Where is the Rage ?

Every day my stomach turns in knots when I hear the latest news report of another fallen soldier in Iraq, a war that did not have to be. War is ugly, horrifying, terrifying and very personal for the soldiers, their families and friends. During the Vietnam War we saw the tragic images of flag draped caskets returning home. Today, we are not allowed to see those images. During the Vietnam War we heard stirring protests songs on the radio, but not today. During the Vietnam War parents and students felt personally threatened by the draft. Today the vast majority of students are not in the streets protesting because the war does not directly affect them. It is poor kids who have their boots on the ground. Today the absence of images, sounds and the draft contribute to a sense of separation and insulation from the war.

I wrote "Where is the Rage? " to help people feel a connection to this war, a connection to the experience of the soldiers and their families. In order to end this war it has to become personal for all of us. I am connected to war. I am a Vietnam Veteran, a graduate of the U.S. Army Intelligence School. In 1969 I held a Top Secret Clearance, and served in J2 (Intelligence), Targets Division, Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA), B52s, MACV Headquarters in Saigon.

The picture on the cover of the CD is of the casket of my best friend from high school, PFC Timothy McHugh USMC, as he arrived home from Vietnam at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia in March of 1968. This is the image we are not allowed to see today.

Description below taken from the grant proposal submitted by Veterans For Peace to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Michael McPhearson, Executive Director, Veterans For Peace

“Where is the Rage?” Project Description

The Passion behind the Project
The Power of Music to Stir Change

“Where is the Rage?” is the title of the two song CD produced by Pat Scanlon.  Pat is a Vietnam Veteran (69’), a graduate of the US Army Intelligence School, who spent the year of 1969 at MACV headquarters in Saigon, South Vietnam. Music has always been a key component in every major social movement.  Pat’s song is the centerpiece of this educational outreach effort.

Pat has written two very meaningful and moving anti-war songs, “Where is the Rage?” and “I’ve Got a Feeling I’ve Been Here Before”.  Both songs were recorded on a CD specifically produced for this project.  Pat is donating these songs to the project to help end the war in Iraq.  The cover of the CD features the picture of Pat’s best friend from high school, PFC Timothy McHugh, USMC, as he arrived home from Vietnam in a flag-draped coffin in March of 1968 at 30th StreetTrain Station in Philadelphia.  It is a very strong and haunting image, the kind that the U.S. Administration does not allow the public to see today.

Participating national peace organizations include:
Veterans for Peace
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
United for Peace and Justice (national umbrella peace organ)
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee

Code Pink
No More Victims
Military Families Speak Out
Gold Star Families for Peace (Cindy Sheehan’s group)
National Priorities Project

This CD is a centerpiece of an important information packet - the “Peace Package.”  Each participating organization has its name listed on the back of the CD.  Inside each CD, Veterans For Peace has a 4”x 4” informational card with a description of VFP, Campaigns and membership information inside each CD.

The “Peace Packages” contain information from each participating organization--their mission, goals, programs, initiatives, membership information etc. 

The “Peace Packages”

The “Peace Packages” were recently sent to over 1,800 chapters or groups affiliated with organizations sponsoring the project as well as the 1,000 UUA congregations as well as 500 college and public radio stations. Each organization was asked to share the music and information with their members. Each group was also asked to share the information with their larger community, churches, family, friends etc. UUA congregations were asked to disseminate the music and information to their church members, social action committees, peace groups etc.

The "Peace Package" also contained two DVDs. The American Friends Service Committee has a DVD of three short films they produced entitled "Waging Peace". The second DVD was produced by NO MORE VICTIMS. This is a group that brings back to the United States children from Iraq that have been severely injured. They get hospitals to donate their services to help mend these children. This DVD puts a human face on this war, these young children are the colateral damage.

All participating organizations, especially the UUA congregations, are encouraged to utilize the music and information to engage young people in discussions about the war and its impact on civil liberties, personal freedoms, and the constitution. What is this war costing?  What impacts this war will have on society, the environment, health and education. How is this war affecting us, personally, in our communities and society as a whole? The CD and information included in the “Peace Package” will assist in the facilitating these types of discussions. National Priorities has a piece of literature in the package that outlines several impacts on civil liberties, human, environmental and societal costs.

“Peace Packages” with the CD were sent to over 500 college and public radio stations plus nearly 80 independent progressive talk radio shows. College communities have been insulated from this war. The lack of a draft is a major reason for this apathy. This war is not personal to the students because they are not threatened. College students have not been affected by this war and have been slow in getting involved with the peace movement. “Where is the Rage?” Project is a direct outreach to college students, right on their campuses and to the broader listening audiences in the surrounding communities.

Powderfinger Promotions assisted in the distribution of the CDs to the 500 radio stations. The “Peace Package” is unlike anything these stations normally receive and it is expected to peek their interest. Powderfinger anticipates a majority of the stations will give the songs airplay and will likely share the enclosed information with their audiences.

Hopefully the “Where is the Rage?” Project will: