this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war and other disasters
we honor courage in all its forms
cross-posted at DailyKos, Booman Tribune, European Tribune, and My Left Wing.
image and poem below the fold
Three boys stand proudly around a 120-mm mortar shell they turned in to U.S. troops in Mosul, Iraq on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2006. Iraqi and U.S. officials say a mixture of fighting, politicking, training and praying is pacifying Mosul. Children now often play in the streets, but they remain a dangerous place with unexploded ordinance.
(AP Photo/Chris Tomlinson)
for Boys
step #1: <s>don’t be mean to girls</s>
remember that your older brothers cousins, uncles, and your fathers are not your role models. this means you do not do what they do, you do not do what they say. They come from a time when their role models told their sons to be mean to girls, to think of yourself as better and stronger and smarter than them. They also taught things like: you will grow up strong if you act tough and fight the boys who are known as nerds and geeks.
from Kurt Cobain Journals
page 262
– – –
put a meaningful magnet on your car or metal filing cabinet
read Ilona’s important diary at MLW – Returning Vet PTSD – One Soldier’s Story as well her comprehensive series on PTSD and Iraq War vets.
view the pbs newshour silent honor roll (with thanks to jimstaro at booman.)
take a private moment to light one candle among many (with thanks to TXSharon)
support Veterans for Peace
support the Iraqi people
support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)
support CARE
support the victims of torture
remember the fallen
support Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors – TAPS
support Gold Star Families for Peace
support the fallen
support the troops
support Iraq Veterans Against the War
support Military families Speak Out
support the troops and the Iraqi people
read This is what John Kerry did today, the diary by lawnorder that prompted this series
read Riverbend’s Bagdhad Burning
read Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches
read Today in Iraq
witness every day
Click on the candle to copy the image into your own comment (you can leave it on my server), and/or rate this one – not for mojo, but to leave a small mark after taking this moment.
” I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.”
from Dirge Without Music
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Light A Candle For
Peace, Tolerance, Understanding
and For The Children – Innocence Lost!
{Cross Posted At: ‘Imagine’ A World Of Peace,Understanding,Tolerance}
The following is a part of an E sent to friends by their son, just a few days before Christmas, he is serving in Afganistan, for the Second Tour there with a Tour In-Theater Iraq In-between those!
We have received Many Correspondence from In-Theater Troops, both Iraq and Afganistan, and most are Simple and To The point as this.
The rest of the E is personal, this part is the Reality!!!
A ‘Very Un-Happy Holiday’s and Un-Merry Christmas’, from Iraq and Afganistan!!!!
***
As long as we hate, there will be people to hate
:George Harrison: Musician, producer and composer, member of The Beatles, 1943-2001
****
Democracy don’t rule the world, You’d better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that’s better left unsaid.
: Bob Dylan : American folksinger, b.1941
*****
James Starowicz
USN ’67-’71 GMG3 Vietnam In-Country’70-’71 COMNAVFORV
Member: Veterans For Peace
VFP ‘Declaration Of Impeachment’
Sign On and Pass Link To Others
“We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby
affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause
of world peace by applying the concept of engaging
conflict peacefully, without violence.”
Veterans For Peace
Fear overshadows Christmas joy in Baghdad
Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:59 AM ET
Be peacemakers, Pope says on his first Christmas
Sat Dec 24, 2005 7:39 PM ET
Christmas in New Orleans
By Fatima Shaik
{And Lets Not Forget That Whole Surrounding Coastal/Inland Area}
Peace
Merry Christmas Rub. Hugs……Peace
Just Another Day for U.S. Military in Iraq
Let there be piece on earth
Let it start with me!
.
PODGORICA, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) Dec. 25 — Top Bosnian war crimes suspect Gen. Ratko Mladic is considering turning himself in to Serbian authorities and is negotiating terms under which he would surrender, a former police official was quoted as saying.
Marko Nicovic, former Belgrade police chief and an expert on security issues in the Balkan republic, told the Montenegro-based Mina news agency that the Bosnian Serb wartime commander is seeking from Serbia’s authorities “material guarantees concerning his family and his supporters” who have helped him evade justice for years.
Serbia has been under intense international pressure to find and extradite Mladic, as well as the other Bosnian Serb wartime leader, Radovan Karadzic, who headed the civilian government. Both were indicted for crimes against humanity during Bosnia’s 1992 to 1995 war and have been sought for more than a decade by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
≈ Cross-posted from my diary :: @BooMan & @EuroTrib ≈
8,000 Bosnian Victims at Srebrenica
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼▼▼ READ MY DIARY ▼
The past few days much has happned in my life. I’ve been looking at this past year.. .and boy has it made me “grow up” some. I wrote the below to my hockey friends and you all here… Why? Rubs diaries have had an impact on me. They make me stronger. They make me continue. I love you Rub! I can not tell you how grateful I am for the work you do here, and how it spurs others on in their own ways. I carry a piece, a day, of your series with me always. It carries me to tears and other days it carries me all across the nation to DC. …….
