Raging Grannies Arrested At Recruiting Center : AZ IMC

Several Raging Grannies, along with an Indymedia journalist (myself), were arrested for trespassing Wednesday after they entered an Army recruiting office and attempted to enlist.

The Grannies were hoping the recruiters would have shown more humor with the activists. Instead, Sgt. Richardson called Tucson police and had everyone cited.

The mood before the action was light and joyous. Protestors have been showing up in front of the military recruiting offices on Speedway each Wednesday morning since the pledge of resistance began over 3 years ago.

Nearly 20 people lined the sidewalk this morning with signs and American flags with peace symbols. Most motorists honked and waived at the rally, which delights Granny Pat Birnie.

“They can hear the honks inside,” she said, hinting towards the recruiters’ offices.

At 9:00 am, the Grannies split off from the rally and made a plan of action. They warmed up their voices with “God Help America,” then headed for the Army’s office.

The Grannies stood in front of the office and sang more songs, prompting Army Sgt. Richardson to close the door to his office. After a few minutes, they began to enter the Army’s office, stating that they wished to enlist. The recruiters tried to turn them away, saying that protestors are not allowed on their property, but the willful Grannies made their way in.

After spending a few minutes reading a prepared statement (see below) and singing a few more songs, the Sergeant told them that they must leave, and that charges were going to be pressed. Both recruiters seemed uncomfortable and were unwilling to confront the elderly choir, keeping their backs turned and pretending to do office work. While on the phone, Sgt. Richardson said he had a "room full of elderly ladies."

“They were afraid of us,” said Elizabeth Richards shortly after leaving the office. “They had to be looking at papers or on the phone.” Richards has been a Raging Granny for 2 years.

After everyone had left the building and filed back to the sidewalk, TPD officer S. Morken arrived and asked Sgt. Richardson to point out everyone who was in his office, including myself (two other journalists were not cited.)

According to Lt. Col. Hickins, a Battalion Commander from Phoenix, the charges were pressed by the landlord of the building, not the Army itself. He declined to give any other information about the incident.

No one was expecting to be arrested for the action. “This is the only contingency we hadn’t planned on,” Birnie said afterwards.

Birnie said that the Raging Grannies have already contacted Mayor Walkup’s office about the incident, but he was out of town for the day.

“My sense is that it’s such an absurd charge that the judg-e will excuse it,” she said.

The Tucson Raging Grannies is a project of the Tucson Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The Grannies sing their messages by creating new words to familiar tunes, to convey their angst against federal policies that undermine our national security, environmental sustainability, and first amendment rights (and to add humor to our protests). They have performed at peace rallies and other local events since forming three years ago. The Raging Grannies was first initiated by Canadian activists 19 years ago. The idea has spread throughout the world, and can be traced on the internet. The Tucson WILPF Grannies is included in the local branch web site: www.wilpftucson.org Contact Margaret Pecoraro 885-3908 or Pat Birnie 908-9269

For over 3 years, protestors have been coming to the sidewalk in front of the military recruiting offices on the 2300 block of East Speedway. Each branch - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines - has an office here.

WHY RAGING GRANNIES want to ENLIST in MILITARY FORCES

9:00 am Wednesday, July 13, 2005 U.S. Army Recruiting Station, 2303 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ

The Raging Grannies want to enlist in the U.S military forces to make possible the immediate return of all U.S. service personnel, and to set an example of what REAL diplomacy can achieve. We would meet with our counterparts in Iraq (women) and come to a mutual agreement of how best for Iraq to regain its own independence, as all U.S. troops, bases and corporations leave their country.

The Raging Grannies are angry about the U.S. maintaining a Permanent War Economy, using military might as the U.S.’s primary tool of Foreign Policy.

The Raging Grannies are angry about the U.S. military recruitment system that lies to young people about the reasons for needing more people in the military. We are angry that our young peoples’ lives are at risk for reasons that have nothing to do with defending our country.

The Raging Grannies are angry that the U.S. is using and has used quantities of Depleted Uranium weapons in Iraq, and other places in the Middle East, jeopardizing the health and environment for 4.5 billion years (providing a source for birth defects, leukemia and other adverse health effects for our own service personnel as well as innocent citizens).

The Raging Grannies are angry that the U.S. is building 14 permanent bases in Iraq. We are angry that U.S. policies are driven by fear-mongering and growing losses of First Amendment Rights. We abhor the use of torture by U.S. forces against detainees.

We insist that Recruiters tell the truth to our grandchildren who come to serve their country.

The Raging Grannies want all U.S. corporations and military personnel (official military troops and mercenaries) withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible, and that the U.S. finance the re-building of what we have destroyed, with local people doing their own re-construction work. The military bases that have been built should be turned over to the Iraq and Afghanistan people to use as they can, for whatever purposes they may have. The U.S. should spend recruitment dollars to (instead) improve education for all students, and gain a boost in our economy for this investment.

Army Sgt. Richardson singles out the grannies to TPD officer S. Morken. Richardson also pointed me out, even though I was wearing a visible press pass. Two other journalists were not arrested, however.

At least 8 TPD officers eventually showed up to help write the trespassing citations. Everyone was cited and realeased by 9:45 am.

Great coverage of somthing the mainstream media will probably not cover or will slant to shed a beneficent aura around what has become routine for recruiters: using local police as a goon squad -- an absurd waste of taxpayer money.

BuildPeaceon Blogspace.com also covered this event.

If only the women of the world could work together to stop the march of Corporatism.

Peace
anthrophile

In the immortal words of Berry and Torrence:
"Go Granny,
Go Granny,
Go Granny- Go!"

"but the willful Grannies made their way in". Morons that's the legal definition of Criminal Trespassing ...

No, John -- it's not the definition of anything, really. You're just quoting from someone's account. I don't think what the Grannie's did even qualifies as "simple trespass."

