Our 4th letter to Senator wyden

Individuals for Justice

Dear Senator **wyden, Thursday, April 16, 2009
(Ltr #4)

We have petitioned you, signed letters to stop the madness in the world especially Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza. You have thus far not responded in any way except silence. We are not surprised by this action or lack of emotion from you or your staff. We have come to understand that we are dealing with a man who enjoys the gifts of life yet ignores the cries of people around the world who suffer under our Empire.

One of our members wrote this not too long ago:

“ on the next letter... I would add

‘We elected you to represent us and peace for the world, and the fabrication of Israel's war crimes as "self-defense" is not only the opposite of what we want, it imprisons us to our worst nightmare for decades to come. It is a path of hate where we can't return to
peace for generations.” Joe Rowe

Sometime ago when I was watching my granddaughters laughing and playing; Brittain being 13 and Harley 8, I wondered how they would survive in a place of terror like Gaza. You know of course, it is our bombs that kill the young in their houses at night. I will try to take you inside the head of a young girl who is about to die by mistake, you call it collateral damage, I call it murder.

Who Will Cry This Day?

A hand resting upon the dust, tiny and young,
Pointing up to the gods, fingers so red and still,
A scorpion watching with raised poisonous tail.

Who will cry this day, mother no,
In the house by the bed , oh so red,
She would weep for the hand, but for dead

Who will cry this day, father no,
In the field near the tree, oh so sad,
He could weep this day, but no.

A hand that was used to dance,
Pointing to boys and laughing at last,
She was sweet, like a virgin Madonna.

First came the noise, whistling at the birds,
Pushing clouds away and dropping,
Then that pressure, so much and hot.

Head that turned never to respond,
Eyes that froze on the sun for last,
Legs who danced but not this dance.

Presidents smile and wear new war suits,
Ministers speak of freedom,
Citizens cheer and wave their flag

I will cry for a child this day?

Joseph Walsh
12/03/04

There were five more soldiers murdered last week in Iraq. I will now take you to another place of death. This place is busy sending the new soldiers to die for oil.

THE GHOST TRAIN

STANDING AT THE STATION, A SOLDIER AND HIS SOUL,
BEING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS TO SAVE LIVES,
THE WIFE WONDERS WHAT HAS HAPPENED THAT SHE MUST THINK OF WAR.

IN THE MIST THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS, “WE MUST WIPE OUT THIS THREAT,
BOMBS AND BULLETS ARE THE WAY, NOT PERMISSION FROM ANY STATE,
WE WERE ATTACKED; WE WERE ATTACKED AND MUST GO TO WAR.”

THE SOLDIER’S CLOTHES ARE MADE OF WOOL, THE LAMB GAVE TO WARM,
THE SOLDER’S BAG IS DARK, LIKE BLOOD THAT BEEN TO AIR,
THE WIFE WONDERS ABOUT THAT BAG, THE CARD WITHIN-A PICTURE TOO.

THE WIFE WILL LOOK TO THAT CLOCK AND WONDER ABOUT THE KIDS,
TWO BOYS THAT LOVE THEIR FATHER OH SO MUCH, WILL THEY SEE AND HEAR,
THEIR HERO, THEIR DAD, THEIR MENTOR, THEIR FOUNDATION, THEIR LOVE.

THE TRAIN DOES COME, IN THE MIST-----THE WIFE LOOKS AGAIN TO THE CLOCK,
THE SOLDIER WIPES A TEAR, AS SO MANY HAVE DONE BEFORE,
THE SOLDIER WILL FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND DIE THIS WEEK.

THE SOLDIER WAS STANDING IN THE STREET, IN SAND BUT NOT THE BEACH,
THE SOLDIER THINKING OF THE BOYS AND HIS WIFE, DID FALL,
THE PRESIDENT DID RECALL, THAT LUNCH WAS LATE AND HIS DESK A MESS.

THE WIFE IN BLACK, THE SONS IN BLACK AND THE PRESIDENT TOO,
THE FAMILY IN THE GRAVE, WILL SPEAK OF HEROES AND SONS,
THE MUSIC WILL PLAY AND BIRDS WILL FLY, AND WE WILL CRY.

THE PRESIDENT IN BLACK, TIE SO STRAIGHT AND SHOES ARE SHINED,
THE MUSIC WILL PLAY AND WE DO CHEER, “HAIL TO THE CHIEF,”
THE NEWS IS GOOD, THE LUNCH IS HERE AND THE DESK IS NEAT.

IN THE MIST, THE TRAIN DOES COME AGAIN AND AGAIN AND…?

J. Walsh 12/07/04

I don’t know how to break through your shield of silence; you and others who know, yet will not act. We will have to stay a bit across from your office in Portland, Oregon and deliver our messages, our pleas, our demands that you follow your oath not just to us but to the very God you say you honor. Look at your daughters and son, read the poems again and help stop the madness now!

“ Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
Thomas Paine

Joe Walsh----- lonevet2008@comcast.net Clyde Chamberlain, Activist
VVAW----VAT.

Martha Perez, General Political Activist Mariah M Leung, Activist

Sharon Smith, 9/11 Researcher Cristy Murray, Activist

Ineke Deruyter, Activist

Troy Horton, Activist

Colleen Duncan, Activist

“The Republicans are so corrupt they make the Democrats look acceptable”

Joe Walsh--2000