DUers, we HAVE to help Mari333!!! Attn: Skittles, Anarchy1999, Will Pitt

[Ladyhawk]

She is so under the gun right now. Her husband is severely Depressed because of Michael's deployment to Iraq (and the recent Abu Ghraib torture scandal) and she is exhausted from trying to hold the family together. She has worked so hard to stand up for what is right and has been blasted from both sides. She's exhausted and she is quite obviously hurting.

As she put it, she has been "Bushwhacked." Damn that bastard in the White House. Damn him to hell.

Money is very tight for her, as well. We can help. Even though I'm on disability, I can afford to put forth a few dollars. Come on, folks, at least in this area we CAN help.

PayPal is the easiest way I can think of to help her, but Mari is so exhausted, she can't even deal with setting up an account. I am willing to let her use my PayPal account, then write her a check for the money donated, but hey, I'm a relatively new DUer. Most of you don't know me from Adam.

I'm wondering...is there an old DUer who has a PayPal account who would be willing to help? Someone Mari and the rest of us can trust? She mentioned Skittles, Anarchy1999 and Will Pitt as established DUers she can trust.

Perhaps those who can't contribute using PayPal could write a check to this go-between. Someone help me get this going, please. Mari needs our help.

[NMDemDist2]

1. kick

and you may want to PM those members Lady and see if one of them is willing or able to do it.

[Ladyhawk]

3. Good idea! KICK! n/t

[PaDUer]

55. Mari's post from this AM..

A lot of fast and immediate ideas that they are entitled to.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[ewagner]

2. Good hearted peson, Ladyhawk

here's a kick to keep this going

[CatWoman]

4. I'll do what I can to help

[Hand]

5. Kick--and keep us informed...

I'll be honored to throw in to help Mari333--her posts have been heartbreaking and if there's anything I can do, I'll do it.

[Ladyhawk]

6. If someone has a better idea, please don't hesitate to share. n/t

[MoonRiver]

7. I'll help when somebody gets it set up.

"There but for the grace of God go I."

[Rebellious Republican]

8. Kick for Mari333,

She is worth it, any other vets out there willing to help this brave lady fight for our soldiers lives.

[mhr]

9. I'll Kick In A Few Bucks - Who Do I Send The Check To?

eom

[Exgeneral]

10. I suggest a Will Pitt feature

the face of War , etc. The more we put a human face on the toll , both abroad and domestically of this Satanic escapade the more effect it has.

[Rebellious Republican]

14. Yes, Will would be a good source, maybe he could line up some

of his media connections to pay her for her story. That would do two things, help put a human face on the burdens that military families are going through. It would also provide some monetary support for her, maybe Will could also help her put her story together?

[chimpymustgo]

29. Do NOT pay her for her story. That automatically taints it. BUT

if Will Pitt, or someone else published a powerful story, people would contact the news source about offering assistance.

If the story could get picked up by the Today Show, GMA, etc, many people would try to help.

[Rebellious Republican]

44. I like the way you think chimpymustgo, good points. N/T

[bobbieinok]

11. kick

I would be willing to help. I've been really worried about her lately.

Please PM me if something is set up, because I may miss the thread where notice is given.

[Ladyhawk]

12. Another kick before I log off for awhile.

Please keep this kicked. Throw in ideas. Let's find a way we can help.

This is a personal way in which we can fight Bush*. We can help relieve the overwhelming heartbreak his policies have inflicted in this one case.

Fight Bush*; help Mari333's family!!!

[Norquist Nemesis]

64. Ladyhawk--the Paypal thing...

Mari doesn't need to use your account. As long as she has an email you can send her money from your account to her email addy.

You've got a good heart.

[puerco-bellies]

13. Kick

As soon as something is set up I pledge $25.00 and invite any and all DU'ers to match or exceed that sum.

[candy]

17. Make sure you donate to DU also

Or there will be no place to post things like this.

[puerco-bellies]

30. did on Saturday. eom

[wellstone dem]

15. kicking

also, some folks may have gift cards or certificates sitting around they may want to send her.

[supercrash]

16. Ummmm....

Was her son drafted ...?

OK then...

Whats the problem ? ...He signed up for the military and is going to war

Did he think the US military was a book club ?

Did he bother to look up passed conflicts the US was involved in ...?...Did he notice how the troops got screwed after the first Iraq war by the gulf war syndrome ..?

Iraq is right up our ally....He should have expected this 100%

[tinanator]

18. hey tin man

ever miss it?

[wellstone dem]

20. simply put

and accurately, thank you.

[wellstone dem]

19. Wow, Cold

I have a niece who signed up with the ROTC while Clinton was president. Then Bush was elected. She could not have afforded to go to college except for the help from ROTC.

Thankfully so far it looks like she is being deployed in a (barely) safer part of the world. But even so, it was her choice, not her mom's that she joined, but her mom and her dad still worry and suffer and pay that price. All because we haven't figured out a humane way to fund a college education.

