2008 Woodie Awards
Hundreds Mourn the 2,000 Mark
Issac Stolzenbach
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: News
The Orlando chapter of Code Pink: Women for Peace, a "woman initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement," gathered on the Rosalind St. side of Lake Eola on Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. to bring attention to the 2,000 American service members who died in the Iraq war.
Though only 16 people RSVP'ed for the event, citizens walking and exercising around Lake Eola stopped to help. By the end of the event, there were close to 200 people holding up the string of names of the fallen troops-doubled up in most places-that stretched from Central Ave. to Robinson St. and around the corner to Broadway St. Their motto for the day: 2000 TOO MANY-$200B TOO MUCH!
The same question was on everyone's lips: How many more before an exit strategy?
The facilitator of the candlelight vigil, Becky Murphy, maintained her focus on a single event, "An exit strategy is the first step towards peace, which is what we want, an exit strategy with measurable results . . . we feel this is the best way to honor our troops. We're not speaking of any of the other conflicts going on right now, specifically Iraq."
Facilitators of the vigil believe that there is growing decent in America against the war in Iraq, but ordinary people are scared to say anything in fear that they are part of a fringe ideology. "We're here to give everybody a chance to express themselves . . . to allow people who think the same way we do to have a voice," stated Chris Field whose son is in the Army. She continued, "Individuals are afraid to speak up by themselves. Hopefully, if enough people start yelling then they'll stop the killing."
President George W. Bush stands firm and repeatedly calls for diligence in the Iraq war. "Each loss of life is heartbreaking," he said. "The best way to honor the sacrifice of our fallen troops is to complete the mission and win the war on terror."
Sandy Adams, a facilitator of the event and member of both Code Pink and Move On.org, commented on President Bush's current talking-point campaign, "The fact that we have to fight and continuing killing our troops to honor those who have died is ludicrous!"
One veteran, refused to be named here because he is still on active duty, vomited at the scene after finally giving in to reading the names of the dead, "It's an absolutely vulgar sight; perhaps this will help people wake up to the toll this war is taking . . . on everyone."
October was the deadliest month in Iraq since last January with the death toll exceeding 90 troops. The White House is struggling for support as it is already under siege from the indictments of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). Both support for the president and his handling of the war are slipping. The latest ABC poll shows disapproval for the president at an all-time high: 61%, and an AP poll shows disapproval for the president's handling of the war at 62%.
The question remains: How many more before an exit strategy?
Though only 16 people RSVP'ed for the event, citizens walking and exercising around Lake Eola stopped to help. By the end of the event, there were close to 200 people holding up the string of names of the fallen troops-doubled up in most places-that stretched from Central Ave. to Robinson St. and around the corner to Broadway St. Their motto for the day: 2000 TOO MANY-$200B TOO MUCH!
The same question was on everyone's lips: How many more before an exit strategy?
The facilitator of the candlelight vigil, Becky Murphy, maintained her focus on a single event, "An exit strategy is the first step towards peace, which is what we want, an exit strategy with measurable results . . . we feel this is the best way to honor our troops. We're not speaking of any of the other conflicts going on right now, specifically Iraq."
Facilitators of the vigil believe that there is growing decent in America against the war in Iraq, but ordinary people are scared to say anything in fear that they are part of a fringe ideology. "We're here to give everybody a chance to express themselves . . . to allow people who think the same way we do to have a voice," stated Chris Field whose son is in the Army. She continued, "Individuals are afraid to speak up by themselves. Hopefully, if enough people start yelling then they'll stop the killing."
President George W. Bush stands firm and repeatedly calls for diligence in the Iraq war. "Each loss of life is heartbreaking," he said. "The best way to honor the sacrifice of our fallen troops is to complete the mission and win the war on terror."
Sandy Adams, a facilitator of the event and member of both Code Pink and Move On.org, commented on President Bush's current talking-point campaign, "The fact that we have to fight and continuing killing our troops to honor those who have died is ludicrous!"
One veteran, refused to be named here because he is still on active duty, vomited at the scene after finally giving in to reading the names of the dead, "It's an absolutely vulgar sight; perhaps this will help people wake up to the toll this war is taking . . . on everyone."
October was the deadliest month in Iraq since last January with the death toll exceeding 90 troops. The White House is struggling for support as it is already under siege from the indictments of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). Both support for the president and his handling of the war are slipping. The latest ABC poll shows disapproval for the president at an all-time high: 61%, and an AP poll shows disapproval for the president's handling of the war at 62%.
The question remains: How many more before an exit strategy?