Military Families Speak Out Washington State Chapter

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Bring Them Home Now!

One of the features of military families in this war that differs from previous wars is that there are more young married soldiers.

Here are some statistics:

-- in Iraq war, soldiers often married, with children

-- 55% of military personnel are married. 56% of those married are between 22 and 29.

-- One million military children are under 11.

-- 40% are 5 or younger.

-- 63% of spouses work, including 87% of junior-enlisted spouses.

Source: Department of Defense and National Military Family Association.

Resources For Military Families & Veterans
---Seattle Draft and Military Counseling Center
--GI Rights Hotline
--Sanctuary for Soldiers - First Methodist Church - Tacoma, WA
--Conscientious Objectors' Information
--Student Opt Out Form
*U.S. Dept of Veterans' Affairs (The VA)
*VA Puget Sound Health Care System
*Wounded Warriors Project
--CNN.com extensive list of Resources
--Military Families Speak Out (national site)
--Appeal For Redress.org
PTSD Combat : Winning the War Within
Friends Of Military Families Speak Out
Bring Them Home Now.org
Military Families Against the War - UK
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Veterans for Peace (National)
Gold Star Families For Peace
U.S. Labor Against The War
American Friends Service Committee - AFSC
United For Peace and Justice
After Downing Street.org
Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Veterans Against the Iraq War
Veterans for Common Sense
Traprock Peace Center
AFSC - Youth & Militarism
Networking
**Veterans for Peace - Olympia
**Veterans for Peace - Tacoma
**Veterans for Peace - Seattle
**Lt. Ehren Watada site
**Citizen's Hearing/Tribunal on Legality of War in Iraq
**Spc Suzanne Swift
**Voices in Wartime
**Associated Ministries of Pierce County WA
**United for Peace of Pierce County WA
**Whatcom Peace and Justice Center
**Vancouver for Peace
**Women in Black
**Backbone Campaign
**Sound Non-Violent Opponents of War
**Church Council of Greater Seattle
**Washington Association of Churches
**Fellowship of Reconciliation
**Washblog
**Veterans and Military Families for Progress
Washington State Chapter Members' Blogs & Sites
Beyond Yellow Ribbon Jenny Keesey's blog --
Dying to Preserve the Lies Lietta Ruger's blog --
The American Choice Arthur Ruger's blog --
To Honor A Rainbow Rich Moniak's blog --
Dissent is loyalty Robert Taft, the conservative Ohio senator who is a hero to many of today's conservatives, gave a speech at the Executive Club of Chicago in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor.

There are a number of paragraphs that are just grand, but here's the best one, which is worth quoting in full:

As a matter of general principle, I believe there can be no doubt that criticism in time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government

... too many people desire to suppress criticism simply because they think that it will give some comfort to the enemy to know that there is such criticism.

If that comfort makes the enemy feel better for a few moments, they are welcome to it as far as I am concerned, because
the maintenance of the right of criticism in the long run will do the country maintaining it a great deal more good than it will do the enemy,
and will prevent mistakes which might otherwise occur.

Drink in those words.

That's not William Fulbright two years into the Vietnam War.

It's not Ted Kennedy last week.

It's Mr. Republican, speaking -- when? Not mid-1943, or even March 1942

Taft delivered this speech ... on December 19, 1941!

That's right: Twelve days after the worst attack on American soil in the country's history,

perhaps with bodies still floating in the harbor,

the leader of the congressional opposition said to the president, 'we will question, we will probe, we will debate.'

By Michael Tomasky,
The AMERICAN Prospect online

Order and send postcards to Congress - Fund our Troops, Defund the

Bring Them Home Now postage stamps

For more information see Appeal for Redress website.

For more information go to dvd 'The Ground Truth' website.

Some Past Campaigns - Washington state chapter MFSO members participation

2007

(photo - Daniel Ellsberg, Lt. Ehren Watada)

(photo - Organizing Team; Lietta Ruger - MFSO - WA chapter introduces the Panelists)

(photo - on the Panel - Elizabeth Falzone - GSFSO/ MFSO - WA chapter and Rich Moniak - MFSO - Alaska chapter listen to two days of testimony)

(photo - close up of Panelists Elizabeth Falzone - GSFSO/ MFSO - WA chapter and Rich Moniak - MFSO - Alaska chapter)

(photo - rRetired Diplomat Col. Ann Wright gives her testimony)

(photo - Organizing Team - Lietta Ruger - MFSO - WA chapter with retired Col. Ann Wright - Testifier)

(photo - Stacy Bannerma, wife of returning Iraq veteran - WA Natl Guard, gives testimony)

(photo - close up Stacy Bannerman, author of 'When The War Came Home' gives her testimony. Formerly MFSO - WA chapter. For more on Stacy, her book, media archives, see her website at www.stacybannerman.com)

(photo - IVAW veterans Geoffrey Millard and former Lt. Harvey Tharp give their testimony)

See website; 'Citizens' Hearing on Legality of U.S. Actions in Iraq';

Jan 20-21- 2007, Tacoma, WA.

