Cindy Sheehan: Numbers

[Hissyspit]

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0206-25.htm

Numbers
By Cindy Sheehan
CommonDreams.org

Monday 06 February 2006

The now famous black shirt with white lettering that I was wearing on January 31st to the State of the Union address originally read: 2000 Dead. How many more? That shirt was made by Veterans for Peace on the occasion of the 2000th US soldier killed in Iraq. That tragic number was reached on September 25th, 2005.

- snip -

Well, it's time George faced this mistake and is somehow made to feel intense shame for the biggest mistake of his miserable mistake filled life.

I call on people that are for peace and justice to wear the number on their chests every day ... near their hearts. To honor our dead, but to also confront the ones who are waging this war, and supporting the wagers of death, but who won't risk their own flesh and blood for the crimes against humanity that are perpetrated on a daily basis. I implore everyone in the US to remember that each number in the grisly count represents a living, breathing, wonderful, loving and indispensable member of a family, community, and our nation. They are not just numbers. They were human beings before they were exploited for oil and greed.

Wear the number for our dead. Wear the number for their families. Wear the number for our wounded. Wear the number for our children still in harm's way whose confusion about the mission is growing and who only want to come home. Wear the number for people who will be in the way of the future wars of aggression that the war criminals in DC are already planning. Wear it for the people of Iraq who only want us to go away.

MORE AT LINK

To find the number each day go to: www.icasualties.org.

[Katherine Brengle]

1. I wish I could do this...

but I think it would only serve as a painful reminder every day that my husband could be added to that number...

What a depressing night...

[Erika]

2. We're all there

2,252 dead, over 16,000 American troops wounded. That doesn't even mention the stats on the Iraqis.

I'll never forget the 13 year old boy who we shot his arms off in W's shock and awe campaign. Never. That rides on my conscience even though I fought the Iraqi war in every way I knew. I should have fought harder or more passionate is what haunts me. But W had his mind made up.

[Breeze54]

3. I CAN do this because...

...I DON'T want my son added to that number!!
:thumbsup:
This action reminds me of the POW-MIA bracelet
I wore during the war in Vietnam.
And the BLACK ARMBANDS we wore on Moratorium Day!
On a school walk-out in support of a moratorium on the war.
Anyone remember that?

Nixon's War (1969–70) | Moratorium Day
WHO SPOKE UP?
http://www.sunrisedancer.com/radicalreader/includes/inc_hitting.asp?iLink=214
Subtitled: American Protest Against The War In Vietnam 1963-1975
Description: A thoughtful, vivid, and compelling account of "the war at home,"
Who Spoke Up?
provides a new and revealing perspective on America's involvement in Vietnam.
In 19661. F. Stone warned that we must condemn the destruction of Vietnam
"lest a later generation ask of us, as they ask of the Germans, who spoke up?"
Millions of Americans did speak up, marching and demonstrating against the war,
calling upon Congress, the Administration, and the courts to end our involvement in it.
Hundreds suffered ridicule, ostracism, injury, and imprisonment for delivering
a message that most of America did not want to hear.
Who Spoke Up? is the record of their protest.
A powerful narrative enriched by interviews with the leading participants,
it is the first in-depth study of the events and personalities that made
up a movement unprecedented in this country's history.
An illuminating account of a dark period in our recent past,
an account that bears a timely message for a new generation.
:thumbsup:

Hell yeah, I'll wear a number!
I'll speak up!!
I already have been....

September 26th, 2005

[Katherine Brengle]

8. Breeze--you are very strong :) Amen for that. n/t

[ClayZ]

4. Counting!

The Weight of a Snowflake

"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," a coalmouse asked a wild dove.

"Nothing more than nothing," the dove answered.

"In that case I must tell you a marvelous story," the coalmouse said. "I sat on a fir branch close to the trunk when it began to snow. Not heavily, not in a raging blizzard. No, just like in a dream, without any violence at all. Since I didn't have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,471,952. When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch--nothing more than nothing -- as you say -- the branch broke off."

Having said that, the coalmouse ran away.

The dove, since Noah's time an authority on peace, thought about the story for a while. Finally, she said to herself, "Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come to the world." - Source unknown

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. I love that story

thank you.

[Breeze54]

6. Right on!

Can I copy that story and share it with others?
Very beautiful story!
Thank you for sharing it!
:thumbsup:

[ClayZ]

9. Please do!

[Hissyspit]

14. What is the origin of that photo? It looks like an Andy Goldsworthy,

but as far as I know he doesn't do symbols. It is probably naturally occurring.

[ClayZ]

15. Arbor-sculptor Richard Reames.

www.arborsmith.com/portimage.html

Now I will have to find Andy Goldsworthy!

Fun in the garden!

[Hissyspit]

16. Here you go:

[ClayZ]

18. I love his work! thanks!

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Goldsworthy/roof2004_images.htm

[Hissyspit]

17. And here:

[earth mom]

13. Cindy needs to see this!

I hope she reads DU. If not, can someone get it to her?

I also think the armband idea or bracelets is an awesome idea in addition to the t shirts!

[Breeze54]

7. This should be moved to the front page!

:kick:

[Hissyspit]

12. Well, I'll kick myself.

[patricia92243]

10. "miserable mistake filled life. " Says it precisely. Now he is making

the US miserable by his mistake filled life. He really is a jinx. Everything he touches turns to ashes.

[The Wielding Truth]

11. "weight of a snowflake" I add my weight.