Now Playing: Jesse Archibald
Topic: Members Speak Out
not demonstrating the courage to stand up and stop the war the only realistic way Congress can
Dear MFSO Members,
Today I called Nancy Pelosi and left a message with her staff member who answered the phone in her Washington D.C. office. I was inspired to call by an e-mail from another peace activist group, CODE PINK. The e-mail echoed my own feelings.
In November, voters sent a resounding message to Congress about our feelings about this war. We voted to have the Democrats take control so we could end this senseless war where we military families are the ones suffering the losses and casualties more than any other Americans.
I told the staff member that I was deeply disappointed that Nancy Pelosi was not demonstrating the courage to stand up and stop the war the only realistic way Congress can: by cutting the funding for all war efforts except those funds needed to bring our troops home safely NOW.
When I called Ms. Pelosi's office, I identified myself as a MFSO member and urged her to vote against funding the war, except for those funds to bring our troops safely home immediately, not sometime next year or the year after.
I was rather dismayed to see the below headline today:
"Clinton Sees Some Troops Staying in Iraq if She Is Elected"
I will not be voting for Hilary Clinton! When will our representatives get the message? When will they have courage to take the step of cutting off funding to end this war?
As a MFSO member, I have a deep respect for military families and understand what it is like to have a loved one in harm's way. Our troops on the ground have done everything they have been ordered to and have shown tremendous courage. It is their commanders at the highest level that have failed them.
My heart goes out to those families that have been through multiple deployments. My family will go through another deployment starting in January 08. I do not know how I will get through it again. I began to cope with the last deployment be becoming active in MFSO.
Welcome new MFSO members! We are here for you and would love to hear your stories and will respect your privacy.
Each and every day, I like to think that I have taken some small step to end this war, even if it only means that I picked up the telephone or wrote a letter to my state representative.
If anyone else feels like calling Nancy Pelosi and telling her how they feel about the Democrats lack of action, here is a paragraph pasted from the CODEPINK e-mail:
Call 202-225-0100 for her office in DC.and ask for Mike Sheehy, or call (415)-556-4862 for her San Francisco office and ask for Dan Bernal. Tell them that the Speaker should cut off all funds for the war, or at the very least allow a vote on Cong. Barbara Lee's amendment to only use the funds for a safe withdrawal of the U.S. troops by the end of the year. And don't allow Bush to attack Iran! Don't forget to also call your own Representative to tell him or her to Vote NO on the supplemental appropriations. The Congressional switchboard can be reached at 888.851.1879.
Sincerely,
Jessie Archibald