What if you gave a Protest and your Congressman showed up?
We don’t have to worry about that here in NY. My Congressman (Randy Kuhl) is behind locked doors. Jim Walsh and Tom Reynolds well - unless Bush shows up don’t expect to see them anytime soon. Maybe Louise. Has Louise ever been invited/participated in a protest?
I exchanged emails with one of the commenters in the post about the Brighton 12 Corners protest. She told me that their Congressman participated in their protest. Who might that be - well - John Conyers.
WOW - here is the write-up on her blog (my emphasis). That is pretty powerful.
Maybe, just maybe, we made a real difference this week. We were honored to welcome Congressman John Conyers to our protest, and to his credit he didn’t just make an appearance, he stood with us the whole time, and really listened to what people had to say. Perhaps he will take our message back to D.C.? One of my sisters had a long talk with the Congressman and stressed a most important point: WE HAVE YOUR BACK! It’s imperative that we let our Reps and Senators know that it’s okay to take some risks to do the right thing, and that we will support them (and reward them!) for standing up for the Constitution, for our troops, and for all of us.
Oh - do protests make a difference? Well from the email I received.
…We were there, as always, and one of our most influential representatives got
to see first hand, unfiltered and unscripted, how sincerely and strongly we
believe in what we are doing. That speaks volumes, and I hope he carries
our message back to D.C.
In fairness to our Republican Congressman - I don’t ever expect them to show up at a war protest or vigil. They know they are on the wrong side of this issue and as such would not want the exposure - why would they ever admit they are are on the wrong side of the issue? Not in their collective best interest. Still - In Randy Kuhl’s case locking doors is pretty ridiculous. It physically and symbolically isolates him from the will of the people.
I can’t say whether or not Louise has ever been invited to a protest, but my guess would be yes. Also, I can state for a fact that there have been instances where protesters have managed to sit in Louise’s office, which is also open five days a week excluding holiday’s. I agree, Kuhl locking his doors is insane.
Well - What would protesters be at Louise’s office protesting? Not that she would lock her doors or anything?
My son is in Iraq now. I stand on the street in Wyandotte holding a sign that simply says “BRING MY SON HOME”. When I get obscene gestures from people passing by, or remarks like “GET A LIFE” or “GO TO CANADA” it makes me wonder what they have against my wish to have my son home?
I’m not anti-military. They are honorable Americans. I am also an American and I love my country. But there’s no way the military can solve what Bush got our country into. So what are we asking the military to die for? I can say this; when my son’s unit left for Iraq, the Army gave us little plastic flags to wave during the parade….MADE IN CHINA! So…what are we risking their lives for? HMMM?
John, I’m so glad you found us! I want all our troops home, but since I met you and your wife I have a greater sense of purpose. I want your son home, yesterday. It feels much more personal now. Thank you for your unique perspective. We will persist til we prevail.
Wow! A Congressperson with locked doors to their constituents eh! Well, I think you guys need to have a little protest right outside those doors, the kind they call a revolution! He certainly has forgotten , (if he ever knew) that he is a public SERVANT. Nothing less and NOTHING more!
Yep - NY29th. Randy Kuhl. He locked his doors after some protesters staged a sit in. He even told our local newspaper he was considering packing a weapon for protection.
Quite the piece of work.
Thanks for blogging about our bit of excitement on Saturday…I just had to add you to my blogroll! Honestly, no one was more surprised than me to see John Conyers pull up! It was really quite something. But even here, where we have some of the best of the lot on our side, it’s still an uphill battle. Things aren’t happening fast enough for me or our troops. But we plug along, doing what we do. I know you guys have it much tougher up there, just don’t give up.
I think Louise would protest. You should definitely invite Louise.
Peace,
Pam
Your Welcome. Keep up the good fight.
And you. How many ‘good fights’ does a revolution make?
We shall see…
Hello Poe. I understand when you say you are glad I found you. But I believe it’s the other way around. I suppose that meeting people whose son is in Iraq put a certain directness to what you wonderful people were already doing. But the key here is that you were already doing it! So thanks much to all of you who care about people you haven’t even met! I’m sorry I only found out about it August 25th.
John Conyers was there. Kudos to him. He’s doing his job. He stayed the whole time, too. I could tell when we shook hands, that he “gets it”. In today’s political world that is quite rare. Thanks to him and to ‘we the people’ who elected him. This is what being American is all about.
Just one more reason to be working our butts off (would that that were true) for Eric Massa. We certainly know where he stands on the occupation that is Iraq.
Comment To John Marra:
Don’t you ever stop! Thank you for having the courage to stand up against the machine that would rather have the mass convinced it’s unpartriotic to question the value of your son’s life vs. the decisions made that put him in harm’s way.
And never let anyone else use YOUR life to prove to themselves who THEY are.
Thanks for being you John Marra. Thanks for being “us” John Marra.
Bless you, and your son and family. I hope he’s back home - HERE - soon.