Where are you pulling your defintion of "criminal trespass" from, John? From somewhere below the waist, I'd guess (sorry AZ IMC!)

elaine
by elaine higginbotham-schramm Wednesday, Jul. 13, 2005 at 10:10 PM
theebyss@aol.com 520-409-9900 5732 e mable st, tucson az 85712

grannies and my thanks to walt:

way to go grannies of us all. i could not be there for your herstorical action, but the coverage i saw locally said it all. the reasons for this war are lies. the profits made from this war are by our current administrations friends and allies.
what a crock.
with many blessings,
elaine higginbotham-schramm
"friends dont let friends shop at wal-mart"

thank you so much indymedia, walt, and others who participated in, witnessed &/or recorded this event which i'm proud to have been part of as a raging granny.

i'm a little deef at my age, and i didn't hear anyone ask us to leave the office.

but since it's a space which is there for the public to go into, not to mention paid for by our taxes, i believe we had a perfect right to go in and try to enlist, and tell those young whippersnappers who had us arrested, why we were there to do that.
we did it for all of their, and everyone's, grandkids.
''criminal trespass'' my foot! we left peaceably well before police arrived.

they ought to be ashamed of themselves.
we were performing a patriot act.

Definition from the Arizona Criminal and Traffic Law Manual - take a law class will ya?

Today I humbly honored you with a blog entry on my site "Enviro Hanky": jeneiene.blogspot.com

Rock on, sisters!

Maybe you should take *two* law classes. Me -- I just google the AZ Revised Statutes. Just because the Grannies & selected others are cited by police for "unlawfully" entering the place, doesn't make it so. We'll see what the lawyers & City of Tucson decide...

And just from a tactical point of view, probably the stupidest thing the recruiting office could have done was have a bunch of regular-citizen-looking "grannies" arrested, huh? BAD pr for those big, tough recruiters. Still a bunch of mommy's boys, I say.

Kudos to the Grannies!

the guy at the desk is on the phone in the big picture is "turning in" The Grannies. how heroic is that? geesh. what a wussie.

Wish I could have been there. I am 100% on your side about your issues and beliefs. Go get them ladies. DMR

Can the grannies in Tucson send us some of the songs so we can do it in Pittsburgh?
Good work!

Raging Grannies brings forth the vision of a food fight in the nurseing home. It also is proof positive that wisdom does not always come with age. Once a moron, always a moron.

Some peoples lives are defined by what they can protest. It is a full time occupation for some....

Nothing new.......

As a "Raging Grannie" I feel honored to be among those who are taking action to put the warmongers to shame!

"Great coverage of somthing the mainstream media will probably not cover or will slant to shed a beneficent aura around what has become routine for recruiters: using local police as a goon squad -- an absurd waste of taxpayer money."

'Using local police as a goon squad'?

Let's see, you enter a privately-owned building with the intent of disrupting normal business and the workings of its occupants, not to mention desiring to intimidate them, and call the police a 'goon squad' when they are called to rectify the situation?

If I gathered up a bunch of my friends, loudly paraded into your home or place of work, and began shouting a previously written speech, while you were on the phone with potential clients, business contacts, or friends, or attempting to do other work...You're saying you *wouldn't* call the police and ask them to remove me, when I refused to leave voluntarily?

And then you do all this under the guise of 'wanting to enlist'...Just so you can tell people, "Jeeze, we were just trying to sign up!!" when you, inevitably, and according to plan, get into trouble (Even if the trouble you got into was worse than you had expected).

I'm sorry, but that is just patently absurd.

"the reasons for this war are lies"

That may be so, but this is wholly the wrong place to be protesting the war.

If you don't agree with the United States' foreign policy decisions, protest the people who make those decisions, not the innumerable cogs in the machine that carries it out.

"protest the people who make those decisions, not the innumerable cogs in the machine that carries it out"

People who allow themselves to be cogs in a machine, mindlessly carrying out the decrees of the state, are fundamentally the problem. Would Nazi Germany have been Nazi Germany if the Germans refused to act as mindless cogs in the state's death machine?

"People who allow themselves to be cogs in a machine, mindlessly carrying out the decrees of the state, are fundamentally the problem."

Maybe so, but you are simply not going to solve the problem with the resources you have or ever will have available to you by focusing on the cogs. To further my 'machine' analogy...Focus on the boilers.

" Would Nazi Germany have been Nazi Germany if the Germans refused to act as mindless cogs in the state's death machine?"

Perhaps not, but one could not realistically expect to stop it by engaging in small-scale propaganda operations directed at a small group of cogs in a relatively insignificant area of that machine's operation.

Your point of 'it would not be what it is without people carrying out its orders' is true, but do you really, truly expect, or even entertain the slightest possibilities of, influencing enough people with your poorly targeted protests and disruptions to make a noticable difference, if any at all, other than making yourselves feel good?

"Raging Grannies brings forth the vision of a food fight in the nurseing home"

Sounds like an ageist remark to me...have something against older people? Keep those stupid comments to yourself please. This is a place for well-informed (or at least willing to learn) people to engage in genuine discourse.

Traditionally wymen have been able to rule quietly and from behind the scenes. Army Recuruiters are scum and lie to all of the recruits that they enlist. That is what they do and who they are. Besides this is Little Boy George's War and he should be over there fighting, oh yeah, all the old Evil White Men who make up the Four Horsemen in the WhiteHouse, should have been removed from office September 10th, 2001. We obviously do not have any of the military might that they claim that we do. So since they will not protect us, they should all be fired and sent to Leavenworth.

Hummmm..... I didn't think a police officer could write a citation on hearsay evidence. I would ask the judge that these citations be dismissed for lack of credible evidence. Surely military recruiters cannot be considered to be credible, considering this entire current recruiting drive is based on the need to recruit fodder for a war that is based on lies!

I would like to know how to contact these ladies and see if there is a plan to start chapters around the country. I would like to start one in Mesa AZ. I have a friend that would start one in Phx if there isn't one already.
I love it this is great, Go Grannies Go
Expect to this this in Mesa SOON

I'll bet there aren't anyu Jewish grannies, but then again, there aren't any Jews serving in iraq.

