There is too much at stake to worry about our own egos. When my son was killed, I had to face the fact that I was somehow also responsible for what happened. Every American that allows this to continue has, to some extent, blood on their hands. Some of us have a little bit, and some of us are soaked in it.

The biggest terrorist is George W. Bush.

Many people in San Francisco know me, and they know my persistence.

My children were the center of my life.

I feel like I gave my son to this country in an illegal and immoral war. I'll never get him back.

I am tired of the warmakers making war with our children. I am tired of our tired troops being sent over to do the dirty work for mob bosses who are going to squeeze the life out of Iraq and not leave until every asset and every natural resource has been raped from the country. I am tired of seeing Iraqis burying their loved ones and hearing the reverberating screams of mothers all over our country who are being destroyed for the benefit of a very few.

Loyalty to the true, core values and roots of democracy is what makes a true patriot, not loyalty to a symbol of the country.