Tell Congress "No War!"

brianlux

Seeing as many of us here are against engaging in war in Syria, it makes sense that you might want to (NOT "should", hedonist ) tell congress (or Parliament or whatever) how you feel. Besides voicing grievances, it would seem to make sense to tell congress how you feel. Write letters, make phone calls, sign petitions (there are plenty of them out there, especially the easy-to-find on-line ones). True, your voice is tiny and these things are not earth moving but lots of tiny voices make some noise and besides, how much effort does it take? Surely no more than it takes to tell me I am so, so wrong, or full of beans or what ever. Not that I mind. The noodle lashings keep me amused.

But seriously, if it matters enough to gripe about, it matters enough to send a simple message.

CH156378

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Pap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqPzS8Y27Ks

PJFAN13

The lies we were told to get us to go
Were criminal, let us be straight
Let's get to the point where our voices get heard
And I know what I'll say...

...With his voice, he's saying, "No more!...

No more innocents dying
No more terror rising
No more eulogizing
No more evangelizing
No more presidents lying
No more war

lcusick

Genocide was occurring in Rwanda and the US did not get involved. Why? Because it was not linked to our precious crude oil. We just got out of Iraq- which only got Saddam Husein out of there, but really did not change much in Iraq. My brother-in-law was in Iraq for 9 years and told me that it was a futile effort. His words say that it will never change over there. So many people died for that cause. Now we may get involved in Syria, because of its close proximity to pipelines and sea routes that transport much of the world’s crude oil. Lets put our money and efforts to developing alternative energy and tell the whole mid-east region to take a hike. I am so glad that my adult children are not in the military, because I do not think I could take them being sent overseas for all this bullshit. I am not saying that it is not horrible to what is happening to the innocent people over there being attacked by chemical weapons, but how many wars do we have to get involved in, when we all know it is because of our interest in crude oil.

JimmyV

CH156378 wrote:

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Thanks for this. I have written to Congressman Kennedy and Senators Warren and Markey urging them to vote against any involvement by our military.

chadwick

we do not need war to help those suffering. what do we need to do?

brianlux

chadwick wrote:

we do not need war to help those suffering. what do we need to do?

Excellent question, Chadwick. As lcusick pointed out above, most of our wars are directly or indirectly related to oil and by developing alternatives (as well as decreasing our energy usage) we will move further away from war. What might also help but might also be even more difficult to achieve is to teach people to be more tolerant. Besides oil, religious differences are a major instigator of war.

JonnyPistachio

I wonder, what's the worst thing that can happen if Obama does nothing.

chadwick

so maybe we should stop driving, write letters to politicians & whoever else, & so on.
maybe we should be protesting this very moment in the streets

still... people are being used as chemical warfare targets over in syria supposedly by syria. like brynzie said, the usa did use gruesome chemicals in veitnam like agent orange & white phosphorus



this is white phosphorus

again... why are humans so brutal to each others & to everything on this planet?

why did the u.s. use those chemicals in veitnam? what gives anyone the right to drop chemicals on anyone, enemy or innocence? i do not understand one bit

someone had better ask obama & other world leaders this exact question... why chemical warfare? why bomb innocent people? but still all these kind & beautiful people need the world's help.

fuck this

chadwick

Dear world leaders,

Please feel free to feel terrible for not helping innocent everyday people in Syria & elsewhere around the planet who are suffering. This can be done without fighting.

Thank you very much,
Some dude

satansbed

lcusick wrote:

Genocide was occurring in Rwanda and the US did not get involved. Why? Because it was not linked to our precious crude oil. We just got out of Iraq- which only got Saddam Husein out of there, but really did not change much in Iraq. My brother-in-law was in Iraq for 9 years and told me that it was a futile effort. His words say that it will never change over there. So many people died for that cause. Now we may get involved in Syria, because of its close proximity to pipelines and sea routes that transport much of the world’s crude oil. Lets put our money and efforts to developing alternative energy and tell the whole mid-east region to take a hike. I am so glad that my adult children are not in the military, because I do not think I could take them being sent overseas for all this bullshit. I am not saying that it is not horrible to what is happening to the innocent people over there being attacked by chemical weapons, but how many wars do we have to get involved in, when we all know it is because of our interest in crude oil.

