The Okcitykid - A Peaceful Vet » Local news

Follow That Man Who Taught A Rainbow

Shepard Ofpeace — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:39:55 +0000

Follow That Man Who Taught A Rainbow

Acting like a clown
I found as I looked around
I had fallen down
Just wanting to be
Someone you’d like to see
When I just should have been
me
A gray sky
the lies
and the mask
And when you can’t put it in words
It’s time to put it to an end
So I took thirty four pills
And lived
don’t know why I’m around
As I carry this grave around
But I’ve left town
I cannot go back down
All I lack is reason
Out of season
Yet I am alive

Though you think I should be ashamed
That I am to blame
I will have no shame
As I follow that man who taught a rainbow
Because there is gold at the end I know
Because I lived

As we gather around that pot of gold
I hope to see you then
see each other as we are
not as we thought
we were back when

Roger Harkness
7/14/10

It’s Not My Fault – And – It’s Not Your Fault

Shepard Ofpeace — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 09:39:42 +0000

My government supports terror groups, Renta soldiers and our military and CIA is all over the world doing things you don’t want to know about.

U.S. corporations are over seas polluting the air of other countries, stealing water from other nations and underpaying workers there so that workers will work longer hours in order to make a living. They’re cutting forests, taking oil and other minerals at rock bottom prices.

True, I pay taxes, but the fact is, those taxes are taken out of my paycheck before I even get it. I’m 51 years old and that has been going on all my life. They don’t ask, they tell you, you want a job, you need a social security number. You provide a social security and they deduct taxes out of your pay. I have never been asked if that was ok or how this money should be spent. You know why, because this is the land of the Brave and the free I am told. They are brave as they freely take. It’s not my fault. Sure I get to vote, and so do you. We get to vote for their plan A, or their plan B and in other states you get an option to vote for their plan C.

And is it my fault that Coca Cola sucked one of India’s largest wells dry that 100s of thousands of people depended on? I didn’t even know about it until after it happened. After I heard about it, I switched to Pepsi, I will never drink another Coca Cola. Well guess what, Coca Cola owns Pepsi, now doesn’t that figure.

I am not to blame and you are not to blame. You might be doing this and that and I’m not doing that, but instead I’m doing that and this. We’re still doing something and yet nothing seems to be working. But I’m still not to blame and neither are you. Some people don’t seem to be doing nothing. Well, nothing we seem to be doing is working. I’m sure they would all jump right onboard if it looked like we were accomplishing something.

We are accomplishing nothing by blaming ourselves or others and as we accomplish nothing they win. We need to do a little research and find out who “THEY” are, what is their agenda and why? And they are not the republicans, liberals, christians or jews. No they are not the muslims, nor the mexicans or the blacks. If your research can only go as far as your narrow minded bigotry, then let me ask this? Lets blame it on the bigots? Bigotry however like hypocrisy is a human frailty that we all suffer from and then we would all be back to blaming each other.

You have to be willing to do open minded research without prejudice and both share and welcome ideas with others and as we discover who they are, what their agenda is and why, we might, together, find a way to beat them.

Guardians of the Free Republics

Shepard Ofpeace — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 09:31:56 +0000

I checked the news today and this group has sent letter to 30 governors giving them 3 days to step down. Who the hell are they, never heard of them. I’ve heard of the Tea Party and received an invitation. I’ve heard of the coffee party and again received an invitation.

How can an organization appear so quickly out of now where with so much authority as to ask governors to step down.

So I’m thinking, let the games begin. So I google search for “Guardians of the Free Republics” and I find a small web site with some audio clips and a registration form. Strange thing about this registration form, it wants your home phone, your cell phone and even the county you live in. It conveniantly has a drop menue to choose your county when you select your state. Boy they sure are squared a way for such a new organization.

I suggest nobody fill that registration form out. This is not a legit organization created by the people. This bull shit was put together by homeland security gathering information on would be terrorists. You’ll be put on a watch list, phone and Internet bugged, followed, harrased and maybe even arrested on some trumpted up charge.

Take my advice, DO NOT FILL OUT THAT FORM and if you have, move, change your cell phone number and maybe even your name. Just a warning.

