Harcourt writes: "In the shadow of the NATO summit, under the watchful eyes of a phalanx of full-black-clad riot police, dozens of former servicemen and women in uniform, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, threw away their medals, with apologies."
Iraq and Afghan War veterans flash the peace sign before throwing their medals towards the site of the NATO Summit in Chicago, 05/20/12. (photo: Reuters)
US War Veterans Tossing Medals Back at NATO Was Heroic
21 May 12
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NATO summit leaders should have been forced to watch the moving protest of the former troops chucking their medals away.
"No amount of medals, ribbons, or flags can cover the amount of human suffering caused by this war."
"I have only one word, and it is shame."
"This is for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan."
"Mostly, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to all of you. I am sorry ..."
n the shadow of the NATO summit, under the watchful eyes of a phalanx of full-black-clad riot police, dozens of former servicemen and women in uniform, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, threw away their medals, with apologies. It was one of the most moving experiences many of us had witnessed in our lives. It is hard to describe in words. I couldn't get the lump out of my throat. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a woman next to me crying. Their words, their voices, crackling under the emotion of their courageous act, breaking under the weight of the pain, the trauma, their anger, sadness, and hope - theirs was a heroic and beautiful act, a moving ceremony. It was a privilege to be there with these women and men who served in our wars.
Operation Iraqi Freedom medal. Tossed. Global War on Terror medal. Thrown. National Defense medal. Pitched. Marine Corps Good Conduct medal. Flung. Navy and Marine Corps medal. Chucked.
Most of the reporting of the demonstrations that met the summit will focus on the minor violence, on the few clashes between protesters and police, on the blood, on everything that happened after the peaceful march was over. In our sad world of spectacle, the pushing and shoving will be all that gets our attention. It is a pity.
Because what was truly remarkable today was the American servicewomen and men tossing their medals back at NATO. In a mixture of sadness, shame, anger, and pride, of trauma, sorrow, and pain, some looking back at their time in Iraq and Afghanistan, some healing from PTSD, others chanting Occupy slogans, these men and women showed a type of courage that the NATO leaders should have been forced to watch. Tragically, our leaders were busy posing for photo ops. They should have been forced to listen to these courageous men and women, to their veterans. It is their loss, ultimately.
Many of these men and women urged us to do something to set straight the havoc that we have wreaked in these various occupations. Some mentioned a memorial for the tens of thousands of civilians killed in Afghanistan or more than 100,000 civilians killed in Iraq. Others offered their apologies. Still others shared their pain, their torments, their nightmares. All of them spoke truth. Perhaps that was their greatest gift of peace.
If only the NATO leaders had listened.
These courageous women and men, these veterans brought to a close a remarkably peaceful anti-NATO march with more than 10,000 protesters - supported by so many more who chanted with them along the route.
"I am returning my medal today because I want to live by my conscience, rather than be a prisoner of it."
"I apologize to the Iraqi and Afghani people for destroying your countries."
"I don't want these anymore."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ctEQqlf2xw
"No NATO, No War":
US Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Return War Medals at NATO Summit
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The WORLD is watching! And they are horrified.
N.
Of course they are. That's what police gangs do.
OWSers, camping so visably in front of city halls, state legislatures (i.e. Denver), highly populated central cities (New York, etc.) is an Advertising 101, ever so constantly spreading of potent word of mouth reminders of how badly we need American Revolution II to rid our 'democracy in the toilet', no longer liberty and justice for all country of the evil, greed and power addicted 1%.
Must be driving the villainaire rulers and their Kochsucking minions crazy that they are unable to 1. threaten with cop brutalization/t orture, 2. use MSDing (manipulation, spin, distraction) via non and little coverage of the story of this and the past few centuries, and end the OWS occupations.
All the 'mess' media's overcoverage of stupid ass pols, sex scandals in football settings (again, karlroving advertising 101 MSDing), and other MSDing non-news stories is not deflating vast interst in OWS.
The villainaires must be truly sweatin' it that this OWS word of mouth is overcoming their best buy 'em out & sell 'em out efforts, and could screw up more of their supposedly 'close' and in reality election frauded elections.
