Peace Talk — Summer 2006
The Quarterly Newsletter of Peace Action MaineIn April, a town hall meeting was held at the University of Southern Maine to air the public’s feelings about the Iraq war. Many people testified. Among them was Mary Beth Sullivan. Following is an excerpt of her testimony.
This week I denied services for a preschooler who might have benefited from some special education. Why? Because the state agency I work for is attempting to absorb a $7 million budget cut. This necessitates becoming stricter in our interpretation of who is eligible for services. I lie awake knowing I just did my bit to pay for the war in Iraq!
This week, in my second job, I heard about the indignities women experience when they have to make room on the floor for men in the city’s homeless shelter. I listened to homeless people describe the serious medical conditions that emerge when dental care is not available.
My government takes our hard-earned tax dollars and tortures prisoners, builds cluster bombs, deploys star wars systems that don’t work, plans the next generation of nuclear weapons, spends 2 billion dollars a week in Iraq without accounting for those expenditures, thus guaranteeing fine profits for the military industrial complex and its investors.
What lies between me and a very serious bout of depression are the people in this room—this involved citizenry that refuses to give up. And the courage of the second district’s Rep. Mike Michaud who eloquently refused to vote for the latest war appropriation. And, Michigan’s Rep. John Conyers, who stands tall with dignity as he is relegated by the House Republican Leadership to a tiny room in the basement to hold hearings on the war and on impeachment. Rep. Conyers understands that true power exists in exposing the truth, and putting its documentation in the hands of an engaged citizenry.
It is time to end this occupation of Iraq.
It is time to stop robbing the social programs in this country, and to cut off the funding for this war.