More Anti-War Actions in the "Country Roads" of West Virginia

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Saturday May 06, 2006 05:28 by J.M Collins - Pioneers for Peace ocoileaindalba at yahoo dot com 7641 US Highway 33E Glenville West Virginia 26351 USA

We at Pioneers for Peace are pleased to announce that our second meeting on the 4th of May went very well. The following is a summary of the debates and discussion that occurred which further proves how torn and confused Americans are over the war in Iraq. One of the major hurdles we must overcome is the american superiority complex and how we are unaware of how military operations in Iraq affects the security and well being of other smaller countries. America has so much influence on the world that its past Kerry vs. Bush election was more important to the people in areas like Nigeria, and wealthier countries like Germany than elections in their own nations. When americans vote they do not always understand that they are not only voting for themselves but influencing every country in the world. In West Virginia people often wonder if enough people even vote to make local elections valid so voter apathy as americans should be nearly the equivalent of committing a crime.
The great country of Ireland has become a warmongering nation and potential terrorist target due to its cooperation with the abused US military by allowing warplanes to land and refuel there which are on their way to perpetuate crimes against peace & humanity in Iraq and Afghanistan. Peace activists worldwide such as Ireland's own Mary Kelly are referring to the United States as the largest terrorist organization in the world so we at Pioneers for Peace organized a debate with pro war americans to delve deeper and perhaps come to a better understanding. Michael Moore himself said something like its no fun to interview people that always agree with you and more can be learned when opposites collide.

Carrie Swing (standing) gazes at Sarah Kidder as Sarah offers her support.

The students and community members were surprised to see the President of Patriots for Peace, Carrie Swing www.wvpatriotsforpeace.org and were absolutely delighted with what she had to say. She brought along the latest panel that contains the names of the american soldiers killed in Iraq which sort of reminds one of the vietnam wall and serves to show americans that people are dying over there. Carrie explains that when all the panels together are rolled out they are equal to the 75 yard line on an american football field and sadly relates how many of those young men are 19 years of age.
Mrs. Swing them shared a story about an incident involving the current West Virginia Governor that should offend the world as much as those jyllands-posten muhammad comics in the danish newspapers. During easter 2006, Governor Joe Manchin was visiting US soldiers in Iraq and wrote the following on a hellfire missle, "Sending you to hell from almost heaven, West Virginia." Carrie promptly wrote a letter to the governor expressing her anger resulting from his actions. Manchin sent her a letter expressing his sorrow for doing that and she was happy to recieve this. With a triumphant tone she says " that is what we all should do as citizens, question our governments actions and hold those officials accountable." The view of some at this meeting involved not understanding what to make of Manchin who is supporting genocide in other countries but on the other hand caringly spent so much time at the Sago mine disaster.
Tom Melliveau, one of the pro war people, thought it was insulting that Carrie was using the deaths of american soldiers to boost her political views. Mrs. Swing quickly retorted something to the effect that indeed she was proud of using the panels as educational tools that serve to question our governments motives in Iraq. Tom then began talking about the muslim religion and how extremists use the koran as a way to kill americans and destroy our country. This idea prompted Emily Arnold to quip, "Why is that their goal? There has to be some reason they wish to harm us and I am sure that when the Koran was written the authors did not write to start killing americans in 2001." Pioneers for Peace founder Sarah Kidder quickly added that "education is the right way to handle this situation and not war."
The debate ensued with Paul Hartmann accusing Tom of watching too much of the right wing FOX news network and not being open to other sources. At this time, economics professor Becker announced that he did not believe any news media any longer but persisted in a right wing view of handling the war in Iraq and was using words like killing them and taking them out. By then, this author reminded all people who were listening that it is not right that we are talking about killing people all over the world and that everyone is forgetting how valuable each human life is. The ideal that all the oil and industry in the world is not worth the price of one human life was recieved very well for the humanitarian stance by both sides. Tom started off again by comparing Abu Ghraib to initiation and hazing that fraternities go through all the time and went a bit further to say that US soldiers are doing nothing wrong and are only following orders. A community member reminded him that was also the defence of those Nazis on trial at Nuremberg and how little we understand about other cultures.
Carrie Swing began talking about americans having problems understanding the difference between what they want and need when choosing an automobile. Elaborating on this, she says she drives a hybrid Toyota Prius and proclaims that people can fight the big oil companies by reducing the amount of gasoline consumption with hybrids. At the end of the meeting this author amazed the audience by educating them about the illegal use of Shannon Airport as a US refueling point for planes going to Iraq and returning from there. The story of Mary Kelly and other activists in Ireland was recited. Most importantly, Mary's fulfillment of her duty to break domestic law to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring in accordance with the Nuremberg trial findings was applauded. No one knew that US soldiers passing through Shannon could refuse to go on into Iraq and are welcome to seek asylum by the people of Ireland but they wanted to know if any US soldiers had been sucessful with this or have attempted it.
The meeting concluded with a divided people bearing strong emotions but a few students had some thoughts for the people of Ireland and the world. Frank Witty,"this meeting showed how unclear people are on what they want in Iraq. Everyone was talking issues but no one had a proper exit plan." Mallory James, " the greenhouse effect is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction and americans need to focus on that problem before invading organized countries like Iraq." Jess, "Our world is a scary place to exist within, when you don't trust your own government.The war in Iraq and ongoing ideas of war pollute the mainstream, the inhumane treatment of people, the lies in the media-when will people see the truth? It's all quickly spiraling out of control. People should buy Neil Young's new album "Living with War," the only rock n' roller to put an entire album out dedicated to calling for the end of the Iraqi conflict." So now this story draws to a close.The first story about Pioneers for Peace can be found at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75008 Students and community here would love to get feedback so leave some comments please.

Holding the most recent panel of US soldier names that were killed in Iraq. Left to Right-Mallory James, Sarah Kidder, Carrie Swing, Autumn, Emily Arnold, Jess, and Aaron Jones.