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Imagine if in 2006...
Dec 29, 2005
As we close the year 2005, with war still raging in Iraq and lies still emanating from the White House, let's send out some positive vibes for the new year. In the spirit of planting our own "field of dreams...
Imagine if, in 2006:
- Every citizen against the war decides to attend a peace vigil.
- Every mother shows up at a recruiters' office and says, "NOT MY CHILD!"
- Every father is brave enough to tell his son "Killing is NOT manly."
- Every teacher teaches conflict resolution to her students.
- Every Christian demands that our government practice the Commandment: THOU SHALL NOT KILL.
- Every anti-war voter refuses to give money, support or votes to pro-war candidates.
- Every student who considers joining the military to pay rising college costs instead joins with other students to demand affordable education.
- Every soldier who has doubts about the mission in Iraq refuses to fight.
- Every congressperson walks, cycles or takes public transportation to work.
- Every American buying a new car chooses a hybrid or biodiesel.
- Every family member of a fallen soldier joins Cindy Sheehan in saying "Honor our sacrifices; stop the killing."
- Every living veteran, those who best know the agony of war, converges on Washington to demand a Department of Peace.
- Every woman who wants to see a more peaceful world connects with like-minded women of all ages, races, religions and nationalities to demand an end to war. *
- Every citizen who feels lied to about the reasons for invading Iraq demands that George Bush be impeached.
Maybe, together, we could end the occupation of Iraq in the new year and make it harder for future leaders to drag us into unjust wars. When we sow seeds of peace, a whole field of dreams can blossom.
From your sisters at CODEPINK, we wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to working together in 2006 to make our dreams come true.
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Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Medea Benjamin
Medea Benjamin is co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She is the co-author, with Nicolas J.S. Davies, of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, available from OR Books in November 2022. Other books include, "Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran" (2018); "Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection" (2016); "Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control" (2013); "Don't Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart" (1989), and (with Jodie Evans) "Stop the Next War Now" (2005).
As we close the year 2005, with war still raging in Iraq and lies still emanating from the White House, let's send out some positive vibes for the new year. In the spirit of planting our own "field of dreams...
Imagine if, in 2006:
- Every citizen against the war decides to attend a peace vigil.
- Every mother shows up at a recruiters' office and says, "NOT MY CHILD!"
- Every father is brave enough to tell his son "Killing is NOT manly."
- Every teacher teaches conflict resolution to her students.
- Every Christian demands that our government practice the Commandment: THOU SHALL NOT KILL.
- Every anti-war voter refuses to give money, support or votes to pro-war candidates.
- Every student who considers joining the military to pay rising college costs instead joins with other students to demand affordable education.
- Every soldier who has doubts about the mission in Iraq refuses to fight.
- Every congressperson walks, cycles or takes public transportation to work.
- Every American buying a new car chooses a hybrid or biodiesel.
- Every family member of a fallen soldier joins Cindy Sheehan in saying "Honor our sacrifices; stop the killing."
- Every living veteran, those who best know the agony of war, converges on Washington to demand a Department of Peace.
- Every woman who wants to see a more peaceful world connects with like-minded women of all ages, races, religions and nationalities to demand an end to war. *
- Every citizen who feels lied to about the reasons for invading Iraq demands that George Bush be impeached.
Maybe, together, we could end the occupation of Iraq in the new year and make it harder for future leaders to drag us into unjust wars. When we sow seeds of peace, a whole field of dreams can blossom.
From your sisters at CODEPINK, we wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to working together in 2006 to make our dreams come true.
Medea Benjamin
Medea Benjamin is co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace. She is the co-author, with Nicolas J.S. Davies, of War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, available from OR Books in November 2022. Other books include, "Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran" (2018); "Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection" (2016); "Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control" (2013); "Don't Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart" (1989), and (with Jodie Evans) "Stop the Next War Now" (2005).
As we close the year 2005, with war still raging in Iraq and lies still emanating from the White House, let's send out some positive vibes for the new year. In the spirit of planting our own "field of dreams...
Imagine if, in 2006:
- Every citizen against the war decides to attend a peace vigil.
- Every mother shows up at a recruiters' office and says, "NOT MY CHILD!"
- Every father is brave enough to tell his son "Killing is NOT manly."
- Every teacher teaches conflict resolution to her students.
- Every Christian demands that our government practice the Commandment: THOU SHALL NOT KILL.
- Every anti-war voter refuses to give money, support or votes to pro-war candidates.
- Every student who considers joining the military to pay rising college costs instead joins with other students to demand affordable education.
- Every soldier who has doubts about the mission in Iraq refuses to fight.
- Every congressperson walks, cycles or takes public transportation to work.
- Every American buying a new car chooses a hybrid or biodiesel.
- Every family member of a fallen soldier joins Cindy Sheehan in saying "Honor our sacrifices; stop the killing."
- Every living veteran, those who best know the agony of war, converges on Washington to demand a Department of Peace.
- Every woman who wants to see a more peaceful world connects with like-minded women of all ages, races, religions and nationalities to demand an end to war. *
- Every citizen who feels lied to about the reasons for invading Iraq demands that George Bush be impeached.
Maybe, together, we could end the occupation of Iraq in the new year and make it harder for future leaders to drag us into unjust wars. When we sow seeds of peace, a whole field of dreams can blossom.
From your sisters at CODEPINK, we wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to working together in 2006 to make our dreams come true.
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