes of Christ, Gandhi and precious few others. EVERY time each one of us elects to turn the other cheek, agree to disagree, we PRACTICE peace... and God knows, it's an intellectual muscle that's been atrophying far too long!

Thank you, Cindy, and thank you to everyone who takes action and gives voice to the need for peace and to impeach Bush/Cheney.

I would be there on 7/23/07 in D.C. but for having to care for 2yo and 7yo boys and limited funds for travel. I will be there in spirit and will call my Congressmen on that day to implore them to get out of Iraq and impeach the warmongers.

Sincerely, AnnRN - "working for health and social justice for all"
at http://www.DefendHealth.org

I agree that the south should have been allowed to secede. This country is too damn big and unmanageable. The slavery issue would have resolved eventually because the world at large found it unacceptable by the later 1800's. I think the quest for empire has been the underlining motive since the beginning with the founders.

godlessrant July 20th, 2007 12:30 am
i recently was debating with such a chickenhawk on youtube - "yokeup" a shameless supporter of bush. check out these remark in his comments section:

I read your examples and the thing that gets to me and always will is how those lying neonazicons ALWAYS invoke God's name into their murderous jingoistic views.

Just goes to show you that we should have allowed the South to secede in 1860. Most of the people down there, excluding the ones with brains which is a minority, are from another planet or so it seems.

If this man who wants to take out the Mid-east with nuclear weapons had his way, from whence would he get the petrol he needs to run his car? Maybe he could buy a 7-seat cycle for his family (there's one on offer in a store in Dublin - I did a Google search yesterday).

Also, the Russians who (somebody remind him, please!) still have a nuclear arsenal would naturally complain about the resulting radio active dust cloud (some of which would reach the West US coast, by the way), possibly by throwing something in the direction of Alabama.

Bye-bye Bible belt?

lo Q. Lellity

I would have wanted the slaves to escape north to freedom.

War was not the answer for the South either. Americans have been fed a lot of lies about how glorious war is.

Maybe it would have been better if the South had been a separate nation and faced failure with its own policies. Sanctuary and help should have been given to any slave who was able to get out of the South and people opposed to slavery should have been helping get the slaves out.

Harriet Tubman was a great person and very overlooked in our history. There are probably more people, unknown to us now, who like her worked on the underground railway to bring people to freedom. They are ignored in our history books in favor of the glorification of the Civil War and the American love for war tactics and hero worship of the military.

In many locations there are reenactments of the battles of the Civil War. Where is the reenactment of the underground railway? (which I think could be very exciting.)

The Civil War imo was not fought to free slaves. That war was fought to keep the South as part of the United States.

i recently was debating with such a chickenhawk on youtube - "yokeup" a shameless supporter of bush. check out these remark in his comments section:

"Yokeup | July 17, 2007
Hey, I do like the yoggi bear thing, that is funny...

Yes, I support the war, I support the President who was put in Authority over this Country by God.... Yes I support President Bush.

Thank you for asking and God bless you guys... in spite of our differences, Caroline and I would have you over for a BBQ, southern style and love to just hang out and bash through some of these discussions.... we'd win the arguments of course.... but it would still be fun.

take care and God bless you"

" Yokeup | July 18, 2007
Ignorance is a bummer.... and there is a lot of it to go around. The fact that this country has not been attacked since 911 speaks to the truth of the value of the war. My memory is not so short as to forget what life was like after the attack and preventing another attack is the number one priority of our President. He is doing a great job.

You don't underestand and I praise God that your way of thinking is not running this country.

Be blessed, God loves you and His continuous comparrison to sheep is confirmed through your comments... but we still gotta love ya."

this horrible buffoon pretends he is some great evangelist yet loves bush and loves this war. i actually ran into one of the 19% braindead fools who are part of this tragedy!

Hooray for CINDY!

THIS TIME we will be CERTAIN that you will KNOW our gratitude AT ALL TIMES,
WON'T WE, now FOLKS?!

That was an AMAZING interview on Hardball! How you have the courage to get up there and say it like it is amazes me, and inspires us ALL~~

(Please remember to take your vitamin C....)

http://www.sheehanforcongress.us -- we're a self-organizing group of Sheehan supporters preparing for Cindy's all-but-certain '08 campaign. Please check out our web site and sign up!

lo Q - Who said anything about the Civil War shouldn't have been fought? I totally missed that one. And your Post indicates "more than one" - Plural. Please clarify..........

Chickenhawk poser bravado. Threatening a mom who lost her son to the looting, murdering invasion of their criminal oligarchy. Fascists, the worst of cowards, try to compensate for their yellow streak by waving the flag as a mob. But as usual, they're hiding behind their Gestapo.

All Bu$h is saying is give war a chance.

again and again and again ...