Peace and Love

Roger

The Internet Is Our Only Freedom of Speech

Shepard Ofpeace — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:59:50 +0000

I’ve called and written my Senator:

You can cut copy and paste this in its entirety and post it or send to anyone you like. If you wish to send this to your Senator, you are free to change the name.

MR. INHOFE REPLIES

On Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 8:56 AM, Inhofe@inhofe.senate.gov> wrote:

Dear Mr. Harkness:

Thank you for contacting me regarding cybersecurity in the United States. As your voice in Washington D.C., I appreciate hearing from you.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), from 2005 to 2007 there was an 800% increase in cyber attacks against the United States. Additionally, there were over 360 million attempts to break into the Pentagon’s networks in 2008. As new high-tech dangers emerge, we must be prepared to defend against both domestic and foreign hackers who wish harm upon the United States.

Several bills have been introduced in the 111th Congress to address these increasing cybersecurity threats. S. 778 would establish the Office of National Cybersecurity Advisor within the Executive Office of the President. S. 773, the Cybersecurity Act of 2009, would create a Cybersecurity Advisory Panel to advise the President and require the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Commerce to present to Congress an annual report on cybersecurity threats. S. 773 would require the Secretary of Commerce to employ a system to analyze and report on any cyber vulnerabilities within all federal information systems and networks operated by the Department of Commerce. The bill would also direct the President to implement a national cybersecurity strategy and work with other nations to encourage cooperative efforts in improving international cybersecurity efforts. Furthermore, S. 773 would authorize $150 million in FY 2010 for cybersecurity research and would increase funding for research centers and graduate students specializing in cybersecurity.

In order to address the increasing risks of cyber attacks, some suggest creating the position of a cybersecurity coordinator within the White House who would have direct access to the President. In 2008 the Center for Strategic and International Studies Cybersecurity Commission recommended the establishment of a cyberspace office at the White House. President Obama has since advocated for a cybersecurity advisor within the White House to integrate the government’s cybersecurity policies and coordinate responses to cyber threats. Additionally, President Obama has stated that the cybersecurity adviser will be a member of the National Security Council staff and the National Economic Council staff. Coordinating governmental agencies’ cybersecurity strategies would be done by this cybersecurity coordinator within the White House, rather than through the Department of Homeland Security.

While there is general agreement that we must strengthen cybersecurity defenses, many are concerned that a cybersecurity coordinator, or a cyber “czar,” is unnecessary and will only increase the levels of red tape within the government. Since several DHS officials already have substantial cybersecurity responsibilities, cyber defenses should be enhanced through increased resources and capabilities within DHS. Establishing a cybersecurity advisor within the White House, opponents argue, will weaken Congress’ ability to conduct oversight of the activities of the Executive Office and ensure individual accountability of administration. Furthermore, opponents are concerned that a cyber czar will place too much control over internet security into the hands of the executive branch and may allow for greater internet regulation in the future. Many constituents have contacted me to express concerns about the provision in S. 773 which would allow the President to “declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised Federal Government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network.” I find this provision particularly troubling as it has the potential to allow for the abuse of power by the Executive Branch and may be used to restrict the free flow of commerce.

S. 773 is currently pending in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and S. 778 is pending in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Should any of these bills come to the Senate floor, I will certainly keep your views in mind. Please know that I will continue to support efforts to strengthen cybersecurity defenses while also promoting the free flow of commerce and information on the internet.

Thank you again for your correspondence. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future with any other concerns or comments you may have.

Sincerely,

James M. Inhofe
United States Senator

Good answer, THANK YOU, and I will also post this to my blog.

Let me just add: I believe that government offices should be secure, so should corporate Internet sites. Everyone who is on the Internet should be wise of their use of the Internet. However, I cannot help but believe that there is a fear mongering to scare us all into letting the government protect us who in turn will simply contract this off to corporate entities who will in turn gain full control of the Internet just as they have the radio and TV and our freedom of speech will be over with. While one might say that the number of Internet attacks are up, one must also agree that the amount of traffic on the Internet is increasing.

You are far safer conducting your business behind a computer screen then you would be in person, that’s a fact. Rather than fearing the Internet, we should recognize it for what it is.

