UPDATE: I almost don't know what to say.

While I knew and believed in Dan for the over thirty years that I knew him, and continue to believe in him with all my heart, I have been convinced that I should do some research on his history as a POW, before I continue this mission on his behalf.

I am so, so, so sorry that I have spoken before perhaps I should. Please know that the support I have received from each and every one of you has touched my heart deeply and that I still believe firmly in stopping torture as the law, policy and practice of the United States.

Please don't stop telling your senators and congressional representatives:
   NOT IN MY NAME!
   NEVER IN MY NAME!
     

I will post a diary once I have more details confirmed.

   With heart-broken apologies,
       Heather

___________________________________________________________

       

My heart is shattered that the vote was held under cover of dark in the middle of the night. My chest has had the weight of my husband and every other survivor and victim of torture weighing on it since I discovered that the debate and vote was going on. I was so close. I had a plane ticket, thanks to some very generous Kossacks, I just needed the date. But Senator Reid denied me the ability to go and speak for Dan.

The Senators needed to hear Dan's story, to know what torture is truly all about. The survivors and victims of torture deserved to have their stories told before the vote was held. They deserved that respect. I am so sorry, Dan, my dearest, that I failed you.

Now that Michael Mukasey is Attorney General of the United States, the question is: What do we do, what do I do, to stop torture as the law, policy and practice of the United States?

I need ACTION items.

Torture is ALWAYS wrong, no matter who is doing it to whom.

      For Dan,
      Heather

     

Dear Kossacks,

  As some on you know, I will be going to Washington, DC, thanks to some generous Kossacks, to try to change some hearts in the Senate and get them to vote no on Michael Mukasey's nomination to be Attorney General. To make the process more effective, I need to know the announced postions of each and every Senator. So that I don't have to make almost a hundred myself, I would be grateful if all of you would call your Senators' offices and ask their postion, and report it here.

  Dan was a Vietname vet and POW, who was tortured by his North Vietnamese captors. He suffered from his injuries for over thirty years. Torture as the law, policy and practice of the United States is NOT what Dan fought for. It's not what he gave his physical health for. It's not what he gave his mental health for. Please help give Dan the legacy he deserves, but helping me be the best advocate I can be while in Washington.

  I am so honoured and humbled to be making this trip.
      With gratitude,
         For Dan,
         Heather

Kossacks, I need your help,

Michael Mukasey has been recommended by the Senate Judiciary Committee to be the next Attorney General of the United States. A full vote on the nomination will be held in the full Senate soon. As, I announced here yesterday, I will going to Washington, DC, to speak with Senators and tell them my husband, Dan's, story as a Vietnam vet and torture survivor. Hopefully, I will be able to change hearts and help stop this nomination.

I am humbled by your support. I know Dan is smiling; I can feel it.

  Thank you,
   Hugs,
   For Dan,
   Heather

My apologies for the short diary. In this case, I thought short and to the point was better.    

I can’t keep the images out of my head of my husband, a Vietnam vet and POW, bruised and beaten and bloody, on the floor of a dirt cell, incoherent from exhaustion, starved for lack of food, with no means of telling his family or his country where he was, or that he was even alive. He suffered from his injuries for over thirty years, until his fatal heart attack two years ago.

WE HAVE TWO DAYS!

Yesterday. when I said we have five days, I was wrong. We have two days to change their minds. The vote is on Tuesday at 10am. If you would be so kind, please recommend this diary, so we can get the word out and stop this nomination.

If he passes SJC, I am committed to going to Washington to lobby the whole Senate to stop this nomination.

The Senate Judiciary Committee votes in 2 days on Michael Mukasay’s nomination as Attorney General. Senators Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein have said that they will vote to confirm him.

We have 2 days to change their minds.

It’s not over until that vote is held.

Why does it matter so much to me?

WE HAVE FIVE DAYS!

The Senate Judiciary Committee votes in 5 days on Michael Mukasay’s nomination as Attorney General. Senators Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein have said that they will vote to confirm him.

We have 5 days to change their minds.

It’s not over until that vote is held.

Why does it matter so much to me?

Christmas, a time of family and friends and love... The house and the city decked in sparkling lights and ribbons and green pine bows ... Good smells coming from the kitchen...That is the image many have in their minds eye. This year, for another family, there will be someone there in presence only, missing forever in body... a man who love his family... a man who loved Christmas.

