Peace

This reflection by Milwaukee Veterans for Peace Chapter 102 President Paul Moriarity (pictured) appears in the current issue of the Riverwest Currents newspaper and the July newsletter of Peace Action Wisconsin.

On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon in June of 2002 I was dismissed from my final formation in the Wisconsin Army National Guard Armory on Richards Street. I stood at attention for the last time in jeans and a white t-shirt while the commanding officer read off some announcements. I had turned in all of my gear and uniforms. I walked out of the armory with only a couple of unit patches, rank insignia and my ribbons. As I turned left onto Capitol on my way home I felt a real sense of freedom, having finally finished four years of active duty service and three years at Richards Street.

One would think that after the lack of perspective by the MainScream media in our run-up to the war in Iraq, that at least the New York Times or the Washington Post would get it right on this part of the planet. 

I find there's barely a mention of the reasons why North Korea took action against South Korea this week. Does that mean they didn't have reasons? Of course not. So report on those reasons and let the readers decide.

Instead there is only story of the weirdo and his son trying to lead North Korea down the path of assured destruction. Granted he's strange but what do you think the average global citizen thought of Dubya?

Get the facts folks and take off your US Press filters when you research this story. See my related links below to get the rest of the story. -saw-

Conservatives who subscribed last year to the osmosis theory of church and state -- the one that said public officials were responsible for and agreed with everything their pastors say and do, unless they specifically condemn or disavow it -- will be surprised to discover the liberal views of Scott Walker, Republican candidate for governor.

The Heartland Hollar blog features a remarkable video of Walker's pastor, the Rev. Jamie Washam, who -- unlike Walker --- opposed the state's ban on gay marriages.   [UPDATE: Walker now says he attends a different church, although Rev. Washam's church was listed in his campaign biography in 2005, the year she was marching against the Iraq war (above.)  More at end of this post.]

She also -- unlike Walker-- supports women's reproductive rights, and -- unlike You-Know-Who -- was an early, vocal opponent of the war in Iraq. The photo above shows her marching with Clergy and Laity Concerned in Washington in 2005, when US combat deaths totaled about 1,500.

GoodSearch is a very cool way to direct money to your favorite non-profit organization every time you use it for a search.

Nothing negative against Google, but friends in Milwaukee this weekend showed me how GoodSearch works (a search engine just like Google) with the notable feature that a chosen non-profit gets money every time you do a search.

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Six months ago, I was confidently telling people that if the Democrats couldn't win the presidency in 2008, we should just disband the party.

Lately, I have started hedging my bets.  

And an hour with the front section of Sunday's New York Times was enough to make me think that we are headed for another heartbreaking and unnecessary loss.

What did we learn today from the "liberal media?"

1. Violence is on the decline in Iraq.

    2. One brigade of US troops has started to pull out.

    3. The troop surge has not produced the political progress that was promised, so the Bush administration is simply downsizing its goals, to make it look like progress.

     4.  The Democratic presidential candidates appear ready to soften their stances, or at least their language, on Iraq and change the subject to domestic issues.

Here we go again.  

We will be fooled again, it would appear.