All Dick is saying is give war a chance.

ADD all the msm, neocons and the morons in Congress who fund it.

The following video says it all. It must end. They must be impeached. We've all been lied to.

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/64513/detail/

I can't believe the racist ignorance of people who come to commondreams and say it would have better to forgo the civil war! Clearly none of you saying that are the descendants of slaves who would have been killed, tortured, and denied basic freedoms for hundreds more years if they hadn't been stopped.

We hear and say, "Give peace a chance" but there's a slight problem here methinks: Where does 'PEACE' come from? Where does it originate?

I think "peace arises in people".

-But obviously not *all* people.
Many humans don't have much of a semblance of 'PEACE' inside them, and so they reflect their inner selves outwardly, -onto a suffering world, which then has to endure their abhorrent antics.

A *peace-full* people don't need to carry tons of weapons around with them, ~ only those ill-at-ease and filled with fear envisage that 'all the world and his dog' are out to get them! :(

The poor retarded things who tried to usurp Cindy's efforts to bring some light into that corner of N. Carolina are not peaceful beings, they are disturbed individuals, they have a *dis-ease* and LACK of PEACE deep within them, and so their fear and hatred subsequently spews out, -showering their surroundings with poisonous effluent.

It *IS* important to try to get through to this sort of breed of knuckle-dragging hominids, but it's hard work. [I've tried!] Due to their lack of mental and emotional development, their sorry plight is not quickly overcome.

Of course, if our mass media was owned and run by wise and ethical people, -those with a shred of morality about them, then said media could be helping these "Regressive Aggressives" to get up to speed along with the rest of civilisation; but as things stand, the media habitually plays to the lowest minds and emotions, so it's very much a part of the problem.

I think we would benefit mightily from a more concerted attempt to run our own media operations and outlets. My input aside, -there is often a great deal of sensible, intelligent comment on Common Dreams, - it's a shame that more folk aren't able to benefit from it.

With careful and very patient work, I believe we could finally help the less well-evolved to break free of their narrow confines and join us in *loving* the human race, not misanthropically fearing it.

++++++++++++++++++++

'Western' people sometimes believe themselves to be somehow 'better' than, (eg) a race of people living in a dense jungle somewhere, - assuming that their 'Degree In Pre-digested Knowledge' from 'the University of Very Important Things' somehow makes them *better* human beings.

Huh! I haven't yet managed to email *God* -in person- but I'm told that our Maker [actually] values a little kid in the back end of Borneo JUST as much as 'Senator Soldout' in Coldturkey, Alabama!

--Maybe more so! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~ I was recently entertained by a group of Pygmy musicians, the 'Baka' tribesfolk, who live deep within the jungle of Cameroon. They have a thriving culture, REAL culture! –based on joyous creativity which has nothing to do with egomania and vacuous showmanship.

Baka people are completely integrated with their natural surroundings and enjoy a highly sustainable way of life, they do not go to war or threaten others with knives or guns, nor wreck their environment as we do with our rapacious Western vandalism and exploitation.

The Baka people make music at many different hours of the day, using, until recently, only instruments handcrafted by themselves, and are gifted with wonderfully intricate, well-developed vocal talents...

(Here's a link to a bit more about them) : http://www.bakabeyond.net/Baka_mainpage.html

When I was close to these performers I was aware of the attitude many in the West would have towards these gentle folk: if Baka folk visited the more feral towns of the USA and elsewhere, they would be harried and possibly harmed, by the likes of those who mistakenly believe they are more "civilized" -just because they possess the trappings and novelties of a society which is often quite delusional, over-rich, aggressive beyond any rationale, and which has a debased, phoney, twisted, money-led culture... and yet...

...somehow many in the West still manage to think they are *superior* to the likes of the Baka folk. - A wonder to behold!
_______________

Thanks for daring to enter the jaws of hell's kitchen Cindy, you're a 'braver man' than many of the men on Capitol Hill ! :)

And thanks for 'walking your talk' Ken, and spreading a little light in the direction of those still somewhat beclouded.

I live in Charlotte, NC and went to the rally. There were many more supporters than "counter-protesters" -- its just us supporters were "disadvantaged" due to our considerate behavior. Even so, if it came to a fight, I think the supporters would have won hands down because our anger runs deeper and "burns with clarity"; whereas, the so-called "eagles" were more delirious with misdirected anger and unfounded hatefulness.

But what good would any conflict have accomplished, and I suppose that is why the Sheehan folks decided to move the assembly to a safer location (Talleys Green Grocery) ---- although I knew as soon as she didn't show up, that the "scavengers....err, I mean eagles" would claim "victory". I had hoped Charlotte would make a better showing of itself, but I'm not surprised.

