Amnesty International

[greenpaul]

I'm an elected member of a national committee of the UK Section of AI and have just come back from our annual conference in Coventry last weekend. One of our international guest speakers was Bobby Muller, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He talked to us in his capacity as co-founder (and Nobel Peace prizewinner) of the International Committee to Ban Landmines. A very inspiring speaker. Are any other Rudies members or supporters of AI around the world? I'm a group trainer and also give talks on AI.

Paul

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Good morning Paul,

Nope I'm not a member, nor even a supporter of AI... That said though I am a veteran and must say that I am sickened by the long standing position of our (United States of America) governments position on the use of landmines... For a country with a government that claims to be so loving of freedom, peace and individual protections of people of all nations I find it difficult to believe that our government not only refuses to sign the international treaties banning the use of landmines but still plants them in the millions on foreign shores where most often the victims of these calious acts are innocent farmers, children or livestock.
I would love to blame King George W for this, but then this is one of the few things that was really screwed up long before he or other members his family proclaimed monarchy over this once free nation. I've heard tell that mines are Vice President Cheney's new choice of Weapon for when he goes Quail or Attorney hunting as he is less likely to miss... Don't get me wrong, there is nothing funny about the use of Landmines, 20 years after we have brought or troops home from these foreign shores children of other lands will still be paying for our governments total lack of morailty with hands, feet, legs and lives...

Best to all

R. from pa

Ps... GreenPaul... welcome to the board

[DaveM]

I have worked with Amnesty on and off for the past 20 years, mainly taking action in cases involving imprisoned journalists (my field, after all....when they come for me I certainly hope someone will take notice). Am also impressed by their opposition to the death penalty, which I share.

Over the years I have worked on behalf of poets imprisoned for their words in Africa, for women snatched off the streets in several continents for writing the wrong words or wearing the wrong clothing or picking the wrong life partner. And I literally wore out a typewriter over several of the young people who stood up to tanks in Tiananmen Square.

That said, I do not agree 100% with Amnesty's choices of "prisoners of conscience" (OK, I too have a few questions about Leonard Peltier, but still....). But I'm damned glad they are out there, and one of their stickers rides on the back of my car always.

[greenpaul]

Thanks, Randy, Betty and Dave M,
for your responses. We are a large family in this community of Rudies and as such are a broad church of views and opinions. I hope no one minds me checking out the Amnesty angle here. I'm really looking forward to the LRC and I'm leaving early Saturday am with my partner, Gini. She's never seen Janis live before although I've inundated her with the Club Cafe dvd. It's nice to be back.

Paul

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Paul, your welcome and it's never a problem to hunt for opinions here...Yes we are an opinionated group, still even with differing opinions we all agree on some basic facts of life.... Janis is great... and Redjack looks silly in a kilt....

Best to all

R. from Pa

[greenpaul]

Being a true Scot from Dundee, I do occasionally wear a kilt and have been told I suit it. Something to do with the calf muscles!!. We are all unique but there are always more things bring us together than split us. We have a phrase in Scotland "We're all Jock Thomson's bairns" which I think says it all.
(Jock must have been a busy laddie)

Paul

[Bat]

I had a friend tell me once that you have to have 'sassy cheeks' to make a kilt swing well!
Welcome back, Paul...pictures please!

[DaveM]

Who in the hell saw Redjack in a kilt? And did they get pictures? Inquiring minds wanna know.

[dragonlady]

I haven't but it's been rather fun imagining the last few minutes...:D

Oh RJ...come 'ere I have something for you to try on....

-di

[DaveM]

My brother is fond of donning kilt (in the family tartan which goes back to 1100-something), sporran, and shign dubh when the occasion demands. Mind he has never learned to play the bagpipes.....if truth be told I think he is afraid of them.

Mind, we're talking about a guy who brought back canned haggis as a souvenir from two trips (losing a bit of the second lot to Customs out of concern over mad cow disease--would someone sane eat this stuff?). He claims to love it....of course, that's after at least half a pint of Scotch....