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A Soldier’s Peace
Marshall Thompson, recently returned Iraq war veteran, walked all the way from the Utah-Idaho border to the Utah-Arizona border (for those who didn’t take geography, that’s about 500 miles north to south). He was a journalist in Iraq. He figured walking across the state would be a stunt to bring attention to veterans against the war. It turned out that he had a lot of time to think, mostly alone in his walking. He has found that he’s more at peace himself, more than when he first returned with nightmares and anger. The soldier’s peace he found was personal even while he brought attention to the movement among Iraq veterans and other veterans against the war.
Publicity like this doesn’t just reach the US public, it reaches soldiers themselves, who may be reluctant to speak out for many reasons. Marshall Thompson brings attention to organizations like Appeal for Redress, sponsored by active duty military personnel who will deliver their appeal to Congress on Martin Luther King Jr Day, January 2007.
Many active duty, reserve, and guard service members are concerned about the war in Iraq and support the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation. The Appeal messages will be delivered to members of Congress at the time of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January 2007.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is short and simple. It is patriotic and respectful in tone.
As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq . Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.
More resources from Marshall Thompson’s website
- http://www.fofchange.org/
Families of the Fallen for Change
- www.thepeacealliance.org
Campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace
- http://www.mfso.org/
Military Families Speak Out
- http://www.veteransforpeace.org/
Veterans For Peace
- http://www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php
Veterans Against the Iraq War
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