A 2 day citizens' tribunal support action in defense of Lt. Ehren Watada court martial at Fort Lewis.

(Organizing Team from MFSO - WA chapter; Lietta Ruger, Judy Linehan)

2006

(photo Lietta Ruger, MFSO- WA, in support Lt. Ehren Watada, June 2006, Tacoma, WA)

(photo - Jenny Keesey, Judy Linehan, Lietta Ruger - from MFSO-WA in support of Lt. Ehren Watada June 2006, Tacoma, WA)

(photo - Lietta Ruger, Judy Linehan, Jenny Keesey - from MFSO - WA chapter, June 2006, Tacoma, WA)

(photo - Judy Linehan, MFSO - WA at support rally for Lt. Watada, June 2006, Tacoma, WA)

June 2006 ongoing through court martial Feb 2007

For more information, see 'Thank You Lt. Ehren Watada' website.

(photo - right is Stacy Bannerman, MFSO -WA; organizing team)

Representative Brian Baird, Washington state 3rd Congressional District, in blue shirt comes out to talk with MFSO members at 'Operation House Call')

'Operation House Call' June thru August 2006 in Washington DC.

MFSO members make individual calls on Senators and Representatives advocating to Bring Them Home Now.

For more information go to 'Operation House Call' website.

postcards sent to Congress - summer 2006, 'Operation House Call'

2005

(photo - Lietta Ruger, MFSO-WA on central tour. Not pictured - Stacy Bannerman, MFSO -WA on northern tour)

Bring Them Home Now tour - Sept 1 thru Sept 25 2005. From Crawford, Texas to Washington DC. see Bring Them Home Now tour website

(photo - left Lietta Ruger, MFSO -WA with center Cindy Sheehan and right Juan Torres at Crawford, Texas, Camp Casey, Aug 9, 2005

2004

photos from Newshour with Jim Lehrer; segment 'Homefront Battles' aired Oct 2004.

Online video, audio and article still available at Newshour website. photo - Sue Niederer, MFSO. Her son U.S. Army 2nd Lt.Seth Dvorin, 24 yrs old was killed in Iraq Feb 3, 2004.

photo - Nancy Lessin, MFSO Co-Founder

photo - Lietta Ruger, MFSO - WA

photo - Stacy Bannerman, MFSO - WA

See at Seattle PI; List of casualties with Washington state ties

This is one of WA state casualties; Army Spc. Jonathan J. Santos, Whatcom County, Washington died Oct 15, 2004

Watch a slide show of family photos and listen to audio recordings of Army Cpl. Jonathan Santos' mother, brother and the woman who's documenting his life.

See the trailer for the documentary "The Corporal's Boots." (QuickTime 7 required).

A special thank you to mother, Doris Kent - GSFSO/ MFSO - WA for her generous sharing and contribution in speaking of her son's life and death in Iraq

Title 17 disclaimer In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
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Military Families Speak Out
is an organization of people who are opposed to war in Iraq and who have relatives or loved ones in the military. We were formed in November of 2002 and have contacts with military families throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world.

As people with family members and loved ones in the military, we have both a special need and a unique role to play in speaking out against war in Iraq. It is our loved ones who are, or have been, or will be on the battlefront. It is our loved ones who are risking injury and death. It is our loved ones who are returning scarred from their experiences. It is our loved ones who will have to live with the injuries and deaths among innocent Iraqi civilians.

If you have family members or loved ones in the military and you are opposed to this war join us.

Send us an e-mail at mfso@mfso.org.
You can call us at 617-522-9323
or Send us mail at:
MFSO
P.O. Box 549
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

click here - MFSO Membership Form – to join Military Families Speak Out or

JOIN us by sending an e-mail to mfso@mfso.org.

MFSO - Become a Member

Membership in MFSO is open to anyone who has a family member or loved one serving, since August 2002, in any branch of our Armed Forces

* The Reserves

* The National Guard

* Returned from serving but still eligible for redeployment under stop loss.

There is no membership fee. Donations are welcome.

People who are not eligible for MFSO membership may join our Supporter Group. You are welcome to attend meetings that are open to the public, volunteer to help with event preparation and participate in our community actions and events. Supporters may purchase MFSO t-shirts and wear them with the "Proud Supporter of MFSO" button. Buttons may also be worn without the t-shirt.