For your information former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney of Canada lead his government into rule in 1984 when nearly all of the population believed politicians represented the publics best interests. By 1993 he lead his party into the biggest defeat ever handed to a sitting government in Canada, discrediting his profession so badly that the level of trust held by the public for politicians fell to less than 2%. In spite of documented statements shown to be lies and policies shown to be against the best interests of the public, his government stood brazenly ignoring us until a little old lady walked up to him one day in front of tv cameras, shook her finger up to his nose and said, "You LIED to us Mr. Mulroney! You LIED to us!"
That granny was seen on tv across the nation and signaled the start of a swift and massive groundswell of opposition that removed him and nearly all of his cohort from our parliament forever. YOU should be so lucky USA! Go Grannies Go!

If the Raging Grannies decide to go to trial, Demand a jury trial and put the war criminals on trial. Put the terrorist policy of the murdering rich on trial. Put the Government on trial and demonstrate that the Government no longer exists as a legal entity.

The reason the government is finished, is due to the creation of nuclear weapons. Our criminal elite have planned to use them on all of us from the beginning, the decision was made to exterminate the mass of humanity in April of 1947.

This explains the Extraterrestrial intervention into our world. How am I so sure that "ET" exists: if he did not exist we all we be nuclear waste already.

Some folks think that it cannot be true and that is because they don't have any imagination. Just imagine if you can what it would be like to be in a full blown nuclear war, and then you will understand our murdering rich and their heinous plans for you and your family, and all the rest of us.

Reading about this incident just re-enforces how afraid we Americans should be..........we are becoming a police state!

Go Grannies Go! Love it. Fire the Liars!!!!

Really enjoyed this. Recruiters overreacting to elderly women - no wonder American personnel keep butchering innocent civilians - recruiters are most successful snaring head cases like themselves

Yeah, that's what they said at Nuremberg to.

Those who carry out policy are just as guilty as those who create policy.

N-E-V-E-R forget that.

"Wrong place, wrong people"

Yeah, that's what they said at Nuremberg to.

Those who carry out policy are just as guilty as those who create policy.

N-E-V-E-R forget that.

HOORAY for the Raging Grannies! Keep on keeping on. We send you love and hugs from Caracas Venezuela!

Good for those grannies!!!! They know the truth, demonstrated it peacefully and educated thousands who read the story.
When grandmas go to jail, instead of the criminals in DC, you know our country is in deep trouble.
Now with all the false flag operations in London, they will sweep away what little of our freedoms is left with the renewal of the Un-American patriot act.
Meanwhile, Homeland In-Security has no money to protect our borders, trains or people. Only themselves from the people.

No wonder the military is having so much troule recruting soldiers. With sissies like army sargeant richardson running the recruiting office, its easy to understand why america is making the choices they are making when it comes to butchering innocent iraquis. Keep up the good work grannies, the whole world is watching our pathetic military show their asses. I am still waiting for george bush's war crimes trial to start. Mr. bush is a psychopathic serial killer who needs to tried for war crimes right along side his good buddies saddam hussein, and tony blair. Let's try em, convict em and turn them over to the iraqui people for sentencing.

Majic........You say that these grannies should not be protesting the recruiting centers. Thats like saying you shouldn't be freeing the slaves from the prisons. You have to protest in every place that is causing young men and women to be manipulated into becoming young murderers. The recruiting centers is a great place to begin. The white house, the senate and the congress is a great second stop, and if you support this war then your house should be on the list as well. Do us all a big favor. Sit back and shut up. WAY TO GO GRANNIES. KEEP AFTER THESE MURDEROUS BASTARDS.

Way to go Tuscon Grannies. I am so impressed with the bravery of you to do anti recruiting. When the first Gulf War started in 1991, some of us went to the Canadian Recruiting Centre. They were very polite to us, but I was told to join I would have to go to boot camp before I was 50. At that time I was 64. Another time we got arrested for going on a military base but they never pressed the charges. We took our irons and ironing boards to the court house and "pressed our charges" That got the front page of the paper, but they never did press the charges. They really dont like to arrest elderly women. Keep doing what you are doing!!!!

Raging Grannies
by A Dependent Wife and Former Active Duty Membe Friday, Jul. 22, 2005 at 11:57 AM

I have read the article on the arrest of the "raging grannies". I do understand your point on Peace, but really, did you honestly think you would get anywhere doing what you did, other than get arrested?
You say you wanted to enlist to bring your Children and Grandchildren home, but those same Children and Grandchildren signed up themselves for their country and they are doing exactly what they signed up for.

Gp Grannies !! Wish I had your gumption.

I wanted to add a comment about the incident at the recruiting station. The motive is definitely right, however I would have to say not handled at all in a way as to take the group seriously. They spend every week for three years at a recruiting station? Why? Recruiters aren't sending the troops over, they have no control, no power, and are merely servants to a higher power. Wouldn;t that energy have been better exerted at capitol hill? Or pressing the legislators for change? This doesn;t make any sense and really looks like bad planning, and no idea what it takes to really change something by doing the honorable thing. and following the rules that apply to all protests. But, the first rule is to protest to the people who can actually help the cause.
Think a little......

Ray,

First of all, for the sake of your arguement, may I suggest that you run your comments through a spell check before posting them? It truly does not behoove your cause.
Secondly, I am a recruiter in the Army and would be more than happy to run an age waiver for any of these women. I just need your name, address, telephone number, social security number, and date of birth. I can fill in the blanks from there.
I first read about this on http://www.foxnews.com and one of the comments from the "Grannies" was that they were seriously, "trying to enlist." Not from the looks of your organization. Liars. Pathetic liars. If your cause was noble and just you wouldn't have to lie through your rotting teeth.
Lastly, I take very seriously my commitment to my Army value of Integrity and do not lie to prospects. Furthermore, I invite "anti-recruiters" to come to my High Schools with me. When potential recruits can compare simultaneously what I have to say with the message of your ilk, my numbers skyrocket-one of the reasons why I am the top recruiter in my Company for the past three months.
So please, keep doing what you're doing. Just don't think for a second you are accomplishing a single thing other than alienating the populace to my side.
On that note, I thank you all again, and bid you adieu

Ladies:

Glad you want to go help bring our troops home. While at it, why don't you welcome the insurgents to come along with them. Ask any Marine or any Marine mom/parent why our boys and girls are over there and you might just be a bit embarrassed by what you hear.

