Thursday, July 13th, 2006
Mission Accomplished!?

By Georgia Stillwell & Stacy Bannerman / Members of Military Families Speak Out

I wish to thank all the fine people of this nation for their calls to Dennis Hastert's office. Thanks to your calls, I had an appointment with Congressman Hastert by noon Tuesday.

I plan on sending in a more lengthy report when I get home, but here are a few details, short form.

Stacy Bannerman and I were whisked from the Cannon House office to the Capitol and met with the Speaker of the House for a half hour.

When Hastert compared Iraq to a football game, I reminded him that kids don't die in football games. I told Hastert the true cost of war was our children; and we don't have one more child to give him.

I showed him a photo of a 20-year-old soldier who was killed in Iraq (Summer Lipford’s son). He didn't blink.

Stacy told him of the impact of a missing husband in the home. And how the wives take the brunt of a returning soldier’s difficulties. She also discussed how National Guard and Reservists and their families do not get the same resources, support, benefits and services prior to, during and after deployment as active duty soldiers. Stacy spoke of the lies that brought us into this war, the lack of Congressional oversight and accountability, asking the Speaker how congress could have allowed more than a $100 million of taxpayer dollars to "go missing" in Iraq. As she was speaking, Congressman Hastert developed a nervous facial tic. He said to Stacy that, "We want to leave the people of Iraq with something positive, and are working to build a democracy."

Stacy replied, "It's not within the purview of the Armed Forces to build a democracy."

Speaker Hastert interrupted with, "I didn't say anything about building a democracy."

Stacy said, "Sir, yes, sir, you did, just now. And that's not what Congress signed on for, that's not what Congress was told they were paying for. It's certainly not what the American people were told when the war began. For Congress not to have an open, honest debate about this, the way this nation was misled into war, and the other issues I mentioned, is unpatriotic."

I was treated with much respect and got a hug when I left. Speaker Hastert offered to find my son a job. Stacy Bannerman didn't even get a handshake. I believe the Congressman felt much more at ease with a mother than a wife of a soldier. I was discussing the emotional aspect of the war and Stacy was discussing the moral and political failures of congress and the Bush administration.

Once again, thank you and a full report will follow.

willing and wanting to listen, then do that for goodness sake, Cassie  

Asalaamu alaikum:

Some quotes on fear:

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less~~Marie Curie

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." ~~~Franklin D Roosevelt

Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. ~~Bertrand Russell

It is fine to fear, I once had the same fears you expressed. But to give into them means you are already defeated, what is the purpose of being A Muslim if you can not attempt to effect change? George W Bush HAS NO influence here.Like it has been quoted before, Each Journey starts with a small first step.