[demgrrrll]

23. I will help if someone pm's me to let me know when an account is set up.

.

[calimary]

47. Yes, please, me too. I'd like to help, and I DON'T WANT TO MISS

the announcement.

Count me in, though.

This is a good thing. Thank you, Ladyhawk

[formernaderite]

50. I never understand that one....what happened to working your way through..

...school. Sorry, but unless you are at the very lowest rung in society, disabled or homeless...I can't understand having to join ROTC to pay for college. It took me six years to graduate, because I worked the whole time...sometimes two jobs. Couldn't do it now, but hey I was young an energetic.
I'd never have joined the military, under any condition. If one of my kids decided to join, that too would be their decision...as a pacifist I'd be disappointed. Then again, I'm sure I'll disagree with many of their decisions.

[roguevalley]

59. take it to another thread. Mari and hers don't need this and neither do we

let me know where and I'll help.

[Junkdrawer]

21. Wow. That has to be one of the most heartless posts I've read in a while..

And, for your information, he's a National Guard member who was stop lossed instead of getting discharged.

[blondeatlast]

22. You obviously don't know the story.

SEE: Afghanistan.

What Tinanator said, Scarecrow.

[Caution]

24. when he signed up

he probably figured that the leadership of the military wouldnt send him to fight in an illegal, immoral war. Either way, who the &(@#&$ are you to be such a dick about this? Someone has asked for help. If you don't want to give it that's fine but there is no need to jump in and belittle someone.

And on edit: I was going to offer $25 but since this assclown decided to throw out his unasked for $0.02 I'm going to double it to $50. Just tell me where to send it.

[WillyT]

25. 'Passed Conflicts', LOL, What A Moran !!!

I always wonder which organ is most shriveled on these idiots; the heart, the brain, or the dick.

I'm thinking it's a tie between the three!

[Rebellious Republican]

52. BWAHAHAHA, thats excellent WillyT, I love it! N/T

[Valerie5555]

65. Maybe the DICK or PENIS for sure

eom.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RebelOne]

72. I think he needs a refresher course in the English language.

[Generic Other]

26. Military recruiters are like pedophiles

They locate their offices in strip malls and places young people hang out. They offer a bunch of glittering promises to lure young people in. They will say almost anything in order to practice their perversions. They call the "target" at home and mail the victim slick brochures. They invade the schools and give away free computer war games. And they get the young to sign up.

Worst of all, the public is full of enablers. The whole lot of us. "Support the troops." "The military builds character." "It widens your horizons." "Earn money for school."

Of course, you have to be nice to the dirty old men who are always itching to go to war...and yeah, they give you shiny medals...

Why are you picking on a woman whose son has been sucked into this immoral system?

[Valerie5555]

66. The cynic in me says or sez

"Join the military, go see the world, meet interesting people and KILL THEM."

[buff2]

28. That's really cold hearted

Scary thing is,there are a LOT of people out there that think like you do.

[KamaAina]

32. And of course he knew in advance about the extended deployments

the orders to torture, the lack of such basics as body armor, and all the rest of it, beforehand, right?

No? He, like millions of others, was duped by Bush* and Rumsfeld? Well then, why not lay the blame where it belongs -- at the feet (hooves?) of Bush* and Rumsfeld.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RoyGBiv]

36. You obviously haven't a clue what you're talking about...

And you obviously don't know Mari, nor do you know what's happening to her, son, her entire family. Nor are you familiar with what is happening to thousands of people in a similar position.

There's a distinct different in signing up willingly to defend your country and signing up for the military and then being used in an illegal and immoral war. No one should expect to be used that way.

I've got a shoehorn around here somewhere if you'd like to borrow it.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

41. When are you suiting up to go over?...

...Maybe then you'll understand what folks with relatives in Iraq are dealing with.

Jerk.

[ParanoidPat]

45. "Did he bother to look up passed conflicts the US was involved in ...?"

By their spelling you shall know them!
Yeah, this is one conflict we should have passed on!

*

[Rebellious Republican]

48. There is a big difference in defending our country from a real

threat and fighting a war for profiteers, Bush lied and people died. Get it?

[Rowdyboy]

49. Damn, Supercrash, you're awesome!

I just doubled my pledge to Mari too, just because of your assholish attitude.

Care to attack Kerry (or as you probably call him, sKerry? You could probably raise a coupla thou for him on a weekend night.

Better yet, why don't you insult the admins here. DU could raise some serious bucks!

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mhr]

27. Kick For Mari, Her Son, And Her Husband

eom

[KamaAina]

31. Meanwhile, her (biological) sons are in Hawai'i, and very homesick...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Auwe! Auwe! (no translation necessary)

[starroute]

33. Does anybody live fairly near her?

On an earlier thread, there were lots of good ideas being thrown out about where she could get help from the government. But if she's too burned out, even doing those things might seem impossible. Is there anybody around who could give her some personal support with the paperwork and so on?

