Coffee Strong is a GI supported coffee shop at the gates of US Army Base Ft. Lewis - one of the many small businesses lining the street that caters to military personnel. Surplus stores abound along this street along with banks offering loans to GIs. It was raining when we arrived ("we" being Karen Jones of CRP and Martina, a friend). Inside, several young men slept on a sofa or in arms chairs: they'd been hard at work during the night blockading a convoy of Strykers bound for Iraq. They managed to delay the convoy several hours. Nevertheless, right now, those Strykers are bound for that country where there is, in the lingo We The People are learning to adopt, "an uptick in violence." Those pesky Iraqis - don't they know that "we're pulling the troops out"?. I imagine the Iraqis saying, "those pesky Americans...don't they know that we're not falling for that propaganda?"
Go to Raising Sand Radio to listen to an audio segment from the presentations at Coffee Strong and Portland.
A word about Coffee Strong: this business is an example of the sorts of creative endeavors that troops are generating to support themselves and their fellow as they adjust to the reality of life after or on leave from combat and what it means to be a veteran. In some cases, customers are active duty personnel (a valid ID gets you a free cup of Americano!) others are resisters, IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) or discharged troops. Support the troops by supporting the ways they are creating alternatives to "business as usual"... you can stipend Coffee Strong with a small, regular donation each month and help them stay in business as they get on their collective feet. (See pix at the blog photo gallery.)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
May 2, 2009
Pacific Northwest Rocks!
One more event in the Puget Sound area today... Coffee Strong, a GI supported coffee shop located in Lakewood right near the entrance to US Army base Ft. Lewis.
Last night I was in Tacoma at the 1st United Methodist Church where the people are so generous and warm-hearted. This church reaches out to residents in an area that is seeing its share of urban stress - misuse of drugs and alcohol, stressed families, for example - and they're doing it with heart, spirit, and an excellent understanding of how these stresses come about.
This afternoon I visit Coffee Strong, 15109 Union Ave SW #2, in Lakewood where I'll ask veterans to share their stories. It is the veterans and those directly affected by the combat zones who have the most to teach "us" - American citizens - about war. Too often, though, the response these vets get from the citizens is an implicit request for silence.
As one vet told me, “Most people on the streets don’t want to know what has to happen for them to have one of the highest living standards in the world… just like you don’t want to see the back room of the butcher shop….”
The troops are often a source of deep truth when they tell their stories of war and a real inspiration.
I'll be airing some of the audio from the various stops on Monday's Raising Sand Radio so listen it when you can. The website carries all shows for free download: www.raisingsandradio.org.
One more event in the Puget Sound area today... Coffee Strong, a GI supported coffee shop located in Lakewood right near the entrance to US Army base Ft. Lewis.
Last night I was in Tacoma at the 1st United Methodist Church where the people are so generous and warm-hearted. This church reaches out to residents in an area that is seeing its share of urban stress - misuse of drugs and alcohol, stressed families, for example - and they're doing it with heart, spirit, and an excellent understanding of how these stresses come about.
This afternoon I visit Coffee Strong, 15109 Union Ave SW #2, in Lakewood where I'll ask veterans to share their stories. It is the veterans and those directly affected by the combat zones who have the most to teach "us" - American citizens - about war. Too often, though, the response these vets get from the citizens is an implicit request for silence.
As one vet told me, “Most people on the streets don’t want to know what has to happen for them to have one of the highest living standards in the world… just like you don’t want to see the back room of the butcher shop….”
The troops are often a source of deep truth when they tell their stories of war and a real inspiration.
I'll be airing some of the audio from the various stops on Monday's Raising Sand Radio so listen it when you can. The website carries all shows for free download: www.raisingsandradio.org.
Friday, May 1, 2009
April 30, Seattle - Keystone Congregational Church
A lovely sunny spring day in Seattle and an audience of Seattle's concerned citizen-activists attended the book event at Keystone Congregational Church. (see pix)
Karen Jones spoke of Collateral Repair Project. "Wissam" - an Iraqi refugee and college student - shared the story of her family who had to flee to Damascus from Baghdad. She is their sole support.
Listen to her story on Raising Sand Radio for week of May 3.
Karen Jones spoke of Collateral Repair Project. "Wissam" - an Iraqi refugee and college student - shared the story of her family who had to flee to Damascus from Baghdad. She is their sole support.
Listen to her story on Raising Sand Radio for week of May 3.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Portland, April 29, 2009
We were at the First Unitarian Church of Portland, on 1011 SW 12th Avenue in downtown Portland. A lovely town....
Adele Kubein (her story is shared in the book) spoke about her daughter's service as an Oregon National Guardswoman.
Maxine Fookson, a pediatric nurse practitioner, spoke of her service with No More Victims and shared photos and story of Mustafa. Then 2 years old, he was critically wounded in the bombardment of Fallujah. He came to Portland for prosthetic leg, colostomy, and ended up losing a kidney too. He is back in his village now and his longterm prognosis is "unknown."
Dr. Omar Obeid spoke of the physical wounds he received with an assassination attempt that blew up his vehicle. His two daughters have also been killed and his third daughter is suffering from renal failure. For the time being, he is Portland and part of the Iraqi community there.
Dr. Baher Butti is a solid pillar of this community in Portland bringing vital psychological care to the community and working to bridge cultural misconceptions between diverse groups. He arrived in Portland from Iraq after death threats. His wife and daughter, Ula, joined him last month in Portland.
