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Martin Sheen gives Presidential Pardon to Catholic Worker Five national |
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news report
 Saturday May 24, 2003 01:52 by Ciaron O'Reilly - Catholic Worker pitstopploughshares at hotmail dot com 087 918 4552
 "PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES" COMMUNITY PARDONED BY U.S. PRESIDENT The photo shows Sheen at a "Star Wars" protest with ploughshares activist Father Daniel Berrigan. In Ireland today, the "Pit Stop Ploughshares" Community received a presidential pardon from Martin Sheen. Sheen, who plays the U.S. President on the television series the "West Wing", gathered with Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Ciaron O'Reilly in the Tipperary town of Borisokane in the Irish midlands and delivered a statement granting a presidential pardon to the five peace activists. The five await trial preceedings at Kilrush Circuit Court beginning June 24th on criminal damage charges carrying maximum ten year prison sentences. The charges arose from their nonviolent disarmament of a U.S. Navy war plane at Shanon Airport on February 3rd. (See www.ploughsaresireland.org). Fifty thousand troops passed through the civilian airport on their way to the recent war on Iraq. Three U.S. airlines transporting U.S. troops and munitions withdrew from Ireland following the ploughshares disarmament action. Martin Sheen made the following statement: "The action of these brave and commited young people at Shannon sprang from the command of the prophet Isaiah to"beat swords into ploughshaeres and study war no more", in compliance with the gospel of the nonviolent Jesus as well as the Nuremburg Principles. As Christians, we are never asked to be successful. We are asked only to be faithful, and although their action has clearly jeopardised their future, their moral courage in speaking out at this dark time is a powerful inspiration to peace-loving, nonviolent people everywhere. As a fellow Catholic peace activist I am compelled to support them in their struggle for peace and social justice and their efforts to gain a fair trial with a Necessity Defence, which has thus far been thwarted. For some time, I have observed with growing alarm the current U.S. administration, whose legitimacy was questionable from the start, in its darkly chartered course where every legitimate opposition has been met with condemnation or intimidation. It appears now that the war on Iraq was a foregone conclusion. From September 2001 to September 2002, the U.S. government moved from legitimate protection to illegitmate paranoia when it declared a new first strike policy, including nuclear first strike, against any nation it percieved as a threat. Contrary to its stated intentions in Iraq, this war has only served to further destabilise an already destabilised Middle East. As a patriotic Irish-American, with a deep love for both of my countries, I urge the Irish government, which still enjoys the highest level of moral ascendancy in the eyes of the world, to grant these brave young patriotic peace activists a fair trial by permitting their Necessity Defence on moral grounds supported by the Nuremburg Principles. And if that doesn't fly, in accordance with the power stated in me as the "acting" President of the U.S. I hereby grant full pardon and amnesty to these so-called "Pit Stop Ploughshares". A press conference by Martin Sheen and the "Pit Stop Ploughshares" five followed the statement. More information, photographs, video footage: 087 918 4552 (mobile/cell phone) 00 353 87 918 4552 (mobile/cell phone, calling from outside of Ireland) 01 406 44 66 00 353 1 406 44 66 (landline calling from outside of Ireland) Background information on Pit Stop Ploughshares at: www.ploughsaresireland.org
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Comments (36 of 36)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36It reads brilliantly, and I'm sure his delivery was 1,000 times better than the other acting US president, George W Bush. Well done Martin and everyone who pulled this off!
Somone Really ought to tell "president" Sheen that he is only ACTING as a president in that tripe series from Hollyweird.And that in the really real world he is an ACTOR not the real president.But then again Hollyweird can really fuck up your sense of reality.think it has somthing to do with the water....
That's brilliant exposure Ciaron. Hopefully it will get wide media exposure. It will help to put a much more credible face on ye to the average Irish punter, many no doubt who have ye catagorized as over zealous, religous fanatics. Sure they thought the same of Christ.
I've always had a lot of time for Sheehan. Hopefully ye will get these court cases finished with soon with light "punishments".
Well done again on all ye're courageous work.
a lot
So Anony-mouse, who is trying to act cool and down-to-earth by saying YE as many times as it can fit into its bullshit post for today, is so concerned with doing it that he/she/it forgets how to spell Sheen's name. Sure don't ye have great respect for him.