There’s no place like friends.
There’s no place like friends.
I wish I could have you all over for NYE (is there a “war” on New Years Eve or something I’m not aware of?? LOL) because you guys are FANtastic! So many changes this year. It feels like more than a year doesn’t it? So much death, detructions, and yet we’re on the edge of some major unrest, challenges and… growth. I can’t look back on this past year without feeling an overwhelming sadness and outrageous anger. There’s no words to describe what the right wing is doing as well as ignoring.
But I also have to keep looking at how it is changing loved ones in my life. It has made them bolder, more determined, in some cases it has completely changed their lives forever. My friend, the accidental activist… Watching military mothers with disabled children march… and having that woman call you a dear friend… – it balances out the few losses we’ve undertaken this year. It’s been un.bee.leeve.able.
I’ve lost some people in my life this year. But it’s not really a loss when those people are the ones who think you should be censored or worse… shot in the head in public. Instead I feel that I’ve gained a sense of purpose. Professionally, Personally and Spiritually. Now a days I just have to be me. There’s a bloody war going on, every day people are dying, starving, giving up. In this country as well. So I’ve decided to step up and speak out. Which isn’t a change as I always have been that way. And regardless of what it is your’re standing up for – the war or the price of bubblegum… you’re going to get flack. So why let the bastards try to shut you up or wear you down when it has to do with blood in the streets and water? When it has to do with basic, fundamental issues and rights? I won’t. I never have. I didn’t “change” I just didn’t stop caring or trying.
I look at the people in my life this past year and not only are they incredible people, but they make me want to be a better human being.
I’ve been asked alot if I’ve “settled in yet” and although we’re on a lease and in an apt and there’s a few boxes around… I’ve never felt more at home in my life. I think before instead of settling in, I’ve settled for. Well no more settling for less than, baby. No more.
This new year, I know it’s going to be hard. People are going to have to ask themselves what they are made of. Again, there will be losses. They’ll be asked to take risks. To stand up. To speak out. Now, for me, it’s no more regret or sadness.. because I know that from here on out it, it only brings in more incredible people into my life who will only enrich my days by standing with them.
(and… when I march I can take the train and not have to worry about having the car towed 🙂 LOL) Now… I’m not marching or doing anything alone. Which I know makes some friends in my life breathe a bit more easier 🙂 Just a “bit” more easier as they still worry. They have learned that the best way to keep me safe or out of harms way is to support me the best way they can. And I have to be honest with the details of what I’m doing or what has been done to me. I still think it’s horrid that a person can be shunned, threatened or even attacked for wanting peace and to not what children to be killed or any human tortured or beaten to death. But that’s how it’s always been.
I’m not settling for less than. I want my country to be as great and as giving as I know it can be. Not for some. Not for just a few. Not just for the ones born here. Not just for the elite. Not just for the ones who know how to play the game. Not just for straight people. Not just for the wealthy. Not just for Christians. Not just for adults. Diversity without division. For everyone.
“For all”. That means EVERYONE.
The New Year… bring it on.
.
Thank you for inspiring words, it’s contagious you know!
Wish you would paste your lengthy comment in a diary, so it won’t be missed by all the frogs jumping in and out of the pond today!
Appreciate you being a friend and looking forward to your comments and contributions in special diaries @BooMan’s Place in 2006!
Democrats should be a majority of minorities!
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
Thank you Oui, I sometimes don’t “see” how long my words/post get. Lately a lot has been going on and I finally had to shut down and do some thinking… and I’m still at the place I want to be… “here”. 🙂
Ironically, I was just mentioning the “What’s Eating” diary to a friend’s wife. We were at their house on Xmas Eve (a first outting for us) and their son is autistic. I could see his wife trying like made to make appearances… and finally she let it go and was able to be herself around us. Because she finally saw that we understood without judging. I told her about the diary and what spurned it on. She, too, will have days like those. And it’ll be okay.
((((Oui)))) I too am so glad to be able to find your words and hear your thoughts.
Again, Sorry about the length, Rub. Just me sharing 🙂
.
Just thought your inspiring words will be lost in RubDMC’s diary and they deserve to be read by many BooTribbers today. When you present your wonderful post also in a new diary, it will receive attention and readers have a chance to add their own comments. I never mind the number of words anyone needs to express themselves.
(((Damnit J)))
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
I second what Oui says Janet and you really should copy and paste your comment in a diary.
I think it was just so well written and stunning in its clarity so give all a chance to read and even add more if you want.
Hugs to you dear Janet and all the best.