Open Letter to Mr. Scott Ritter:Dear Mr. Ritter: I caught your recent speech on the need for a war on war. The strategy and tactics of fighting to obtain Civil Liberty and social justice have long been based on models that militaries would recognize; goal oriented organizing. Under the tutelage of the history of organizing, from our revolutionary forbearers, the Grange, the Farm Labor Party, the Labor Unions and many progressive movements, we know how to strategize to reach an ultimate goal. We break the goal into to manageable objectives. We know how to reach objectives through the use of tactics like information campaigns, picketing, sit-ins, vigils and singings of Kumbaya.
One should not mock these tactics. It takes great courage to face a heavily armed opponent with lexan shields, full body armor and the backing of those in power with nothing but words and songs. Imagine the Civil Rights marchers walking arm and arm singing songs in the face of rifles with fixed bayonets. What unbelievable courage they showed.
Mocking is a derisive tool used by those would divide the anti-war groups from the main stream. Mocking has long been used by the evil who deride the "tree huggers", "Socialists", "Commies (Anti-war protesters of the 1960s)"and "Liberals" all the while they tear at the unity of "We the People" and our civil rights, especially the right to have a differing opinion. Please do not mock them.
It is after all our division that allows the Presidential Action (War) in Iraq to continue. This is why we are losing this war to end the war. We have been divided by the strategy and tactics of those who would war. They have used the oldest and probably most effective trick in the book. While supporters mock each other and while the various Peace groups fight a turf war for supporters, press, money, prestige, strategy, tactics, etc, they lose collectively.
We need a unified command structure. But we have no one to provide the unifying force. We have failed in supporting and promoting a Presidential candidate who could unify us. We need a Dr. King, a Gandhi or a Washington that we can rally our forces to. To lead this campaign, the leader will need to be willing to sacrifice their life, their wealth, their future and all that they hold dear. The Principles and Promise of this Nation were founded on such sacrifice. They have always been maintained by such sacrifice. Not only by the humble soldiers of our military, but by all those named and nameless progressives who have marched and sung and sacrificed and died to ensure our full Civil Liberties.
I, a humble warrior of words; of prose and poetry, would like to suggest that you, Mr. Ritter, volunteer to lead this campaign. Why you: Clearly you know what is really going on. Clearly you see the great dangers to our Nation. Clearly you have the background to structure and implement a winning campaign against war.
So why not put out a call to all the anti-war groups. Ask them to send a representative to a meeting with the goal of forming a unified front with a unified strategy to reach everyone's common goal of ending this stupidity.
Volunteer, Mr. Ritter, please.