And do you, Michael K, really believe allowing a RePIG to be elected would make things better??? Obama is not anybody's "darlin" -- he's just the only person, at this time at least, that might keep from giving the abominable RePIGS the White House! Not voting at all, or voting a 3rd party candidate, will do just that -- give them the White House. Is that what you want?
My feelings are based on historical observations, not on anything Obama says or does. I know quite well what/who he is, and I do not like it. But I saw what happened in 2000 and 2004 -- the democratic vote was split by third party candidate, and you KNOW how that turned out! I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN!!! I do not believe the country could survive having the Reprobates in charge for even one more term.
I totally agree with you on the need for a 3rd party. I just don't think it could happen in 2012 -- there's just not enough time. But 2016 -- now that's a different story, if OWS can just hold out and continue to grow until everybody in the 99% knows who they are and realizes they are themselves part of the 99%. OWS would have had ample time by then to become an actual party and have found a REAL candidate, somebody who is not one of the "establishment" but who will truly govern for the people, ALL of us, not just those who have money. Assuming Eliz Warren is not corrupted once she gets into Congress, she might well be the candidate, based on what I've heard out of her so far...maybe with Bernie as a running mate. Sure would like to see that happen!
This comment is not just stupid it is insane.
OWS is in some way connected to a drug deal gone bad in Oakland CA? This would be laughable if wern't so sad.
Every day our representatives just get crazier and crazier. It is the freaks at city hall that are dangerous not the folks out side.
-- and it's we, the 99%, who are paying the salaries of these politicians and police !
The cops well know who they serve and who they are beholden to. They aren't about to identify with the common people (with a few rare exceptions.)
Actually, Aggie, they are very much part of the 99%. According to Salarywizard.co m, the average salary of a full-time Officer in Oakland, CA is $56,951. Honestly, in California, that's not enough to raise a family on, and sure as hell not enough to buy loyalty. Cops are a unique breed, and whether good or bad, they all feel a unity with other cops, and are rather self-righteous about their jobs. THAT is why they continue to do the bidding of their oppressors. It's also why they put themselves in harm's way without a second thought. It has nothing to do with money at all, and sadly even good cops will continue to arrest Occupy members, simply because Occupy is breaking the law by camping in a public park. It doesn't make it right, but that's how it is. (Former wife of a good cop)
What's next 1%, setting up concentration camps?
This is our country, not yours. You don't own it. We do.
Yes - type in FEMA Camp in your search window and look through the links & videos. These are also referred to as Fusion Centers. I have known about these for a while and thought them to be Conspiracy Theory rhetoric but there is enough information to at least question their existence.
Along with voting out all politicians that support the 1% against We the People, we must also demand a repeal of Homeland Security/Patrio t Act as they make our Bill of Rights obsolete.
District of Columbia Earthquake
Vermont Severe Storms And Flooding
Virginia Earthquake
New Hampshire Severe Storm
Massachusetts Severe Storm
Connecticut Severe Storm
Louisiana Tropical Storm Lee
Puerto Rico Tropical Storm Maria
New Jersey Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
Maryland Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
Delaware Hurricane Irene
District of Columbia Hurricane Irene
Kansas Flooding
Maryland Hurricane Irene
New Jersey Severe Storms and Flooding
Maine Tropical Storm Irene
Above are some of the good things FEMA does. I totally disagree with you. They have helped too many people I think you are mistaking them for some other "CAmp" made up by REpugs to discredit FEMA.
I still dont know positively about their locations & purpose but it is odd that an empty train repair station had over $2 million invested for gates/fencing & security camera's at a location out in the middle of nowhere in Indiana when there is no active/open business there.
This may all be BS but at this point I think it is better to be aware of the possibility rather than ignorant or in denial of their existence.
The only thing I am certain of is that our government is corrupt & lies to us daily. Their actions are not in the interest of We the People but for the Wall St/Mega-Corps they serve at our expense. 90% of the media is owned by 6 corporations (AOL/TW, Disney,Bertelsm en, Viacom, NewsCorp & NBS/Comcast) and they are all under the FCCs Clear Channel Communications control. We do not get the news from TV, Radio, papers - we get whatever BS we are being sold by Gov't/Bank-Corp s.
