Jim Himes, 2008 Democratic candidate for Congress,
and Ned Lamont, 2006 Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, spoke at a
“teach-in” about the Iraq War hosted by the Weston High School Young
Democrats on Wednesday, May 9. The event drew a large group of high school
students and staff.
The Young Democrats hosted this event to raise awareness about the war, the loss
of life, and its costs for young adults. The “teach-in” was inspired by the
teach-ins of the Vietnam Era, when educators, speakers, and students would
discuss and organize action for the peace movement.
Mr. Himes, who recently announced his candidacy for the 4th Congressional
District, a post currently held by Republican Christopher Shays, spoke about the
many and varied costs of war.
“When I lived in South America and traveled to Africa in the 70s, I couldn’t
go into the country[side] without seeing pictures of President Kennedy on the
walls in homes.”
Mr. Himes said this is no longer the case: “This administration has cost us
that.”
Mr. Himes went on to say that the war has cost the United States much in money,
lives, and reputation. “The U.S. has one card to play in Iraq: When are we
going to withdraw?”
Ned Lamont, who ran in 2006 against U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman (and won in
the primary), also spoke to the crowd, and encouraged the students to get
involved, specifically in regard to ending the war.
Mr. Lamont, credited for running a strong anti-war campaign, reflected on his
experience on the campaign field, and told those gathered what impact young
people have politically.
When asked what young adults should do, Mr. Lamont replied, “Young people play
an important role… It is vital that young people reach out and talk.”
Mr. Lamont added that young adults should talk with the young and old alike to
get people involved and help promote positive change.
In closing, Mr. Himes said about finding a solution to the war, “It is not
about who did what to whom, but where are we going, and what are we going to
do.”
Mr. Lamont closed by sharing a bit of insight into his visits to nursing homes
on the campaign trail, when he asked the elderly if they had any regrets.
“They never said ‘I would have,’ ‘I should have,’ ‘I could have.’
They always said, ‘do what you have to do, and don’t look back.”