Mr. Inhofe, I had called in and asked that you not vote for the Cyber Security Bill. I feel I need to explain why and insure it is documented.

Our constitution which we had both swore to uphold, you as a Senator and me as a Veteran in the Navy;

the freedoms that the constitution guarantees us all has been shredded to pieces since 9/11/2001.

One piece still remains and that is freedom of speech.

If anybody has anything to say, they can go on the internet and say it. It costs them nothing more than the internet connection. What they have to say can be heard by all or ignored by all. This is our freedom of speech and it is our only freedom of speech. We do not have this same freedom in the press, radio or TV, only those with money to pay advertising costs have this freedom.

So the internet is our constitutional guarantee to free speech and if you allow the fear-mongers (who in real life are really nothing more than profiteers hiding inside freedom protection suits) take from us our freedom, you might as well take down our flag and burn it, because America is over with, and replace it with the Chinese flag, and proudly fly it to our lord and master, our banker.

This will be posted on my blog.

Respectfully,

Roger Harkness

My Reply To Mary Fallin

Shepard Ofpeace — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:19:06 +0000

Excerpt from an email I just received from Mary Fallin:

Permanently opening up new areas of energy development offshore in the outer continental shelf, arctic coastal plains, as well as onshore production of oil shale in the western United States will increase domestic production of traditional natural resources. In addition, any long-term energy policy must also cut the bureaucratic red tape that impedes the construction of new refineries.

Any production of traditional natural resources must be coupled with alternative energy solutions. We must increase our research and development of renewable fuels and alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, nuclear, and biofuels to make them economically viable. Diversifying supplies, as well as increasing conservation efforts are key components to a comprehensive energy plan. This can be accomplished by renewing tax incentives to develop fuel efficient vehicles, and extending tax credits to customers who purchase fuel efficient vehicles.

My reply:

Dear Mary

In the second paragraph I have quoted, I am happy that you mentioned wind and solar FIRST and VERY HAPPY that you didn’t try to sell me clean coal.

However, look at all the cars on our roads and try to imagine how much oil it would take to fill all their gas tanks; hard to imagine isn’t it; even harder to imagine that we have enough natural resources within our boarders to accomplish this.

Did you know that as CO2 rises, Oxygen in our atmosphere decreases. Did you also know that besides global warming, the human mind grows paranoid when oxygen decreases, add that with the right to bear arms and I’m scared.

Seeing that most of our oxygen comes from our forests and oceans, it would seem wise to me that we not threaten these MOST life sustaining resources even if there was no immediate profit in just leaving them alone. Besides, by time we tapped into these resources and refined them for our gas tanks our world would already be burning up, the same could be said for the production of nuclear power.

The answer to our delima is simple: Outlaw gasoline combustion vehicles from our streets, highways and interstate system and replace them with electric and hydrogen powered automobiles. Impossible you might think. You know what seems impossible to me that we could spend over 700 billion on our military. Imagine if you can if we invested such resources into the salvation of our earth rather than ensuring the survival of our industrial military complex; gosh, what a novel idea.

I dream of a day when our politicians really care more about our welfare for today and the future and less about ensuring that their political campaigns for re-election will always be funded.

Very Respectfully,

Roger Harkness

From The Mailbox – Oklahoma has highest increase in food yield

Shepard Ofpeace — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:45:27 +0000

From my wife Lysara:

And speaking of eating local – OK had the greatest growth IN THE NAT
Posted by: “Karen Cline” karen.cline@gmail.com englishsheps
Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:46 am (PDT)
Tricia Dameron has a blog at www.oklavore.com – but in this case she was
blogging on “fresh greens”

Excerpted:

But here’s the kicker: In Oklahoma direct farm sales rose to $11.5 million
from $3.7 million in 2002. *That’s an increase of 209%. *How does this
compare with our neighbors? New Mexico: 70%; Texas: 51%; Arkansas: 44%;
Missouri: 43%; Colorado: 30%; Kansas: 3%. In fact, *Oklahoma had the largest
increase in the country!* The runner-up was Oregon with an increase of 163%.
[Table 2<http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/index.asp>]
Venues for direct farm sales include farmers’ markets, roadside stands,
CSAs, pick-your-own sites, online sales, the Oklahoma Food Cooperative, and
farm-to-school programs. So, what can we do to encourage this growth? Are
there any public policy changes that would nurture a thriving local
agricultural economy?