Lastly, I'd like to add that I also take issue with those who have made generalized derogatory statements regarding the People of the south. I was born in the north (Buffalo, NY), but have lived in North Carolina now for almost 30 years. It took me awhile, but I have come to consider myself a "southerner" and I care deeply about the south and the many fine People who reside here.

Peace,
Ken Hausle
* I support HRes333 - Impeach the VP

Although I almost died(was almost murdered)and was often threatened and assaulted in Alabama as a young white supporter of Civil Rights in the early 60s,I must take exception to the stereotyping of Southerners. There were/are manymanymany really fine people of all races in every state in the Lands of Dixie. Please don't fall into the trap of PREJUDICE or you will become the enemy. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE-PEACE.
"ALL WE ARE SAYING,'IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE'".

Thank you Cindy, also for exposing the "Democrats" for what they are

Hope you run against Pelosy.

I don't live in your state, but I can tell you I'll NOT vote for the Dems (just because they are Dems), and neither for the Repubs - they are simply two sides of the same coin.

I'll vote Green/Libertarian/Independent, whatever is available. Never for the lesser of the two evils, never. That's what has brought us here

Having never heard of "Gathering of Eagles" I found it impossible not to check out their website. There, I found the following:
"I was never so proud to be an Eagle as I was today, when we literally intimidated the moonbats to the extent that Cindy Sheehan drove by the demonstration site, saw what was happening, and DROVE AWAY!
It was awesome. George Samek, advance man extraordinaire, had Charlotte just waiting for us."
Wow! Hey, that's GREAT! What else could we possibly consider our civic duty to be than to intimidate those we disagree with from stating their opinion. God bless democracy.

PLEASE! Cindy gets plenty of praise already, eveyone needs to take action. GO TO DC this MONDAY, JULY 23...

Gather at Arlington Cemetary Metro Stop (Blue Line) at 9:30 - Walk to Capitol starts at 10:00.

As always, it is best to park and ride in from one of the end-of-line stations.

Where to gather:
http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/ARLCEMET/arlcemet.html
Clicable system map:
http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html

http://www.thecampcaseypeaceinstitute.org/

boffo23,

I agree that we should not generalize about any individual or group. At the same time there clearly is a white angry male trend and it seems stronger in the SE of the US. Of the 40% of South Carolina votes you say were cast for Kerry in '04, one must subtract black and other non-white voters, women, sexual minorities, etc. What percentage of white men in South Caroline voted for Kerry? Is it near single digits?

Go girl and good luck with your upcoming march. Maybe it's time for a female Martin Luther King to get citizens back on the street demanding a voice in our government. But be careful as there are a lot of boneheads and misguided fools out there who could pose a physical threat. These neo-nazi's are a pain and it disgusts me that they are given free rein in our country. Being a neo-nazi seems to me to be a group that wishes to overthrow the government and by law they can be restrained and imprisoned.

An open reply to andersdl and Sir Melvin:

Did it ever occur to you that not all residents of the Southeast think alike? I live in South Carolina, one of the reddest of the red states. And you know what? In 2004, over 40% of this very red state voted for Kerry! Look it up.

What are the implications of this? Walk down a southern street, and one out of three people you meet may have more in common with your politics than you think.

I am sorry that some redneck idiots and their friends were rude to Cindy. I am sorry that I cannot persuade more of my fellow South Carolinians to become more liberal. But I am not sorry for where I live.

Please realize that your prejudiced words are hurtful to those of us trying to make a difference.

Global capitalism needs war like humans need oxygen.

Cindy, why don't you walk door to door and try to get a march going throug the streets of these cities as you go? I think that would be even more powerful.

Isn't it time we undo Lincoln's big mistake and let the South secede from the U.S. ?

Cindy Sheehan, as cool as she may be, is too polarizing a figure. I thought she retired from this krappe...and yet, today, we ahve an essay from her everyday. Trust me, I'm against the war, against the NEO cons and am ready to storm the Bastille......yet i think Sheehan should bow out like she said she was going to do.

I am so glad to see Cindy come back to the fight for peace. Her legend continues to grow.

Surely you have made enough on this war, to never have to work again.
History..the same insanity over and over again with a few heros here and there...should I just go to the beach and accept this is all we are capable of?
Impeach Cheney...HR 333.....Dennis Kucinich the one with both heart and courage.

I want the war to go on an on,if peace should happen my profits will end ,I would have to go back to working for a living.

Brava! Cindy!

Get this brilliant lady into the US Senate!

A model American. If the rest of the US gets to be more like her, things will change, and Americans will no longer have to endure the shame and the pain of the present disgraceful situation.

"It is my belief that for all human history, we have been giving "war a chance" and it has never worked."

Not much of a student of history…

This statement refers to those who start wars, and their agression ultimately never works.

