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Dear Diva,
I'm sorry I haven't visited your site recently.
You see, I've been busy prosecuting a man who sexually assaulted three military women. You'll be happy to know he was convicted of those assaults; he was sentenced to be kicked out of the Air Force, stripped of rank and pay, and put in jail for one year and three months. That's not near enough jail time; however, I was actually "happy".
You see, the assaults took place in the context of a social/date interactions between this sexual predator and his unsuspecting victims. Many places wouldn't have prosecuted, and the crime is always seen as less "serious" if the victim knows her attacker. I can't count how many of these cases I do, with multiple victims. But I am satisfied that I am helping to solve the problem in whatever way I can.
I bring this up because when I'm away -- I cannot access your site from a government computer. In fact, if a lot of USAF people knew I even read your site, it might cause trouble. That's because I don't have the right, as a member of the Air Force, to criticize Bush. But I do it anyway (carefully)! And that restriction may affect how long I stay in the military.
I read in your newsletter that you are giving a speech at VoterMarch? Is that true? I hope so! Take it from someone who has to constantly persuade juries to do the right thing, you have a gift for making people want to do the right thing! So I hope you are giving a speech and I hope you put it on our website! And I hope the news media carry it too! But most of all, I hope you never give up and I write to encourage the spark I personally know you have!
Friends forever,
"Jane"
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Dear Jane:
(I am posting your letter, while obscuring your identity, because I think you, as an actual criminal prosecutor and member of the United States Armed Services, have a unique and credible perspective on issues of interest to BBBR Resistance Fighters -- issues I can only report about as a bystander.)
First off, don't feel badly about not visiting the BBBR more often. What you are doing by holding criminals accountable for their actions -- especially as it pertains to violence against women and children (which I know, from previous communications we have shared, is a very large part of the work you do) -- is more important than anything I might write. I know you fight an uphill battle against preconceived notions and sexist prejudice on a daily basis, and my respect for your fortitude is boundless.
If visiting my site puts you at risk personally, you mustn't come to the BBBR at all. You are too important where you are, doing what you are doing, fighting the good fight, to take such a risk.
However, if you feel that your military status is preventing you from exercising your freedoms, or from doing the greatest amount of good you can, then I feel you should serve out your current commitment, and move on to a job where you are able to be openly, fully, and unapologetically yourself in every way -- politically, personally and professionally.
Yes, it is true that I am scheduled to speak at the West Coast Voter March in San Francisco. I will be speaking about the internet dissent movement that flowered as a result of coup2k, my own experiences with the BBBR site, and The BBBR Resistance Fighters. I haven't written the speech yet (I am so nervous about getting it just right), but I do know what I want to say, and the message I want to convey.
My Consort, Chuck, will be accompanying me to the March and taping the festivities (he's also running the Bay-to-Breaker Race the following Day), so even if the media doesn't -- as I suspect they won't -- cover the protest, I will have a videotape of the day's activities, and I plan to transcribe and post my remarks to the BBBR when I return from San Francisco.
I assume that your military status prevents you from attending, because I know you well enough to be certain that you would be there, if you could.
Thanks for the wonderful support and encouragement,
Tammy
"The Diva"
http://www.coup2k.com
A Special PS: I saw Duran Duran live at The House of Blues in Anaheim on April 2nd. Great show! I had Loge Access and AfterShow Backstage Passes, too! (I am sending them to you for your scrapbook...) I even got to meet the band! Simon LeBon, and his wonderful daughter, Saffron, are friends of the person I went to the show with. He (Simon), surrounded by security, came right up to us after the show, out of the blue (we were sitting on the patio outside the Loge), sat down, and spoke to us! He was WONDERFUL! He said EVERYONE in England knows Bush is stupid!
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