One Pink Nail

A local writer gave me permission to post a copy of this letter to my blog:

This was sent to the Oregonian 6/24/04, in response to
a welcome op-ed piece. Who knows if they'll print it,
however.


To the Editor:

First of all, my heartfelt sadness for the
Wessler family and their sacrifice. I, too, am
reminded of 1969 as we continue to see lies and
distortions, and there seems to be no end to the
avarice. My husband was 17 in 1969, and knows well
the fear of facing what no one ever really believes he
will be asked to do.go kill other human beings for
something you don't believe in. Now, between the two
of us, we have four sons and a daughter, ages 25, 22,
20, 17 and 13. And no, Mr. Wessler, we will NOT trade
any of these children, or their friends, for a Bronze
star, a folded flag, or even a "live" but
permanently-scarred-and
damaged-more-deeply-than-we-will-ever-know "survivor"
of a War for Money. So, if I may, I propose that in
honor of our sons and daughters, in memory of Dan
Wessler, and for the sake of all of our futures, we
whip a little resistance on 'em. I have painted one
fingernail on my left hand hot pink, and I will keep
it there until this nonsense STOPS! A grassroots
movement in the name of restoring some sort of sane
leadership. One Pink Nail. One=solidarity.
HotPink=the opposite of olive drab. Nail=We are
tough. We mean it. We mean to stand together to stop
these tired old men that we elected king. Join us. I
can't say it better than the Irish folk song: "What a
different world we'd have today/ if all the mothers
would simply say/ I didn't raise my son to be a
soldier."

PS Men are welcome, but only the very brave.!

Stand with us. Pass it on.