Make sure you know what you're doing before launching yourselves into laughing stalks in front of every military branch that serves you; not to mention the millions of middle east people who love you for your ignorance.

I wish you well. You need that.

Proud Marine Mom

As a side note:

Any time you want to debate me personally on the issues-feel free to reach me at my e-mail address. I'll post some of the more "colorful" comments here for all to read.
Just some words of caution:
I WILLl tear you apart rhetorically, yet I shall be gracious enough to allow what little is left of you to limp back to the rock you crawled out from.
If you are not well versed in FACT, nor capable of structuring coherent sentences, save both your time and mine.
I do not suffer fools well; nor do they, me.

Also, this is a call-to-arms for all you wanna-be "anti-recruiters" out there! School starts in six weeks! If you are in the Southern Massachusetts/Rhode Island area, holla back, yo!
Our recruiting year ends on 20050911! I am on pace to put in upwards of 13 people in the Future Soldier program between now and then (miminum mission is approx 2/month). If I can DOUBLE that I will be in line for Recruiter of the YEAR. Please help! Your mindless rants and lack of any tangible personal hygiene are necessary for the cause!
Again, I may be reached at the above e-mail address.
I look forward to making you question every value you thought you ever held dear.

How many of the people who responded to this with cries of "This war is immoral!!" have had Iraqis come up to them, crying & thanking them for getting rid of Saddam? I have.

How many people have seen the devastation & broken families brought about by Saddam Hussein's administration? I have.

I you'd seen what I've seen & talked to the people I've spoken with, you'd think twice about calling this an immoral war.

Oh well, I guess people need something to protest. Too bad most of them can't do it intelligently.

How many of the people who responded to this with cries of "This invasion is immoral!!" have had Americans come up to them, crying & thanking them for trying to get rid of Bush2? I have.

How many people have seen the devastation & broken families brought about by George Bush2's administration? I have.

If you'd seen what I've seen & talked to the people I've spoken with, you'd think twice about calling this invasion or Iraq "justified."

Oh well, I guess people need something to complain against. Too bad most of them can't do it intelligently.

Thanks for proving my point Desertphile.

Stephen Bozich:
Please put in for a transfer to Iraq; the Noble Cause needs you there and your Nation will be forever grateful!
sincerely,
kb

p.s.
It's 'argument', not "arguement".
kb

Bonnie:
You obviously have been doing a great job in Iraq!
Won't you please go back and continue your fine work?
Thank you.

Sincerely,
kb

...you'd be doing something about it, not sitting around posting the party line on the internet.

Yes, yes; go back and continue your liberation of Iraq!
Just don't slip on all the flowers the grateful Iraqi people throw in your path.

Sincerely,
kb

These lunatic protestors need to realize that the world is Not a pretty place, those who 'turn the other cheek' get shot dead. No, I am not a "war monger" but face it Evil only knows one language and it is Not the language of song.
Let the terrorists and evil do-ers run amok and their next bomb may just be in Your Face!!
War is Never an answer to anything, it is a regretable-nessesity of the human race.
Also face it, and your going to hate me for this one: most war is faught over Religion and Religious beliefs....sad, but true.

JB, Desertphile, & Others,
So many protesters don't appear to care about people. I posted that thing about grateful Iraqis to get people to think, but Desertphile turned it around to support the anti-Bush cause. You don't seem to care that people's entire families were wiped out. You apparently can't see past yourselves. If you did, you'd think about your actions & would try to do something constructive.

Why aren't you protesting the people who blew up all those Iraqi children last week? Or the ones who are blowing up the people applying for the Iraqi police force - people who just want jobs? Were you protesting Saddam Hussein when he was gassing the Kurds? That was immoral & illegal, wasn't it? The Kurds I met in the streets of Sulimaniya were some of the people who were happiest to see us.

Hey Kb (if that is your real name)

Shoot me an e-mail, whydontcha?!

The war in Iraq has nothing to do with Religion, Oil, familial revenge, or, for that matter, Weapons of Mass Destruction.
It has everything to do with the removal of a dictator who sponsored terrorism throughout the region and refused to comply with the obligations imposed upon him by the International community. Those obligations, you won't remember (because you have the short term memory of a goldfish), were imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait.
Groups such as A.N.S.W.E.R. take such severe umbrage to the removal of Saddam because he was doing something they approve of: sponsoring the killing of Jews.
At the same time they bristle at the idea of America doing anything to stem the rising tide of terrorism across the globe. To this they will undoubtly insist that it is American foreign policy that is the cataylst for terrorist acts. That we are a "hyperpower" that entertains itself with the subjugation of brown people. What is telling is that when America does not project its power we are deemed a "hyperpower" that callously stands idle while brown people subjugate other brown people (Darfur).
Their hatred for America has roots in their hatred for their own personal failures. America is a free-market society-be it the economy of goods or the economy of ideas. Their ideas are hollow (as are often their heads) and cannot find enough buyers in the marketplace to produce any capital, especially when it comes to political capital.
Therein lies the reason why they must constantly turn to the courts to press their case. Furthermore, when a qualified nominee is proffered for the Supreme Court, they throw a fit if they are not "mainstream" enough (i.e. liberal).
Unfortunately, people such as this are the result of living in a free society. That we tolerate their existance speaks volumes about the strength of America. Fortunately, while they do have an annoying tendency to scream really loud, they do so only because there are so mercifully few of them.
History is on our side. When the final chapter is written these people will be nothing more than a footnote. An abnormality. Just as the Soviet Union will be nothing more than an asterisk in the timeline of America's dominance over tyranny.
Remember, these are the people who require tyranny to rule. Sans despotism, they cannot say, "This is the way it is!", but rather, "Would you like fries with that?"
Their vitrol comes from the fact that they know they are beaten. Their days are spent drowning in jealousy. For that I thank them again, for as I have always maintained, envy is the greatest form of flattery.

