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Like Iraq, there has been a steady propaganda barrage psyching us up for an attack on Iran. Those of us who have been paying attention have watched it go from, "... that would be insane", to, "... where are they going to get the troops?", to "... they'll attack before August". This can not be. We can not allow this to happen. We need to shake off whatever hopelessness we have, shed the brainwashing, muster whatever strength we can, and pick-up the sword one more time. Hard-core cynics should not dare speak out, because if you can't help, stand out of the way. For even if it's a lost cause, it is at this moment a cause that can not be ignored or denied. There is nothing else. They're is a dear friend who always ends her messages with this quote from Gandhi: “Everything you do will be meaningless, but you must do it.”' But striving to end war is never meaningless. Ever. Gandhi aside. Even if you fail, you did good. But we can not fail. Not this time. This can't be another Iraq where we look back over another mountain of skulls we're created before we say "enough!" For this won't be another Iraq, it will be a thousand times worse. Iran isn't a small country weakened by years of sanctions. The world is sick of us already, if an attack on Iran is allowed to happen it won't be us they'll back. Our problems will exploded beyond whatever nightmares we could conjure. As though this were an epic clash between dark forces against good. Only this isn't some comic-book plot being played out by Hollywood actors in a multi-million dollar block-buster, this is real flesh and blood, more than torn cartilage, it's torn souls and screams of both agony of loss and injustice. We can no longer, any of us, stand by and do nothing. If you're a good speaker - speak. Engage people wherever you go. On a bus, at the office, a bar, with your date, standing in line, at a party, at school, at work, at the poker table, talk until your horse, than gargle and talk some more! Talk about how you feel and what you know. Speak to people about carnage that will continue if they remain silent. Speak of the price they're paying at the pump, if people dying for no reason, other than to add to a few rich people's profit, doesn't move them. Ask people if they wouldn't promise to call their representative. Make them realize they're not alone and together each one of us can make a difference. That one phone call added to another and another will add up until their voice is heard. Make little slips of paper with your representatives numbers on them to pass out, offer them your phone, have your representatives number on "speed dial", tell them they can call off-hours for free, anonymously. For those that may challenge you, stay reasoned and calm. There won't be many, we're in the majority, ask them to speak and to give their reasoning. You have nothing to fear if you're informed and keep focused on what the objective is. Peace is not an objective, it is a state of being. If you're a good writer - write! E-mail and/or write everyone, senators, congressman, state and local, friends, acquaintances and tell them how you feel. That you're disgusted with this war and that you want them to join you in writing your representative. That you want those who got us into this war held accountable, now, before these insane war-mongering cretins take us into Iran. Tell them you're not only sick of this war, but all wars. That if anyone even thinks about starting another war they have to end all wars they have going on now and give peace a chance first, otherwise they'll be more than just letters written. That you'll be at their door-steps and it won't be to thank them. If you're an activist - act! It's time to take it to the next level. We need to be there when our so-called representatives open their doors and hound them everywhere they go, until they start upholding the peoples will. If you're not already active in a group, form one. Go through out your neighborhood and get those that can to make sure someone is always at an elected officials office every-day, all-day. Take a collection to charter a bus, call, make appointments to speak to your representatives. Don't take any "political speak", always remember they work for us - not the other way around. Peaceful civil disobedience needs to be intensified. Signs placed, peaceful disruption of public events. Blockades of docks shipping military equipment, military bases need to be targeted for protests. We need to tell them where they can stick their "Free Speech Zones". Sacrifices will have to be made. Those that we threaten will fight fiercely, but we have what's right on our side and we can face them now, while we still can, or later, when they're stronger and we're weaker. If you're shy or in sensitive position - give as much money as you can to those trying to stop this madness. Believe me, if we attack Iran, your money will be worth less than it is now. If you're working with-in the system - stop. Laws passed and orders given by immoral people for nefarious ends need not be obeyed. Consider either refusing to obey or become a Whistle-blower. Whatever dangers you might face can't be worth continuing to grease the wheels of a war-machine that is grinding you, and everyone else, to death. I don't know not what else to say. Only that there are few causes more important than stopping another war. Before we can stop Global Warning, save the whales, honeybees, starving children in Africa, or anywhere, before any personal problems we may have, before anything else - it is time. We must act, and we must act now, or ... there is no "or", elections won't matter, school won't matter, your job, your life will change so dramatically that it simply won't matter.
Currently I'm a cartoonist and contributing writer for The New Orleans Levee. For those wishing to view my work you can see my latest at: nolvee.com
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