Here’s the link to the full article:
http://freshgreens.typepad.com/fresh_greens/2009/03/census-of-agriculture.html

Oklahoma, A Leader In Wind Power

Shepard Ofpeace — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:29:07 +0000

from marvin908′s Flickr account

From The Oklahoma City Peace House

http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recID=96396
THE JOURNAL RECORD – - Opinion
Jim Roth: Wind power excellent source of energy
March 2, 2009

A national study shows that Oklahoma wind energy production could provide 9 percent of the U.S. needs for electricity. That means not only cheaper, more efficient energy for Oklahomans, it also would create a billion-dollar industry for the state.

In order for that to happen it will take the business community, policymakers and local communities to make wind generation and renewable energy a priority. Oklahoma has more than twice the wind energy potential per square mile than Texas, according to Tim Hughes, director for the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative. To give some idea of the state’s potential, a

If you haven’t driven down Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma in a while, you may be surprised when you reach Elk City. It is an amazing sight to see an entire farm of 260-foot wind turbines with blades stretching more than 125 feet across. The behemoths at OG&E’s Centennial Wind Farm in Woodward already produce 170 megawatts, or enough power to supply more than 40,000 homes. They expect to almost double that output to 300MW in 2009.

On a smaller scale, across the nation people are utilizing small wind turbines to power their homes and businesses. Oklahoma-based Bergey Wind Power is one of the leading manufacturers of small turbines in the country. With 500 domestic and international dealers, Bergey is bringing power to all corners of the globe directly from Norman, including war-torn Afghanistan, where utility infrastructure was severely damaged. The small wind turbines provide power to remote areas that might otherwise have to wait years for service. Consumers are using the residential models in conjunction with other technology, such as solar cells and geothermal, to create self-sustaining homes that don’t require any energy from local power plants.

Oklahoma has an abundance of wind energy, but only recently has that resource been developed for production. Before 2003 Oklahoma had no wind power, but by the end of 2006 we were producing over 500MW, representing a capital investment of more than $600 million. The American Wind Energy Association estimated that Oklahoma ranks eighth among the states in installed wind energy capacity. And we are moving up fast.

Oklahoma farmers have been using wind energy for many years to pump water from wells using windmills. In parts of the state, windmills have been used since before statehood to pump water from low-lying areas. And wind has also been used to turn large stones to grind wheat or corn, just like a water wheel is turned by waterpower. Oklahomans have been harnessing the power of the wind since before the days of the Dust Bowl. Now we have the opportunity to take an old idea and modernize it to create thousands of jobs and generate power for the next hundred years.

“Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains” – when writing that famous line in the song Oklahoma!, who knew that Rodgers and Hammerstein were talking about wind energy? Truth be known, at the time they wrote the song neither had even been to Oklahoma. However, their characterization was very accurate and still is today. Oklahoma has now found a way to harness the wind as it sweeps down the plains and turn it into usable, clean energy in the form of electricity.

Wind energy is an excellent source of clean, renewable energy but it is not a sustainable energy and cannot be stored (YET). The downfall is that if the wind doesn’t blow then there is no energy produced. That is why wind energy is best used as an integrated form of energy working with our current plants. In fact, wind’s perfect partner is Oklahoma’s own abundant, clean-burning blessing: natural gas. You cannot add wind power to a utility’s portfolio without enough natural gas generation to back it up. Those Oklahoma resources have tremendous opportunity for our state and our country.

The next time the wind is sweeping down Oklahoma’s plains, remember that somewhere in Oklahoma, clean power is being generated for our safer, cleaner energy future. It is far easier to endure those windy Oklahoma days knowing that emerging wind power is bringing added value to Oklahoma’s vital energy economy.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Jim Roth, a former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, is an attorney with Phillips Murrah P.C. in Oklahoma City, where his practice focuses on clean, green energy for Oklahoma. (Edited with the author’s permission by Nathaniel Batchelder.)