Asshole.
Ciaron, or anyone who knows, I am assuming that the "dateline" for the article is Friday, May 23. Is that right? I am distributing this news widely in the US, so I just want to be completely clear on the details.
If I somehow missed it in the article, my apologies.
The picture in the Examiner was good, well done.
King Mob and Lone Gunman, you are such hate filled idiots. You are caracitures of real human people. Now your jealousy is like sulphuric acid in your throats.
This is a magnificent publicity coup however they managed it. Belittlers are just fodder for ridicule at such a moment .....you trolls. But you are good for a laugh.
I'm not definate what your request is here. This article was posted on the Irish Indymedia site on Sat, May 24 2003, 12:51am (Irish time) - So that would be Fri, May 23 2003, 4:51pm (Seattle, USA time).
I sent a text message to Ciaran reference this so if he has any more details I'm sure he will add them in.
Nice one on getting this widely distributed in the U.S.!
The Pardon happened onn May 23rd. 6 p.m. in Borisokane, Co,Tipperary
somebody should read that speech out in court, it'd work great in their defence
Well done - great publicity - hope it helps your cases in court - is there a fundraiser this week??
Aoife
Aoife - a member of the IAWM steering ctte - wants to know if there is a fundraiser on this week! Anyone surprised that she doesn't know?
more info at http://www.ploughsharesireland.org
No james I couldnt give a ripe toss about somone who claims to be a president of the USA.The man is an actor with delusions of graunder.If James ,it was such a great propaganda coup,why didnt anyone bar the Indo mention it?Proably because it is about as important to the rest of the world as the mating habits of fleas.But no doubt it is important to you .Because there is nothing else in your sad life execpt to spew at anything American.Why arent you denounceing Sheen as well because he is American as well?Or, because he is a democrat,anti bush,hollywierd nutter with Irish roots so that makes him OK? what a hyprocrite you are.
"No james I couldnt give a ripe toss about somone who claims to be a president of the USA."
Like Bush does?
"The man is an actor with delusions of graunder."
That word, I presume was supposed to be "grandeur"?
Again.. differentiate that from Bush... other than the fact that Sheen would be a better actor.
Bush does not conceal his lack of humanity very well.
Sheen doesn't need Ari Fleischer to speak for him.
"If James ,it was such a great propaganda coup,why didnt anyone bar the Indo mention it?"
I saw it in several papers.
"Because there is nothing else in your sad life execpt to spew at anything American.Why arent you denounceing Sheen as well because he is American as well?Or, because he is a democrat,anti bush,hollywierd nutter with Irish roots so that makes him OK? what a hyprocrite you are."
spew at anything American .... except anti-bush democrats.... hypocrisy?
Accusing someone of blind anti-americanism and then saying that they discriminate on grounds other than nationality... truly your grasp of logic is as profound as that of your hero... Dubya
Is there nothing else in your sad life than to spew venom at anything that actually makes sense (which must impact harshly on your own little world.)
Must be a strange view from your particular grassy knoll.
Aoife, your comment would sound a touch less hipocritical if your sect apologised for slandering direct action activists in the corporate media. oh yes, you never did it, we have always been at war with eastasia.
First link is 20min mono MP3, 5MB, of press conference
http://www.convergence.sustainable.ie/medcen/audio/Sheen_CW_BOK230503_edit.mp3
Second link is 3min mono MP3, 600KB, just Sheen statement
http://www.convergence.sustainable.ie/medcen/audio/Sheen_CW_BOK230503_short.mp3
Hint for non-nerds: These files are NOT streamable, so save to disk before attempting to play.
enjoy
PPS: A link to a 10MB edited DivX-format video will be posted by 20:30 today
Well done on the publicity stunt, guys. I'm sure every bit of media coverage helps keep the issue topical. I'd hate to see your current plight be filed away as "yesterday's news".
Knowing nothing about Sheen's politics, I too thought it was quite an articulate and concise speech.
