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I came to DU in late 2001, following the route a lot of folks here have followed, lurking for awhile, then taking the plunge into posting. I've made many friends, and a few enemies, but all in all, I've always found this place to be informative, fun, and entertaining. I've posted serious stuff, absurd stuff, stirred the shit pot just for the hell of it, and even written a fair number of posts that went over like a lead balloon.
But one thing I never thought I'd see, ten years on, is that I would still be sporting the same peace sign avatar that I started with.
I put this avatar up here for the same reason that I wear it in real life, I'm deeply committed to ending the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas around the globe. And yes, I do far more than wear a peace button, ten years on I'm still out on the streets protesting, on nearly a weekly basis.
When I started all of this, I never, ever thought that I would be sporting this avatar for so long. My original commitment was to keep it up until these illegal, immoral wars were ended. I thought that if Bush didn't make these quick strike wars(like his daddy did), then surely the next Democratic president would bring this madness to an end.
Sadly, not only has that not happened, but this Democratic president is now saying we're not going be out of Afghanistan until 2014 or beyond. Endless war, for endless profit for a few.
The fact that I'm still sporting my avatar is the greatest indictment I can think of when it comes to this President. Not that I'm being forced to wear the avatar, but the symbolism behind my wearing it, namely that we're still involved in these illegal, immoral wars, and worse, he is expanding the battlefield to points elsewhere in the world, Yemen, Libya, Somalia.
Ten years, a decade of protests, making an unequivocal stand for peace. What's worse is that while at first I was in the minority in this country, now I am part of the majority of Americans who want to bring the troops home, now. Ten years of bleeding away the money and resources of our country in the pursuit of war.
How much longer? How many more lives wasted, how many more broken soldiers, how many more dead civilians, HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THIS MADNESS CONTINUE?
I am a stubborn man, and I will continue to protest these wars as long as I have to. But I am a mortal man, and a decade has already come and gone. Will I grow old and die before this madness is ended? Will this become a modern version of the Hundred Year War?
I don't know, but one thing I do know, we need to revitalize the peace movement in this country. I know, there are many of you out there who are like me, still fighting the good fight. But since Obama was elected, the peace movement, on a national level, has folded up its tent and left. We need to reestablish that national movement, to once again put hundreds of thousands in the streets of DC, to have mass die-ins on the streets and squares of every major city in this country. I cannot do this alone, but we can do it together. Join with others in your community, in your state, and across the country. Let us force this president to bring the troops home now.
Otherwise, I'm going to be wearing this peace avatar until the day I die.
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