Thank you to Katie Heald of AFSC and Tess Beistel for their very hard work on this event. (Tess, by the way, was part of the Human Faces of War project that contacted me when I returned from Iraq. They subsequently showed variations of Anwar Jeward's story in art work. Thank you for that work, Tess.)
See pix from the event
Adele Kubein (her story is shared in the book) spoke about her daughter's service as an Oregon National Guardswoman.
Maxine Fookson, a pediatric nurse practitioner, spoke of her service with No More Victims and shared photos and story of Mustafa. Then 2 years old, he was critically wounded in the bombardment of Fallujah. He came to Portland for prosthetic leg, colostomy, and ended up losing a kidney too. He is back in his village now and his longterm prognosis is "unknown."
Dr. Omar Obeid spoke of the physical wounds he received with an assassination attempt that blew up his vehicle. His two daughters have also been killed and his third daughter is suffering from renal failure. For the time being, he is Portland and part of the Iraqi community there.
Dr. Baher Butti is a solid pillar of this community in Portland bringing vital psychological care to the community and working to bridge cultural misconceptions between diverse groups. He arrived in Portland from Iraq after death threats. His wife and daughter, Ula, joined him last month in Portland.
Thank you to Katie Heald of AFSC and Tess Beistel for their very hard work on this event. (Tess, by the way, was part of the Human Faces of War project that contacted me when I returned from Iraq. They subsequently showed variations of Anwar Jeward's story in art work. Thank you for that work, Tess.)
See pix from the event
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Book Launch: San Francisco
April 27, 2009
The book, Long Time Passing: Mothers Speak about War and Terror is officially published as of today. The launch celebration, in Grace Cathedral's Gersham Hall, included Military Moms Rachel Avila and Mary Tillman and Afghan Americans Asma Eschen and Rahima Haya sharing their stories. Robert Abdul Hayy Darr brought Rumi's poetry and Jack Hirschman his poem, "Path." Rose Aguilar of KALW's Your Call radio and singer Kaylah Marin co-MC'd the event. Keep an ear out for Kaylah Marin - this young woman has a powerful and beautiful voice and you'll be hearing more from her in the future. She brought the audience together with Pete Seeger's 1960's anti-war song, "Where have all the Flowers Gone? Long Time Passing."
The event included Iraqi children's art, Liam Curry's "Soldier's Cross," Doug Minkler's posters, and Susan Galleymore's 3 sets of masks.
See the gallery for initial pix of the event - more to follow.
On to Portland where Maxine Fookson of No More Victims and Dr. Butti representing the Iraqi community of Portland will share their stories and Mona will share her music. Thanks to Tess Beistel for her hard work pulling this event together.
The book, Long Time Passing: Mothers Speak about War and Terror is officially published as of today. The launch celebration, in Grace Cathedral's Gersham Hall, included Military Moms Rachel Avila and Mary Tillman and Afghan Americans Asma Eschen and Rahima Haya sharing their stories. Robert Abdul Hayy Darr brought Rumi's poetry and Jack Hirschman his poem, "Path." Rose Aguilar of KALW's Your Call radio and singer Kaylah Marin co-MC'd the event. Keep an ear out for Kaylah Marin - this young woman has a powerful and beautiful voice and you'll be hearing more from her in the future. She brought the audience together with Pete Seeger's 1960's anti-war song, "Where have all the Flowers Gone? Long Time Passing."
The event included Iraqi children's art, Liam Curry's "Soldier's Cross," Doug Minkler's posters, and Susan Galleymore's 3 sets of masks.
See the gallery for initial pix of the event - more to follow.
On to Portland where Maxine Fookson of No More Victims and Dr. Butti representing the Iraqi community of Portland will share their stories and Mona will share her music. Thanks to Tess Beistel for her hard work pulling this event together.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Long Time Passing: Mothers Speak about War and Terror
The book, Long Time Passing: Mothers Speak about War and Terror, is due out in May, 2009.
Order your copy now for Mother's Day.
This book shares real-life stories of war and terror from the perspective of civilians, particularly mothers and refugees. Each story is presented verbatim and describes the effects of war on families, communities, and countries - from Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, and the United States.
Here is war examined from the intersection of history and individuals and delves into the leadership traits that bring nations to war. Includes a thoroughly readable critique of common assumptions civilians hold about war and why troops themselves are hesitant to share their own stories or discuss the psychological breakdown that occurs in their ranks. Learn more about the book.
Author and "military mom" Susan Galleymore continues to share the stories of those affected by war as founder of MotherSpeak, host of Raising Sand Radio, and GI Rights counselor.
Order your copy now for Mother's Day.
This book shares real-life stories of war and terror from the perspective of civilians, particularly mothers and refugees. Each story is presented verbatim and describes the effects of war on families, communities, and countries - from Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, and the United States.
Here is war examined from the intersection of history and individuals and delves into the leadership traits that bring nations to war. Includes a thoroughly readable critique of common assumptions civilians hold about war and why troops themselves are hesitant to share their own stories or discuss the psychological breakdown that occurs in their ranks. Learn more about the book.
Author and "military mom" Susan Galleymore continues to share the stories of those affected by war as founder of MotherSpeak, host of Raising Sand Radio, and GI Rights counselor.
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