Let's Go Gandhi - By Dede Miller,

[Guest guest]

rom: " Mike Hersh " <mikehersh

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:52:52 -0500

Let's Go Gandhi - By Dede Miller, www.gsfp.org

 

 

 

 

Let's Go Gandhi - By Dede Miller,

http://www.gsfp.org

 

Yesterday my sister Cindy Sheehan was arrested outside of the U.S.

mission to the United Nations. A contingent of Women which included

Cindy, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, Missy Beattie a GSFP

member whose Nephew Chase Comley was killed in Iraq and eight Iraqi

women were attempting to deliver the Women Say no to War petition to

the U.S. mission.

 

This visit was pre approved by the mission. As the women

arrived one of New York's finest " cited a change of plans from " higher

up " and moved in to arrest them. Four of the women, Cindy, Medea,

Missy and code pink member Patti Ackerman were handled very roughly

during their arrest. The women linked arms when it became apparent

they were to be arrested. For this they were physically abused and

charged with resisting arrest.

 

What will it take for the majority of you who don't support the

occupation of Iraq or the Bush regime to rise up? Polls tell us that

59% of you believe the occupation is wrong and we are being lied to by

Bush.

 

I do not see 160 million of you out in the streets. Again, what will

it take? I will tell you what it took to get me off of my ass. It took

my sweet beautiful nephew Casey's blood spilling in Sadr City Baghdad.

 

It took watching my sister and family suffer a pain I don't think I

can ever explain well enough but know it is a pain I would not even

wish on the Bush family. I feel an indefensible guilt because of my

apathy. I live daily thinking maybe Casey and 2300 other kids would

still be alive if I had been in the streets prior to March 19 2003.

 

Our civil rights are slowly being taken from us.

 

The Senate voted 89-10 to renew the Patriot Act. It still must pass

the House. After hearing of the Dubai port deal and learning of the

illegal wire tapping of Peace activists it is very apparent to me that

the Patriot Act is used more to curtail the actions of U.S. citizens

than to protect us from Terrorists. Patriot Act II will further

increase the powers of the Bush regime and further diminish our rights.

 

So when will you wake up and rise up?

 

Will it be when you are arrested for trying to deliver a petition to a

Government entity that your tax dollar pays?

 

Will it be when you are arrested for wearing a shirt a government

official finds offensive?

 

Will it be when your e-mails and phone conversations are monitored by

the NSA?

 

Will it be when your Child's brains are blown out in a foreign country?

 

Tell me please what it will take?

 

I was having this conversation with a dear friend of mine. Someone on

our side. But a person comfortable in life and as yet untouched by the

last 5 years. When I asked her to speak out, call her congressman,

newspaper, etc. She said to me " who would listen? " my answer to her,

no one if you don't do anything.

 

I can't stress enough to you. At some point your life is going to be

impacted by this administration of evil and greed. I implore you, I

beg you, don't wait until it is too late. The time is now to take our

country back. The time is now to make our elected official do our will.

 

Non Violent Civil Disobedience is a time tested and proven tool to

effect change.

 

To quote Gandhi:

You assist an evil system most effectively by obeying its orders and

decrees.

An evil system never deserves such allegiance.

Allegiance to it means partaking of the evil.

A good person will resist an evil system with his or her whole soul.

 

We must as Rep. Maxine Waters puts it " put street heat " on congress.

It is time for us to as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it " cast our whole vote " .

 

You must now be willing to do as much as you can to reclaim our

country.

Can you make daily phone calls to your Senators and Congressmen? I

think you can. Can you get out one hour a week in front of the homes

of your Congressional reps demanding they do our will?

 

I think you can. Will you dig your heals in and stand your ground when

they will not listen? I think you should.

 

It is time to go Gandhi on them……will you?

 

In Peace,

Dede Miller

Proud Auntie of Casey Sheehan KIA Iraq 04/04/04

Gold Star Families for Peace

 

http://www.gsfp.org

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