On Friday, April 15, 2005, I stood in front of our local
Court House protesting the War in Iraq. It was tax day and we were trying
to make a point about how our tax dollars were being used. Many cars passed
by and gave us an approving honk. Other drivers gave us a disapproving 3rd
finger. Some of the cars had "support our troops" proudly displayed
on their rears.
Support our troops? Does anyone question those words when they mindlessly
slap the bright yellow sticker on their vehicle? What do those words mean?
Is the "rah-rah" supporter aware of why we are in Iraq? Has anyone
told these cheerleaders that the Iraqis did not fly any planes into the
World Trade Center? Has anyone told the "yellow ribbon crowd"
that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq? Can someone tell
me what "support our troops means?"
Last week our small county had its first fatality in Iraq. Before leaving
for Iraq in January, Army Spc. Manny Lopez had his wife record him reading
bedtime stories to their newborn daughter, Isabella. Lopez made the video
diary so Isabella wouldn't forget her father while he was in Baghdad for
18 months with the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment. The two-hour
videocassette is now the only memory Isabella has of her father. He was
killed by a rocket-propelled grenade.
After the tragedy hit the newspaper, grief stricken people called the local
radio station to give voice to their pain. One woman uttered, through her
tears, "He died for our freedom."
He died for our freedom? Perhaps I have been sufficiently dumbed down, but,
as I stumble around in my flouride induced fog, I wish someone would help
me understand how killing innocent people in Iraq (and Afganistan) is keeping
us free? What has sending soldiers to be poisoned and to die have to do
with "keeping us free?." In my lexicon of logic, the belief that
"he died for our freedom " is just about as meaningless as "support
our troops."
On April 15th, we carried signs in front of the Court House. I chose a sign
that featured a picture of an Iraqi Vet named Herold Noel. Unlike Manny
Lopez, Herold Noel came home from the war. In fact, he came home a hero.....but
it was not long before he wound up homeless.
Byron Pitts of CBS News did a report on Herold Noel on March 25, 2005.
When "Iraqi Freedom" first began, Private First Class Herold Noel
was a soldier in the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, pounding a path
into Baghdad. "I fought for this country, " he said "I shed
blood for this country. I watched friends die."
Herold began living in his jeep after most of his clothes and all of his
military medals were stolen at a homeless shelter. He put in applications
for housing but was told, three times, that they were lost.
"I have three kids. I fought for my country. My country shouldn't be
doing this to me."
Mr Pitts' report talked about how the vets are coming home with mental health
issues and substance abuse problems.
"Mental health issues?" Once again, I am going to have to admit
ignorance. That phrase is amorphous and ambiguous. I cannot help but wonder
how many of these "mental health issues" are manifestations of
depleted uranium.
Leuren Moret is a geoscientist who has worked around the world on radiation
issues, educating citizens, the media, members of parliaments and Congress
and other officials Ms. Moret calls "Depleted uranium: Dirty bombs,
dirty missiles, dirty bullets: A death sentence here and abroad."
A Japanese professor, Dr. K. Yagasaki, has calculated that 800 tons of DU
is the atomicity equivalent of 83,000 Nagasaki bombs. The U.S. has used
more DU since 1991 than the atomicity equivalent of 400,000 Nagasaki bombs.
Four nuclear wars indeed, and 10 times the amount of radiation released
into the atmosphere from atmospheric testing!
No wonder our soldiers, their families and the people of the Middle East,
Yugoslavia and Central Asia are sick.
"The long-term effects have revealed that DU (uranium oxide) is a virtual
death sentence," stated Arthur N. Bernklau, executive director of Veterans
for Constitutional Law in New York. "Marion Fulk, a nuclear physical
chemist, who retired from the Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, and
was also involved with the Manhattan Project, interprets the new and rapid
malignancies in the soldiers (from the 2003 Iraq War) as 'spectacular --
and a matter of concern!'"
Herold Noel was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Unemployed
and married with three kids, he couldn't get a job.
"Take two Prozacs and call me in the morning."
Waking people up from the nightmare is not easy. They are plugged into a
controlled media and nod hypnotically as the pResident talks about the "war
on terror" They sing "Proud to Be An American" as they continue
to mindlessly display their yellow ribbons and fly their flags. They do
not question the horror behind these symbolic gestures?
While the people busily "support the troops" what does the government
do? Does our government "support the troops" as it cuts their
benefits? Does the government "support our troops" when it sends
them into battle with inadequate equipment? Does the government "support
the troops" when it turns its back on the casualties of the war? Does
the government "support the troops" as it casts Herold Noel and
countless others onto the streets.
Henry Kissinger, in an honest moment (forgive the oxymoron)
stated the globalists' true feelings about our troops. After the Vietnam
war, when our soldiers came home ill from Agent Orange, Mr. "Killinger"
stated "Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used
for foreign policy."
Is that Mr. Kissmyass's definition of the phrase "support our troops?"
Not long ago, I watched a powerful movie on television. It was called "Homeless
to Harvard" and was based on a true story of a young girl, Liz Murray,
whose both parents were drug addicts dying of AIDS. After dropping out of
school and living on the street, this heroic young woman became determined
to get an education. Though she ate out of dumpsters and slept on the subway,
she ultimately finished High School in two years and got a New York Times
Scholarship to Harvard University. It was a deeply moving story. It was
a story filled with hope. And yet, it was obviously unique. Most young people
in Liz's situation succumb to a life of hopelessness.
On Friday, April 15th, I stood in front of our local Court House protesting
war. Yet, in my case, the protest was aimed at all the wars...past present
and future. My protest was aimed at the abuse of people all around the globe.
My protest was aimed at the lies and deception and greed of the globalists
and the sadly hypnotized populace that is willing to kill and be killed
without knowing why.
I carried a sign that had a picture of Herold Noel. The sign read "From
Hero to Homeless." It was a story filled with despair. Sadly, Herold's
story, unlike Liz', is not unique. As many as 275,000 veterans will likely
sleep out in the cold tonight.
Copyright 2005 Judy Andreas
JUDE10901@AOL.com
www.judyandreas.com
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