Texas Labor Against the War

Participants shared the reading of the famous speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at New York’s Riverside Church, expressing his opposition to the Vietnam War and how the issues of war, racism, and social justice are interrelated.  Let us remember the entirety of Dr. King’s career and the breadth of his commitments.

Full gallery of photos at https://www.facebook.com/events/391679220842278/403276059682594/#!/media/set/?set=a.3663930439214.168836.1303320134&type=1, album by Fran Clark.

Operation Recovery Team (Under the Hood, May, 2011)

Friday, August 19, 7-9 pm

at 5604 Manor community center (5604manor.org)

Screening of film on GI coffee house at Fort Lewis, Washington

“Grounds for Resistance,” is a documentary about
the “Coffee Strong” coffee house located outside the Fort Lewis, WA, Army base.
Inspired by the Vietnam-era G.I. coffee house movement, Coffee Strong provides a
safe space where service members, military families, and veterans can gather and
discuss their experiences of war, deployment concerns, the hardships of life in
the military, and veteran benefits.

Aaron Hughes, an organizer with Iraq Vets Against
the War, http://www.ivaw.org/, will be on hand to answer questions and
speak about IVAW’s “Operation Recovery” program to assist active-duty and vets
with issues related to repeated deployments.

Staff and volunteers from the “Under the Hood”
coffee shop in Killeen near Ft. Hood will also be available to answer questions
about their work. http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/

The $5 suggested donation will benefit Under the
Hood.

Location: 5604 Manor, 5604 Manor Road,
Austin, 78723 – 5604manor.org

This month we lost a great friend and a longtime supporter of Under the Hood.  Nel LeBar passed away on January 30, 2011 surrounded by her family after losing a battle with cancer. In the words of Nel’s granddaughter:  ”Nel lived a life of grace and love. Her absence will leave no small hole for those who called her friend, which includes her family. Those who knew her were changed by her, and those who met her were inspired. Her legacy will live on in the memories and hearts that carry her spirit always. She didn’t waste one moment here on Earth and demonstrated love in everything that she did. Her gentle soul that longed for peace has finally found it.”

Under the Hood has teamed up with IVAW in support of Operation Recovery.   Join Iraq Veterans Against the War and Under the Hood in our effort to stop the deployment of troops suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma.  By signing our pledge, you agree to do what you can to defend our right to heal and to hold accountable those responsible for the deployment of traumatized troops.  We need your help to build the Operation Recovery Campaign.  You can take the pledge at www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery.

Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a one-time donation or want to sign up as a sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.  

I deeply apologize to the Vietnamese people for having  been part of the U.S. military assault on their country in 1967-68. One cannot be a hero and a war criminal at the same time. I joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the War as soon as I could. There was a hero in the War against Vietnam, Warrant Officer

Hugh Thompson (photo courtesy of Alan Pogue)

Hugh Thompson. Thompson was a helicopter pilot who confronted William Calley and saved over one hundred Vietnamese from the massacre at My Lai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Thompson,_Jr.). His door gunners pointed their machine guns at  U.S. soldiers so that Thompson would have cover for saving more Vietnamese civilians.  The wars against Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are equally as criminal as the war against Vietnam was. War is big business, the Military-Industrial Complex. As president Eisenhower warned us it would the Military-Industrial Complex is now in charge of our foreign policy. President Obama made William Lynn, a chief lobbyist for the Raytheon Corporation ( makes the guidance systems for the Cruise and Predator missiles) a deputy secretary of the Pentagon. Now the federal government is paying Raytheon’s lobbyist. This is not what Joseph Campbell had in mind. As Plato pointed out, being courageous is meaningless if the purpose of the action is not just.

On May 31, 2010, at 10:09 AM, Kirk Watson wrote:

Happy Memorial Day

May 31, 2010

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
— Joseph Campbell

For all of the heroes we’ve lost, and to all of the heroes who are still with us . .

We remember.  And, say thanks.

www.kirkwatson.com
Copyright Kirk Watson | Political advertisement paid for by Kirk Watson for Texas Senate
P.O. Box 2004, Austin, TX, 78768; Rosie Mendoza, Treasurer.