Our Supporters provide emotional encouragement and physical help to our MFSO military families who are under extreme stress, especially if their loved one is in Iraq or Afghanistan

We welcome your involvement, please contact us.

click to see the list MFSO chapters other than Washington state forming around the country.

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CHRONOLOGICAL ARCHIVES
into our 3rd year of speaking out
20 Oct, 08 > 26 Oct, 08
7 Jan, 08 > 13 Jan, 08
5 Nov, 07 > 11 Nov, 07
17 Sep, 07 > 23 Sep, 07
23 Jul, 07 > 29 Jul, 07
9 Jul, 07 > 15 Jul, 07
11 Jun, 07 > 17 Jun, 07
4 Jun, 07 > 10 Jun, 07
28 May, 07 > 3 Jun, 07
21 May, 07 > 27 May, 07
14 May, 07 > 20 May, 07
7 May, 07 > 13 May, 07
30 Apr, 07 > 6 May, 07
23 Apr, 07 > 29 Apr, 07
16 Apr, 07 > 22 Apr, 07
9 Apr, 07 > 15 Apr, 07
2 Apr, 07 > 8 Apr, 07
26 Mar, 07 > 1 Apr, 07
19 Mar, 07 > 25 Mar, 07
12 Mar, 07 > 18 Mar, 07
5 Mar, 07 > 11 Mar, 07
26 Feb, 07 > 4 Mar, 07
19 Feb, 07 > 25 Feb, 07
12 Feb, 07 > 18 Feb, 07
5 Feb, 07 > 11 Feb, 07
29 Jan, 07 > 4 Feb, 07
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31 Jul, 06 > 6 Aug, 06
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3 Jul, 06 > 9 Jul, 06
26 Jun, 06 > 2 Jul, 06
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1 May, 06 > 7 May, 06
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27 Mar, 06 > 2 Apr, 06
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4 Jul, 05 > 10 Jul, 05
30 May, 05 > 5 Jun, 05
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Thursday, 1 March 2007

Now Playing: Lietta Ruger at Washblog
Topic: Online Activism

How about 1 Million Blogs for Peace to end the war in Iraq?

By Lietta Ruger at Washblog
Thu Mar 01, 2007 at 11:07:00 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Alternative and Community Media

I came across it this morning, and think it's an interesting idea.  So many blogs, so many bloggers, and what can it hurt; maybe it can even help.

     One Million Blogs for Peace
           To End the Iraq War

Images they provide to place on your blog, after you sign up your blog at their site.  

or

or

(read more about the concept and pledge below the fold - assuming diaries have a fold)

 

 

The Concept
Between 20 March 2007 and 20 March 2008 (the fifth year of the war), we will attempt to sign up One Million Blogs for Peace. By signing up, a blogger is stating his or her agreement with The Pledge below. They will then be able to participate in various challenges launched by One Million Blogs for Peace. They will also be listed on this website with a link to their blog.

Bloggers may take The Pledge and sign up before the launch date of 30 March 2007 and will be declared an "Inblogural" (Inaugural Blog) of the movement.

The Pledge
I believe in the immediate withdrawal of all foreign combat troops from the nation of Iraq. I believe in using my blog, in whole or in part, as a tool toward this end.

Who's Eligible
For the official count (toward 1,000,000), a blog must be based in the home country of a nation currently engaged in the Iraq War. As of now, those nations are: Albania, Australia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Additional blogs from other nations may list themselves as "Support Blogs". While not counting toward the 1,000,000 count, these blogs will be eligible to participate in some of the challenges and will be listed in their own section.


Posted by SwanDeer Project at 12:01 AM PST
Wednesday, 18 January 2006

Now Playing: Lietta Ruger
Topic: Online Activism
INTERNET IMPACT
 
 Northwest Progressive Institute and Pacific Northwest Portal Conference.   This weekend past Arthur and I were invited to attend this first time ever conference in Olympia at State Capitol buildings. 
 
This was well, what else to call it but a blogger's conference meeting with our state elected officials, their aides and staffers, some local mainstream media, and of course the networking of bloggers that makes up Pacific Northwest Portal (Arthur and I have  separate blogs carried at the Portal, recently Arthur has been invited to be a feature blogwriter at one of those featured blogs = Washblog).
 
This event was sponsored by 4 other significant Washington organizations, including labor SEIU (Service Employees International Union), Institute for Washington's Future,    Progressive Majority....they seem to believe that regional bloggers have some impact worthy enough of sponsoring this kind of conference and connecting bloggers with elected officials to affect change in the political process and system.  
 