Hitler's dreams of a unified, socialist-and-untermenschen-free Europe ended in horrific bloodshed and nothing else.

Kennedy/Johnson/Nixon's objective of a capitalist, domino-free Indochina ended in 3.5 million dead and nothing else,

Bush's dreams of a corporate-controlled Middle East are turning out similarly.

...and no one exactly knows what the millions slaugntered in the trenches of Belgum and France in WW1 died for....

I feel awe and reverence from Cindy, who is not dissuaded by the small, hateful, spiteful, nasty, ignorant, insular, violent, hypocritical, self-serving narcissists who are busy killing the planet or supporting its destruction. Even after "leaving" the peace movement, Cindy is continuing to deliver her message. For every one of us whose message of peace seems marginalized, she is a light in the darkness. Granny D and the two young men making their way across the US on foot are also humans I greatly admire, as was John Lennon.

Will we ever give peace a chance? If I can add to that collective voice, and perhaps help tip the balance by convincing the rare individual who hasn't made up his or her mind that peace is the answer and that we can save the planet, I will feel that this lifetime is not just a waste of time.

www.raycarlson.com

PLEASE! Everyone to DC this Monday, July 23. Call in sick if you have to.

Meet at Arlington Cemetary Metro Station at 9:30. Cindy's walk starts at 10:00.

As always, you should park and ride from an outlying station, especially since it is a workday.

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html

http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/ARLCEMET/arlcemet.html

PLEASE! everyone try to get to DC this Monday!

Gather at Arlington Cemetary Metro Stop (Blue Line) at 9:30 - Walk to Capitol starts at 10:00.

As always, it is best to park and ride in from one of the end-of-line stations.

Where to gather:
http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/ARLCEMET/arlcemet.html
Clicable system map:
http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/system_map.html

http://www.thecampcaseypeaceinstitute.org/

there are a couple of sentences here I would like to talk about.

One is a man from Southeastern USA saying that Bush did not chose to invade Iraq and by paying taxes he is being courageous. This person is who believes no American should learn Spanish even though his English is more worse than mine.

Será la causa de su caída. Las personas que viven eLas personas de los Estados Unidos del sudeste de América que cree que matanza es moralmente aceptable personifica todo que es malo entre los Estados Unidos de América en total. Cualquier persona que vive en el estado de Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Carolina del sur, etcetera. Quién carece intrínsecamente la inteligencia y cree que George W. Bush es un hombre honorable n los Estados Unidos del sudeste no tienen la habilidad de practicar lo que ellos predican para razones instintivos. Las personas quieren que usted sea la razón por qué la mayoría de los extranjeros odian a Americanos.

Translate THAT racist Alabaman. First though, learn proper English although I believe that may not be possible due to your lack of intelligence and your irreverence for life and human beings. People who live here are among the least intelligent, and most hypocritical of all Americans. As per their history, and as this article demonstrates, they are also among the most cruel and racist of Americans. This type of American tarnish the reputation of Americans from a global standpoint. Yet, they probably do not realize this, again because of their inherent lack of intelligence.

take what those of the Southeastern United States say to you with a grain of salt Ms. Sheehan. They want nothing more but to undermine your efforts for positive change and they are unable to respect the power of Reason because they are nothing but propagandized brainwashed racist fools.

Fighting for Peace
Is like
F**cking for Virginity!

Aardvark, you're right.

It wasn't until totalitarian agriculture sunk it's roots into OUR CULTURE that war became a way of life. Many human cultures don't even think about waging war, but OURS does!

But war-loving cultures are evolutionarily bound to "lose representation in the gene pool." War has never worked in a way that improves the lives of the species collectively.

"It is my belief that for all human history, we have been giving "war a chance" and it has never worked."

Not much of a student of history...

Light & love, Cindy. Peace is the way.

Cindy is right that the ardent war supporters are also the most racist and violent of human kind. A really disturbing picture that I saved on my computer last year, is of Israeli children putting "messages" on bombs that are about to be dropped on the Gaza strip in that war last year. Even more disturbing was a Mother, in the background, smiling! We can trace our foreign policy directly to Israel, Kissinger, and the Tex-ass oil tycoons who have controlled this country for over 50 years. IMPEACH NOW!

Hi Cindy and God Bless you girl! Don't feel bad. I live in a white suburban district of Greater New Orleans and these idiots think that Iraq had something to do with 911. The South has an inferiority complex. To make up for that, many southerners act like they are super American patriots. It's like the muscle man who likes to arrogantly display his muscles; but he actually compensating for his small anatomy if you know what I mean. Thank you, Cindy, for campaigning against US policy of aggressive ultraviolence towards others.

Good luck in your campaign to unseat Pelosi Cindy. I would be happy to donate to the effort once you get a web site set up for that purpose. Time to take out the trash!

Go cindy!