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How You - Yes, You - Can End the War

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David Swanson
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And do what those on the far right in this country do far too much of and the rest of us far too little of: pressure the corporate media  and hold Bush propagandists accountable.    Become a media monitor and rapid responder.  

And don't restrict this to letter writing, phone calling, Emailing, and blogging.  Organize protests outside and inside media outlets that spread lies and refuse to report truths.  Include as a target of these actions polling companies that refuse to conduct or report polls on important issues, such as impeachment.   

And don't restrict these efforts to this country.  Thank the international media outlets that do a good job.  Go after those that do not.  Write to media outlets in those countries still left in the so-called coalition of the willing and let them know that Americans would appreciate them withdrawing their symbolic forces.

Write to the media in Iraq and let them know that the majority of Americans agree with the majority of Iraqis in supporting an end to the occupation.  Read blogs  and independent  and international  reports from Iraq, and spread that news in this country.

Write to Iranian media outlets and let them know that we do not see them as a threat and that they should not see us that way.  Let them know that we share their concern over the bellicose rhetoric and the lies coming from Washington.

Buy books, which is where the best reporting is now, even by people employed by, but censored by, newspapers.  Hold book club and film parties.  Hold discussion forums.  Invite speakers  from varying points of view.  Videotape those events and put them on a website. 

When you turn 18, do not register for Selective Service, and publicize your reasons.  If you are in the military, when you are ordered to Iraq, refuse to go, and publicize your reasons.   

Do not pay the portion of your taxes that goes to the war, and publicize your action.

Assist returning veterans  and help them to speak out.   Assist suffering Gold Star Families, and help them to speak out.   

Speak to students about military recruitment and the lies that are such a common part of it.    Disrupt the work of military recruiters.   

Reach out to Muslim groups.  Organize community and other religious and activist groups to hold events to support Muslims and protect their rights.  This is far more important than might at first be apparent.  This directly confronts the Bush Administration's strategy for making us afraid.

Reach out to the United Nations.  Call and write.  Let them know that John Bolton does not speak for Americans.   

Above all else, pressure Congress to impeach Bush and Cheney and to cut off funding for the war.  Ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4232 to cut off funding.    Ask them to cosponsor H Res 635 to create an investigation that will make recommendations on impeachment.   And ask them to introduce articles of impeachment against Cheney and Bush.   

Ask your Senators to do anything – produce some sign of life, draft a bill, record a pulse, anything. 

Do this lobbying by means of phone, Email, and in-person visits.  Be a pest.  They work for you.  Phone every day.  But steadily increase the pressure.  Stage sit-ins in offices, and hold pickets in front of their homes and through their neighborhoods.  Watch for a huge campaign in this regard to be announced by several groups this week. 

Also focus on those governments where the bribes are smaller: our state and local legislatures.  Push for bills to bring the National Guard home and to test veterans for depleted uranium.  And push state legislatures to send impeachment charges to the House of Representatives.   

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David Swanson is the author of "When the World Outlawed War," "War Is A Lie" and "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union." He blogs at http://davidswanson.org and http://warisacrime.org and works for the online (more...)
 
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