Real Security Hearing at U Maine

This extraordinary podcast is the introduction and Keynote from the Real Security Hearing at the University of Maine, Orono, ME on March 25, 2006.

The keynote presentation is given by Rita and Richard Clement, Maine parents whose son served in the US Army in Iraq and has since returned. Their story is heartfelt and moving. The Clements show deep respect for the service of their son and the hundreds of thousands of others sent to Iraq, even though they say, “Our real security has been much lessened by the actions of our government.”

About their son, Rita Clement says, “He appears to be doing all right. I guess we didn’t expect him to come back the way he left.”

Their presentation at our event yesterday is at once heartfelt, riveting, full of relief that their son made it home more or less in one piece, and hopeful. They have vision, and they want us to share it with them. Truly an extraordinary day.

57 min; 13 MB; 32 kbps mp3; download link here ->

More quotes from the Clements:

RITA CLEMENT: With Maine’s share of the money spent on Iraq, we could have provided 3,603 students with a four-year scholarship at public universities. Do we feel safer yet?

Well, I don’t know what you’re feeling after hearing all of this, but I’m pretty mad. I get mad because I can’t allow myself to get discouraged. Things stay the same when we believe that we don’t have the power to make changes…

RICHARD CLEMENT: As families with loved ones in the military, we have a special need to speak out against this illegal, immoral war in Iraq–a war based on lies that has resulted in the deaths of over 2300 of our soldiers, and untold thousands of Iraqi men, women, and children.

Even as our loved ones return, they must deal with PTSD, stop loss, extensions of duty, new deployments, and re-depolyments. You can be sure that the team that brought us “bring ‘em on” is all safe and sound in Washington, DC. Their loved ones are not at risk, not in harms way…