March 28, 2024, 08:49:55 am

New
Site design:

A lot of new content added.

Check the home page.


New!
Thanatopsis "Requiem" Available now.


Studio Videos

Live in studio performances

Voices of Courage

Started by D.O.D, April 30, 2005, 04:12:35 pm

Previous topic - Next topic

gkg

Quote...by being shot in the chest...
[glb]shiver[/glb]

Travis, i think you\'re right, i am sure he would never have mentioned it.  that DOD is a marvel - i knew he had time and experience in the weight of his opinions, but of course no idea the depth of that.  thank you for adding to the perspective.  he\'d already earned my respect and admiration, but now i see yet another aspect of the man.

yes, sngwthme, it speaks volumes to me too - the whole movement is starting to gain and that does seem to scare some aspects of the media.  i think that the very fact that folks with DOD\'s level of experience, like those of the Generals stepping forward, etc., are starting to speak up loud and clear from various corners of the country makes the administration a little nervous, though not nearly nervous enough.

we need change, radical change, and we need it sooner rather than later if we\'re to save lives.
Peace.

image = <i>"Blue Velvet"</i> (front of 2-sided piece) (c) georgia k griffin - all rights reserved

Bakeka

May 02, 2006, 10:04:32 pm #31 Last Edit: May 03, 2006, 01:39:41 pm by Bakeka
Thanks for mentioning that Travis. I wonder, DOD, how old were you when you signed on the dotted line? (you don\'t have to answer...)I think my Grandmother had to give her blessing to my DOD so he could join the Marines in his 16th year.
  I have always been so proud of his courage. That makes it  so hard to hear the words of this President say "we" are making the world safe for Democracy.  I feel "he" is wasting such wonderful lives...
  But, my father, once a dedicated Republican, and a man who gave generously of himself as a community volunteer,  calls it as he sees it. He saw the writing on the wall with this guy: How big business would run amok, oil prices would go up and environmental concerns hamstringed.
  He should probably speak his own opinions, \'cept his typing is kinda rough! But he has always made so much sense...He has been lambasting this administration even before they took office. But, his new wife, a Bible touting Christian, is of the mind that this war is about saving the world. Comparing our role in it to the role that the Russians played in WWII in keeping the Nazis
occupied while we prepared to enter the war and save Great Britain...
  I find my greatest arguments against people of that "marching-christian-soldier" mindset is Christ\'s own teachings. There are too many people who are willing to forget about that aspect of their religion.
  Anyway, Dad was discharged via the hospital also...  blown up with  an ammo dump on Saipan...I am sure DOD\'s would have some stories to share about a time so much different than these...
   Sorry to get sentimental here...I have so much respect for the "Greatest Generation"...
always and forever

D.O.D

May 03, 2006, 01:39:59 pm #32 Last Edit: May 03, 2006, 01:44:04 pm by D.O.D
Bakeka-  Sorry that this space must be occupied with such dour subject matter... let\'s hope to get on to music again soon.  I was drafted into the army one month after my 18th birthday, right after  high school graduation... of course, there was massive support for the war effort, we amost looked forward to it. I was certain that I would be fighting along side of  John Wayne and be home for supper. I came home to stay 3 years later, My combat experience was horrifying but very brief. I was shot thru the shoulder and spent the next year in an army hospital.    I can recall the young 17 year old volunteers for the Marines; thousands of them died in the Pacific... often just six months after H.S. graduation. Bad times !  DOD

Bakeka

I would imagine they were very  bad times. While not wishing to stir up memories that you wish to lay to rest, I am determined  that it not be forgotten.
  Too much is easily brushed aside these days, and I honestly must say I think the Pres had the country thinking that this would be "war-light" like so much diet soda...and that we were morally on the high ground because we spoke the name of the Christian God.
   I know my Dad is open with his discussion of his war experiences and I hope that I have not been pouring salt in any wounds....
  You are right about the need to get back to the lighter side. We are fortunate we have the time, and good blessings of  music and humanities in general.  For me, that is where the spirit grows.
  and of course, in meeting nice people...  :)

something for you by Lord Byron:

How in the noon of night that pibroch thrills,
savage and shrill!
But with the breath which fills
Their mouintain pipe,
so fill the mountaineers
With the fierce native daring which instills
the stiring memory of a thousand years.
always and forever

SantaStef

Nicely said.  This brings back a story about my Grandfather, who was not part of the war.  He was the oldest of three sons and was required to remain on the farm to run it while the war continued.  Although he never mentioned it directly, he felt guilty about this.  His two brothers left to fight the war.  They returned, but one brother became a cattle rustler and a wanted man....he was the black sheep of the family...and to this day they don\'t speak his name; even though he\'s been gone for decades.

 It is amazing how choices we make in life leave a lasting legacy for those who work so hard to give others a better life, we must never forget.  My Grandfather recited poetry and one of the poems he would frequently share is the following.  He is no longer with us, but it continues to inspire me.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

buswolley

I am sure some of you have heard of the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon."  It really does work.  I can connect to him in 3 moves and in 5 completely different moves, and I've never been in a movie.  So you may ask yourself what does this have to do with 'Voices of Courage'  Good question - if it really does take only 6 people to connect yourself to any other person in the world then why not start your own revolution.  So here I go...

To Whom It May Concern:

I will no longer blame the absent voter.  I will no longer blame the ambivalent adult.  I will no longer blame the apathetic youth of America.  I will instead stand up on June 14th (America's Flag Day) and make my voice heard.  I will fly my American Flag proudly, for I am a proud American, however I will fly my flag upside down in protest against the war in Iraq.  Maybe on that day our elected officials will take notice.  They will, on June 14th, see a visual representation of my distress and outrage.

"The flag is flown upside down only as a distress signal." - US Flag code (www.usflag.org)

Six Degrees of Separation: roughly, the notion that anyone can form a chain of personal contacts leading to any other person, with no more than six links in the chain.

I urge you to send this to everyone on your e-mail list, mail it to friends and family, and place it in mail boxes in your neighborhood.  Remember, it only takes 6 people to touch the world!

Peace to all,
Insert your name

NOTE: I have not sent this out yet, but I intend to.  I am not sure as to the flag thing.  I would really like to see a financial boycott, like LULAC, however I don't think that is realistic.  This can still be revised, because only you fine people and my Dad has seen this (of course there are 403 of you! : -)  In all seriousness, any suggestions or support would be greatly appreciated!  

gkg

i think it\'s a good idea, but in all fairness it IS a distress signal and could confuse some cops and others who know that into thinking you need help.  of course some others may just think you\'re retarded...  ;)

i intend to fly my flag, upright, but under it tie a hand made flag with an appropriate epitaph - "IMPEACH - REMOVE - JAIL" and "NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL" come to mind, courtesy of the wonderful t-shirts from Perceval Press.

i suppose i could tie a ribbon - i am sure there is a color that has been designated as anti war - but i\'m not trendy enough to know what color that is.
Peace.

image = <i>"Blue Velvet"</i> (front of 2-sided piece) (c) georgia k griffin - all rights reserved

Bakeka

Somemore people found their voices... in Georgia, no less. Rummy got blasted again.
always and forever

oldfolkie

Wow! With Colbert and the folks in Georgia, this topic is hopping!

I hope for all our sakes that more people find this kind of courage.

We\'re going to need to find it here, too, now that we have a "baby bush" regime.   :\'(
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. ~  R.A. Heinlein