When it's not your child he sends...

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Monday November 30, 2009 · 8:53 PM PST

2009/11/30 · 20:53

When it's not your child amongst the 30,000 being sent, it's easy to make an intellectual argument. When it's not your spouse who will soon be face to face with death and dismemberment, you may gloss over the human costs of war. And when it's not you who is awake at night, praying that the brutal winds of fate don't bring a casualty officer to your door, you might miss what escalation in Afghanistan really means.

Dante Zappala

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Tuesday September 08, 2009 · 10:16 PM PDT

2009/09/08 · 22:16

For those that know me, I try to pride myself on being well spoken, articulate and nuanced when it comes to talking about the wars. But having read this article, I can only say:

This is absolute, total fucking bullshit. What the fuck are we doing in Afghanistan?

Dante Zappala

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Friday February 27, 2009 · 8:29 AM PST

2009/02/27 · 08:29

3 minutes a year. That seems to be what I'm averaging on national television. It's impossible to say it all, but this morning, I gave it my best shot on MSNBC. They solicited my reaction to the troop withdrawal plan that the President will unveil this morning at Camp Lejeune.
I got the call because my brother was killed in Iraq in 2004. I am thankful that MSNBC would ask the opinion of a military family.

However, what I'm more interested in now is soliciting your reactions.

Dante Zappala

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Monday December 22, 2008 · 5:13 PM PST

2008/12/22 · 17:13

The old adage says that nobody is perfect. Kevin challenged that in every way possible. Insanely generous, loving, and witty, he defined beauty.
And this didn't happen in a vacuum. Kevin is the product of a beautiful family. He was raised by lesbian parents who made a loving Christian home for children with special needs. He was their eldest. He is survived by them, a brother and two sisters.

And now, with political and religious hate swirling in this arctic cold, I feel beaten back, at a loss to fight these battles. With Rick Warren set to take center stage, my prayer (one of many this evening) is that he look at Kevin's mothers and see just how right they are with God and where he has gone astray.

Dante Zappala

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Tuesday November 11, 2008 · 3:20 PM PST

2008/11/11 · 15:20

Thanks, Sher. It’s Veterans Day, big guy, I’m sure you know that. Today we are asked to remember and thank you, but you know this is every day for me. I’ve been thanking you since we were simply brothers coming up together. And I’ve been remembering you every day since your tragic death 4 years ago in the Baghdad streets. Wanted to let you know--it ain’t gonna stop.

Dante Zappala

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Wednesday November 05, 2008 · 6:00 PM PST

2008/11/05 · 18:00

Don't think of an elephant and what's the first thing that comes to mind?
And so it goes that I try not to think, 'Dad should be here.'
Phillies win.
Obama wins.
It's a boy.
He's missing it all.

This campaign has produced a montage of personal narratives. People of all backgrounds stepped up to tell their stories of inspiration, heartbreak, and fate. We've read, we've yelled, we've cried. Empathy is rampant.

This was my dad's strategy all along...

Dante Zappala

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Tuesday September 23, 2008 · 7:11 PM PDT

2008/09/23 · 19:11

It was an unfortunate road that took me to the stage with Michael Moore, but he gave me a microphone, an audience and simple instructions--"Take as long as you need. Say whatever you have to say."

I had joined him on the Slacker Uprising Tour to speak about my own tragic experiences with the Iraq War. I was proud to be a part of that tour, and today, I'm proud to be a part of the documentary.
And given what we face between now and November, this film is a stark and timely reminder of the power and consequences of our votes.

Dante Zappala

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Thursday August 07, 2008 · 12:33 PM PDT

2008/08/07 · 12:33

Yesterday marked the 63rd anniversary of the nuclear attack on Hiroshima. My mother is on a plane returning from Japan. She'd been invited to speak at several events spanning two weeks, primarily through the 2008 World Conference against A and H Bombs and as a guest of the New Japan Women's Association.
My mother has been a dedicated peace activist for her entire adult life. She has become well known in anti-war circles over the past four years since she lost her son, my brother, Sgt. Sherwood Baker. Sher was an Army National Guardsman sent to Iraq to search for WMD. He died in the effort.
Poetic and painful, her witness in Japan has also revealed an instance of unimaginable idiocy from a US ambassador speaking on behalf of our great nation.

Dante Zappala

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Saturday May 31, 2008 · 9:53 PM PDT

2008/05/31 · 21:53

My iphone couldn't get passed the login screen of the NYT this morning. I wanted to read Bob Herbert's Coming Late to the Table on my way out before work. Something about the title rang familiar. Home now, caked in dirt from a day spent in the mud, I get this e-mail from my mom "Herbert on war, lies and Sherwood."
Sherwood is my brother, killed in Iraq, lost to a shameful war.
Bob Herbert talks about Sherwood in his column chastising Scott McClellan.

Sergeant Baker had only been in Baghdad six weeks when he was blown up in an explosion at a factory. An absurd footnote to his death was the fact that he was helping to provide security for the Iraq Survey Group, which was hunting for the nonexistent weapons of mass destruction.

Dante Zappala

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Friday November 09, 2007 · 3:58 PM PST

2007/11/09 · 15:58

Carlos Arredondo is a friend of mine; a friend linked through tragedy. He lost his son in Iraq, I lost my brother. Over the last three years, we have marched together and shared stories. He is one of the most decent human beings I know. Carlos is a one of a kind personality, thrust into a role as an anti-war activist. And now, most likely in retaliation for his efforts to end the war, his son's grave has been defaced.

UPDATE: jimstaro found this link to pictures of Carlos getting stomped by the Gathering of Eagles on 9/15.

Dante Zappala

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Wednesday September 12, 2007 · 4:02 PM PDT

2007/09/12 · 16:02

I got a late afternoon call to do a segment on Hardball tonight with Chris Matthews. As the brother of a fallen soldier, I speak on behalf of Military Families Speak Out, and when the news cycles are right, when it fits the narrative, we get the make-up and the microphone--for a few fleeting moments, anyway.

Dante Zappala

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Thursday August 30, 2007 · 12:32 PM PDT

2007/08/30 · 12:32

Sherwood was a soldier. At least for the last few months of his life, when his National Guard unit was activated. Politics is high stakes, especially for the ones who look beyond it to make the simple sacrifice of serving their country.

RSS

When it's not your child he sends...

Afghan Army leads Marines on suicide mission

My bit on MSNBC this morning--Iraq Troop Withdrawal (w/ video)

Kevin died today

Thanks, Brother, Today and Every Day

Rest easy, Dad. We win. (Updated)

4 years ago, I stood with Michael Moore (updated w/video)

Dispatches from Hiroshima

Bob Herbert and my big brother

Marine's grave defaced--father is an anti-war activist w/ update

What I really wanted to say on Hardball tonight

The truth about my dead brother