Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 6/1/12: John Fortier Memorial Day Peace Vigil

The following comments are from John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who has held peace vigils each week since just before President Bush ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq in March, 2003. This summary is of his U.S. Memorial Day (5-28-12), his second peace vigil of the week.

It is ironic that U.S. presidents make such a big show for the media on a holiday like Memorial Day, speaking of U.S. veterans as "heroes," yet continually put them in harm's way for now numerous undeclared wars, such as the 10 1/2 year old Afghan War. The nicest way to actually honor those veterans would be to return them home safely to their families, and stop all the killing the U.S. is doing.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 5/27/12: A Profound Gandhi Quote That Describes The U.S.'s Wars

This brief Gandhi quote has helped me to keep the U.S.'s and NATO's wars in perspective and dear reader perhaps it will help you as well:

Notes From Peace Demonstration, 5/26/12: John Fortier's Peace Vigil Last Night

John Fortier is a Korean War Veteran, Peace Activist and he is a husband for 54 years and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as a retired school teacher who volunteers his time to teach. John began his peace vigil in March, 2003 just before President Bush ordered the Iraq Invasion and occupation, and he has held his peace vigil nearly every Friday, and other special days as well, such as Memorial Day and Veteran's Day ever since. The following are his comments from last night's vigil, comments he completed at 3:39 am California time.

John references Ron Kovic, who is a peace activist and writer, who was severely injured in battle during the Vietnam War. In 1989, from Ron's best selling autobiography, Oliver Stone made an Academy Award winning movie about Ron's life, "Born on the Fourth of July," starring Tom Cruise as Ron. John and Ron have gotten to know each other over the course of John's peace vigils. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Kovic

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 5/21/12: Thousands Protest At NATO Chicago Meeting

At a NATO Conference that includes President Obama, thousands of protesters marched, although massive security kept their march at least several blocks from the NATO meeting. Among the leaders are 41 former U.S. soldiers who fought in Iraq and/or Afghanistan who now regret having fought and want to give their medals back. This is the largest protest in the 63 year history of NATO.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 5/18/12: What Is The Impact On The Brain Of Explosions Near The Soldiers?

Science is beginning to connect the explosive force of bombs that detonate near soldiers as being similar in impact to the brain as that incurred by football players and boxers who take repeated hits.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 5/17/12: Will War Always Be Our Destiny?

Just in my lifetime, my nation, the U.S. has fought World War ll, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Grenada War, a near World War lll during the Cold War, two Iraq Wars, the Afghan War, the Libyan War and even the War on Drugs.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 5/5/12: John Fortier Peace Vigil

Last night, I joined John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather for an hour in his peace vigil. John has held this vigil each Friday since just before President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003. For me two things really stood out:

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/28/12: John Fortier Peace Vigil

For the full hour I joined John Fortier's peace vigil, it was warmly attended by a Swiss couple in their 60's, a couple with duel U.S. citizenship who have lived in the U.S. for many years. They have been either together or married for a total of 34 years.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/22/12: Military Families Speak Out

Dear Reader, In America there has been stunningly little organized opposition to the U.S.'s wars. But one notable exception has been from the people most impacted by these wars, the people who have lost their loved ones in them or who are caring for their loved ones with severe injuries because of them, Military Families Speak Out (MFSO).

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/21/12: John Fortier's Peace Vigil Attracted Attendees

78 year old John Fortier, a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher and a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather has held a weekly Redondo Beach, CA peace vigil since right before President Bush ordered the invasion and occupation of Iraq in March, 2003. Often, Jon has held his vigil with no other visible support, just one man, a peace flag and a peace sign.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/20/12: In Iraq 69 Killed, 176 Wounded Yesterday

All Hell broke loose again across Iraq yesterday, as within a 75 minute period explosions and gunfire took the lives of at least 69 people and severely injured 176 more. http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2012/04/19/iraq-carnage-69-killed-176-wounded/

Notes From Peace Deomonstrations, 4/19/12: "A war vet's lonely plea for peace"

Dear Reader, yesterday a Los Angeles area newspaper, the Daily Breeze, published a piece I provided to them about John Fortier and his eight year lonely peace vigil, in Redondo Beach, CA. John is a 78 year old Korean War veteran and a retired school teacher, who has been a husband for 54 years and he is a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/16/12: Taliban Attack Across Afghanistan