From The Mailbox – An Oklahoma Soldier Makes The Right Choice

Shepard Ofpeace — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:30:48 +0000

From Darla

Oklahoma soldier’s choice offers a lesson

MILITARYMan served time after deserting his unit, says mental health issues were to blame

BY BRYAN DEAN

Published: January 25, 2009

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-soldiers-choice-offers-a-lesson/article/3340551

Daniel Sandate made some bad choices.

The former Army private made headlines when he was deported from Canada, where he spent nearly three years hiding after deserting his unit.

After returning to the United States last year, he was sentenced to eight months in the stockade.

Sandate, 26, was released Tuesday from Fort Sill and plans to stay with friends in the Oklahoma City area for the time being. Having paid the price for his choices, he hopes to get back on his feet and that others will learn from his story.

Physical and mental problems
Sandate said he never meant to be anything other than a good soldier. His problems started in June 2004, when he developed severe back pain just before deploying to Iraq.

When he got back, Sandate said, his superiors ignored his medical problems and made him walk long distances when he needed to take his prescription pain medication.

“It came to the point where I didn’t want to get my medicine because it hurt more to walk that far than it would for me to just do without,” Sandate said.

He said discipline threats from the Army started as his physical condition deteriorated and his job performance suffered.

Sandate didn’t notice it, but friends told him his personality changed dramatically after he returned from Iraq. He had a history of depression and showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sandate’s attorney, James Branum, practices out of Oklahoma City and works with groups that provide legal help to soldiers. He suspects Sandate’s mental problems pushed him over the edge.

The idea to leave for Canada wasn’t supposed to be a permanent move. Sandate said he just needed a break from the Army, and he’d met a girl online who happened to live there.

“Next thing I know, I was on a plane, and I was in Toronto,” Sandate said.

“I didn’t have anything thought out at the time. One of my downfalls is I don’t really plan things ahead.”

Help never came
He planned on coming back to his unit until he got a call a week later from his sergeant telling him he had committed a crime punishable by death. As the gravity of his mistake set in, he said, he decided not to go back and face the wrath of his superiors.

Sandate came to the attention of Canadian authorities when he attempted suicide. Sandate said he actually looked forward to returning to the Army, hoping he’d get help for his mental illness.

That help never came. He said he was denied mental health treatment by both the Army and the county jail where he was held awaiting trial. He pleaded guilty to desertion and was sentenced to eight months, far less than the potential two to five years deserters can face.

Karen Connelly, a spokesman for Fort Carson, said the military can’t comment on a specific soldier’s physical or mental health because of privacy laws, but she said all soldiers have access to adequate medical care.

“Every soldier is treated as an individual and has the opportunity to be treated by health care specialists, and they get a treatment plan just like anyone else if they saw a civilian doctor,” Connelly said.

Branum said the judge took into account Sandate’s mental health problems and the lack of treatment by Army doctors.

“I wish that he’d gotten help early on and fought back,” Branum said.

“He did what he was supposed to do in Iraq. When he came back, he had serious mental and physical health issues, and he was turned away.”

Gaza

Shepard Ofpeace — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:55:23 +0000

My response from Mary, she seems to have changed her tone a bit.

January 22, 2009

Mr. Roger Harkness
1908 Hughson Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73141-1042

Dear Mr. Harkness:

Thank you for contacting me about U.S. foreign policy. Understanding your ideas and concerns is important to me, as it helps me to better represent you and the Fifth District of Oklahoma.

I am committed to representing your views and working with other Members of Congress to make a positive impact here in Washington. I have made a note of your comments and will keep them in mind in the future.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your ideas and concerns. As the 111th Congress addresses the many challenges facing our nation, I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. However, due to increased security measures, mail delivery may be delayed for up to two weeks. Accordingly, I encourage you to visit my website at www.fallin.house.gov to contact me via email in the future. While visiting my site you may also sign up for my e-newsletter as well as find useful information about issues facing the 5th District.

Sincerely,
Mary Fallin
Member of Congress
***************************************************************

Dear Mary

I can’t call you honorable right now because you keep sending me emails telling me that Israel has a right to terrorize innocent civilians. But innocent civilians are not hurting them and revenge is never a right and I believe Israel has had their revenge, they can stop now.