Andrew Villanueve, who at age 15 publicly challenged initiative guru Tim Eyeman spearheaded this whole conference. Now pushing 20 (but not there yet) Andrew is the founder of the Northwest Progressive Institute and creating strong progressive waves in the Washington State political scene. He is in example of what happens when determination meets with motivation. 
 
I was seriously impressed by the number of young people involved in the conference and that have engaged in the political process. 
 
We know MFSO is non-political, non-partisan, and when I am representing MFSO, I represent MFSO with the core message and in the non-partisan position. 
 
At the conference this past weekend we were introduced and recognized by our colleagues as MFSO bloggers. This afforded an opportunity to represent MFSO at a politically based venue. Although partisan to be sure, our focus remained on what has always been primaryh ... getting the troops home and out of Iraq, and that message goes out to either and all sides of the political venues.  

Why this is relevant is because I am learning that cross-networking has significant relevance to the work we do and message we bring under the MFSO umbrella.  
 
I find repeat names amongst the different networking, for example, Dina Lydia, who helped with flyers and website reporting on the Jan 7 Seattle event that featured our 2 MFSO Speakers;  a blogger Cool Aqua at Pacific Northwest Portal also reported on the event giving attention to Military Families Speak Out.  
 
Northwest Progressive Institute as well as Backbone Campaign gave online attention to Arthur and I when I went down to Crawford, Texas. 
 
 Majority Visibility Project and Stand Up Seattle have been supporters of our MFSO efforts in Pacific NW.  
 
The Seattle area SNOW coalition (Sound Non-Violence Opponents of the War) have been helpful supporters and many members of those coalitions cross over to other groups that support MFSO.    Nina Laboy, Associate Regional Director of Seatlle AFSC has been a strong supporter and helpful in many of our MFSO efforts, recently providing us with a place to hold one of our rare in person meetings. 
 
Recently we have new MFSO member in  Liz Rivera Goldstein, Liz@teenpeace.org  who has her own non-profit organization, Teen Peace Conscientious Objector  working with teens who do 'informed recruiting' testimony to other teens across cities and towns in Washington state.  As well Liz is on an advisory board of United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ).  
 
Another of our MFSO members in Eastern part of the state, Tricia Turner, is on National Board of Directors of  Veterans and Military Families for Progress cougsrule@msn.com (Tricia can you provide website link?). 
 
Actually I learned of VMFP thru another networking contact, Brian Moran,  with featured blog Washblog at Pacific NW Portal. 

Posted by SwanDeer Project at 12:01 AM PST
Sunday, 14 August 2005

Now Playing: HorsesAss.com
Topic: Online Activism

Horse's Ass.com

Local blogger joins vigil in Crawford TX

by Goldy, 08/14/2005, 10:35 AM

[NWPT61]WA blogger Lietta Ruger of Dying Warriors has joined Cindy Sheehan in her vigil outside President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, TX.

In our family, we have 2 young Iraq veterans, having served already extended 15 months in Iraq are facing 2nd Deployments now, in few short months. This is no longer an all volunteer military; it has become perpetural entrapment for many of the troops. Years more of war in Iraq and Middle East with multiple rotated tours in combat; when will we bring home our troops?

Lietta has posted several firsthand accounts, and deserves all of our support for her personal efforts to get this issue into the local MSM. This is grassroots politics at its most effective.

Cindy Sheehan, who lost a son in Iraq, has also posted another account of her vigil to her diary on Daily Kos, and at times, it is downright moving. She closes:

We had a rally downtown in Crawford. Then the people caravanned up to Camp Casey. I was told to come down to the point of the triangle to greet them. While I was walking down to the point, I had a great view of Prairie Chapel Road. There was car, after car, after car!!! I started sobbing and I felt like collapsing. The cars kept on coming. It took almost a full hour for them to all get to Camp Casey, it was a miraculous sight to see. It was identical to Field of Dreams. People came from all over the country to be here. We are building a movement and they are coming.

We don’t have a full count of all the people who were there, but I would say hundreds. It was amazing and awesome. I felt the spirits of all of our needlessly killed loved ones in the presence of Camp Casey. I felt their strength and the wisdom of the ages with me in that wonderful place.

Today was George Bush’s accountability moment, and he lost. Two young ladies from San Diego drove all night to get to the rally and they had to leave tonight to get back home. One of them said: “Wow, we can drive all the way from San Diego just to meet you and he can’t even come down to the end of his driveway to meet with you.”

George Bush: you work for me. I pay your salary. Come out and talk to me. Anyway, I have a feeling you are about to be fired!!!

Meanwhile, six more U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq.


Posted by SwanDeer Project at 12:01 AM PDT

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Criticism of the President is Patriotic

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly as necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile.

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else.

But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

Theodore Roosevelt, 1918, Lincoln and Free Speech