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Oct 15th: News & Planning
From: John Murtari (jmurtari@akidsright.org)
This is a message from a mailing list, members@kids-right.org http://www.kids-right.org/ To unsubscribe from this list at anytime, send email to Majordomo@kids-right.org with the following 1 line in the BODY of the message (Subject is ignored). unsubscribe members ====================================================================== Good People & Friends, Week before last I finished a quite weekend on retreat at a local Monastery. Can you believe three days with NO tv, radio, or newspapers? Last weekend I flew out West with my Mom (now 85), to see my son Domenic -- it was a great time! Next Monday, Oct 15th, I will walk into the Syracuse Federal Building carrying a picture of Domenic (I won't repeat all the details and planning of that, just go to http://www.AKidsRight.Org/actionb_syr). The beginning of this message has some important information about next Monday, I hope you will take the time to read it. [IMPORTANT NOTE - I was just finishing this yesterday afternoon when I received a phone call from a local aid of Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). They had received a copy of the letter sent to the Building Manager and we had a nice conversation, about 30 minutes. We both agreed that the reason no action is being taken on this issue is just "priority." They have a limited amount of legislative staff and unfortunately it just isn't seen as an important issue that a lot of people have expressed interest in. THIS IS OUR JOB. We have contact info for the three legislators below. I'd like to say we have had good response from the offices of Senator Schumer and also Congressman Walsh (He always give us a reply letter -- even if he does disagree). The only office just not making contact, even after a FedEx letter, is that of Senator Clinton. We ask you to make contacting her a first priority.] -------- OCTOBER 15th ---------- This list messages reaches several thousand people who are concerned about Family Law Reform and many of you are leaders and future leaders of this effort. The AKidsRight.Org site is an "experiment" in NonViolent Action as one tool in the reform process. Crucial parts in this approach are Faith, Love, and Sacrifice. We are trying to model our actions on successful movements from the past. The site documents specifically what we have tried, and what has happened. So far NonViolent Action has exceeded expectations! Last year, I never dreamed I would be allowed to carry a picture of my son in both our County Courthouse and Federal Building (every person I talked to, including Lawyers, thought that would never be allowed). BUT, it only took about 15 arrests firsts. As I think of myself, I am not being 'altruistic' in my motiviation. I have sacrificed because of what has happened to my child. I would have probably even been satisfied as a "minority" parent. But when he was relocated to the other side of the Country, I was forced to act. Some of you will be in a position to make even greater sacrifices to move things forward. I am always amazed by the adults (who have no children), but are seriously involved in reform. Some of you will be able to reach so many more people, because you are clearly doing it for others. There are also those of you with adult children (who are completely alienated from you) -- Some of you will sacrifice for a reward you may never enjoy, but for others. This Spring another step in the MODEL of NonViolent Action fell into place. There was still one person involved in risking arrest, but others were there as quiet observers. I'm sure this made a strong impact on local officials who threatened arrest, but then backed off. For details on that see: http://www.AKidsRight.Org/action_syr Right now one other parent has committed to coming as an observer, and to help drop off your pictures and stories at the offices of our members of Congress. You taking the time to be present will be crucial in three ways: 1) It will help keep the folks carrying pictures from arrest (maybe just me!). 2) It will make it very clear to the members of Congress that Family Law Reform is a National issue. Right now they are just ignoring us and can you really blame them? Lastly, it will give some of us a chance to meet face-to-face. I have "interacted" with so many of you via E-mail, but there is no substitute for a handshake and a smile! Syracuse is only 8 hours from Washington, DC or from Dayton, Ohio -- even closer to Boston. We have a block of rooms (see above link for details), take a drive up here Sunday (you can also enjoy the fall foliage - now at its peak locally!) We will get together for dinner together on Sunday Night and then meet in a local Library on Monday morning and go to the Federal Building at around 1 PM.It is a very similar agenda to an event we held this Spring and it seemed to work very well. On the 15th we will try again. The issue bringing us there is clear, we have some Members of Congress who are waiting to see us demonstate the importance of the issue. I will be walking outside their offices for the simple reason that they haven't invited us inside ("us" being loving parents who just want an equal relationship with their kids). As part of our political process we have to demonstrate to them that National Family Law reform is a very important issue. I am very careful about expectations, but I have no doubt that if one other mother and father joined me in walking with a picture of their children (or those of others) -- it would become a media event. This is what can make real change possible very quickly and can start a grass roots effort across the country. We will not use it as an opportunity to "skewer" Senator Clinton and others (she is probably not even aware that local staff is just ignoring us). But her staff will have to answer the hard question, "Why aren't you at least talking to these people to at least find out what they want? Isn't that your job as an elected representative?" Then the power of NonViolent Action can be seen. BECAUSE we have been courteous and respectful in all our prior contact with them, and BECAUSE we are not spitting venom at our former spouses, lawyers, and judges -- we will be hard to dismiss as 'crack pots.' MOST of all, BECAUSE we are not using the political opportunity to say nasty things about them -- they will be encouraged to reexamine their own feelings about "us" and these issues. So PLEASE, try to make time and take the trip. If you can't make it in person please just pick up the phone or fax a personal message to their local representatives. They have already received a copy of the letter we sent to the Building Manager letting them know we will be there on the 15th. The MESSAGE should not be one of anger, but merely to say to them, "We need Congressional hearings into reform. Please, why don't you take the time to listen to us instead of having someone face arrest in the hallway. We are parents who love our children and we feel serious reform is necessary..." Here is the contact info (please contact in the order below and let us know if you do, we will post the info at the site): 1. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton: Local rep, Cathy Calhoun, tel: 315-448-0470, fax: 315-448-0476 2. Senator Charles Schumer: Local rep, Jill Harvey, tel: 315-423-5471, fax: 315-423-5185 3. Congressman James Walsh: Local office tel: 315-423-5657 fax: 315-423-5669 ================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list at anytime, send email to Majordomo@kids-right.org with the following 1 line in the BODY of the message (Subject is ignored). unsubscribe members
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