KB,

Why won't you address my statements? Do you not believe me or can't you think deeply enough?

Why aren't you in Iraq doing something to help those people get their government going, if you hate the US being there so much? Put up or shut up.

duty...honor...country

Hey Sal!

All I ask is you remember my name.

As for pictures, here's one of a bunch of crusaders...

HAHA! Whadda think, Sal? (by the way, that's NOT a rhetorical question!)

Now we've got the Iraqi's working for us-killing THEM!

Goddamit are we EVIL! I LOVE it!

Nice pics. The jail thing is stupid - no one's said the Army's perfect.

You still haven't addressed anything I've brought up. Put up or shut up. What are you doing to help the Iraqis you care about so much?

this is what democracy looks like

Here's another one for y'all.

Hrm, Iraqi's and Americans working to kill terrorist.

There must be a civil right being violated here. Call the ACLU. Call Howard Dean. Call Jessie!!

This is a waste of time. KB, you can't seem to engage in a constructive conversation & you're making your cause look worse.

Have a nice night.

That might be one of the many faces of "democracy" but terrorism only has one face-and now it's GONE!!

But seriously, folks-here lies the cure to Islamic fascism: AN OPEN MIND!!!

Thank you, for posting the fotos of the colaborators with the forces of the occupiers.
The brave Iraqi Freedom Fighters who battle the Coalition and their puppet regime will appreciate them too.

When are you leaving for Iraq?

Sincerely,
kb

i thought you'd be on your way to Iraq by now.

When are you going to post an e-mail address?

My PMOS is 74D (Chemical Operations Specialist)-although I'm on recruiting duty now. Once I have completed my assignment of swelling the ranks so as to crush the enemy I'll be on my merry way. I was supposed to go with my last unit, but Turkey turned us away at port.
Not that it matters. We'll be in Iraq and the Middle East at large, I'm sure, for many many years. I'll probably get my pick of patches.
Like I said, Sal-remember my name. I'm gonna make John Kerry look like Walter Mondale.

Semper fi dude....

Or how's it go? Hooah??

corporal coward
by sala... Saturday, Jul. 23, 2005 at 8:59 AM
everywhere allatonce

ok hero
i'll remember your name as well as your face
though in all probability you won't live long enough to make any meaningful contribution to this world

what is it about the grannies that got you so upset?
or are you just following orders

bonnie, you've done absolutely nothing to be proud of
justice will pursue you till the day you die pissing/shitting your red white and blue panties just like your fellow heroes are doing EVERYDAY in iraq and afghanistan

fucking cowards and laughingstocks
you know the truth
you are all fucked

"In the images of celebrating Iraqis, we have also seen the ageless appeal of human freedom. ....lies and intimidation could not make the Iraqi people love their oppressors or desire their own enslavement. Men and women in every culture need liberty like they need food, and water, and air. Everywhere that freedom arrives, humanity rejoices. And everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear."

So, Kb, do you ever do more to support your argument than post images designed to evoke strong emotions, rather than well thought-out and logical responses?

Please go to: http:www.ChristeneLeDoux.com/listen_buy.html then SCROLL down a bit for a free download of my song, "Dear Mr. President." This was recorded live in Cambridge, England last year. - PASS THE SONG TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE! BUSH IS A WANKER!!! peace, - Christene LeDoux

I still love the lack of personal accountablility of anyone that joins the armed forces. It seems as everyone in the history of this country joined under false pretenses and was unaware that there is a war going on. If you are that clueless that you are unaware there is a war going on and you could be sent to the shit, you deserve what you get...

coward bozich
where are you?

is that you on the bridge?

Congratulations you wonderful women! The elderly or middle aged have plenty to say about life and how it should be in the future for our children and grand children. Yes 'God Bless America' as long as it has people of all ages speak their truth
loudly and clearly. There is no better way than in a song.

Cool! Go, Grannies!!! Make yourselves heard, acknowledged, and recognized. You've got courage. Keep up the great work!

Seriously...What, exactly, are they doing, and how is it having any sort of relevent impact on either A) Demilitarization of America, or of the world, B) The war in Iraq, C) the Bush administration's foreign policy, or D) convincing people not to join the military?

I can tell you right now they are doing exactly nothing to help A, B, or C...And we have an Army recruiter encouraging them to do this more often, as it causes him to actually get *more* recruits.

So what, exactly, are these arrogant, foolish old hags accomplishing?

> How many of the people who responded to this
> with cries of "This war is immoral!!" have had Iraqis
> come up to them, crying & thanking them for
> getting rid of Saddam? I have.

Yeah, invading innocent countries, slaughtering innocent people to the tune of over 100,000 murdered so far, rape, torture, war crime atrocities against humanity... All acceptable because Saddam has been replaced with an even worse mass murdering baby killer.

Anyone who supports Bush and his war against the people of Iraq needs to sign up and ship out. They have no excuse for not being in Iraq "liberating" Iraqis and "bringing Democracy to the Iraqi people." Ifv they open their yaps and demand Bush's war is some how excusible, they should be in Iraq.

And no, protests about being too old or having already gone and come back are not valid. If they support the wonton, indiscriminate killing of Iraqi children and babies in their beds, they have no excuse for not shipping out to Iraq and doing the killing themselves.

Anyone who opposes Bush and his war against the people of Iraq needs to ship out and join the insurgancy. They have no excuse for not being in Iraq "fighting for freedom from their oppressors" and "bringing freedom from America" If they open their yaps and demand Bush's war is some how inexcusible, they should be in Iraq.