If oil had anything to do with it America would have gotten involved ages ago.

and also because of shale gas, America has never been so energy independent.

finally, i will just add, a military intervention is not war. a red line had been put down over the use of chemical weapons. chemical weapons where used. a strategic strike makes sense as punishment

g under p

JonnyPistachio wrote:

I wonder, what's the worst thing that can happen if Obama does nothing.

His oppositions would say he's weak and not worthy to be president.

Peace

lcusick

chadwick wrote:

so maybe we should stop driving, write letters to politicians & whoever else, & so on.
maybe we should be protesting this very moment in the streets

still... people are being used as chemical warfare targets over in syria supposedly by syria. like brynzie said, the usa did use gruesome chemicals in veitnam like agent orange & white phosphorus



this is white phosphorus

again... why are humans so brutal to each others & to everything on this planet?

why did the u.s. use those chemicals in veitnam? what gives anyone the right to drop chemicals on anyone, enemy or innocence? i do not understand one bit

someone had better ask obama & other world leaders this exact question... why chemical warfare? why bomb innocent people? but still all these kind & beautiful people need the world's help.

fuck this

I am old, so I remember Vietnam vividly. One of my cousins fought in Vietnam and died several years later from agent orange. Vietnam sucked and we had no business being there. I was 14 when the US pulled out of Vietnam. Although I was young, several of my cousins, and friend's siblings fought in that war. My one cousin managed to plead insane and get a doctor to verify he had mental problems in order to get out of Vietnam. We lived 50 minutes away from Kent State when four died protesting the war. We had to go pick up my other cousin who lived on campus when the National Guard was there. She called my parents crying and freaking out and wanted to get out of Kent. I was only 12 at the time, but driving onto KSU's campus that day with National Guard, tanks etc. left such an impression. But I tell ya what, so proud of that generation that stood up and said,"Hell no, we won't go." I wish people got out on the streets today and protested. I would be there. Not sure how to organize it, but very tempted to try.

lcusick

satansbed wrote:

lcusick wrote:

Genocide was occurring in Rwanda and the US did not get involved. Why? Because it was not linked to our precious crude oil. We just got out of Iraq- which only got Saddam Husein out of there, but really did not change much in Iraq. My brother-in-law was in Iraq for 9 years and told me that it was a futile effort. His words say that it will never change over there. So many people died for that cause. Now we may get involved in Syria, because of its close proximity to pipelines and sea routes that transport much of the world’s crude oil. Lets put our money and efforts to developing alternative energy and tell the whole mid-east region to take a hike. I am so glad that my adult children are not in the military, because I do not think I could take them being sent overseas for all this bullshit. I am not saying that it is not horrible to what is happening to the innocent people over there being attacked by chemical weapons, but how many wars do we have to get involved in, when we all know it is because of our interest in crude oil.

If oil had anything to do with it America would have gotten involved ages ago.

and also because of shale gas, America has never been so energy independent.

finally, i will just add, a military intervention is not war. a red line had been put down over the use of chemical weapons. chemical weapons where used. a strategic strike makes sense as punishment

Agree- to disagree

brianlux

lcusick wrote:

I am old, so I remember Vietnam vividly. One of my cousins fought in Vietnam and died several years later from agent orange. Vietnam sucked and we had no business being there. I was 14 when the US pulled out of Vietnam. Although I was young, several of my cousins, and friend's siblings fought in that war. My one cousin managed to plead insane and get a doctor to verify he had mental problems in order to get out of Vietnam. We lived 50 minutes away from Kent State when four died protesting the war. We had to go pick up my other cousin who lived on campus when the National Guard was there. She called my parents crying and freaking out and wanted to get out of Kent. I was only 12 at the time, but driving onto KSU's campus that day with National Guard, tanks etc. left such an impression. But I tell ya what, so proud of that generation that stood up and said,"Hell no, we won't go." I wish people got out on the streets today and protested. I would be there. Not sure how to organize it, but very tempted to try.

