Sir! No Sir! Exposing and Debunking Military Lies from Vietnam to Iraq

Bridging the Gap: Making it Happen

	BRIDGING THE GAP: MAKING IT HAPPEN
	An Organizers Conference: April 5, 2008, 10 AM - Middle Collegiate Church, 50 East 7th St., New York, New York
	POLITICIANS CAN’T BE COUNTED ON TO HALT THE BLOODSHED THE TROOPS HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THE WAR THIS IS AN ORGANIZERS CONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO WISH TO ACT TOGETHER TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CIVILIANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES BY DIRECT CONTACT     Speakers In Alphabetical Order [Partial List] Thomas Barton, The Military Project & GI Special Daniel Joseph Black, Iraq Veterans Against The War Richard Boyle, Vietnam War Reporter; Author, Flower Of The Dragon Elaine Brower, The Military Project & Traveling Soldier & Military Families Speak Out Fabian Bouthillette, Iraq Veterans Against The War & The Military Project J.D. Englehart, Iraq Veterans Against The War & The Military Project & Traveling Soldier Mike Hastie, Photographer, Vietnam Veteran Al Jaccoma, Vietnam Veterans Against The War Michael Letwin, New York City Labor Against The War & The Military Project Garett Reppenhagen, Iraq Veterans Against The War Dennis Serdel, Poet, Vietnam Veteran Clarence Thomas, Local 10, The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Program: 10 AM - NOON: FIRST HAND REPORTS ON SENTIMENT AGAINST THE WARS IN THE ARMED FORCES & OUTREACH TO THE TROOPS [Organizing Tactics In The Real World] 1:00 - 1:30 PM: RESISTANCE THROUGH EVOCATION: PHOTOGRAPHS, POEMS; Mike Hastie & Dennis Serdel, Vietnam Veterans 1:30 - 3 PM: TROOPS RESIST WAR; VIETNAM AND IRAQ: EYEWITNESSES: Richard Boyle, Vietnam War Reporter; Garett Reppenhagen & J.D. Englehart, Iraq Veterans Against The War; Al Jaccoma, Vietnam Veterans Against The War 3:30 – 5 PM: ON GUARD: “WE NEVER SWORE TO OBEY; WE SWORE TO DEFEND” Daniel Joseph Black, Iraq Veterans Against The War 5 - 6:30 PM: IRAQ VETERANS + UNION WORKERS = HISTORY IN MOTION: Michael Letwin & Clarence Thomas 10 AM: OUTREACH TO THE TROOPS [Organizing Tactics In The Real World] 10 AM: Fabian Bouthillette, Iraq Veterans Against The War & The Military Project 1:30 PM: TROOPS RESIST WAR; VIETNAM AND IRAQ: EYEWITNESSES: 1:30 PM: Richard Boyle, Vietnam War Reporter; Author; Flower Of The Dragon. & 1:30 PM: Garett Reppenhagen & J.D. Englehart, Iraq Veterans Against The War 5 PM: IRAQ VETERANS + UNION WORKERS = HISTORY IN MOTION 5PM: Clarence Thomas, Local 10, The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, San Francisco ORGANIZED BY: The Military Project: [email protected] [With the assistance of Traveling Soldier & GI Special]

From GI Special 6B15: Action Report

“My Two Younger, Twin Brothers Are In Iraq” “They Hate It” One Guardsman Said “You Get Messed Up Over There And Don’t Get Treated Right Back Here”

From: Alan Stolzer, The Military Project
To: GI Special
Sent: February 18, 2008
Subject: Railroad Station Outreach

While walking toward [XXXX] Station to make outreach rounds a young man asked me where it was. I told him to follow me. After a few words I asked him if he knew anyone in the military.
“My two younger, twin brothers are in Iraq.”
I told him why I was going to [XXXX] Station (outreach) and asked him how his brothers felt about the war. “They hate it.”
I then gave him copies of the material I was about to hand out (“Sir, No Sir!” DVDs, copies of our last outreach handout and GI Specials).
He took the material gladly and said “if George Bush was here I’d punch him in the face.”
He told me just as we reached [XXXX] how one of his brothers was on his 5th deployment to Iraq and when home recently, scared hell out of his wife awaking from a nightmare shouting “we’re in the wrong house!”
Needless to say the family is very worried and also doubtful about the care he might receive through the VA. There are no plans for treatment. We spoke a bit more and came to the conclusion that the occupation was all about oil and for the need for complete withdrawal of all troops.
Once inside the Station I found two older Guardsmen near the info desk by the waiting room – an area where two troops are usually stationed.
At first they seemed reluctant to talk but relaxed after realizing I was interested in their lives.
Although they rattled off reasons for U.S. presence in Iraq and predicted the military would be there “up to 10 more years” one of them was dubious about continued presence of our troops. I told them about the Military Project, our outreach at armories and overall support of troops.
The dubious soldier was eager to take a DVD and printed material. The other said he’d watch the DVD with his friend.
Up on [x]th Street two more Guardsmen stood 10-12 away from the info desk there which is always attended by a cop. But since the cop was busy and the two troops were standing off I approached.
When I told them about the young man I walked down [x]th Avenue with one responded quickly: “sure,” he said, “you get messed up over there and don’t get treated right back here.”
Both were pleased to take the outreach material.
Later on at Office Depot I asked the cashier if she knew anyone in the military.
Her brother was a vet and hated the war.
That’s worth a GI Special anytime.
I’ve learned that if you’re in the post office, a store, talking to a street vendor or anyone you’re having a casual conversation with; ask if they know anyone in the military.
Even if you don’t have handout material with you it’s still possible to exchange phone numbers, etc.
Since almost two-thirds of the country is against the war it’s highly likely the stranger you’re talking to will be receptive.