From Crawford, Texas

(I reprint this with permission of the Rev. Danita Noland.  Let us think of ways to spread the word.  You can quote from her letter.)

Dear Colleagues,

This past weekend, I traveled to Crawford Texas to participate in the
anti-war movement Cindy Sheehan has initiated with her stand for peace and
truth. Cindy is the mother of Casey Sheehan who was killed in Iraq in April
of 2004. Cindy has vowed to stay there on the side of the road, the place
that is now known as Camp Casey, until one of three things happen. She wants
to meet with President Bush, and he has declined to do so. She will stay
there until he meets with her, or his vacation ends and he leaves Crawford,
or until she has been arrested.

My time at Camp Casey was an amazing experience. It was powerful. People are
realizing ordinary people CAN make a difference, if they act on their
convictions with courage. It only took one woman, Cindy, to say "I will not
be moved", to inspire hundreds, if not thousands by now, to drop what ever
they are doing and join in this effort. I had so many wonderful experiences,
and stories to tell of people's generosity, courage, and heart's being
changed. I met so many people who have lost loved ones in this war - and
they want the truth from our president in regards to why this war was
initiated. Not what good they can point to now, like elections and schools
being built. They want to know why the American people were led to believe
there was a connection between Iraq and 9/11 and Al-Qaeda (proven wrong by
the 9/11 Commission); that there were WMD's in Iraq (proven wrong by the
inspectors); and that this was a war of last resort responding to an
imminent threat (proven to be a lie by the Downing Street Memo). This is a
stand for truth and peace.

If you are still on your summer vacation - I urge you to join this effort.
It is hard to articulate the fullness of my experience there - I'm still
overwhelmed and processing it all. If you can't actually go there, there are
many ways to help. They need food. They need tarps for shade. They need
water. I am going back at the end of the week for Friday and Saturday. The
camp is being moved out of the ditch it was in to the property of a ranch
owner who has offered his help. They will have an acre of land to set up
Camp Casey, so there is more room for people to bring a tent and stay there.
The new location will be even closer to George Bush's ranch than where they
are currently located.  Here is a link for the Crawford Peace House where
donations can be sent: http://www.crawfordpeacehouse.org/.

I believe something of great importance is happening there in Crawford, a
return of the power to the people, the power to make a difference in this
country and world. Cindy is an amazing woman. I was able to meet her - she
talks to any and everyone who shows up no matter how tired she is, no matter
how many interviews she has given. This movement needs to continue. And
please keep Camp Casey in your prayers. In addition to the man who fired his
rifle near by on Sunday morning, we heard gunfire both nights I was there.
And last night, a man drove over the crosses that had been set up as a
memorial to the soldiers who have died in Iraq. One of the crosses must have
punctured a tire on his pick-up truck, because he had a tire blow out and
was taken into custody and federal charges have been brought against him.
They are not in friendly territory and their safety is a concern.

Please, try to go.

Keeping the faith,
Rev. Danita Noland
Northwoods UU Church
The Woodlands, Texas