Bill McDannell Walks Across the Country To End War
- July 23, 2007 - Bill McDannell, a Vietnam era veteran and former United Methodist Minister, has walked about 2,700 miles to protest the US participation in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan-and he is not yet done.
Starting in San Diego, CA in November 2006, Bill McDannell plans to be in Washington, DC sometime in August 2007. "This walk isn't just about ending the wars, it is about giving the government back to the people," says McDannell.
As he travels across the nation talking with groups in small towns, middle America is greeting him with open arms. Polls say that around 70% of Americans are ready for these wars to be over. The President says he will not set a time table for withdrawal and Congress seems resistant to take the steps necessary to begin troop withdrawal. Who will end these wars? In a democracy, the people are the deciders. McDannell says, "the 'anti-war left' is now the 'disgusted center' of the country - and the first politician to finally figure this out is going to blow the rest of them out of the water."
Bill McDannell believes one man can make a difference. He, joined by his wife Jonna O'Dell, sold their home and many belongings to finance this trip. Having gone through $30,000 of their own money, they rely mostly on donations through their website at
www.wtetw.com. Jonna joins Bill on the road, driving the support vehicle, a 1983 RV. Jonna's support to Bill is invaluable, providing meals and a place to sleep for the night after Bill's daily walk, she is his shoulder to lean on after a long day's journey.
Averaging over 17 miles a day, Bill McDannel is not a wide eyed kid with a naïve view of the world. He says, "I am only one person, and do not pretend to have the individual wisdom to dictate exactly what actions should take place as a result of a declaration of the end of the wars. In fact, this is the reason I am walking to Washington. I expect it will take me nine or ten months to walk from California to Washington, D.C., and I believe that the leaders who managed to figure out a way to get us into these wars in just a few months ought to be able to figure out a way to get us out by the time I arrive."
Upon his arrival in Washington DC, Bill McDannell will deliver his petition against the wars. McDannell hopes to set up a meeting with his senator, Barbara Boxer, and will meet with any other leader willing to listen. He hopes to be joined by his numerous supporters across the United States to make a statement to the US government that these wars must end and they must end now.
Some people have accused Bill of being insane for selling his home and walking across the country to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bill says, "I've thought about whether I'm insane or not....and I've decided no, I'm not. As a matter of fact, this may be the most sane thing I've ever done in my life."
Bill is available for interviews and conversations along the way, and welcomes others to join him during his walk across the United States. He says, "I continue to be amazed at the consistent level of caring, insight and authenticity in the people I am meeting along the way. It truly humbles me." His route and progress, along with a daily journal, is posted on his website at
www.wtetw.com/journal.htm.
If you would like more information, or to schedule an interview with Bill McDannell, please call Bill at 619-792-5292 or email him at
radicalgeezer@gmail.com.
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Press Release Keywords:- afghanistan, bill, bush, congress, free, impeachment, iraq, kucinich, liberal, mcdannell, peace, protest, soldiers, speech, troops, vietnam, war
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