The Okcitykid - A Peaceful Vet

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A Story Of Two Worlds

A small planet in the vastness of space
Upon this planet were two worlds
One on the south
The other on the north
The world on the north said
    The stars on the south side
    and just a reflection
    of our stars in the north
Likewise
The world on the south said
    The stars on the north side
    are just a reflection
    of our stars in the south

The world on the south claimed
    All the water on the north side
    had sprung up from reservoirs in the south
Likewise
The world on the north claimed
    All the water on the south side
    had sprung up from reservoirs in the north

All the people of the north believed
    They were the chosen people
    yes. They were God’s beloved
    Only if the people of the south
    were like those of us of the north
    they could only then be saved
Likewise
All the people of the south believed
    They were the chosen people
    yes. They were God’s beloved
    Only if the people of the north
    were like those of us of the south
    they could only then be saved

Both sides has written their sides down
And both sides called their writing
    the word of God
They taught their children from generation to generation
As the people were taught
The people believed

The people of the north were a righteous people
Likewise
The people of the south were a righteous people
Their righteousness made them zealous
    to do the right thing
Somebody had to save the world

So the righteous of the south
    waged war with the north
    It was necessary to put thing
    right so that they may learn the
    right way
Likewise
The righteous of the north
    waged war with the south
    It was necessary to put things
    right so that they may learn the
    right way

A few would die
    but for the sake of a new and
    better world
    it would be a worthy death

Righteous people by the millions
    entered the gates of heaven daily
    until a billion had died
    and there was not enough
    resources to fight with

They stood before the Lord
    and the Lord wept, saying
    My beloved, whom I have created
    why have you killed each other
    What was in your heart

    You on the south
    I planted the knowledge
    of wind, soil and water

    You on the north
    I planted the knowledge
    of stars, sun and moon

    If you wanted a new and better world
    You should have worked together
    Instead
    Out of your self-righteousness
you destroyed each other

    I created beauty
    You created hell
    Daily my heart cried because
    of you

And the Lord walked away    

By:  Roger Harkness

I wrote this poem about 1987.

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

 I found this photo on a blog from a women who sends letters to soldiers in Iraq. Though I know she is not the owner of this picture, you might enjoy her blog: http://katyjoy777.blogspot.com/2007/07/forgotten-heroes.html The story of that soldier is that he had to be medically discharged for PTSD after almost killing a sailor who was making a joke about bombing Iraq imitating the sound of a missile fire. I hope he finds peace. I believe in the judgment day and someday the great burden that he and many other soldiers carry will be lifted from them and laid upon our leaders, Bush and Chaney who started this mess. I believe that.

The Red White And Blue
Has Not Been True

When there’s no breeze to be found
Oak trees bow down
Down to the ground
Candles burn outside
The Darkness has entered in

A hail of bullets insane
No longer any pain
I’ve lost all feeling
What have I gained
Memories
Memories full Of pain

It might be red white and blue
But it certainly hasn’t been true
Its seems I’ve waited forever
For an end that’s been extended
Just to go back again
Its been so long I can’t remember
I think I’m just a lifeless member
Of this careless human race

What I do for me
I do for you
They say
Cuz I’m just property
Of the U S A

Victory is staying alive
Long enough to get home
And go to my room
Because it’s the only place
I can now belong to me
What ever is left
We will have to see

By Roger Harkness
The Okcitykid

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

This is one of my more recent poems.  It is ofcourse about a U.S. soldier in Iraq.

From Citizens For Legitimate Government 30/31 Oct 2008
http://www.legitgov.org/

Chevron profits hit new record of $7.89 billion 31 Oct 2008 Chevron Corp.’s earnings more than doubled in its third quarter and soared to a new quarterly record of $7.89 billion, the East Bay energy giant reported Friday. Chevron’s profits equated to $3.85 a share. The third quarter profits jumped 112 percent from the year-ago quarter, when net income totaled $3.72 billion.