Isn't this why we are reading RSN & Daily Uncensored - to try and find the truth ? We must continue to educate/inform ourselves and keep searching.
Emergency and Disaster Activity
District of Columbia Earthquake
Vermont Severe Storms And Flooding
Virginia Earthquake
New Hampshire Severe Storm
Massachusetts Severe Storm
Connecticut Severe Storm
Louisiana Tropical Storm Lee
Puerto Rico Tropical Storm Maria
New Jersey Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
Maryland Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee
Delaware Hurricane Irene
District of Columbia Hurricane Irene
Kansas Flooding
Maryland Hurricane Irene
New Jersey Severe Storms and Flooding
Maine Tropical Storm Irene
NOT ANY MORE!
"what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. ... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure." Thomas Jefferson
Well, FEMA or some other Gvt agency set up at least one barbed wire enclosed several city block "camp" @ Fort Indian Town Gap, PA. Supposedly to hold "terrorists". This is one of ten or so built in the wake of 911.]
Clearly, the protesters in Oakland are making a great impression--pow erful people are afraid of them. We can only hope that non-violent protest is not about to lead to summary executions.
NEVER EVER VOTE REPUBLICAN!!
GREAT JOB, Pernsey; you should put that on a T-Shirt or bumper-sticker. To echo your last line: NEVER, EVER VOTE REPUBLICAN (OR BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT) AGAIN!!!
"So even if the mayor wanted to do so (keep the camp in place), she cannot because she does not set policy for the city," Huen wrote. "The council does."
Excuse me but the people of Oakland set policy not the council. And everything else pertaining to the city. All power in vested in the people. Let's put this occupy movement to the vote. This includes a stay of hostilities between the city and the occupyers. Can I get an Amen?
The slogans "Yes we can" and "Change you can believe in" have become laughable.
Obamma is too busy serving his corporate massas to be concerned about helping to expose / control them. He is part of the PROBLEM.. HE IS THEM..Short of getting an HONEST, populist (not lip service populist-the real McCoy) even progressive majority in congress and all levels of gvt- local, state and federal- OR outright revolt I do not see how we can overcome the established, entrenched pay for play rules/persons now clearly in charge.
Obama wants this Occupy movement gone! The world is watching, and it's a thorn in Mr. Hope and Change's side. You know, the greatest country in the world with freedom and justice for all.
What part of this do you all not understand?
for the record: I'm not a Repuke or a Repuke plant. But I do know along with many others in this country that Democrats are complicit in all that has happened to we the people.
Democrats are not going to save the day.
As for Obama, he's as bad or worse than Bush.
Wake up!
Harry Truman - The buck stops here - is spinning in his grave. He was the man who recalled General Douglas MacArthur from Korea when there was a dispute - and constitutionall y, rightfully so. The military is always subject to the civilian authority in this country.
I am always thunderstruck by how many people in high offices know so little about our history, or even what was called "Civics", when I was going to school.
The leadership from bottom up crowd is doing just fine. What we want is no pundit, GOP/TP or Dem., to even try to get in the way of this movement.
We are looking at OUTRAGE that has been a long time coming and the so called Oakland leadership had better be careful what side of this thing they come down on.
The Country is watching and the World is watching.
Conspiracy Against Rights
This statute makes it unlawful for two or more persons to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person of any state, territory or district in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him/her by the Constitution or the laws of the United States, (or because of his/her having exercised the same).
It further makes it unlawful for two or more persons to go in disguise on the highway or on the premises of another with the intent to prevent or hinder his/her free exercise or enjoyment of any rights so secured.
Punishment varies from a fine or imprisonment of up to ten years, or both; and if death results, or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years, or for life, or may be sentenced to death.
That just about covers it, so where is the FBI?
I wonder who they work for...
I do believe that the police are being pushed to start rioting with OWS..
And it's time to stop blaming Obama and start blaming the right people like the mayors of these towns, they are the ones running the show in these towns and pushing these people to leave...Obama has his hands full fighting the repugs on every angle....MY opinon and I'm entitled to it.....respect me voice too here
The ones that want a third party, I'd like to know what ya'll think that is going to do to help our people...