It is to my shame both you and my tax dollars support this. But maybe you watch Fox News and don’t really know what is going on over there. So I thought I would share with you some REAL NEWS:

”
Still Breathing
By Caoimhe Butterly in Gaza
January 16, 2009

The morgues of Gaza’s hospitals are over-flowing. The bodies- in their
blood-soaked white shrouds- cover the entire floor space of the
Shifa’a hospital’s morgue. Some are intact, most horribly deformed,
limbs twisted into unnatural positions, chest cavities exposed, heads
blown off, skulls crushed in. Family members wait outside to identify
and claim a brother, husband, father, mother, wife, child. Many of
those who wait their turn have lost numerous family members and loved
ones.

Blood is everywhere- hospital orderlies hose down the floors of
operating rooms, bloodied bandages lie discarded in corners, and the
injured continue to pour in- bodies lacerated by shrapnel, burns,
bullet wounds. Medical workers, exhausted, and under siege, work day
and night and each life saved is seen as a victory over the
predominance of death.

The streets of Gaza are eerily silent- the pulsing life and rhythm of
markets, children, fishermen walking down to the sea at dawn brutally
stilled and replaced by an atmosphere of uncertainty, isolation and
fear. The ever-present sounds of surveillance drones, F16s, tanks and
Apaches are listened to acutely as residents try to guess where the
next deadly strike will be- which house, school, clinic, mosque,
governmental building or community centre will be hit next and how to
move before it does. That there are no safe places- no refuge for
vulnerable human bodies- is felt acutely. It is a devastating
awareness for parents- that there is no way to keep their children
safe.

As we continue to accompany the ambulances, joining Palestinian
paramedics as they risk their lives, daily, to respond to calls from
those with no other life-line, our existence becomes temporarily
narrowed down and focused on the few precious minutes that make the
difference between life and death. With each new call received as we
ride in ambulances that careen down broken, silent roads, sirens and
lights blaring, there exists a battle of life over death. We have
learned the language of the war that the Israelis are waging on the
collective captive population of Gaza- to distinguish between the
sounds of the weaponry used, the timing between the first missile
strikes and the inevitable second- targeting those that rush to tend
to and evacuate the wounded, to recognize the signs of the different
chemical weapons being used in this onslaught, to overcome the initial
vulnerability of recognizing our own mortality.

Though many of the calls received are to pick up bodies, not the
wounded, the necessity of affording the dead a dignified burial drives
the paramedics to face the deliberate targeting of their colleagues
and comrades- thirteen killed while evacuating the wounded, fourteen
ambulances destroyed- and to continue to search for the shattered
bodies of the dead to bring home to their families.

Last night, while sitting with paramedics in Jabaliya refugee camp,
drinking tea and listening to their stories, we received a call to
respond to the aftermath of a missile strike. When we arrived at the
outskirts of the camp where the attack had taken place the area was
filled with clouds of dust, torn electricity lines, slabs of concrete
and open water pipes gushing water into the street. Amongst the
carnage of severed limbs and blood we pulled out the body of a young
man, his chest and face lacerated by shrapnel wounds, but alive-
conscious and moaning.

As the ambulance sped him through the cold night we applied pressure
to his wounds, the warmth of his blood seeping through the bandages
reminder of the life still in him. He opened his eyes in answer to my
questions and closed them again as Muhammud, a volunteer paramedic,
murmured “ayeesh, nufuss”- live, breathe- over and over to him. He
lost consciousness as we arrived at the hospital, received into the
arms of friends who carried him into the emergency room. He, Majid,
lived and is recovering.

A few minutes later there was another missile strike, this time on a
residential house. As we arrived a crowd had rushed to the ruins of
the four story home in an attempt to drag survivors out from under the
rubble. The family the house belonged to had evacuated the area the
day before and the only person in it at the time of the strike was 17
year old Muhammud who had gone back to collect clothes for his family.
He was dragged out from under the rubble still breathing- his legs
twisted in unnatural directions and with a head wound, but alive.
There was no choice but to move him, with the imminence of a possible
second strike, and he lay in the ambulance moaning with pain and
calling for his mother. We thought he would live, he was conscious
though in intense pain and with the rest of the night consumed with
call after call to pick up the wounded, the and the dead, I forgot to
check on him.. This morning we were called to pick up a body from
Shifaa hospital in Gaza city to take back to Jabaliya. We carried a
body wrapped in a blood-soaked white shroud into the ambulance, and it
wasn’t until we were on the road that we realized that it was
Muhammud’s body. His brother rode with us, opening the shroud to
tenderly kiss Muhammud’s forehead.