...

Yeah, that sounds really goddamned stupid, doesn't it? So does the flip side of the coin. To say that one cannot have any sort of opinion on something without actively *participating* in that something is absurd, and one of the most foolish things you can say.

That said, I don't understand the need to *lie* to oppose this war, any more than I understand the need to *lie* to support it - if your position is valid, the FACTS should speak for themselves.

THat means, oh darn! We can't go around saying that the Army is deliberately slaughtering innocents and murdering babies in their cribs...And it also means that, oh darn! We can't say we're in Iraq because they had WMD.

one does not need to "ship out" to iraq in order to join the resistance
we are everywhere and that's what frightens you

support the troops
ship clean underwear to iraq
the cowards are soiling their's faster than we can ship them

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy." - Henry Kissinger, quoted in "Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW's in Vietnam"

Go, go Grannies!
by A supporter in W.Va. Wednesday, Jul. 27, 2005 at 6:45 AM

I remember the awful day when Bush sent troops to Afghanistan in retaliation for 9/11. It saddened me to think that at this late date in history we couldn't - with all our resources, creativity and hard-earned "world dominance" - come up with a better solution than yet another war. Your message is the right one. Keep on singing!

> Anyone who opposes Bush and his war against the
> people of Iraq needs to ship out and join the
> insurgancy.

Anyone who thinks the Iraqi freedom fighters are some how "insurgents" is admitting he supoports and defends a mass murdering fascist regime and thinks defending one's country and one's family is wrong.

The notion that the people of Iraq who are defending themselves against this brutal baby killing regime are some how "insurgents" is an admission that if their own country were invaded, their government killed and a puppet regime installed, and their children murdered in their beds from the brave use of cluster munitions from the brave altitude of 30,000 feet, they would step aside and not do anything about it.

After all, defending their country is "insurgency."

Or is only white-skinned people who worship the "right" gods who are allowed to defend themselves against mass murdering terrorist fascist regimes?

"Anyone who thinks the Iraqi freedom fighters are some how "insurgents" is admitting he supoports and defends a mass murdering fascist regime and thinks defending one's country and one's family is wrong."

Anyone who thinks that the majority of the insurgants/resistors/freedom fighters/whateverthefuckyouwanttocallthem are Iraqis is a fool

"The notion that the people of Iraq who are defending themselves against this brutal baby killing regime are some how "insurgents" is an admission that if their own country were invaded, their government killed and a puppet regime installed, and their children murdered in their beds from the brave use of cluster munitions from the brave altitude of 30,000 feet, they would step aside and not do anything about it."

Can we cut the horseshit? 'Baby-killing'? Keerist. Yeah. The USAF and USMC and US Army all go break down doors and try to find those goddamned annoying little 6 month old Iraqis, and slit their throats. That'll teach those little fuckers to cry at 3 AM.

I also certainly hope you have not truly deluded yourself into believing that the average Iraqi citizen was happy with Saddam's leadership, and his governmental policies...I realize how much it is overplayed by the pro-war side, but honestly, *look* at some of the horrors he committed against his own people. *LISTEN* to the rejoicing when he was captured, or even when we simply tore down his statue.

There is truly no hope for a rational discussion if you honestly believe that the US military is deliberately targeting unarmed civilians.

Opposing the war is one thing - the whole thing was based on a lie, and we have no legitimate reason to have gone there - but oppose it with facts and reason, not this bullshit 'baby killer' nonsense.

"After all, defending their country is "insurgency.""

Most of the people fighting are not defending their country, they're entering Iraq to fight the Coalition.

"Or is only white-skinned people who worship the "right" gods who are allowed to defend themselves against mass murdering terrorist fascist regimes?"

Go fuck yourself. How dare you presume that I am in favor of this war? How dare you even presume that I am in favor of this war because I am a racist, or because I despise non-Christians?

This is why nobody takes our side of the fence seriously, you fool - We have liars and curs of the lowest sort like yourself sharing it with us.

God Bless the Grannies...We love them sooooo much

Kee-rist
by Chi Chi Felipe Thursday, Jul. 28, 2005 at 4:27 PM
sethaskh@net.com 290-664-5362 99 Allmona Loop

Great googilly moogilly. What an amazing display of ignorance and out-dated methodology. Protests? Hey, 1967 called, it wants its stench back!

Freedom fighters? Are you people serious? Is this some kind of joke? You do realize that the insurgency in Iraq is less about "freeing Iraq" and more about removing America and replacing Saddam's brutal (remember that? Brutal and horrible and deliberately cruel, tortuos government that is no longer in place?) party with an equally brutal Muslim fascist state where raging grannies would be beheaded for being an affront to Allah. Please stop being so ignorant. Those recruiters were just doing their job as recruiters. How would you like it if a bunch of people came into the head shops where you guys work and disrupted business? Please, get over yourselves.

Instead of protesting against our brave Warriors both in our civilian communities AND in harms way why don't these raging granny's put care packages together and send to our Soldiers? Why don't they write letters to our Warrior's as they put their lives on the line. It's the Soldier who risks their life on a daily basis so that these raging granny's can do what they do. It shocks me to know that these granny's had husbands who either fought during World War II or jad parents who did. If they don't like what they see move to Russia, see how they like it there.

It seems like Chi Chi Felipe has long since forgotten his roots as a Latino and with it the spirit of the great Che and the revolutionary battles fought by the indefatigable Fidel Castro.

Chi Chi, for a man who was snuck across the border in a box of Manhandlers and got his first job as a mop boy at a San Francisco bathhouse, you've completely turned your back on not only the Latin community, but also the Gay Latin community and the Queer High for the Marijuana Guy community. You should be ashamed that you've been so fooled by the garbage being shoveled into you by the Fox media-controlled blogpodosphere and the blashphemies against Mother Gaia perpetrated by Bushitler, Karl Rove and Halliburton.

