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Posted by Bryan J (Member # 106) on October 29, 2004, 11:27 PM:
I found this letter in my inbox today the title was a powerful letter:
Dear Friends,
I know that politics can be a hot topic among friends and family, but I was moved by this letter (pasted below), it explains better than I can the cost of our involvement in Iraq. It was written by a young American woman who's brother was killed in the war. She wrote it after hearing George W. Bush's speach at the Republican National Convention. I received the letter from moveon.org . I attended a wonderful conference at the end of last week, where I was reminded of the importance of dialogue, of talking to each other, of every day creating and working for a true democracy, a better world. One powerful sentiment from journalist Amy Goodman has stayed with me, that we need to be talking of the importance and impacts of war and peace, anything less would be a dis-service to our service men and women who's lives are risked and lost. I will be sending this letter to some of my family who may be undecided, or decided for George Bush, in this election, as a way to open up dialogue with them. I encourage you all to do something to open dialogue with others, whether sending on a letter like this or just speaking from your heart. Much is on the line in this election. Peace and Joy, Meg
To Whom it May Concern,
I found out that my brother, Sergeant Ryan M. Campbell, was dead during a graduate seminar at Emory University on April 29, 2004. Immediately after a uniformed officer knocked at my mother's door to deliver the message that broke her heart, she called me on my cell phone. She could say nothing but "He's gone." I could say nothing but "No." Over and over again we chanted this refrain to each other over the phone as I made my way across the country to hold her as she wept. I had made the very same trip in February, cutting classes to spend my brother's two weeks' leave from Baghdad with him. Little did I know then that the next time I saw him would be at Arlington National Cemetery. During those days in February, my brother shared with me his fear, his disillusionment, and his anger. "We had all been led to believe that Iraq posed a serious threat to America as well as its surrounding nations," he said. "We invaded expecting to find weapons of mass destruction and a much more prepared and well-trained Republican Guard waiting for us. It is now a year later, and alas, no weapons of mass destruction or any other real threat, for that matter." Ryan was scheduled to complete his one-year assignment to Iraq on April 25. But on April 11, he emailed me to let me know not to expect him in Atlanta for a May visit, because his tour of duty had been involuntarily extended. "Just do me one big favor, ok?" he wrote. "Don't vote for Bush. No. Just don't do it. I would not be happy with you." Last night, I listened to George W. Bush's live, televised speech at the Republican National Convention. He spoke to me and my family when he announced, "I have met with parents and wives and husbands who have received a folded flag, and said a final goodbye to a soldier they loved. I am awed that so many have used those meetings to say that I am in their prayers and to offer encouragement to me. Where does strength like that come from? How can people so burdened with sorrow also feel such pride? It is because they know their loved one was last seen doing good. Because they know that liberty was precious to the one they lost. And in those military families, I have seen the character of a great nation: decent, and idealistic, and strong." This is my reply: Mr. President, I know that you probably still "don't do body counts," so you may not know that almost one thousand U.S. troops have died doing what you told them they had to do to protect America. Ryan was Number 832. Liberty was, indeed, precious to the one I lost-- so precious that he would rather have gone to prison than back to Iraq in February. Like you, I don't know where the strength for "such pride" on the part of people "so burdened with sorrow" comes from; maybe I spent it all holding my mother as she wept. I last saw my loved one at the Kansas City airport, staring after me as I walked away. I could see April 29 written on his sad, sand-chapped and sunburned face. I could see that he desperately wanted to believe that if he died, it would be while "doing good," as you put it. He wanted us to be able to be proud of him. Mr. President, you gave me and my mother a folded flag instead of the beautiful boy who called us "Moms" and "Brookster.." But worse than that, you sold my little brother a bill of goods. Not only did you cheat him of a long meaningful life, but you cheated him of a meaningful death. You are in my prayers, Mr. President, because I think that you need them more than anyone on the face of the planet. But you will never get my vote. So to whom it may concern: Don't vote for Bush. No. Just don't do it. I would not be happy with you.
Sincerely, Brooke M. Campbell
Atlanta, GA
After all, what good is a country and a flag if there is no more fertile soil, no ancient forests, no clean water, no pure food? If you really love your country, protect and restore some wildness. Support local agriculture. Plant a garden. Those who work to protect and restore these things are the real patriots.
-Michael Ableman
I talks of opening a dialog so here was the reply I sent.