Doc, that name summons the image of someone solid, dependable, there when you most need them. That’s who Petty Officer First Class Mark Cannon was. That’s who his "guys" will miss the most. When they call, it won’t be he who answers.

Mark summons the image of a guy with an easy, warm laugh, a good buddy, a good son. That’s who Mark Cannon was. That’s who his father will miss the most.

"When she cries it shakes the house with sadness"

Too many houses this night are shaking with sadness, with the grief of unmet dreams. Too many soldiers and their families have given the last full measure of devotion. Tonight we honour three of these soldiers and their families.

There are many faces to war.
  There is the face of courage, of bravery, of fellowship.
            There is the face of fear.
        Above all, there is love of country.
               Barbara Boxer

These men loved their country and gave the last full measure of sacrifice. We honour and remember them.

IGTNT – "Somehow I Don’t Feel Worthy of Your Sacrifices"

Today we honour Staff Sergeant Nicholas Carnes, who gave the last full measure. I definitely don’t feel worthy of his sacrifice.

Imagine you are seven years old and your daddy is going away for over a year. You won't see him on your birthday, on Christmas, on your first day of school or any of those other important and so many less momentus, but equally important days.

Imagine if you were told he wasn't ever coming home.

The soldiers, sailors airmen, guardsmen and Marines who are in Iraq and Afganistan are serving their country, so too are their children. In fact, children of troops stationed all over the world are serving. As John Milton said:

    They also serve who watch and waite.

Some of these children have never met their father who is serving. Some of them will never meet their father.

Faith may not be for everyone, but for some it is that which gets them through the most horrible days of their lives. So it is for the families and friends of the soldier and Guardsman whose names were announced yesterday by the Department of Defense.

May that faith give them the strength to get through the days and weeks and months and years ahead.

            With respect,
            For Dan,
            Heather

On Saturday, as I was doing my morning blog rounds, I discovered a very offensive google ad on Crooks and Liars. This ad was from Cafe Press and was for a company who made products with the logo:

       

"Mess with Texas? That's like hitting a retard."

It was a punch in the gut, as someone who has a genetic disease that generally, although not in my case, includes mental delays and disabilities. This was compounded by the same ad being placed by google in a diary here at Daily Kos yesterday. I apologize for not providing a screen cap; I don't know how to do them.

        Here's the link to the company's web site:
        http://www.cafepress.com/...

 

"Mess with Texas? That's like punching a retard."

That was the logo on one of the ads on Crooks and Liars this morning as I made my morning blog rounds. It was like a knife in the gut, as someone who has a genetic condition that generally, although not in my case, includes mental delays and disabilities.

Why do they have to attack people who are among the most vulnerable, people who may not the defenses they do? Because make no mistake, by using that slur in that way, they are attacking people with mental delays and disabilities. It is no different than calling someone a "f.." or a "n.....".

I completely realize that Crooks and Liars has no control over the ads placed there by google, and google may not have any control over what the ads are that are placed there by cafe press, and cafe press does have any control over the logos on the products their customers create, so what do you feel can and should be done?

"Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?"

from "Where Have All the Soldiers Gone"
     words and music by Pete Seeger

©1961 (Renewed) Fall River Music Inc
All Rights Reserved.

When the world ever learn, all of us, to live together in peace?

   With broken-hearted hugs,
   For Dan,
   Heather

Today, in Washington, DC, there is an all day vigil by the members of
TASSC (Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition) an organization of survivors and their family members and friends. I was honoured and humbled to be invited to speak. Although I am on the other side of the continent, these were my words, as read by a wonderful volunteer:

My name is Heather Stecher and I would like to thank the very kind and generous person who is reading this today. I would also like to thank Kristine Huskey, who graciously invited me to speak to you. I wish I could be with you in person, but I hope that my words will spur YOU to ACTION !

My husband, Danny Lee Stecher, was a Vietnam vet and POW who was tortured by his North Vietnamese captors. He suffered from his injuries for over thirty years until his fatal heart attack two years ago. His screams still haunt my sleep.

I have not enough words to express my heartbreak and my outrage over the fact that torturing people and disappearing people is the law of the United States as we speak.