You need to strip to bare skin, dress in sackcloth and perform the Sioux ritual of the burning buffalo dung to repent your transgressions and increase your positive karma. You used to not be like this; you used to have the protest spirit...like back in '96 when we did a two-man sit-in at Jerry's House of Waffles and Chaw to protest the indignities suffered by the chicken eggs used in the waffle batter. You took sausage to the GROIN for the cause, man. Now, ever since you've been eating non-organic vegetables and that spicy tofurkey (I told you that stuff was from the Evil Dark Side of Karmic Chakrami!), you've completely thrown away the link we took 6 months to forge at the NAMBLA Bond Camp and the spiritual Eagle's Feather token that we got at the Bally's on 67th.

FOR SHAME, CHI CHI FELIPE. FOR SHAME.

Our sons and daughters continue to die and bleed
so you can continue your freedom to protest.

Women your ages and you just don't get.

NUTTS!!

They are "ALLOWED" to protest because our Son's and Daughter in the past, present and future have, are and will die. It's the Soldier who gives them the right to protest, not the politician or anyone else. Imagine what would happen if they did this in a communist country. Bubba you're a fool

Far from "giving" people the right to protest, the
armed forces of your benighted nation have always been in the forefront
of those suppressing free speech.
Your bloodthirsty sons and daughters have shot, beaten and
bayonetted protestors and strikers with gleeful sadism.
Your sons and daughters are murdering, torturing, sexual abusing monsters.
Keep them in Iraq; they are not wanted here.

http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2004/05/18743.php

Are you to young to remember Vietnam -- I'm not, neither are the grannies. You did a lot of good over there (not) and what about all the vetrans still haunted by what they saw and what they did in the name of the United States of America.

War has never solved anything, except freed the slaves, gave our country its independence, stopped the spread of facism and genocide in Europe and ended the cruelty of Saddam Hussein's murderous government. Other than that, it never solves anything. Certainly hasn't solved the problem of the ultra-left wing liberal cackling hippy squadrons that insist on being contrarian no matter what the cause, so long as the cause is a decent one. Hippies, please stop. The 60's ended a long time ago. It's the new millenium. You are no longer relevant.

Seriously. This is 2005. There's no room for hippy crap any longer. Even Phish got the memo.

Man ,them old bitches are ugly.

Trained by U.S. occupiers; cowardly Iraqi collaborators threaten suspected freedom fighters with an electric drill.
Your U.S. troops are monsters; those who sent them are monsters, those who support them are monsters.

Right On, Grannies!! You're the stuff the "real America" is made of. Gather up all your friends from every senior citizen centers across the United States and March On against the injustices and lies issued by our government.

Thank You for standing up for the rights of all Americans and protesting against the "wrongdoers" in our White House. You've made all of us "proud"!

We can use more active citizens like you in our advocate groups. You're energy and expertise on life would be a great asset. Lead the way and others will follow.

On August 13,2005 there will be a March/Rally held in Washington,D.C. at Lafayette Park beginning at 8:00 AM, your voices will be welcome to help all of us implement change.

The whole world needs Grannies like you. Who knew that you were our Nations best "secret weapon"!

Move'em up! Head'em out!!

Our Grannies Are Marching Onward To Save America!!

I could not help but notice a response by someone using the initials, KB, to the article written about the Grannies and their protest.

It was quite obvious that KB thoroughly disliked our troops being in Iraq. The photo that was enclosed with the commment is not very flattering of our soldiers, to say the least.

However, we do not know why that photo was taken, or what happened before, which would give us the answer to this soldiers agressiveness. I'm sure the troops were only following direct orders from their superiors.

There are many of us who never thought that sending our troops to Iraq was justified. But, these men and women need support from all of us.

It's not their fault that they are in Iraq. They joined the military to defend our country. They must obey the orders of our Commander and Chief who sent them off to defend us and keep our Nation safe and defend us from Saddam Hussein.

They can't question these orders even if they were given under false pretension. Unfortunately, our troops must stay and fight because they have no choice in the matter.

I will agree that this "action" has put America and all of it's citizens in a "black light". We have lost the respect of many countries and are no longer considered trustworthy.

We should all thank the GRANNIES for stepping up to the plate and expressing their views on this unexcusable fiasco

JimmyJoe must be in dire need of glasses and some manners. From his remark, "those old bitches sure are ugly" is a good indication that he's not very educated (his use of the English language is extremely limited) and he most certainly had no proper upbringing.

It's very noticible that he was never taught to respect his elders. Tell me Jimmy, "do you also refer to your grandmothers as ugly bitches?"

When you reach the geriatric (forgot, you may not understand that word), correction, old age stage of your life make sure there's somone around who can provide the rest of the world with your photo. I can guarantee, you'll be grey, bent over and all wrinkled just like these wonderful Grannies.

But they have one up on you, they're respected and have enough guts to go out and demonstrate their opinions to the whole world.

It's doubtful that you'll ever achive very much in this world with your simple mind.

Have You made sure your taking your medication correctly? It sounds as though your thoughts are becoming very distorted.

Only those who are "power hungry" seek out to war against the rest of the world. You can't blame the soldier who's only following orders given to him by his Commander and Chief. The soldier has no choice but to obey his directive.

If you actually kept yourself informed to all aspects from the beginning of this war gauntlet in Iraq, it would be apparent that the majority of the American public did not want any of this to take place.

We should have stayed focused on the "terrorists" responsible for the attacks on the United States and it's citizens. However, it's our government leaders who make the final decisons inspite of the objections of the citizens.

If you were an American, you would know that we only worship "ONE GOD", not gods. We may worship HIM in many variances, but there's still only "ONE GOD"!
take place.

It's doubtful that KB can respond logically to anything. His irrational, irradical behavior is a strong indication of mental problems.

We all watch the news and have seen the horrors of war. But don't blame the American citizens, we didn't send our troops to Iraq our President did.