Exxon Mobil: Biggest profit in US history –Largest U.S. oil company surges past analyst estimates to post net income of $14.83 billion. 30 Oct 2008 Exxon Mobil Corp. set a quarterly profit record for a U.S. company Thursday, surging ['surging' - ironic, since that's exactly what the 'surge' was for] past analyst estimates. Exxon Mobil, the leading U.S. oil company, said its third-quarter net profit was $14.83 billion, or $2.86 per share, up from $9.41 billion, or $1.70, a year earlier. The company’s prior record was $11.68 billion in the second quarter of 2008. The latest quarter’s net income equaled $1,865.69 per second, nearly $400 a second more than the prior mark. The company said its revenue totaled $137.7 billion in the third quarter.

Found on Flickr.com

Men Are Only Good
When They Die
From War

Men have hands
But cannot touch
Arms
But cannot hold
Hearts
But cannot feel
For this
They are bad
Men are only good
When they die
From War
For this reason
No boy will ever strive to be a passionate man
Rather
Boys
Play war

By: Roger Harkness
The Okcitykid

*************************
RATE MY POEM

Poetry.com really likes this poem.  Out of all the poems I have submitted to them, they keep sending me emails about this one.  Yep, they’re going to put it in a special book and this poem will have a page all to its own and I can buy a copy if I like, also I have been invited to join a special club, membership dues are about 300 dollars.  I was invited to read my poem, but I wouldn’t be refunded the air fair or hotel fees.  I got some honorable mention or something but I have to pay for the plaque.

So I guess they liked it.

All my life I have been taught how men are bad and I mostly believed it until I woke up one day.  Though I have woke up, still, I find most of society is sleeping.  Yes, it is commonly believed that men are bad, unless of course there is a war and you fight and die for your country.  Then you get to be a hero and that is the only way you get to be a good person in the eyes of society if you’re a man.  But then again, if there were no men in this world, there would be no wars, so it is believed. You can tell me I’m wrong, but I’ll tell you what, you need to wake up, stop your dreaming and see the real world for what it really is.

For what it is worth, men are not bad, men are just misunderstood.

This is not a man’s world. I didn’t make this world, like you, I too was born into it and like you I have to deal with the card I was dealt. It would do me no good to blame it on women.

peace

SHARE AN UMBRELLA

It’s a rainy day inside
without no place to hide
PRO WAR ANTI WAR
A blue bird gets all choked up
bridges fallen down

When it is time to share an umbrella
Will We?
Would We?
Could We?

I sure do hope so.

By Roger Harkness
March 2003

********************
I wrote this after the Iraq war started. I never supported the war. I was strongly against the war before it started. After the war started, being a veteran, I strongly believed we had to support the president in a time of war and I tried to make those who would protest understand.

After Bush declared victory on the air craft carrier, well then I began to ask that our soldiers come home and then I slowly became a peace protestor myself.

Act Quickly!

Roger, your poem Men Are Only Good When They Die From War is currently ranked as a finalist and you only need 20 votes to be eligible to win! We are proud to show your work on our website and you should be proud to share your talent with everyone you know. Have your loved ones show their support by voting for your poem and helping you achieve your goal of being recognized in the poetry industry. Get all your friends and family to vote for Men Are Only Good When They Die From War and you could win the next $25 VISA gift card from Poetry.com. We’ve already awarded over $20,000 in prizes and hope that your poem will earn you the next prize. Time is running out before the next winner is announced! Make sure you forward this link to all your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to get the 20 votes it takes to win! Some poems entered in this contest have even been selected for further publication in hardbound anthologies or the quarterly poetry magazine, Poetry Today. Just imagine . . . not only could your poem win a prize in this contest, but you may get the chance to see your work in print.

I wrote this a couple years ago:

Men Are Only Good When They Die From War
by: Roger Harkness

Men have hands
But cannot touch
Arms
But cannot hold
Hearts
But cannot feel
For this
They are bad
Men are only good
When they die
From War
For this reason
No boy will ever strive to be a passionate man
Rather
Boys
Play war

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080914_65_G4_USArmy793371

ANSWERS?
By JOHN SCRIPSICK
9/14/2008

John Scripsick: Most people will lie or stretch the truth for one reason and that is money

My son died in Iraq one year ago and it has made me study the reasons we went to war, as any parent would do looking into the loss of their child.