For that matter, is there anyone in Hawaii who could give support to her sons?

[mhr]

34. Kick

eom

[Lindacooks]

Well, anybody have a paypal account to handle this??

I do - but I don't know if I'm trusted enough.

[DU GrovelBot]

37. ## Support Democratic Underground! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v2.0
==================
 
The time now is 10:50:10PM EDT, Monday, May 10, 2004.
 
There are exactly...
6 days,
1 hours,
9 minutes, and
50 seconds left in our fund drive.
 
This website could not survive without your generosity. Member donations 
pay for more than 84% of the Democratic Underground budget. Don't let
GrovelBot become the next victim of the Bush economy. Bzzzt.
 
Please take a moment to donate to DU right now. Thank you for your support.
 
- An automated message from the DU GrovelBot

Click here to donate.

[wellstone dem]

39. Grovelbot

wants us to support Mari!

[knight_of_the_star]

68. Lol!

Yaaaay grovelbot!

[John_H]

38. I remember her posting that he was stationed at Abu Ghraib

Which makes it more important that we stop chimp from using the soldiers there as scapegoats. As the shit hits the fan, they'll try to smear everyone under captain who was within fifteen miles of that place, even the innocent ones.

I've heard way to many horror stories to give money to anonymous people on the Internet, but I'll redouble my efforts to make sure that those who are really responsible for the horror at Abu Ghraib are found out and the people that just happened to be there don't become "collateral damage" in Chimp's lust for power.

[Tinoire]

40. LadyHawk - I love you to pieces but did Mari ask for this help?

Last I talked to her she was going to have an estate sale and sell some antiques. She didn't indicate to me she needed financial help which is why I thought some of us had misinterpreted something.

Just let me know because if she's indeed in need, I'd love to help.

[KharmaTrain]

42. How About Us Becoming "Mari's Children"??

I've followed Mari's posts for a long time and my family feels for all the angst and pain she's gone through.

Maybe we can create a gesture in many forms to help Mari and amplify her major cause...the treatment of the "underlings" in the Military like Michael. We can all be "her children". There's ways we can help financially...which I'm ready to do once it's all set up...and in other symbolic ways. Maybe someone with the artistic touch can come up with an Avatar we can use as a sign of support...or even meet-ups and gatherings...a place not only for DU'ers to meet, but also let's open it up to families of those in the military who feel as frustrated as Mari does. Well???

[Justitia]

62. Does anyone know what city or part of the country she lives in? -eom

[KharmaTrain]

70. Michigan

I'm pretty sure she's in the northern section of the lower peninsula.

[northofdenali]

43. Check your inbox -

I've cut up most of my credit cards (still unemployed) but have a few spare $$'s -

Whoever can get the $$ to her is welcome to PM me and I'll mail a money order right away.

Mari -

[rexcat]

46. If financial support is needed count me in...

I have read her posts and they are heartbreaking. A PayPal account would be the easiest, Keep me posted.

And a kick for the thread.

[Rebellious Republican]

53. Well heres another kick for the night crew, time for bed! N/T

[Skittles]

56. LH check your inbox

thanks!

[eridani]

57. Don't like paypal--how about an address?

And the name to put on the check?

[RamboLiberal]

58. Be glad to do what I can to help

I think of Mari333, her husband and Michael every day.

Keep me informed.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[drfemoe]

69. All the facts

should be considered before donating cash to ANYONE. So far there are facts that have not been disclosed at DU.

LH posted in ATA to ask Skinner about this "fundraiser". I have pm'd Skinner some of the facts. If HE doesn't have a problem with it, I will stay out of it unless someone asks me directly.

Save your flames. I'm old and all my trusting-soul days were used up years ago. No one at DU knows *my* personal situation. So if you choose to judge me, you are judging a figment of your imagination.

[moderate_hero]

61. Wow!

My fortune cookie tonight told me someone would need my help. I never put much stock in those things, but I am going to have to from now on. It is good to see that people here care for one another. Please keep us posted on the details.

[RamboLiberal]

63. I think another great thing we can do is keep up those Care

packages to Michael. Let Mari333 that if she is short of money, we can handle what Michael needs. I know that it can take a chunk of change out of a budget sending stuff.

I for one decided if I had to sacrifice desserts and snacks to send Care packages, then that's a good sacrifice. I'll be healthier and Michael and his buddies need the calories and I'd have otherwise gotten from the chips, cookies, etc.

[knight_of_the_star]

67. Good idea ladyhawk

I'll do what I can once I get a regular income again (which will be soon).

[Skinner]

73. I'm locking this.

If you want to raise funds on DU, you have to get approval from the administrators first.