This is a powerful letter! War is a terrible thing and I’m sure there are more families that feel the same way. I am not thrilled with the concept of peoples loved ones in harms way any more than anyone else. I assure you President Bush isn’t happy about it either. The young man in this letter is truly a hero. However he places his blame in all the wrong places. How do you think the families of those who died on the U.S.S. Cole felt when their deaths went for the most part without reprisal? Diplomacy does not work with the kind of people who forced President Bush to war. I truly believe that it was the passiveness of the Clinton Administration that brought on 9/11.
There were no WMD’s found because even I knew that we were going into Iraq weeks before we did. In high school even a rumor of locker inspections got all the contraband moved. What did they expect? How hard is it to hide a vile of anthrax or some canisters of chemicals? They may never find them but that doesn’t mean that they were never there. Sadam has used them in the past ON HIS OWN PEOPLE, and would have used them again. The UN threatened to do the same thing several times but didn’t have the backbone to do it. If Sadam had been a 4 year-old thumbing his nose at authority like that he would have gotten a whoopin long ago. I’m proud of our troops and support what they are doing. WMDs or not the world is safer now that Sadam is out of power. Now the terrorists (the biased media calls them insurgents) are too busy in Iraq to strike on American soil.
In this letter there is no reason outlined to vote FOR John Kerry. It only outlines why to vote AGAINST Pres. George W. Bush. So here are some reasons why I’m voting FOR Pres. George W. Bush.
1 After he was elected I got a check back from the federal government the size of which was based on what I paid in. (tax relief)
2 He openly admits that he prays in the Oval Office.
3 He openly opposes partial birth abortion. My sister just brought a baby home that was 7 weeks early, from my understanding that partial birth abortions are done not much earlier than that. There are too many in this country that want a child and can’t have one. Yet they continue to call murder CHOICE.
4 He has been clear and concise throughout on his position about Iraq.
5 I prefer a tax free savings account for medical costs so that I can decide how it is managed vs a government controlled HMO. Government control equates to mismanagement and higher taxes.
6 George W. Bush believes that there are inherent risks in living. In some cases there is nothing that could have been done to save that individual, and the doctor should not be sued for doing the best that could be done. He believes that frivolous lawsuits against doctors and heath care facilities are dragging this countries healthcare down.
7 Man I can’t believe that I got this far down before I mentioned his support of the Second Amendment. An IDIVIDUAL right to keep and bear arms. On September 11 a war was started on American Soil. Civilians stepped up and defended this country that day as they may need to in the future.
8 He inherited a recession from the Clinton Administration, our market place was attacked, and yet with his economic plan has the economy headed back in the right direction.
So now I guess it is only fair that I give you reasons to vote AGAINST John Kerry.
1 His voting record in the senate.
2 He has voted against every major weapons system that our troops need to do their job as safely as possible.
3 He supports partial birth abortion. (disguised as Choice)
4 He believes that the Second amendment doesn’t guan tee the INDIVIDUAL right to keep and bear arms especially when a war has been waged on American Soil.
5 He wants the government to control healthcare. I don’t want government control of anymore than they already have.
6 He has voted to raise taxes more times than not.
7 His stand on Iraq is much different now than when he was on the stump in the democratic primary. Back then when his opponent was against the war he was for it.
8 His running mate John Edwards has made his fortune suing Doctors and healthcare facilities. Knowing just how much money to ask for to keep it out of court.
9 He believes that he knows better how to spend my money than I do. George W. Bush would rather I kept more of my money through tax relefe and put another tax payer to work. Either directly by hiring them or indirectly by having more disposable income and buying more goods and services.
Bryan
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on October 30, 2004, 12:37 PM:
This letter is another shameless attempt to capitalize on grief. Many have lost loved ones, many have been asked to serve, few have declined.
They say that the military supports Bush about 80%. What does that tell you?
We need to focus on who is the best leader, and who is the political wonk; willing to say and do anything to get himself ellected.
John Kerry is a worthless piece of crap. I shake my head in disgust every time I think that almost half of the country thinks he's qualified to be President. Judging by his track record, as President, he wouldn't be working too hard at anything but kissing butt at the U.N.
Just what we need! LB
Posted by Blak coyote (Member # 415) on October 30, 2004, 05:28 PM:
I agree with ya Leonard.The liberal democrats work on peoples emotions,instead of the hard cold facts of reality and what needs to be done.
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