Author: ppdove

I received a heart-wrenching message from a nurse at a VA hospital regarding the young men from Iraq who are now showing up there. There won’t be any news coverage of the shattered lives he is witnessing there. So I thought the least I can do is bring it to your attention.
The VA nurse’s message:

Some people say that we have to hold the course. Well, if I believed in fighting this war, I would have taken a different course and ensured that our troops were better protected and enough troops were in place to properly provide for security for the majority of peaceful Iraqis.  No matter how long we stay, it only takes something as simple as one sacred religious building destroyed by hateful people (as we have seen in the last few days) to create nationwide mayhem and bring out long held animosities. I don’t really have an answer, but this mess will outlast any US troop presence. Our administration has only been able to leave the region less stable, with democratic institutions that may not survive, even if most Iraqis just want to live in peace.

As you know, I work at the VA as a registered nurse and our large facility has one of the handful of units in the country treating vets with severe traumas.  It also includes counseling resources for vets with psychological problems.  The VA is seeing thousands of military personnel coming home wounded, both physically and mentally. Many of the early deaths and injuries have been blamed on the lack of proper protective equipment because our leaders did not properly prepare and plan. In this war, with the excellent forward-based medical teams, more military personnel are surviving their wounds. A significant percentage of the wounded have severe traumas from these roadside/car bombs, more than in previous conflicts.  They survive with severe limitations and expensive recovery costs, not to mention the effect on their spouses and family. With the earlier close urban warfare, the constant fear of the next car driving by having a bomb in it, or witnessing horrible events, many of our returning troops have been under intense psychological stress. The VA is working to help these people, and some will not have lasting scars. But as we have learned from previous wars, some do have lasting scars. These are the people you don’t hear about, or shy away from when they end up as transients because they retreat from care or because there isn’t enough care available where they live.

We are no safer from a homeland attack then we were pre 9/11. We are further away from peace in Iraq and peace at home than ever. Young Americans are over there with no exit strategy, unprotected targets in harm’s way. Iraq is nothing but another Vietnam. I say bring our troops home now!

(Crossposted at Daily Kos and MyLeftWing)

When I started my site, peacepositive.net and created the Peace Dove car magnet, I wanted to donate as much of the proceeds as possible to peace charities. During the holidays, I chose to raise the donation amount to 100% of tne net proceeds. I then decided to keep the extra giving going through the month of January.

Unfortunately, to stay afloat, I have to go back to sharing less than 100%. But you still have two days to have every penny after taxes and shipping go to these great charities.

It’s a win-win. You get a powerful message of peace for your vehicle, and get to support great work for peace, disabled veterans and families who have lost loved ones in Iraq. (we believe charities that help those affected by war are as important as those trying to end it).

In 2005, we were able to donate over $500 to these charities. It’s not a lot, but we feel pretty good about it since peacepositive has yet to break even.

Thanks for your support and all the kind words we’ve received in this project that only has one goal: Bring our troops home as soon and as safely as possible.

(Cross-posted to DailyKos and My Left Wing)

In  honor of afterdowningstreet’s Out of Iraq Events Day today, I am holding an Out of Iraq Event of my own: Today only, every penny of every Peace Dove car magnet you order will go directly to the peace charities we support.

I’m talking every cent. For all orders placed today, I’m eating all the magnet and shipping costs as well as the taxes. So you get to take action today by donating to charities like The Carter Center, The Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, Physicians for Peace and The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and get free magnets out of the deal.

Some of you may want to flame me for talking “commerce” on BT even if it’s for a great cause. Before you do, here are a few Peacepositive.net FAQs:

What’s my hidden agenda?

My wife and I want every single American who is now in harm’s way in Iraq to come home as soon and as safely as possible.

C’mon, really, what’s your hidden agenda?

Okay, if you must know, seeing news every day like the story below from two days ago makes me sad, sick and angry. My magnet venture it the outlet I’ve created so I won’t commit a felony.

If you don’t order a magnet today (by clicking the dove image below), at least take some action towards peace. Thanks for your consideration, your recommendation and your support.

Mike

(Crossposted to Daily Kos and My Left Wing)

I had spent my whole adult life talking about negative situations, but never doing anything about them and going on about positive ideas but never doing anything about them, either. But I found the actions of this Administration to be so outrageous, and the war in Iraq to be so wrong, that they evoked feelings of anger and frustration so overwhelming that I HAD to get into action and create the peacepositive Peace Dove magnet, start peacepositive.net and donate as much of the proceeds as possible to charities that support peace, our veterans and their families.

From the start, response was overwhelming. People showered us with positive comments and support.  I especially received a ton of support from the communities at Booman Tribune, Daily Kos and My Left Wing.

It’s with great joy that I announce that our year-end donations to charities totaled over $500. Instead of the projected 20% of the net proceeds, we were able to donate 25% of the gross (that may not seem like a lot, but peace magnet businesses don’t exactly gross what Halliburton does). And it’s all thanks to you. Not to mention there are now hundreds of Doves flying an all-important message of peace on vehicles and fridges all over the country.