"I was 14 when the US pulled out of Vietnam."

Ummm, lcusick, if that makes you old I'm... :oops:


All kidding aside, you are so right. We spoke out, we protested, we shut that war down, even though much later than most of us had hoped for. But those protests were gruesome. I remember that huge line of armored, mounted police coming on campus, heads busted open, friends jailed. I'm not so certain that kind of resistance would be effective in today's world. Maybe I really am getting old, but I think we would get more done by voting and writing letters, teaching acceptance of our differences (or "tolerance" though I'm not convinced that's the right word) seeking economic justice and especially learning to curb our consumptive habits- which goes back to the idea that wars exist partly, maybe hugely, over resources.

chadwick

voting is a wonderful plan but how does voting right now help people suffering in syria & elsewhere? who is running right now & for what office?

i am so bent out of shape that the continent of africa has had so many countries fighting & we (the rest of the world) have done basically zero to help people in agony

brianlux

chadwick wrote:

voting is a wonderful plan but how does voting right now help people suffering in syria & elsewhere? who is running right now & for what office?

i am so bent out of shape that the continent of africa has had so many countries fighting & we (the rest of the world) have done basically zero to help people in agony

Oh, I agree, Chadwick. Voting is a most basic low level form of taking taking action. Writing letters, making phone calls, disseminating information, educating and being educated, voicing your opinion are much better. I'm not sure there is much any of us lesser mortals can do besides that. And yes, it is very hard for those of us sensitive to these issues to see the pain and horror that goes on in these places. Sometimes I think it's a wonder we aren't all stark raving mad or utterly depressed.

chadwick

brianlux wrote:

chadwick wrote:

voting is a wonderful plan but how does voting right now help people suffering in syria & elsewhere? who is running right now & for what office?

i am so bent out of shape that the continent of africa has had so many countries fighting & we (the rest of the world) have done basically zero to help people in agony

Oh, I agree, Chadwick. Voting is a most basic low level form of taking taking action. Writing letters, making phone calls, disseminating information, educating and being educated, voicing your opinion are much better. I'm not sure there is much any of us lesser mortals can do besides that. And yes, it is very hard for those of us sensitive to these issues to see the pain and horror that goes on in these places. Sometimes I think it's a wonder we aren't all stark raving mad or utterly depressed.

this!

it's not war but when the gulf oil crisis was on, i was a lunatic & have been on & off over the years before & after the bp oil well rupture in the gulf... too much horrific news & massive amounts of death or small amounts of death can drive a person nutty... shitty news bites hard & these days we are bathing in it

Dirtie_Frank

With all the posts against any action in Syria, which I agree with. After spending 2+ years in either Kosovo, Iraq or Afghanistan I am tired of watching the United States, realisticaly kick ass, then we are dumbfounded as to what to do next. I am also tired of people suggesting military action when neither they or a loved one has ever served. I admit I have had it easy, but our men and women who leave the wire daily are tired, they are hurt. I think it is time to step back and let either the EU or the UN control this one. I would not mind advisors to those groups but not troops on the ground... I am going off on a rant here and I appologize if I sent the thread in a different direction, but USA, it's time to sit this one out.

brianlux

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

With all the posts against any action in Syria, which I agree with. After spending 2+ years in either Kosovo, Iraq or Afghanistan I am tired of watching the United States, realisticaly kick ass, then we are dumbfounded as to what to do next. I am also tired of people suggesting military action when neither they or a loved one has ever served. I admit I have had it easy, but our men and women who leave the wire daily are tired, they are hurt. I think it is time to step back and let either the EU or the UN control this one. I would not mind advisors to those groups but not troops on the ground... I am going off on a rant here and I appologize if I sent the thread in a different direction, but USA, it's time to sit this one out.