-Anthony
(now with short hair - it seems I'm not the only 'Ant' on Indymedia)
So it is normal for an actor to claim he is president of the USA???[Well..I suppose Sheen not completing his drug or alcohol rehabilation course might have somthing to do with his delusions.Wasnt he one of the Hollywood set who was going to move out of the USA if and when Bush was confirmed the winner,along with such people as Barbara Streisand?] Or for a bunch of bungling sabotuers to be feted as heros?Thats maybe logical in Your sad world.In the really real world thats a call to the men in the white coats with the big butterfly net!! As for James,well anything that happens he blames it on the Americans,from the latest atroticity to proably the bad weather in Ireland. Well its my view..and tough if you cant see it..as you aren't on my hill,should have a look somtime .it's quite intresting waway from the herd,and their is such a thing as free speech.That includes views differing to mine or yours.
Unfortunate facts as much as you like it or not 1]Bush is the POTUS for another couple of years.
2]NO one gives a good God damn what a fictional wannabe president says in a bar in Ireland.Bar those who think it is important.IE four bungling idiots and a boozy actor who thinks he is POTUS.Dont give me the crap about this bing "symbolic gesture"[symbolic of their struggle with reality,more like] You do somthing that is effective or not at all
3] Knocking out a plane did nothing to stop the US going into Iraq,[maybe had the PX store short on M&Ms for 48 hours].It just permantly damaged the"peace" movement in Ireland,gave the Irish tax payer a 4million dollar bill,and made Aer Rianta rent a cop the laughing stock of security forces worldwide.
4]no one gives a toss worldwide wether the US is in shannon or not.Actually most of the world thinks Ireland should stop shirking its responsibilites in world affairs.
... you're not laughing, Baby - but everyone else reading this is busting their asses to watch your tiny brain squirm with the exertion of defending your mongoloid POTUS hero - so thanks for the amusing whinge and keep up the "good" "work", hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Here's a little ditty to lull yourself back into the coma you momentarily revived from to post the above BS - sing it to the tune of 'Bobby Brown' by the immortal Mr. Frank Zappa:
Hey there Sheeple ah'm Georgie Busch
they say ah've a ton'o coke to flush
mah speech is slurred, mah warhead's shiny
you can tell Gerroid Skhroeder he can kiss mah heinie
Here ah am with mah trademark drool
ah'm acting smart an' ah'm NOT a fool
ah've got a BitchPoodle Blair wan's to help me with murder
let her take all the hits, 'n later Sharon will rape her
... to be continued - hey, maybe you can help me with the lyrics, Friend
File is 23min edited footage in super high quality DivX 5.0.5, size 145MB, so be prepared for a bit of a wait unless you have your own satellite, a flat-rate or a whole boring day at work - !! WARNING !! do not attempt to DL this using your granny's modem, ok!?
http://www.convergence.sustainable.ie/medcen/videos/Sheen-CW-BOK230503_edit.avi
Hint for non-nerds: This file is NOT streamable, so save to disk before attempting to play.
Codec package and player can be DL'd free here:
http://download.divx.com/divx/DivX505Bundle.exe
enjoy
Go to Baltimore indymedia site, news story on a gathering reflecting on the late Phil Berrigan - a founder of the Ploughshares movemenet.
Brilliant one, Ciaron. Well done.
Because no-one would bother listening to him.
You are entitled to your opinion. It would be nice if it made any sense to anyone.
But thanks for making me laugh. I normally don't reply to trolls but you amuse me so.
It's almost as funny as claims that there really was just a lone gunman at Dealy Plaza almost 40 years ago.
Gunman >
"So it is normal for an actor to claim he is president of the USA???"
Other than Reagan... not really. Is it normal for an actor to occassionally use a current or former role to add media attraction to a good cause. Yes.
He could have
Gunman >
[Well..I suppose Sheen not completing his drug or alcohol rehabilation course might have somthing to do with his delusions.
Yeah, we wouldn't want any drug addicted losers in the white house with the power to start a war... oh, wait a minute you said "Sheen", not "Bush".
Lets be honest, Martin Sheen, when the cameras stop rolling, IS AWARE that he was NOT ELECTED P.O.T.U.S. as you put it.
George W .Bush seems 100% deluded that he was democratically elected.
Gunman>
Or for a bunch of bungling sabotuers to be feted as heros?
Bungling? C'mon, they wanted to damage a plane, they went and damaged the plane.
Where was the bungling?
Disagree with the action, but they pulled off the plan, you can't really call that bungling.
