Peace-In Las Cruces
The congressman is Republican and not there. We speak for probably close to 45 minutes with a very young white male and an older hispanic womon inside the office of Las Cruces Republican Congressman Pearce.
The young man tells us Congressman Pearce believes we have to fight ‘em over there so we won't have to fight ‘em over here.
I hope my face doesn’t reflect the abject horror I feel at that statement. What the hell does that mean? Do people even think about the rhetoric they cling to so desperately to ease their conscience? He wanly smiles, she mirrors his smile as if deflecting any argument we could possibly have for ending war.
Iinteresting – what they fear from Iraqis they are doing to Iraqis – it’s so part of that culture of fear we have so carefully tended over the centuries of colonizing, ripping off people’s resources not to mention enslaving them and just taking whatever we wanted. And all through it, terrified that these people will turn around and do to us what we have done to them.
We are able to stay pretty focused on the Mandate for Peace, on making sure the Congressman knows that our country has given Congress this Mandate and we are going to hold our representatives to it.
We tell Grant and Anna we need their help, we need everyone’s help in ending war. We tell them Pearce can be a hero and stand with us, be one of the braver Republicans and stand against Bush & his regime – a group that is growing.
We tell them to make sure Pearce knows we are counting on him – right – to do the right thing. We do not allow him to equate “supporting the troops” with keeping them in harms war; but “supporting the troops” means getting them the hell out of Iraq.
These staff members do not know how many New Mexicans have lost their lives; nor Iraqis; they do not know what Iraq was like before we invaded; Grant speaks of not being informed so I inform him.
He brings up the point that I might not have the right info – ha! He has little or no info himself. I assure him of the hours I spend researching, reading, becoming and staying informed.
Over 6 of us have come to speak our minds. They listen politely, even uncomfortably at times – but they listen. They promise to help us get appointments with Pearce in D.C.
Several CodePINKers are seriously considering coming – a few decide they are definitely coming.
Out on the busy street in front of the Congressman’s Office, we make a strong, beautiful, poignant statement – hot pink banners, WITS lined up along the curb from one driveway to the next; and a long black cardboard folding wall with columns and columns of white doves and first 1000 names of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. The wall must be at least 10 long sections and it represents only 1/3 of the U.S. dead. The shoes represent a minor fraction of the Iraq dead.
Two reporters have come to take pictures and interview us. The wimmin here are skeptical about actually getting into print but I’m hopeful! We’ll see!
Again, we go to a restaurant, grab a quick bite to eat and talk about the action and D.C. One of the wimmin treats me to lunch! I am being well-fed on this trip! And well cared for!
The young man tells us Congressman Pearce believes we have to fight ‘em over there so we won't have to fight ‘em over here.
I hope my face doesn’t reflect the abject horror I feel at that statement. What the hell does that mean? Do people even think about the rhetoric they cling to so desperately to ease their conscience? He wanly smiles, she mirrors his smile as if deflecting any argument we could possibly have for ending war.
Iinteresting – what they fear from Iraqis they are doing to Iraqis – it’s so part of that culture of fear we have so carefully tended over the centuries of colonizing, ripping off people’s resources not to mention enslaving them and just taking whatever we wanted. And all through it, terrified that these people will turn around and do to us what we have done to them.
We are able to stay pretty focused on the Mandate for Peace, on making sure the Congressman knows that our country has given Congress this Mandate and we are going to hold our representatives to it.
We tell Grant and Anna we need their help, we need everyone’s help in ending war. We tell them Pearce can be a hero and stand with us, be one of the braver Republicans and stand against Bush & his regime – a group that is growing.
We tell them to make sure Pearce knows we are counting on him – right – to do the right thing. We do not allow him to equate “supporting the troops” with keeping them in harms war; but “supporting the troops” means getting them the hell out of Iraq.
These staff members do not know how many New Mexicans have lost their lives; nor Iraqis; they do not know what Iraq was like before we invaded; Grant speaks of not being informed so I inform him.
He brings up the point that I might not have the right info – ha! He has little or no info himself. I assure him of the hours I spend researching, reading, becoming and staying informed.
Over 6 of us have come to speak our minds. They listen politely, even uncomfortably at times – but they listen. They promise to help us get appointments with Pearce in D.C.
Several CodePINKers are seriously considering coming – a few decide they are definitely coming.
Out on the busy street in front of the Congressman’s Office, we make a strong, beautiful, poignant statement – hot pink banners, WITS lined up along the curb from one driveway to the next; and a long black cardboard folding wall with columns and columns of white doves and first 1000 names of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq. The wall must be at least 10 long sections and it represents only 1/3 of the U.S. dead. The shoes represent a minor fraction of the Iraq dead.
Two reporters have come to take pictures and interview us. The wimmin here are skeptical about actually getting into print but I’m hopeful! We’ll see!
Again, we go to a restaurant, grab a quick bite to eat and talk about the action and D.C. One of the wimmin treats me to lunch! I am being well-fed on this trip! And well cared for!
posted by Xan @ 3:46 PM
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