This morning we received news that Al-Quds hospital in Gaza city was
under siege. We tried unsuccessfully for hours to gain access to the
hospital, trying to organize co-ordination to get the ambulances past
Israeli tanks and snipers to evacuate the wounded and dead. Hours of
unsuccessful attempts later we received a call from the Shujahiya
neighborhood, describing a house where there were both dead and
wounded patients to pick up. The area was deserted, many families
having fled as Israeli tanks and snipers took up position amongst
their homes, other silent in the dark, cold confines of their homes,
crawling from room to room to avoid sniper fire through their windows.

As we drove slowly around the area, we heard womens’ cries for help.
We approached their house on foot, followed by the ambulances and as
we came to the threshold of their home, they rushed towards us with
their children, shaking and crying with shock. At the door of the
house the ambulance lights exposed the bodies of four men, lacerated
by shrapnel wounds- the skull and brains of one exposed, others whose
limbs had been severed off. The four were the husbands and brothers of
the women, who had ventured out to search for bread and food for their
families. Their bodies were still warm as we struggled to carry them
on stretchers over the uneven ground, their blood staining the earth
and our clothes. As we prepared to leave the area our torches
illuminated the slumped figure of another man, his abdomen and chest
shredded by shrapnel. With no space in the other ambulances, and the
imminent possibility of sniper fire, we were forced to take his body
in a body bag in the back of the ambulance carrying the women and
children. One of the little girls stared at me before coming into my
arms and telling me her name- Fidaa’, which means to sacrifice. She
stared at the body bag, asking when he would wake up.

Once back at the hospital we received word that the Israeli army had
shelled the Al Quds hospital, that the ensuing fire risked spreading
and that there had been a 20-minute time-frame negotiated to evacuate
patients, doctors and residents in the surrounding houses. By the time
we got up there in a convoy of ambulances, hundreds of people had
gathered. With the shelling of the UNRWA compound and the hospital
there was a deep awareness that no-where in Gaza was safe, or sacred.

We helped evacuate those assembled to near-by hospitals and schools
that have been opened to receive the displaced. The scenes were deeply
saddening- families, desperate and carrying their children, blankets
and bags of their possessions venturing out in the cold night to try
to find a corner of a school or hospital to shelter in. The paramedic
we were with referred to the displacement of the over 46,000 Gazan
Palestinians now on the move as a continuation of the ongoing Nakba of
dispossession and exile seen through generation after generation
enduring massacre after massacre.

Today’s death toll was over 75, one of the bloodiest days since the
start of this carnage. Over 1,110 Palestinians have been killed in the
past 21 days. 367 of those have been children. The humanitarian
infrastructure of Gaza is on it’s knees- already devastated by two
years of comprehensive siege. There has been a deliberate, systematic
destruction of all places of refuge. There are no safe places here,
for anyone.

And yet, in the face of so much desecration, this community has
remained intact. The level of social solidarity and support between
people is inspiring, and the steadfastness of Gazan Palestinians
continues to humble and inspire all those who witness it. The level of
sacrifice demands our collective response- and a recognition that
demonstrations are not enough. Gaza, Palestine and it’s people
continue to live, breathe, resist and remain intact and this refusal
to be broken is a call and challenge to us all.

———-
Caoimhe (pronounced “Cueeva”) Butterly is an Irish human rights
activist presently in Gaza working in Jabaliya and Gaza city as a
volunteer with ambulance services and as co-coordinator for the Free
Gaza Movement, She can be contacted on 00970-598273960 or at
sahara78@hotmail.co.uk.

