Vietnam War vet fasts for peace
Published: 20 November, 2009, 09:38
Edited: 20 November, 2009, 14:00
TAGS: Health, Military, Protest, USA
A Vietnam War veteran is starving himself for peace in Washington DC, right in front of the White House, in a bid to save the lives of American servicemen in Afghanistan.
The year 2009 has seen an escalation of violence in Afghanistan. In many areas, coalition forces are now struggling to keep a resurgent Taliban at bay. And with this, calls for an end to the war are growing louder.
In May of 1970, war protestor Thomas Mahany spent 29 days here in Lafayette Square fasting for peace in Vietnam.
He’s currently repeating his activism. "As of 06:00 hours, November 11, Veterans Day 2009, I have taken my last material sustenance other than water,” says Mahany.
This is a pretty drastic step to take in a drastic situation, Thomas Mahany says, and what he wants to stop is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder found in many in the military. The way to stop PTSD is to “… please end this needless, incessant war making.”
Thomas Mahany wants his message to hit home in the White House.
His mind has been slowed by hunger, his speech slurred by zero energy – they are sensations the Vietnam War vet has felt before, when he starved for peace back then.
“I now feel that it is time to act once again,” states Thomas Mahany.
It is believed that more than 30 days without eating could cause a human being to have serious health problems, which Mahany has come close to before, and he may go without eating for a long time yet.
20.11.2009, 07:20
5 comments
“Karzai government needs to stop corruption & drug trade”Violence is increasing while more US officials are urging Barack Obama to come up with an exit strategy. The important questions are what is happening on the ground and how the US troops feel about the situation. |
21.11.2009, 03:18
Texas nationalists in fight against illegal immigrantsTexas nationalists are urging Governor Rick Perry to take action to stop the US federal government from sending illegal immigrants to the Lone Star State. |
Yet, many Americans remained brainwashed to the original mindset of needing these wars. I challenge anyone to read comments in Youtube. Go type Iraq War and read away. The Sept 11, 2001 attack is being used as an excuse. Even though all evidence whether inside job or not, still proves the blame of 9/11 lies in Washington D.C. Forget Bush was playing Golf while receiving warnings, according to official versions. Iraq was used against Iran during the 80s since America was humiliated by losing their Shah, their control of Iran and the embassy hostage. Then the first Gulf War absolutely destroyed majority of infrastructure, oil lines were set ablaze, military destroyed. They then spent the whole 1990's with a no fly zone and sanctions. All get rich under scandals of the oil for food program. Then Bush Jr. attacks Iraq a second time. They say foreign fighters are there? LOOK AT YOURSELVES!!! Americans are the foreign fighters, they want you gone! They say they go to help those women and children, but before war why weren't they dying in the thousands? 1 million are already displaced. Iraq government has been set up by the US and the oil fields have all been set up for Western Oil companies. How convenient. Yet, there is Afghanistan, that is different, it was the Taliban right? Even though the terrorists on the plane were Saudi. Can't attack a friend. So it was Osama and Taliban. Karzai steps in as President, Bush's Pal! Another Oil tycoon. Yeah, this whole war is just!!! These Veterans are much more wise than these young fellows in America that believe they help foreign nations by joining the Army. Listen to these Vets! They know how it feels to be used for an agenda.
Here is an example of the finest in American citizenship. Too bad they do not have more like him in government. He and others like him are the hope of America and the world.