President George W. Bush came to Oklahoma City Friday, to raise money for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. I think for a donation of $5,000 you got your picture with Bush at a beer distributor’s house.

My son joined the Marines to help this country do good. I tried to talk him out of joining, but after 9/11, lots of young men and women joined. One day before his final signing, I thought he was having second thoughts, but Bryan looked at me and said he already gave them his word. I was worried, but proud that he was a man of his word.

As time went by, I’d seen that Bush, Dick Cheney and others were not men of their word. They will lie straight to your face. Most people will lie or stretch the truth for one reason and that is money.

I was there, on Friday, but not to get a picture taken with him, but to ask some questions:

How can our government pay $800 to $1,000 a day to Halliburton, KBR, Blackwater employees, which Cheney has ties to, and only pay our troops $70 to $100 a day?

Is it true that Blackwater, which has cost taxpayers billions to provide security in Iraq, has given generously to your campaign?

Was Enron your largest contributor?

Did a Texas oil company, that gave to your campaign, drill in the Kurdish region yet?

Did you read the report sent to you in August 2001, about an attack in America coming soon?

Did you pay $5 million to a man from Iraq so he would not talk about weapons of mass destruction?

Did you ignore Iran’s offer to infiltrate al-Qaida after the 9/11 attack?

Why did you ignore Joe and Valerie Wilson’s knowledge about WMDs and al-Qaida in Iraq?

How many military leaders, CIA officials and others have resigned since you have been president?

If you collect enough money, pull a good-looking rabbit out of the hat, and McCain becomes president, do you get a pardon from these questions?

My son died in Iraq on Sept. 6, 2007. Does my asking these questions make me unpatriotic? Did my son die for my freedom or did he die so Bush could pump money through private contractors and please the Republican campaign contributors?

I was sure standing on a corner, outside the fundraiser, would not get these questions answered. But maybe the right person will hear the message. I do know that doing nothing will produce nothing.

John Scripsick, a resident of Wayne, lost his son in the Iraq War.

By JOHN SCRIPSICK

Lyrics to Bomb The World (Armageddon Version) :
I don’t understand the reason why
You tellin’ us all that we need to unify
Rally round the flag
And beat the drums of war
Sing the same old songs
Ya know we heard ‘em all before

You tellin’ me it’s unpatriotic
But I call it what I see it
When I see it’s idiotic
The tears of one mother
Are the same as any other
Drop food on the kids
While you’re murderin’ their fathers
But don’t bother to show it on CNN
Brothers and sisters don’t believe them
It’s not a war against evil
It’s really just revenge
Engaged by the poorest by the same rich men
Fight terrorists wherever they be found
But why you not bombing Tim McVeigh’s hometown?
You can say what you want propaganda television
But all bombing is terrorism

(chorus)
We can chase down all our enemies
Bring them to their knees
We can bomb the world to pieces
But we can’t bomb it into peace
Whoa we may even find a solution
To hunger and disease
We can bomb the world to pieces
But we can’t bomb it into peace

911
Fire in the skies
Many people died
And no one even really knows why
They tellin’ lies of division and fear
We yelled and cried
No one listened for years
But like, “who put us here?”
And who’s responsible?
Well, there’s no debatin’
Cause if they ask me I say
It’s big corporations
World trade organisation
Tri-lateral action
International sanctions, Satan
Seems like it’ll be an endless price tag
Of wars tremendous
And most disturbingly
The death toll is so horrendous
So I send this to those
Who say they defend us
Send us into harm’s way
We should all make a remembrance that
This is bigger than terrorism
Blood is blood is blood and um
Love is true vision
Who will listen?
How many songs it takes for you to see
You can bomb the world to pieces
You can’t bomb it into peace

(chorus)
Power to the peaceful
And I say, love to the people y’all
Power to the peaceful
And I say, love to the people y’all
[ Bomb The World (Armageddon Version) Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]