Reply #59: Well-stated. We need action, yet

[Goldstein1984]

I've been endlessly frustrated by the refusal of so many to see the simple conflicts that you so clearly described. I don't know it's that we're just so happy to have Bush out of the White House that we aren't paying attention to events, or whether there is a cult of personality preventing us from seeing how little has changed.

I can't participate in the apathy, and I have a personal reminder of what is at stake. My son deploys to Iraq on February 22nd, so today (February 1st) I started a hunger strike that I plan to continue until I receive word that he has arrived in Iraq safety, which should be about 23 days.

I've sent letters to the President, my elected representatives, and a number of my adopted elected representatives. I've also posted notice of my action on my Facebook page, and my (mostly Republican) coworkers are aware of my action as well. I've arranged to take personal leave if necessary to continue my action.

Of course, I expect what I'm doing to make no difference at all. This is about my commitment to peace and to my son, and it's my way of taking a stand. I don't know how I'll continue this action during the twelve months my son is in Iraq, but I'm considering fasting every other day during that period, with notifications describing my initial strike and my ongoing actions sent out on each of those days.

I'm frustrated, and I really don't see any meaningful change in site. The SOTU was promising, as are a few of the headlines coming from the White House this week, but they are too little too late. It may be a solo stampede, but I'm not going to be a docile member of the flock any longer.