Gunman> (hey, more than three shots... this ain't no Warren report finding)
Unfortunate facts as much as you like it or not 1]Bush is the POTUS for another couple of years.
Yes, that is a fact. he has been APPOINTED President. Not ELECTED. Let's see how he does on the next one.
Gunman> (this sure ain't CE# 399 )
2]NO one gives a good God damn what a fictional wannabe president says in a bar in Ireland.Bar those who think it is important.IE four bungling idiots and a boozy actor who thinks he is POTUS.
Not a FACT. Besides... no one gives a god damn, bar those who think it is important? Duh....
Martin Sheen is not fictional. I don't know if he is a wannabe president either, but if he and Michael Moore do a joint ticket next time round they'd probably get more votes than Dubya.
Gunman
FOUR BUNGLING IDIOTS???.
..Ahem... FIVE brave people. I know counting is a problem for a lone gunman/ Arlen Specter devotee / Flat Earth believer.
Gunman.>
Dont give me the crap about this bing "symbolic gesture"[symbolic of their struggle with reality,more like] You do somthing that is effective or not at all
I won't give you any crap about it being a symbolic gesture.
The shrine was symbolic, the plane smashing had much further repercussions.
Richard Haas wouldn't be dragged out for mere symbolism.
Not only did the action interfere with troop deployments, the movement of bombs and missiles, but as part of a wider campaign, along with Dubsky and Mary Kelly's actions, the Peace Camp, and everyone else who marched and lobbied, it forced the government into a debate it didn't want to have and shamelessly squirrelled.
Gunman>
3] Knocking out a plane did nothing to stop the US going into Iraq,[maybe had the PX store short on M&Ms for 48 hours].
It was never going to stop the war on its own. But Shannon is considered an important waypoint by the US military and they'll have to think more carefullly about using it to attack Iran or Syria
Gunman>
It just permantly damaged the"peace" movement in Ireland,gave the Irish tax payer a 4million dollar bill,and made Aer Rianta rent a cop the laughing stock of security forces worldwide.
It gave the peace movement something to think about.
The Irish Taxpayer hasn't paid for the damage, nor should they. No more than the Belgians should pay for any damage to Nazi tanks during WW2.
As for making Aer Rianta rent-a-cops a laughing stock... the rent-a-cops did co-operate a lot in that.
4]no one gives a toss worldwide wether the US is in shannon or not.Actually most of the world thinks Ireland should stop shirking its responsibilites in world affairs.
Not at all true. Even the EU hawks recently said that Ireland has a great peace-keeping record.
You go tell the families of those Irish men and women who died on UN missions that they shirked their responsibility.
But Ireland has recently begun to shirk its responsibilities.
Doing nothing on the Security Council to counter US hawkishness,
doing nothing about our own arms trade.
Doing next to nothing about dropping third world debt or Fair Trade.
on those points there is a lot of agreement.
Just ask the Syrians who helped to get Ireland on the Security Council only to be disillusioned.
See, Lone Gunman, its not that people simply disagree with you. It's just that your whacky "magic bullet" brand of argument is too indefensible for rational discussion.
Remember "LG"
Back and to the left...
... here is a suggested continuation of those lyrics to get you started. Please have your final version in by tomorrow, and we'll go live with the cover CD by Thursday. Please think up a dedication.
Oh Gawd ah am like Hitler's wet American dream
ah do not think ah'm too extreme
An' ah'm a WarMongerin' sonofabitch
daddy got me the job 'n' made me be real rich
(get a good
get a good
get a good
get a good oil job)
Fascist Domination
ah'm sweepin' all across the nation
brain-dead sheeple asleep at the wheel
watchin' CNN's bullshit while their country ah'll steal
So we had a little war then
just to help me along with mah e-lec-shen
mah spin-doctors say that mah smirk is a-fadin'
while the war-dead statistics make'em choke cyclodextrin
Oh Gawd ah am the Wet American dream
ah love to be awakened by a prisoner's scream
an' ah'm a scum-suckin' sonofabitch
am ah a boy or a lady...ah don't know which
(ah wonder wonder
wonder wonder)
So I went out 'n' bought me a latex suit
mah speechin's got worse but I'm still kinda cute
ah got mah job doin' genocide promo
an' mah Schitzo-NutBag chums can't can even tell ah'm a homo
Eventually me 'n' a friend (Big Dick)
sorta drifted along into S&M (He's sick)
ah can take about an hour on the tower of power
'long as I gets a little golden shower
Oh Gawd ah am the American dream
with a spindle up mah butt till it makes me scream
an' I'll do anything to turn a trick
ah lay awake nights sayin', "Thank you, Dick!"
