WE'RE STILL AT WAR......IF YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

Okay people, I am so appalled that we're still there.....the American death toll is 4259.......remember when it got to two thousand and we were outraged?  

The total US wounded is 31,087. THIRTY ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY SEVEN....

 While on the topic of wounded soldiers, I watched a documentary movie, Body of War, Last night about the life of a wounded soldier who served in Iraq. He was paralyzed from the waist down. Since the injury he's travelled all over in his wheelchair protesting the war. But watching his daily life of catheters, pain, throwing up, no sex with his wife, being dizzy all the time.   I multiply his life times 31 THOUSAND......how many more lives have to be destroyed this way? I strongly feel that as an American it's your duty to watch this movie and see the gore of war....."Do not anaesthetise the war" says Phil Donahue, the man behind this movie. I agree.  I have never quite understood people who claim to support our soldiers, glorify the soldiers, yet will not face the ugly side of this war, such as the injured, the dead, the families who lost their sons and daughters.........I think all teens should absolutely watch it without question...The great thing is you can watch the trailer on YOUTUBE right now.....

Dr. Ira Katz, the VA's head of Mental Health,  said in an e-mail "Our suicide prevention coordinators are identifying about 1,000 suicide attempts per month among veterans we see in our medical facilities." To read this article go to CBS News.

Take 5 minutes and send President Obama an e-mail asking him to get out troops out of there.....NOW.....Sooner...faster........What ARE we doing there?!!!#$%

Other articles to read: War Veterans Cuncussions are Being Overlooked, NYT

Which Matter More.... Our Children or Our Country?

Here's a little of the article found at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,502525,00.html

DAVIDSON, N.C. — When Lisa Pagan reports for duty Sunday, four long years after she was honorably discharged from the Army, she'll arrive with more than her old uniform. She's bringing her kids, too.
"I have to bring them with me," she said. "I don't have a choice."

Pagan is among thousands of former service members who have left active duty since the Sept. 11 attacks, only to later receive orders to return to service. They're not in training, they're not getting a Defense Department salary, but as long as they have time left on their original enlistment contracts, they're on "individual ready reserve" status— eligible to be recalled at any time.

Soldiers can appeal, and some have won permission to remain in civilian life. Pagan filed several appeals, arguing that because her husband travels for business, no one else can take care of her kids. All were rejected, leaving Pagan with what she says is a choice between deploying to Iraq and abandoning her family, or refusing her orders and potentially facing charges.

Then she hit on the idea of showing up Sunday at Fort Benning, Ga., with her children in tow.

"I guess they'll have to contact the highest person at the base, and they'll have to decide from there what to do," Pagan said. "I either report and bring the children with me or don't report and face dishonorable discharge and possibly being arrested. I guess I'll just have to make my case while I'm there."
"Usually the only way that someone can get out of the deployment or get out of the military due to a family hardship is if they get into a situation where the kids will be put into foster care," Tarantino said.

Master Sgt. Keith O'Donnell, an Army spokesman in St. Louis, said earlier that

"The Army tries to look at the whole picture and they definitely don't want to do anything that jeopardizes the family or jeopardizes the children," O'Donnell said. "At the same time, these are individuals who made obligations and commitments to the country."

             Just recently I saw a show on Oprah where she did a live video interview with  a soldier in Iraq who's also single mother. The very first thought that went through my mind was, "you're that child's only parent and you are in Iraq; what if something happens to you?, does she not matter?".  I did not want to judge a parent yet from my own feelings as a mother, I would never willingly be able to leave my children to become a soldier. My children come first.  I would die for them, but not in a war.  

         Now, today I read the article above about this mother who was still contracted as a reservist yet started a family never thinking she's be redeployed. She's now married and has 2 toddlers. I am at a loss of words when I read stuff like this and ask myself, "where is the common sense in all this?".  For this poor mother to even be worried about doing time or possibly having her kids taken away to the foster system so she could meet her obligations to her "country" makes me enraged. Aren't those kids also part of "our country?".  Do their lives not matter?  

I will be writing a handwritten letter to a commander at Fort Benning tonight asking them to reconsider deploying her. 

I found an address online. 

479 Fort Benning Rd
U S Government Dept of Army: Infantry Hall
Fort Benning, GA 31905
(706) 545-2218‎
(706) 545-6814‎ - Infantry Hall

Just Watched A wonderful Movie

I just watched a wonderfully moving film on HBO called Taking Chance. I cried during the whole movie. It's based on a true story of a Marine's experience while escorting another Marine killed in battle.  It is an absolute must see for all Americans, left, right, center. For a complete schedule of showing times go to HBO online.

While on that topic. How come we never hear about the American Military casualties in Iraq anymore? 

I looked this up.....It's very important to know. 

* American Deaths Since war began in 3/19/03: 4251 total (3416 in combat)

* Total Wounded: 31054 total, Over 100,000 

* Iraqi deaths due to U.S. invasion: 1,311,696

I look at that number, 4251 casualties and try to wrap my brain around what that looks like. I then came to realization that what I saw tonight has been repeated FOUR THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY TIMES; all across America  It's too much to bear. 

DID YOU KNOW: "The Defense Department has banned virtually all media coverage of deceased vets returning home since the 1991 Gulf War, a decision currently under Pentagon review. But the military offered advice and assistance, providing Taking Chance's film crew with a rarely viewed but painstakingly accurate account of the care and protocol bestowed upon the nation's fallen warriors." 

Would love to know what you think. 

Movies you must watch!!

Here are some amazingly smart and informative movies you have to see to become an activist and critical thinker! 

OCCUPATION 101: Click below to watch the trailer for this movie.  You can also watch the entire movie online on YouTube.




Also any work by Katie Byron.....she is one of my favorite people to read and listen on DVD. 

You can find samples of her work at on her site. 

If all people were to question their thoughts we would be closer to world peace. 

Last, 

Below is the entire movie Loose Change, 2nd Edition. An amazing movie about the 911 conspiracy. 

And most importantly, Iraq for Sale 

About all the companies benefitting from this war. Don't knock it until you watch it.