As will become clear as you read my blog, I consider myself a pacifist who does not believe that war is the answer to any question. Strangly enough, I came about this belief while serving in the Navy during a 9 year period. The first 4 years I was stationed on an amphibious ship the USS Portland LSD-37. (no longer in service) I was one of the many sailors sitting off the coast of Beruit on that fateful day when the Marine Headquarters was destroyed by a suicide bomber. Being 19 and being involved in the death of 241 marines, 58 French soldier, and 6 civilians was life changing in many ways. A couple years later I got out of the navy and never planed to go back. But things are not always as simple as we would hope when we are young and never is a long time. After breaking up with the love of my life,(I hope you read this someday Lisa)  I found myself back in the navy again and headed for Iceland and then Cuba. This was the time of the first Gulf war and I found myself really thinking about how I looked at the world and did not like what I saw and how I was involved in part of the problem. I set a goal to get out of the navy and did a year before I was due and went back to living a peaceful life on the beach in Florida.

During this time is when I started to get involved in left politics and I started getting involved in counter recruiting activities. When Bush lite decided to invade Iraq, I felt I could no longer help pay for the killing of others and stopped paying and filing my taxes. Of course, I knew that someday I would get caught, but sometimes you need to take a stand. My stand ended a few months back when the IRS found me and started taking all but $200 per pay check. A quick scramble and a tax accountant got those payments down from $2300 a month to $746 so I could at least pay the rent and have a car so I could keep my job. But I’ve had to once again change my lifestyle. No more travel to war protest, no more over tipping (helping keep the economy going), eating out, or with gas prices, driving around town. The cable is gone and I’ve made cuts everywhere so I can pay for my part of George Bush’s crusade and help kill those who believe different than we do.Needless to say, the idea makes me sick and I continue to look for a way to put a stop to the killing.

Where does this blog come in? Its my way of trying to give back. Maybe the money I’m paying in taxes to destroy the world could be offset by helping others change their lifestyles to be more gentle to our earth. Maybe it will incite the decent we need to make the change we need in the world. Maybe those who read will do the one thing they can and together we can make real change in the world. Or maybe you can help me pay Uncle Sam by making a donation to the blog. (you can hit the donate button on the right side of the screen. I’m below $30,000 now I think)

Steve

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