Tell Obama to award Bradley Manning for his bravery
Bradley Manning did the right thing: he exposed war crimes and revealed the truth about a war that was based on lies. Nominate Bradley Manning for the 2013 Citizen Medal.
|
The White House is giving U.S. citizens until March 31 to nominate someone for the 2013 Citizen Medal, which will “recognize ‘citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.’ Executive Order 11494 (Nov. 13, 1969). It is generally recognized as the second highest civilian award of our Government.”
Who is more worthy to receive the award this year than our whistle-blowing hero Bradley Manning, who informed the public about actions performed in our name in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world?
Bradley Manning has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions, yet a U.S. military prosecution threatens him with life in prison. It will be a shameful day in American history if Bradley Manning is convicted of “aiding the enemy,” when the group he aided the most was the American public. Therefore, we are calling upon President Obama to uphold campaign promises with regards to creating the most transparent government in history, and to protecting whistle-blowers, by awarding the Citizens Medal to our hero Bradley Manning.
Nominate Bradley Manning for the 2013 Citizen Award Medal
To nominate Bradley for the award you will need to visit the nomination webpage (link above) and fill out a form.
Bradley Manning is 25 years old, and he is being held at Ft. Leavenworth, KS (use this as his address). Check “Yes” on the box saying his service was “performed outside of his or her regular job.”
Then answer the following questions. We’ve included responses that incorporate points we feel justify Bradley’s nomination:
| Question 1) Bradley Manning should receive the medal:Bradley Manning is the heroic soldier who, at great personal risk, revealed truths of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, exposing military abuse, unnecessary secrecy, and political corruption. His actions have led to intense domestic debate about the nature of the war on terror. For doing the right thing, for exposing war crimes and disturbing foreign policy, he has been in prison for almost three years awaiting trial. Bradley Manning has since been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he has become an icon of democracy around the world. Who else has done so much to motivate worldwide debate, discussion, and reform? | Question 2) Bradley Manning aided the American public.Bradley Manning said he sought to “spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan.” His actions helped catalyze democratic uprisings in the Middle East, particularly in Tunisia. Here in the United States, journalists have acknowledged the importance of his acts by publishing thousands of articles based on documents he released, in America’s top news outlets. Bradley helped build a better-educated democracy – “because without information,” he said, “you cannot make informed decisions as a public.” |
Nominate Bradley Manning for the 2013 Citizen Award Medal
In addition to nominating Bradley for the Citizens Medal online, we encourage you to call the White House directly. Let President Obama know that in revealing facts about Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, and foreign diplomacy worldwide, Bradley Manning has aided the American public. Please award him the U.S. Citizens Medal for his bravery. Please free Bradley now!
Call the President
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Bradley’s conscience proved more important to him than being part of a cover-up of a war crime; we need many more soldiers like him.
He did right by exposing the horrors that were going on. I personally do not blame military personnel for things that happened. They were wrongly put into a position that changed their behavior. It is thefault of the corporatists’ military industrial complex…
“The nominee’s service must have been performed outside of their regular job.”
That is definitely true for Manning, in an ironic way.
His chances of winning this are arguably zero, therefore it it pointless to submit him I think (president Obama pretty much said Manning is a criminal).
The Nobel peace prize on the other hand…
Even if he doesn’t win, those counting the votes (and hopefully corrupt Obama himself) will see the public support for Bradley.
Though Manning is certainly qualified for the prize, I think it is not a good idea to receive a prize form the hand of a killer, who promised to close Guantanamo but signed the bill to make it running forever without making any efforts to stop it, who greatly expand the global assassination program killing whoever he like, and who insist the president has the right for extrajudicial killing.
Tutta la Sardegna antimperialista è con Brad.
Dear Mr President,
I hereby do a request to you to give Bradley Manning the 2013 Citizen Medal
for his bravery and moral courage to reveal American war crimes in the Iraq war.
It is a shame and disgrace that he, who had the courage to reveal an air attack against
Iraqi civilians, is put on trial, while the real war criminals are off the hook.
Remember please: exposing a crime is not a crime, but a real christian deed of
humanity and should be rewarded
Kind greetings
Astrid Essed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
He inspired people, who want to fight injustice and human rights violations
in the USA and outside to have the courage to do their moral task.
He gave the victims of warcrimes hope.
“A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.” — John F Kennedy in “Profiles in Courage.”
Bradley Manning’s hopes and deeds both help to open up the dialogue needed to promote a peaceful means that benefits our many people both here at home and abroad.
Submitted my vote!
DO ITTT!!! xD He is bringing PEACE. PEACEEEEEEEEEEE I TELL YOU. CHERISH THE PEACE AND SUPPORT. :3 ♥
Manning IS a hero, but not the kind of hero that Imperialism likes.
I dont usually keep up with this sort of thing, not enuf time or energy in the day, I guess, 2 always keep up with who’s who, & who did what, but this particular case is just SO EXCEPTIONAL, had 2 put in my vote…
Submitted nomination:
1. Explain why your nominee should receive the Citizens Medal based on the criteria outlined here.
Bradley Manning is a great patriot and champion of truth and justice. His service to the United States — and indeed to the world — is beyond merely exemplary; it is extraordinary and inspirational.
Pve. Manning is the boldest, bravest news source of the past 40 years. As a journalist since 1977, I can attest to rarity of his courage in exposing misdeeds and war crimes. Instead of being honored for his brave actions, he has been persecuted, kept in prison for almost three years before a trial began, and vilified by his government and many media.
Yet he has become a symbol of democracy both here and around the globe, and his actions have informed debate on governance, the role of media, and transparency in government and military operations that is absolutely necessary for democracy to flourish.
2. Describe the impact that your nominee’s service has had on individuals and/or communities.
Bradley Manning sought, in his words, to “spark a domestic debate on the role of the military and our foreign policy in general as well as it related to Iraq and Afghanistan.” He succeeded in this, and he should be part of those conversations instead of being locked in prison.
In Tunisia and other Middle Eastern nations, his revelations helped to inspire democratic populist uprisings against tyrannical governments.
In my own family, town, professions of journalism and higher education, and larger community, we are continuing the discourse that his actions spurred.
His “chances are arguably zero,” and I have to agree with the thought that a prize from the hand of a “kill lister” is an insult to Bradley Manning. But knowing these two things, I wrote the most robust Citizens Medal recommendation I could in hopes that thousands of others would do the same and Obama might notice and squirm in worry over his “legacy” for his refusal to arrange for Bradley’s reasonable bail before trial. Even if O doesn’t see my letter, his staff will. While they might defend Obama’s extrajudicial killings, everybody knows Bradley Manning doesn’t — and his receiving the award will punch through in no uncertain terms, even though he might well not get it. I’m kinda new at this corporatocracy/American fascism stuff but I get the feeling that silence is not the best way to resist, to rebel, to fight back, even if it’s essentially symbolic. Everything is always symbolic, until it’s not.
I think your idea and action to recommending Manning receiving the prize is nice and absolutely correct. We should show the administration our support to whistle-blowing and whistle blowers. I didn’t mean that we should not nominating Mannning or keep silence, and if I made you feeling so, I apologize. I have no problem with the prize itself. I am just uncomfortable about the man giving the award, Obama.
I am Bradley manning
I just received this post, however it seems that it is too late to nominate anyone?