Oh Gawd, oh Gawd, ah'm so fantastic!
thanks to Daddy, ah'm a dyspeptic spastic
An' mah name is Georgie Busch
Watch me now, as mah coke ah flush,
And mah name is Georgie Busch
Watch me now, as mah coke ah flush,
And mah name is Georgie Busch
Watch me now, as the Mushroom Button ah push...
to president G W Bush
The president who finally got tough with the world.
If Bush is appointed who appointed him?Bit difficult to be appointed to be POTUS.unless the joint cheifs of staff do that.usually when the POTUS is dead, in a war situation.I still cant belive the Left is still sore about a multi counted ,LEGAL, election. [You lot are sore losers :}
Regan, well comon its not very PC to be making fun of Alsheimers is it?
How does knocking out ONE navy transport change the course of a military operation.?That is completly cloud cuckoo land.Do you think they had not calculated that in,possibly the loss of twenty plus transports? Actually Shannon is unimportant to
scene Pentagon war room
USAF gen "Jeez We gotta call off the Invasion .Some nuts knocked out one of the squidbait aircraft."
Despite all the hootering and hollering .The Irish Govt STILL ignored you all,and still does.
Do you honestly think the US will give a hoot if they attack Syria or Iran[both doubtfu],for your ,mine or the Irish govts opinion on the use of Shannon.
Well sorry Tim we ARE going to pay for the "famous fives" bungling operation.and it was bungling as the plane should be PERMANTLY disabled. IE turned to junk.Even if our Irish govt doesnt give a toss about giving the US 4 million it WILL come out of your[if you work] and mine pocket. Called TAXES!
As for the UN.Well...Ireland is ideally suited for that organization.A glorified expensive talking shop, with a litany of human rights disasters behind them.BTW ever talk to somone who has served in a war zone under UN auspices?They will tell you the UN is more hinderance than help in everything.
BTW Tim. At least Bush for all his faults admitted he had a boozeing problem and got help[?] for it. Unlike I"smoked grass,but never inhaled" liar Klintoon. Sheen is a boozer and wont admit it.[Do check up his rap sheet it is available online www.LAPD.com.] If he is going around making pronouncements like that,he must think he is POTUS. So if his next role is Ceaser.Is he going to claim he is Ceaser?Proably.
Thats 'joint chiefs' and how could you mistake 'Caesar' as Ceaser unless your tiny mind equates his actions with an english word that sounds like its right and confirms your limited knowledge of the man, i know im being anal, but seeing as you are so found of....ah i cant be bothered, maybe if you used both hands while typing.
Well, surprise, surprise - you say one thing that is true - that "the plane should be PERMANTLY disabled. IE turned to junk."
But, Schitzo, have you really thought this through? What would your mongoloid POTUS hero think of such subversive talk - would you advocating smashing his toys not make his god-like brow furrow with displeasure even as the hairy hand reached for the billy-club used for driving evil demons out of minions?
On another topic, licking the opposing Thumb before each contact with keyboard will improve typing fluidity, and possibly aid coherence by giving an extra pause for "thought" between each character.
Oh, yes, now that you've supplied the dedication, when can we get together to record the song?
Good publicity for a great cause; I agree that the speech should definitely be read out in court, especially the biblical origin of the Ploughshares project. Please convey my thanks and support to those awaiting trial, together with that of Ruthin Peace Group, North Wales.
It is the aim of some people to crowd Indymedia with pointless abuse and bickering, making the good stuff harder to find. This hinders the progressive cause.
When people such as lone gunman post abuse, with very little rational argument, it is not worth replying to. He is obviously baiting people to try and get a response so he can post even more crap. Anyone can see this, so please consider whether you really need to point it out to everyone.
Pictures, audio and video of President Martin Sheen pardoning the Pit Stop Ploughshares can be found at:
http://www.ploughsharesireland.org