A letter from Ehren's mom

Carolyn Ho with her son Lt. Ehren Watada. June 16, 2006. Photo: Jeff Paterson

I am the mother of Lt. Ehren Watada, an officer stationed at Ft. Lewis. He is part of a Stryker brigade unit that deployed last week to Iraq. Despite an unflinching commitment to his men and to democratic ideals, he chose not to accompany his men. His decision came through much soul-searching and through research and consultation with experts across disciplines, inside and outside of the military and the government.

After weighing the evidence, he came to the conclusion that he could no longer be silent while atrocities were committed in the name of democracy. He could no longer be a tool of an administration that used deception and lies to make the case for pre-emptive war.

As a member of the armed forces, sworn to uphold the US Constitution, he refuses to blindly participate in a war of aggression, an illegal war that undermines who we are as a nation and violates international law. Implicit in his oath as an officer is the duty to disobey all unlawful orders for; to carry out these orders renders him an accomplice to a criminal act. Furthermore, to order his men to participate in a war of aggression multiplies his guilt a thousand fold. His conscience will not permit him to do so. He believes that he can best serve them by taking a stand against the war. In so doing, he demonstrates that one does not relinquish the freedom to choose what is right, even in the military, and that the freedom to choose what is right transcends the allegiance to man and institutions.

As a mother, I have evolved from fearing for his safety and for his future to the realization that there is a higher purpose to all that has transpired. My son no longer stands at the crossroads. He has chosen “the road less traveled.” Come what may, he is committed to staying the course.

I invite you to affirm your support of Lt. Ehren Watada on June 27th, National Day of Action (details below). On this day, groups across the country will participate in peaceful demonstrations, prayer services, candle light vigils, parades, leafleting, visitations to recruitment stations to provide counsel to prospective recruits, etc. Please contact your local organization for details.

My deepest thanks,

Carolyn Ho
Ehren’s Mom

National Day of Action to Stand Up with Lt. Watada

Participating events include:

Ft. Lewis, WA - 7am - Morning bannering on the Exit 119 (DuPont Rd.) bridge over Interstate 5.
Ft. Lewis, WA - 4pm - Bannering and support rally on the Exit 119 (DuPont) bridge over Interstate 5.
Atlanta, GA - 10:30am - Press Conference, The King Center, 450 Auburn Ave.
Atlanta, GA - Noon - Vigil, State Capitol
Boston, MA - 5:30pm - Rally, Brewer Fountain, Park St. subway
Charlotte, NC - 6:30pm - Speaker/"Sir No Sir" Film Showing, Public Library, Main Branch, Francis Auditorium
Cleveland, OH - 4:30pm - Rally, Federal Building
Corvallis, OR - 6pm - Rally, Benton County Courthouse
Evanston, IL - 5pm - Vigil and gathering, Fountain Square
Eugene, OR - 8am and 5pm - Freeway bannering over I-5
Ft. Lauderdale, FL - 5pm - Support Rally, Military Recruitment Office, 1406 North SR 7
Harrisburg, PA - Noon - Vigil, 3rd and Walnut
Hilo, HI - 4pm - Support vigil, Kamehameha Ave. and Pauahi St.
Honolulu, HI - 4pm - Rally and bannering, Ft. Shafter, just before Moanalua Gardens
Honolulu, HI - 4pm - Vigil and sign holding, Thomas Square, King Street side
Kansas City, MI - 5pm - Support vigil, 63rd St. & Ward Pkwy
Medford, OR - 4pm - Vigil and support rally, corner of Riverside and Barnett
Nanuet, NY - 7pm Support rally, Rt 59 & Middletown Road
New York City, NY - 5pm - Rally at Chambers St Recruiting Station, Chambers between W Broadway and Greenwich
Oakland, CA - Noon - Vigil, Oakland Federal Building
Oklahoma City, OK - 10am - Rally, S. Plaza of State Capitol Bldg. (on Lincoln Ave)
Philadelphia, PA - Noon - Leafleting and support protest, National Constitution Visitor Center, Market St. between 5th & 6th St.
Pittsburgh, PA - Noon - Counter-recruitment picket, Army Recruiting Station, Market Square, Downtown
Seattle, WA - 5pm - Vigil and sign holding: (1) Westlake Park, 4th and Pine Streets; and (2) Greenlake, East Green Lake Way N and N 64th St.
San Diego, CA - Noon - Support rally, Federal Building, 880 Front St.
San Francisco, CA - 5:00pm - Support rally, Justin Herman Plaza (Market and Embarcadero)
Tacoma, WA - 7am - Bannering: (1) McKinley Way overpass above I-5; and (2) Pedestrian Bridge over Route 16 near Narrows Bridge.
Tacoma, WA - 4pm - Bannering: (1) McKinley Way overpass above I-5; and (2) Pedestrian Bridge over Route 16 near Narrows Bridge.
Toronto, Canada - 4:30pm - Support vigil, across from US Consulate, University Ave. & Armoury St.
Ventura, CA - 6pm - Support rally, Ventura County Government Center, Telephone Rd. & Victoria Ave.

For additional information about listed events, or to have your event:
www.CourageToResist.org

Select for larger image. Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace rallies support for Lt. Ehren Watada on June 25th in Olympia, Washington's state capitol, in warm up for the June 27th National Day of Action. Photo: Jeff Paterson

www.ThankYouLt.org