Send your photos to him. He's the one who needs to end the bloodbath. There's nothing you or I can do at this point.

It's not our fault that our President chose Iraq as a "war target" because he knew that insurgents from everywhere would unite in one area to fight their enemy which is "CHRISTIANITY".

These people aren't fighting for any other reason except their religion. They feel that "all Christians" must die. The insurgents believe that the Muslim religion is destined to rule the world.

Genocide seems to be the purpose behind the reason for any kind of "war". How barbaric our "civilized" people still are since we first stepped on this earth.

We're no better off than we were at creation. All these ages have come to pass, yet human beings have learned absolutely nothing from life's experiences!

SHAME ON US!!

Going through all the comments generated just because some senior citizens disagree with sending our troops to Iraq has been very interesting.

I'm sure the curiosity of some of these comments has made your mind ponder. Did it ever occur to anyone as to the real purpose of KB's dramatic photo shoots?

His remarks and the types of photography he revels in sure makes me wonder what "terrorist sleeper cell" he might belong to. He certainly fits the personality a profile.

kb is an orphaned girl who lives in Paraguay.....

It is not the raging Grannys of YOUR country that will expel the blood-thirsty occupiers from Iraq.

I am not writing an article, but do want to cheer you. I am a 61 year old retired teacher and I wish I had a group like you to join. I would love to be out there with you on Wednesdays. Go Girls!

The raging grannies need to understand that if we pull out of Iraq that it would make AMERICA appear weak and would invite more terrorist attacks on U.S soil. And how is it that you supported america going to war after pearl harbor but you are not in support of our war against terror? Do you want to live in fear for the rest of your life? Does there need to be another attack on american soil for you to realize that this is real,That people want to hurt Americans. I am PROUDLY serving in the U.S NAVY and in full support of our COMMANDER IN CHIEF. you can email me at christopher.haupt@navy.mil if you would like to discuss this further. Have a good day grannies. And enjoy your freedom it may not be around much longer....

DO you enjoy living in fear? fear of having terrorist attack america. you need to stop watching the news you know how the media takes things out of propations. why don't you start a peace rally in iraq then and see how long you live. because the terrorist don't care if you are in the military or not if you are american they want to kill you. so shut the fuck up.

What a MAN!
You gotta be one brave macho guy to tell older civilian women to SHUT UP!
For that matter where does anyone in the military get off telling any civilian to shut up- that reeks of facism.
You are a discrace.

Hahahah, hey, someone must have learned the word "fascism" in his summer school history class.

I PROUDLY SERVE
by christopher.haupt@navy.mil Monday, Aug. 08, 2005 at 7:58 PM

Well if you enjoy your freedom. if you enjoy your right to go against everything this country is about you better be grateful for the military. If you don't support this war why don't you go to Iraq and try and stop the americans, you will see just how quickly these terrorist don't like you even if you are on there side because all they see are americans and they want to kill americans. so shut the fuck up.....

I PROUDLY SERVE
by christopher.haupt@navy.mil Monday, Aug. 08, 2005 at 7:59 PM

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6238 haupt 0925 1345 0971

We invaded Iraq to get oil. Period. No, repeat No connection had been made between Iraq and 911. The terrorists are the Bush admin.

Yes, there was no connection between Iraq and 9/11, and our reasons for going into Iraq were shady at best, but to say we went in there solely for oil is a pretty stupid thing to say. There are a lot better places to invade for oil, like Venezuela for example. Please stop being so repetitive, it's making the rest of us non-cons look bad.

SO did you want to wait around till saddam had made his WMD and used them on America before we actually stepped in and took in out of power? it is better to have a pro-active Commander in Chief than a re-active one don't you think.

To Chi F: Iraq is vital to have an oil supply pipeline through the middle east--check out this story on PBS's 'Frontline'. To Christopher: have you read the history of the cold war and how we were supposed to hate and fear the soviets? Once glasnost began and we became friends with them, lo and behold they were too freakin poor and disorganized to have ever been a real threat. It was all just a roost to protect capitalism-not democracy.

The same paper tiger is at work trying to scare us with Irag. WMD?? Where is the proof?? Most folks in Iraq were happy to have running water and electricity and jobs and relative stability. They could send their kids to school without fearing they were going to get blown up. Now there is utter chaos with over 100,000 estimated Iraqi casualties--most women and children. This invasion has in fact escalated terrorism and hatred of America around the world.

We are not there to stop terrorism or some fake propaganda about WMDs. It's for Bush's oil cronies to make more money.

My step father died from Viet Nam. How many more fathers have to die in this similar debacle in Iraq?

Those 10,000 people that die everyday in Iraq are because of the sucicide bombers and the road side bombs not because of americans. Those are the Iraqi people blowing themselves up. And you are right we didn't find any WMD but what's not to say that they were in the makings or that he didn't already deport them because he knew the americans were going to invade. Now let's say we didn't invade two years ago and Iraq was going on with whatever they were doing, and in 5 years or so they do make a WMD then what? Iraq would not hesitate to use them on America. And also saddam was killing his own people using chemical and biological gases on his own people. doesn't that distrub you at all? And all those people that are dying are doing it to protect your freedom here. do you want to live in fear? a fear that makes you so paranoid to even go outside of your home because you think a terrorist is going to attack you? i don't want to live like that and i don't think anyone should live like that.GOD BLESS AMERICA and AMERICA BLESS GOD

As Franklin Rossevelt said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." No, I am not paranoid about terrorists. What I am paranoid about, however, are the restrictions of our constitutional rights under the guise of 'fighting terrorism". Most of those killed by roadside bombs are military and corporate reps. The vast majority of Iraqi civillians are killed by US military.

And, this agurment of attacking before 'they' attack us is quite absurd and extremely evil. What f*ucking right does the US have to use this argument? What if every other country were to do this as well? We'd destroy this planet faster than you can say Saddam.

Do yourself, me, and this country and the world for that matter a favor and turn off Fox news and listen to other voices around t