Dear Peace Supporter:
As I sat in prison across the ocean in Germany, my days were filled with anguish as I faced 7 years in prison after being charged with desertion and missing movement. I was separated from my loving family. All because I stood up for conscience. The morning I appeared on Democracy Now! I was terrified. It was the first time I would go public with my story and I had no idea how I would be received. But what happened was awe-inspiring! People across the nation and across the world—people like you—rallied to encourage and support me and my family through letters, cards, and contributions. Although my days behind bars were filled with uncertainty, support like yours allowed me to afford the best possible counsel, which meant that instead of spending 7 years in prison, I spent only 8 months. That support
made it possible for us to fight my case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. YOUR SUPPORT made it possible for me to be free today. How can I say
THANK YOU enough for that?
Now I honor your support by helping others. I saw the effects of war firsthand and so I’ve come home and dedicated my future to no more wounded soldiers. Since being released, my wife, Helga, and I have devoted ourselves to helping those in similar situations. Almost every day we get calls from desperate soldiers and their families. Many have realized that they, too, are Conscientious Objectors and cannot kill. They contact us, seeking information and support. We support soldiers and their families who are facing deployment and are confused about their rights. We make ourselves available to them 24/7 so that they know they are not alone.
We also reach out to young people thru The Arlington West Film Speakers Project who are thinking about enlisting and those targeted by military recruiters. This year we are determined to see at least 10,000 teenagers and young adults and provide them with the information that will help them make informed decisions. (We have seen nearly 5,000 this year already—YOU can help us reach our goal of 10,000!) Our mission is to provide young people with an alternative and realistic point of view about military enlistment, and to show them the power of living with conscience. Our message helps young people understand that they don’t have to join the military to learn valuable skills, find adventure, pay for college, or serve others. We want to make a difference by helping them see a different side to these issues. We want them to have a balanced picture so that they can make educated decisions about their futures. We encourage them to think critically, search for more information, and then make an informed decision about military service. Our message balances the deliberate misinformation given to these young people by recruiters and media as fact. As former military members, we know that low-income students and young people of color are being sidetracked away from higher education and into the military. We expose deceptive military advertising and give young people the information they need to pursue their goals for job training, higher education, and service to others—without killing.
We speak as a military family with personal experience of the realities of military life and war. To learn more about us please check out the film "Man of Conscience." We speak about the many costs of war, and we speak about Conscientious Objection and peaceful alternatives for creating a peaceful world geared toward social justice, positive change, and a green environment. We work with educators and community members to arrange assemblies, classroom talks, and community presentations. We make ourselves available to students for one-on one-counseling, as well as provide follow up information.
We are so grateful for the support you’ve given us. Now we need your help to help others. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY will make it possible for us to continue this important work with young people! Your donation will make it possible for us to reach 10,000 or more young people this year. Your gift will help SAVE LIVES.
EVERY GIFT makes a difference. YOUR GIFT of $100 will help us reach 20 new young people with our program. YOUR GIFT of $30 will enable us to talk to a soldier or military family in Europe or across the country and provide much-needed information and support. YOUR GIFT of $20 will help defray printing and mailing costs so that we can get information out to even more young people. YOUR GIFT of $500 will make it possible for us to present our program in even more communities.
YOUR GIFT is a crucial part of our efforts to inform young people about the reality of the military and about the reality of war.
Please send YOUR GIFT today—$30, $50, $100 or more, or whatever you can afford. Every single dollar counts and will make it possible for us to continue to help young people make informed decisions about military service.
Act now! Send your gift through www.aguayodefense.org click on the donate tab or you can contribute through PayPal to aguayodefense@aol.com or you can mail your check –
Payable to: Agustín Aguayo
P.O. Box 900651
Palmdale, CA 93590-0651
Memo Line: IEC (for Informed Enlistment and Counseling)
YOU’LL BE SAVING LIVES!
IF you are still undecided read this and let it persuade you! . . .
For the last year, Helga and Agustín Aguayo have been joining us with the ARLINGTON WEST FILM & SPEAKERS PROJECT, visiting thousands of inner-city students, those most targeted by military recruiters. The Aguayos share their heartfelt story to attentive audiences and have guided thousands of young people into a direction of peace and higher education. Their story is not only unique and riveting, but it inspires teenagers in profound ways. If any peace group deserves your financial support, it is The Aguayos for the work they do with young people.
Please donate today!
—Peter Dudar & Sally Marr, Co-Directors of Arlington West, The Film
And if you are still not sure you can always donate to our family fund. What is if for? Check it out.
With my deep and heartfelt thanks,
Agustín Aguayo
Iraq War Veteran
Conscientious Objector
War Resister
http://www.aguayodefense.org/
P.S. To say “thank you,” for your gift of $25 or more we will send you our new quarterly newsletter, “The Objector,” which will keep you posted on the program and on other peacemaking activities. For your gift of $50 or more, we will send you a DVD of 2 films, “Man of Conscience” and “Arlington West". Thank you for your support of this important work.
June 27-29, 2008 