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November 26, 2006
Wrecking with the IVAW
This week we had a busload of folks from Iraq Veterans Against the War in town gutting out houses. I want to say "a busload of kids", because from my aged point of view, when I first saw them I thought they were another bunch of college kids...except they've all been to Iraq, as infantrymen, engineers, and military police. They committed to serve their country only to have that commitment used and betrayed by their government, and now they're down here serving their fellow Americans.
We did the houses of two veterans this weekend. Vietnam vet Rene Peterson, who runs the Louisiana chapter of Forgotten Warriors, escaped from the second story of his Gentilly home with his wife by swimming to the 610 overpass on the back of a floating sign. And veteran Tommy Dunne has worked with the Arabi Wrecking Krewe for a long time while his own house in New Orleans East had yet to be gutted.
During breaks we talked about the war. I talked about the flood and the barriers to returning home that most New Orleanians face. They talked about depleted uranium testing and PTSD treatment. They were outraged at what they said was the disparity between how much our government spends for engineering battalions to rebuild in Iraq, while a ragtag bunch of volunteers with a pickup truck get to rebuild an American city.
At one point, we're deep into ripping sheetrock and pulling nails when I heard...you've got to be kidding me...an ice cream truck? Out here? Then the sound of tools hittting the floor and the pitter-patter of Tyvek-clad feet running out the door.
IVAW founder Kelly Dougherty was with us both days, and she frickin' rocks. Give this group your support, they walk the walk.
Posted by ray at November 26, 2006 8:59 AM | Permalink
Categories: [katrina | new orleans ]
Tags: arabi wrecking krewe, iraq veterans against the war, katrina ivaw veterans iraq, new orleans
Comments
Well done, Ray (again and again and again). These guys look to be real heroes. I'm not surprised they found you and your AWK folks, putting the "give" in the Thanksgiving holiday.
Posted by: Sophmom at November 26, 2006 9:33 AM
Blessings to all of you!
Y'all are doing wonderful things for the folks in the city. We could sure us more of your energy and devotion around here. (Or maybe we could all go and gut the White House.)
Namaste!
Posted by: GentillyGirl at November 26, 2006 2:11 PM
Actually I've seen a few ice cream trucks while driving through the lakeview/gentilly area at least. The drive to school hasn't gotten any less depressing, though it does have working lights now.
Posted by: candice at November 27, 2006 12:54 AM
The IVAW folks are great. I know another of the founders: Tim Goodrich, whom I got to know while working on the congressional campaign of Marcy Winograd here in L.A. Bright young man and a sweet guy.
I know what you mean, though - he's 26 and I think of him as a kid (which, considering I've seen him climb doorways, is understandable), but he's also one of the most mature people I know. Recently he started a political action committee - Iraq Veterans for Progress and is its executive director.
I second Ray - give IVAW (and IVFP) your support. They totally rock.
Posted by: Carol Elaine at November 27, 2006 2:07 PM
Please share this....
View Video: (http://www.neworleansvfp.org/node/3958)
Members of Iraq Veterans Against War, www.ivaw.org Darrell Anderson, Michael Blake, Ethen Kuruel, Mike Cuzzort and Iraq War veteran and resister, Kyle Snyder www.couragetoresist.org talk about their experiences while volunteering to rebuild New Orleans with the Arabi Wrecking krewe www.arabiwreckingkrewe.org. They compare their work in New Orleans to their work in Iraq. They also talk about how the experience change them and how volunteering to rebuild New Orleans provides them with an opportunity to heal from the wounds and emotions of war.
Music provided by Michael Frante, and Dennis Kyne. Video produced by New Orleans, shot and edited by Gordon Soderberg.
Gordon Soderberg
(504) 613-0174
gordon@neworleansvfp.org
http://www.neworleansvfp.org
Please contribute to this valued project:
New Orleans Voices For Peace in care of:
Plenty International
PO Box 394
Summertown, TN 38483
(931) 964-4323 or 964-4864
http://www.plenty.org
Posted by: Gordon Soderberg at December 7, 2006 12:00 AM
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