For 18 hours, on Sunday and ending Monday morning, the Taliban launched a major attack in Kabul, hitting embassies, the Afghan parliament and military bases, and they attacked in three other cities as well. With the assistance of the U.S. military and NATO, the Taliban attacks were finally ended

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/14/12: Another Young Soldier Killed

About two weeks ago in Afghanistan on March 30th, Roberto Cazarez, 24 years of age, of Harbor City, California was blown up. Not a big news event in the U.S. as nearly everyone but his wife, his family, his friends, his teachers and his military brothers-in-arms went on about their business as normal, unaware of what happened to this young man.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 4/6/12: John Fortier Peace Vigil

Tonight, Good Friday to Christians and the first night of Passover to Jews, from 4 pm to 5 pm in Redondo Beach, CA I joined Korean War Veteran John Fortier and his one man peace vigil. John, a retired school teacher and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather has held these peace vigils each Friday night and on other special occasions since March, 2003 just before President Bush ordered the Iraq invasion.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 3/23/12: John Fortier's Peace Vigil

Tonight I joined John Fortier's Redondo Beach, CA vigil for an hour. He has held these weekly vigils since March, 2003 just before President George W. Bush launched the Iraq War. John is a Korean War veteran, retired school teacher, a husband of nearly 54 years and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 3/21/12: Hell Again Unleashed In Iraq

On the 9th Anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq (3/20-3/21) explosions and shootings took place in 8 cities across Iraq, including in Baghdad next to the heavily secured Green Zone. When the killing stopped, 63 people were dead and 257 were injured.

Rescuing Homeless U.S. Veterans From The Streets: Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 3/15/12

Forgotten, left to wander the streets that become their home, this sadly is the fate of thousands of U.S. veterans after they return home from Afghanistan or Iraq. But real estate developer Matt Heslin and his partner are doing something about it.

A Lonely Vigil For Peace: Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 3/11/12

His green peace flag flapped in the breeze, as one man sat alone among the heavy traffic in front of him at Pacific Coast Highway and Knob Hill in Redondo Beach, CA. This man is 78 year old John Fortier, a Korean War veteran and a husband of 54 years, a father, grandfather and a great grandfather and a retired school teacher who still volunteer teaches.

Billions Of Dollars Disppear In Afghanistan: Notes From Peace Demonstratons, 3/9/12

Some senior officials of the U.S. government are upset because it was discovered a year or two ago, the Kabul Bank was looted of nearly a billion dollars by some top government and banking officials and no one has been prosecuted for it. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/world/asia/corruption-remains-intractable-in-afghanistan-under-karzai-government.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Mutiple Bombings In Iraq Among Attacks Killing 23 Iraqis, Injuring 44 More: Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 3/8/12

Dear Reader, The horrors in Iraq continued yesterday as men and likely women and children were killed or injured, causing a horrific impact on their families. http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2012/03/07/double-bombing-in-tal-afar-among-attacks-that-killed-23-iraqis/

Mass Bombings Across Iraq: Notes From Candlelight Vigils, 12/24/12

Baghdad 14 other Iraq cities were bombed yesterday in a brutal attack that killed at least 55 men, women and children and wounded at least 220 others. One of the bombings was outside a grade school severely injuring many of its children and traumatizing them all. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/more-than-50-killed-in-wave-of-bombings-across-iraq/2012/02/23/gIQAEI6zUR_story.html

Afghan Protests Rage: Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 12/24/12

Afghans by the tens of thousands are protesting the U.S. military burning of the Korans and are enraged by the killings and severe injuries inflicted upon them since this protest began three days ago. And yesterday, two U.S. soldiers were killed.

At Least 6 Afghans Killed, Many More Wounded In Nationwide Protests Caused By U.S. Military Burning Of Korans/ Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 12/23/12

The U.S. military disposed of some Korans, the Muslim holy book, by burning them. As a result, angry demonstrations took place in many parts of Afghanistan against "the occupiers" as the U.S. and NATO were called, given the U.S.'s over 10 year occupation of Afghanistan.

Israel Approving 695 More Housing Units In Palestinian Territory: Notes From Peace Demonstrations, 2/23/12

Israel is in the process of approving 695 more housing units in Palestinian territory, which means more Israeli settlers will make their home there. This means as a controversial minority, they must be protected by the Israeli military. But more important, if Israel is to negotiate a peace agreement with the Palestinians, a likely major sticking point will be the removal of these settlements or to put them under the protection of the Palestinian Authority.