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Dear
CODEPINKer,
The
war in Iraq is breaking our bank, our bodies, and our hearts! With
Valentine's Day approaching, we'd like to share with you the heart-breaking
love letter that military wife Oriana Futrell wrote to her husband
in Iraq.
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Hello
My Love,
Valentine's
Day is rapidly approaching, and with its impending arrival
I am filled with mixed emotions. We have discussed how like
Christmas, New Years, and our birthdays, Valentine's Day is
yet another holiday we will not celebrate. Yet another holiday
we will pretend isn't happening, promising one another we
will make up for it next year when you will hopefully be home.
Walking
through the grocery store, I see the stacks of chocolates
and people waiting in the checkout lines, arms full with red
rose bouquets to be given to loved ones. I am instantly filled
with sadness, not for a lack of chocolates and roses, yet
rather the lack of your presence. It has been eight months
since I last saw your beautiful smile and kissed you goodbye.
A day that is meant to celebrate people's love and companionship
is for me a day of intense loneliness. The only highlight
will be crossing it off my calendar just before bed. How many
more months to go?
I
wish people could understand what I am going through. At times,
I am filled with intense anger at the realization that so
many people really don't get it. "Didn't you know what
you were getting yourself into when you married a soldier?"
they ask me. "No, I really didn't," is all I can
say in response. I took no class on sleepless nights, nightmares,
and anxiety attacks. No one explained to me the incredibly
debilitating fear I would experience with the knowledge that
my dearest love is in harm's way and no one sat me down to
explain how intensely my heart would break at the mere thought
of another Valentine's Day alone.
In addition to my sadness and anger, I find myself incredibly
frustrated and perplexed as I ask myself for what is all this
suffering? The Iraqis are worse off every day, and we are
less safe here at home. America's global reputation and credibility
lay in ruin, while countless Iraqis and Americans are dead.
The
fact that with the arrival and passing of Valentine's Day
I am brought that much closer to the time at which we will
be reunited is what gets me through. Though the day remains
uncertain, I eagerly look forward to the time at which I will
once again be in your arms planting soft kisses all over your
face. How badly I want you home now. How desperately I want
this nightmare to be over. Stay safe, my love.
With
all my heart,
Oriana
Futrell
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Next
Wednesday, on Valentine's Day, we invite you to visit your representative's
local office with the "Stop Funding War" message. You
can deliver our fair
trade chocolate medallions with the message "Be
Sweet--Stop Funding the War!", and take them a copy
of Oriana's letter. Ask your representative to consider all those
who are spending Valentine's Day alone because their loved ones
are at war.
If
you're frustrated by your rep's lacks of action to defund the war,
take a step further and put your heart on the line.
Join the Occupation
Project, an 8-week campaign we just launched to "occupy"
the offices of representatives who insist on funding the war. So
far we've occupied the offices of Senators
John McCain and Hillary
Clinton. Local occupations are being planned
in 20 districts around the country from Fairbanks, Alaska
to Huntsville, Alabama. Be sure to check
out our creative ideas to help you stage your own occupation.
For
Oriana and all those with loved ones off at war,
Dana,
Farida, Gael, Gayle, Jodie, Liz, Medea, Nancy, Patricia, Rae, Samantha,
and Sonia
P.S.
- Check
our
on-line store for peaceful and playful Valentines Day
gifts for the ones you love.
- Eve
Ensler and V-Day joined CODEPINK
at our women's convergence in Washington last week. Let's
join V-Day in their ongoing fight to end violence against
women and reclaim peace by celebrating the V words- Victory,
Valentine, and Vagina. Click here
to find a performance of the Vagina Monologues in your community.
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