—
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
1249 W Argyle Street #2, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 878-3815
E-mail: info@vcnv.org
web: www.vcnv.org”

This will also be posted to my blog peacefulvet.net/blog

Support The Troops Who Defend The Constitution By Refusing To Fight An iLLegal War

Shepard Ofpeace — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:55:37 +0000

James M. Branum, Attorney at law posted on my Facebook:

Daniel Sandate will be pleading guilty to the charge of Desertion on Monday, November 17th at 1 p.m. at Ft. Carson, Colorado. I (along with an excellent attorney with the JAG?s trial defense services and local Colorado attorney Bill Durland) will be arguing to the court that Daniel Sandate should receive a lesser sentence due to his extreme mental health issues.

Daniel has asked me to share his story with the public. A longer version of this will be published at a later point, but this limited account is what Daniel has asked me to share at this time.

**The case of Daniel Sandate**

Daniel grew up with a horrific home life that is indescribable in nature, so understandably he grew up experiening severe trauma and mental health issues. His adolensence and young adulthood were brutal but he hoped that joining the Army would give him a sense of purpose and a reason to live.

Sandate was a good soldier. He performed reasonably well in training and did ok in the Army until he deployed in Iraq. Like many soldiers, he was forced to see and participate in things that no human should ever have to go through. He came home from Iraq shook to the core and with a strong case of PTSD.

Daniel tried to get help from the Army but he was blown off, time and time again. His situation was quickly spiraling in a negative direction (he was very suicidal at this point, which was scary because he had tried to kill himself before even joining the Army), so when he met new friend online who lived in Canada, he thought it would be nice to take a break from the Army and hang out up there for awhile. He always wanted to come back at some point, but just needed a break and some time to recover his sanity.

However, while in Canada, Daniel was threatened severely by his old unit (he was even told by an NCO that he could be executed for going AWOL) so he ended up staying in Canada for several years.

While in Canada, he became very isolated and saw few people other than his girlfriend. When they broke up, things got really bad and he tried to kill himself. He was stopped (the police came after his downstairs
neighbors reported blood dripping from their ceiling) and at frst hospitalized and then later incarcerated. He was later released from jail but due to his suicidality he reported back to the police and told them he wanted to be deported to the US.

The Canadian authorities did take Daniel back into custody but wouldn?t release him due to their concerns over his safety, so Daniel called the US embassy and asked for their assistance. Daniel was then deported to the US, where he was immediately taken into custody and transported to Colorado. He has been sitting in the county jail in Colorado Springs ever since, and has been on suicide watch pretty much the whole time.
Daniel is an intelligent, articulate man, but he is deeply troubled. Unfortunately the Army and the CJC (the county jail) have refused to give him the mental health care that he needs, so his mental health situation has
declined.

Also, I should add that Robin Long (the first US war resister from the Iraq war to be deported from Canada) met Daniel in jail. If it weren’t for Robin finding Daniel behind bars, Daniel likely would not have any civilian legal assistance or attention.

** How you can help Daniel **

For Daniel?s defense, I am raising funds to cover my expenses and those of Bill Durland?s (who has been invaluable to me as local counsel). At this point, we are short about $1000 of what is needed.

You can donate directly on my website (www.girightslawyer.com) or if you need the tax deduction you can send donations by check to the

Oklahoma Center for Conscience
504 NE 16th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104.

(The fiscal sponsor of OCC is Joy Mennonite Church of Oklahoma City.)

Also, supporters in the Colorado Springs area are welcome to attend the trial. Please contact me for more information and directions.

–
James Matthew Branum
www.girightslawyer.com – My law Firm website
www.joymennonite.org – Our church website
www.jmbzine.com – My Blog

Office phone: 866-933-ARMY (2769)
Mailing address: 1306 NW Sheridan Rd., #296, Lawton, OK 73505, USA

****************************************

James is against war, against the military, against serving in the military, however he helps service members with any legal problems they may encounter often at cost.? You know what’s really strange.? People who support the war, believe in the military and believe others should serve in the military are willing to fly their flag and put a yellow ribbon on their bumper and that’s all the support they’ll give to the troops.? What does that mean, something to think about.? That’s like an Atheist man I know who is a member of a theological group and not only has he read the bible, but has actually studied it and concluded that there is a false Paul and a true Paul.? Two different Pauls causing a lot of confusion within the Christian Church.

Well anyways, donate if you can, especially if you claim to support the troops.

Thanks,

Roger