To keep the positive momentum going, we’ve decided to extend our holiday donation policy through the end of January. So instead of our minimum of 20% of the net going to charities, we’ll pass on 100% of the net until January 31st. So if you know of any peaceful procrastinators, let them know.

Thanks again for every thing and here’s to the safe return of all our troops as soon and as safely as possible.

Happy New Year and Peace positive always,

Mike and Lori

Click on the dove or right here to go to peacepositive.net.

(Crossposted at Daily Kos)

I got the message below as an email. I apologize if it’s old news but wanted to get it in front of a few more sets of eyeballs today. Seems like the least we can do…

Please recommend this diary so more people can see it today. After all, 29 diaries on the upcoming impeachment are enough for one afternoon.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: create a dove car magnet in response to the yellow “Support Our Troops” ribbons and soon all of America would be flying the peacepositive.net Dove Car magnet.

So I built the website and they did come. About 200 wonderful people are now flying our doves. A great start, but not exactly the groundswell of enthusiasm I was envisioning. So here I lay, stuck under a bunch of boxes of these incredibly beautiful and powerful messages of peace that my wife Lori designed.
I know what you’re thinking: This bastard is trying to sell his wares on my beloved site, and he tricked me into reading this diary with a clever headline…Prepare flame-thrower!

But before you do, consider this: For the rest of the December, ALL of the net proceeds of your order go to charities that support peace.

So it’s a win-win-win-win: You get a spiffy magnet for yourself or the folks on your gift list, you get the message of peace out in front of the masses, some worthy charities get the proceeds and I get to come out from under all these boxes and eat some dinner. Not bad for $6, plus $1 shipping.

I used to lash out angrily. Now I try to post peacefully.
My stomach is in knots right now. I am so spitting mad about today’s news and this war’s cost to families all across the country.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!! BECAUSE THIS WAR IS A SHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the past, I would rant to whoever was in earshot, send angry e-mails to my conservative friends, and place outraged calls to my liberals ones. But what does ranting do?

Today at least I can take some solace in the fact that a month ago, my wife and I took some action and created these peace dove car magnets. They carry the message I most wish everyone who votes or has a finger to call or write our Administration would repeat. And repeat. And repeat until it happens.

How does selling friggin’ peace car magnets make a bit of difference? It does for me personally because through taking this smallest of actions, I no longer feel powerless about a sometimes hopeless situation.

Will this car magnet ever influence anyone in power to eventually brings our troops home? Probably not. But the words on it can if enough people see or hear them. I urge you to get the message out any way you can and don’t stop shouting it until we get our troops safely home.

Peace positive always,

Mike

Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Dove
Episode 1: Sick at the Cinema

It was when they showed the first bombs hitting Baghdad, that I ran for the lobby, certain that I was going to vomit all over the theatre carpet. I have never been so angry. I had never felt so powerless. That August screening of Fahrenheit: 9-11 was the night the seed was planted…a seed of action in an otherwise self-obsessed, apolitical and largely ignorant 40 year-old. I swore that night I was going to do something to help stop the madness, the lies, greed and slaughter of innocent people.

But a week later I was back in my old routine. The potent outrage and distress began to fade. I was slowly crawling back to my comfort zone. The California sun and reality television soothed and distracted me. Sure I did my part: I voted for Kerry and forwarded Bush-bashing emails. I expressed shock and disbelief when Bush won and sadness and concern when my good friend’s son got hit with shrapnel on the front lines. But what else could I do? Work had gotten so busy.

Cut to an August dawn, a year later. August 9th, to be exact: The tenth anniversary of the passing of my favorite wandering troubadour, Jerry Garcia. I woke up early in the New York City hotel room. I was struck with an idea that seemed to come from a place deep in my heart, rather than my head. Those “Support Our Troops” yellow ribbons…turn them sideways and they are almost the shape of a dove. Of course the dove ribbon message would be one of peace: “Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home”. “You have to do this,” said an emphatic and mischievous voice from inside me. If I wasn’t so sober I would have sworn it was the voice of Garcia himself. The voice also told me that at least 20% of the net proceeds would have to go to charities supporting peace. To which I replied, “Of course.” You don’t argue with Uncle Jerry.

When I got back to L.A., I casually mentioned the idea to my wife. A day later I wandered into her office to see that she had created a design far beyond what I was capable of envisioning.

Its power and aliveness literally leapt off the screen. That was the moment the seed sprouted and peacepositive.net was born.

Just a few months later, the site is up and running. Peace Doves are flying everywhere from Florida to Vermont. And even though sales are slow, I feel fantastic. Because I am no longer powerless. And I owe it all to taking a little positive action every day. The tagline on our homepage resonates with truth: No act of peace is ever wasted. Wonder what act of peace I’ll take tomorrow…

Also posted to Daily Kos