Do not feel you are alone, feel the presence of many people who go out everyday, every week and stand up to our government and say---"No"

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When we stand on our street corners, bridges, overpasses or protesting an event sometimes I wonder if this is all wasted effort. When it is cold or raining and maybe both, at times it seems like we do not make a difference in the world or do we? I always have people come up to me and say, "hey you are that guy who ran against **blumenauer" or talk about the chicken ads representing pelosi and blumenauer. One person came up to me and talked about the protest we did during blumenauer's 59th birthday party. Turns out, he was one of the security people who was stationed outside the restaurant where friends of the earlman were telling him how wonderful he was and we outside holding signs about his lying concerning not supporting the funding for the Iraq war. The security guy thought we were brave to confront a congressman and laughed at our songs we sang. Earl never did come out and call for the impeachment of cheney/bush and the rest of the war criminals. So, back to the question, does any of our actions matter?

Just finished an article that should give you some good feelings, some more gas to get out into the streets:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/49861

Protest to me must be part of our daily routine, like eating, getting dressed, and going to a ballgame. Just make it part of what you do every day. Too tired to stand on a bridge and call for the arrest of the "rove," call your local congressional office and ask for accountability. Call a radio station, talk to your friends about your reps, get their names out there, teach people who they are and what they stand for. I think too often we get overwhelmed by the corporate media and feel we can't do anything---wrong.

When I read articles like this or hear from people who are in the streets, I know that we do make a difference and someday historians will look back and say, "These small demonstrations were the beginning of a collective awareness of what was happening during "The shame and insanity of Washington, DC."



I have to go now, get dressed-eat a bit and go protest at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and maybe have a mocha. Activism should not be a chore; it should be fun, exciting and fulfilling. When you feel alone re-read the above article and feel our presence!

For Justice,Peace and *Laughter,
Joe Walsh-Lone Vet
Individuals for Justice
Veterans Against Torture

* Why laughter?? Because without it I would have gone insane years ago.

**Refuse to capitalize due to disrespect/disappointment or both

Sen. ** harry reid must be replaced as Majority Leader, call me when you agree or just go away!

An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.
Mohandas Gandhi

"But you must pay for conformity. All goes well as long as you run with conformists. But you, who are honest men in other particulars, know, that there is alive somewhere a man whose honesty reaches to this point also, that he shall not kneel to false gods, and, on the day when you meet him, you sink into the class of counterfeits."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Authors Bio:
Short Bio

I was born in Brooklyn, New York in May of 1942. My first memory was the wonderful block parties that celebrated the end of WW2. I don't remember much but it was exciting and I could see how joyous people could be during a major event.

My cousin Danny and I lived near or actually in the same house for most of our childhood and shared great adventures together. We went from playing marbles to dating girls; it was a magical time in Brooklyn.

I attended Our Lady of Good Counsel grammar school, my early teachers were women and in the fourth grade we were taught by the Franciscan Brothers.

High School was the beginning of a journey that continues to this day. I wondered where I was going and why I was making the trip. I entered the Capuchin Seminary after the eighth grade to study for the priesthood. After 15 months I left the seminary and returned home. My studies allowed me to pick which Catholic high school I was going to attend. I lasted less than a year at Trinity High. One of the teachers excommunicated me from the Catholic Church because I thought birth control was a good idea.

After leaving Trinity, I started full time work, and completed high school at night; I was only sixteen and already lost in the world. I worked at Dictaphone for about four years and played on their softball team. I loved sports and was a good center fielder.

In 1962 I entered the Navy and spent nine years traveling around the world, including two tours in Vietnam. In 1970 I openly opposed the war and asked to be released.

In 1971, I was given an honorable discharged and once again I was looking at a whole new way of thinking. I was married, entered college and in 1979 finally received my Bachelor of Arts from the College of New Rochelle. I went to work at Long Beach Naval Shipyard and retired from civil service in 1995. I was a Union Official most of my time at the yard but did take a supervisory position for the last three years of service.

Since retirement I have been a substitute teacher in Nevada and teacher's aide in Oregon. My two great loves are my four grandchildren and my wife Pat.

Since arriving in Portland in 1999, I have been part of the protest against the Bush Wars, torture and what I see as a loss of our liberties. I am the co-founder of Individuals for Justice, Veterans Against Torture, member of Vietnam Veterans Against War, (VVAW.) I support the Veterans for Peace, Coed Pink and the fight for Single Payer Healthcare. I have been arrested three times, once in Gordon Smith's office, again outside of Congressman's Blumenauer's office, and the last time protesting AIPAC.

My favorite books are: Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, How To Know God by Deepak Chopra, almost anything written by Stephen King.

My favorite movies are: The Shawshank Redemption, Wolfen, Lawrence of Arabia, The Quiet American.

My preferred hobbies are: Enjoying time with family and friends, listening to music and creating things with my hands. I love to write, and completed a play called, -"The Trial of George W. Bush.-"-