What you say here sounds very sensible, Dirtie_Frank. And you're right, those of us who haven't gone to war don't know what it's like. We can see what happens, if we care to look. I've seen the effects of war on people my age who went to Vietnam and young people very close to me who went to Iraq- serious effects that never completely leave- and to what end? It only makes sense to stop damaging our young men and women this way.

peacefrompaul

Taken care of

lcusick

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

With all the posts against any action in Syria, which I agree with. After spending 2+ years in either Kosovo, Iraq or Afghanistan I am tired of watching the United States, realisticaly kick ass, then we are dumbfounded as to what to do next. I am also tired of people suggesting military action when neither they or a loved one has ever served. I admit I have had it easy, but our men and women who leave the wire daily are tired, they are hurt. I think it is time to step back and let either the EU or the UN control this one. I would not mind advisors to those groups but not troops on the ground... I am going off on a rant here and I appologize if I sent the thread in a different direction, but USA, it's time to sit this one out.

We do need to sit this one out!!! And a whole lot of respect for you Dirtie Frank for serving your country!!

lcusick

brianlux wrote:

lcusick wrote:

I am old, so I remember Vietnam vividly. One of my cousins fought in Vietnam and died several years later from agent orange. Vietnam sucked and we had no business being there. I was 14 when the US pulled out of Vietnam. Although I was young, several of my cousins, and friend's siblings fought in that war. My one cousin managed to plead insane and get a doctor to verify he had mental problems in order to get out of Vietnam. We lived 50 minutes away from Kent State when four died protesting the war. We had to go pick up my other cousin who lived on campus when the National Guard was there. She called my parents crying and freaking out and wanted to get out of Kent. I was only 12 at the time, but driving onto KSU's campus that day with National Guard, tanks etc. left such an impression. But I tell ya what, so proud of that generation that stood up and said,"Hell no, we won't go." I wish people got out on the streets today and protested. I would be there. Not sure how to organize it, but very tempted to try.

"I was 14 when the US pulled out of Vietnam."

Ummm, lcusick, if that makes you old I'm... :oops:


All kidding aside, you are so right. We spoke out, we protested, we shut that war down, even though much later than most of us had hoped for. But those protests were gruesome. I remember that huge line of armored, mounted police coming on campus, heads busted open, friends jailed. I'm not so certain that kind of resistance would be effective in today's world. Maybe I really am getting old, but I think we would get more done by voting and writing letters, teaching acceptance of our differences (or "tolerance" though I'm not convinced that's the right word) seeking economic justice and especially learning to curb our consumptive habits- which goes back to the idea that wars exist partly, maybe hugely, over resources.

I understand what you are saying, but I am not sure that people will all write their congressman, I already did. I am just saying that if all the young people on college campuses joined together to protest, people (politicians), congress would notice. I know those protests against Vietnam were gruesome, but at least people didn't just sit by and act complacent.

unsung

Already done, however I'm in Illinois so they will all probably vote for attacking.

brianlux

unsung wrote:

Already done, however I'm in Illinois so they will all probably vote for attacking.

We can only each do our little part. Well done, unsung. :thumbup:

Jason P

All my life I've always wondered
What it would be like to fire off a bazooka
All my life I've always wondered
What it would be like to fire off a ballistic missile ...

Cosmo

Syria is a Lose/Lose situation for the United States.
The U.S. should get involved in military actions... ONLY IF... it is part of an overwhelming Global Effort to dole out punishment to the Assad government.
...
Also, I feel we should only commit long range air attacks and intelligence... not any troops. Have the Arab nations d othe heavy lifting for a change.

unsung

There's no reason to go there, world participation or not.

satansbed

Cosmo wrote:

Syria is a Lose/Lose situation for the United States.
The U.S. should get involved in military actions... ONLY IF... it is part of an overwhelming Global Effort to dole out punishment to the Assad government.
...
Also, I feel we should only commit long range air attacks and intelligence... not any troops. Have the Arab nations d othe heavy lifting for a change.

thats all thats been proposed though, thats what obama is talking about, long range air attacks

unsung

So you're good with fighting for al-Qaeda?