Truth-Tellers Vital to Nations' Security

[Guest guest]

Forwarded Message:

Dear Friends,

I'd like to ask if any of you have a newspaper connection you might want to

suggest for this Op Ed. I'd appreciate if anyone sends this on to good

newspaper contacts.

Feel free to post this on web sites. All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Truth-Tellers Vital to Nations' Security

By J Murtagh, M.D.

[Note: Murtagh has spent 20 years as an Intensive Care Unit physician.

Murtagh is the founder of " Doctors for Open Government " and also a

co-organizer of Washington Whistleblower Week, WWW]

" Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial

diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the

most

efficient policeman. " -- Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

Our purpose is too urgent to ignore. Today, we face huge dangers to

national security, to economic security, to our nation's reputation, and to

environmental and homeland security. The truth, unvarnished, unsanitized,

uncensored, and undistilled, in short supply, is vital to the nation's

cherished

future hopes.

50 major public interest groups are joining forces next week to

prove Justice Brandeis right: truth is the best disinfectant for the diseased

body politic during " Whistleblower's Week in Washington, (WWW) " May 13- 19.

The White House vows to veto Whistleblower protection

laws passed by an overwhelming majority of the House . WWW organizers ask the

Senate to pass these critical laws by a veto-proof margin. The stakes could

not be higher, both for the whistleblowers, and for the country.

WWW is the very first time that we, the whistleblowers from a broad

spectrum of society, have all banded together in a single meeting. The

program was initiated and organized by fellow whistleblowers from across the

country.

Speakers and participants include both well-known figures

alongside less known average citizens important to the whistleblower movement

including:

o German, a former FBI Special Agent suffered brutal

retaliations after reporting his division's wiretapping violations.

o Doctors, such as Dr. Helen Salisbury, and Dr. Larry Poliner, put

their careers on the line to protect quality patient care. Dr. Janet Chandler,

battled to protect the humane treatment of her patients, and after more than a

decade of legal battles, was victor at the Supreme Court.

o Coleen Rowley exposed FBI negligence preceding the September 11

terrorist attack, was named as one of Time magazine's " Person's of the Year, "

along with Enron-whistleblower Sherron Watkins.

o Wigand, featured in the movie " The Insider, " will be speak

with Dr. Kanubhai R. Gandhi's grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and EPA and civil

rights activist Dr. Marsha -Adebayo.

o Republican Senator Grassley will receive a lifetime

achievement award for fighting waste, fraud and corruption. The award, like the

conference, is completely bipartisan, and warmly endorsed by blue-chip

conservatives and liberals.

There are too many patriotic truth tellers to name, so we invite you to

visit: http://makeitsafecampaign.org/www/, the website maintained by

Whistleblower

. , together with a score of others , worked this conference

relentlessly as volunteers for truth.

What do all these people have in common? The commitment to oppose

hazardous, illegal and unsafe conditions, to decrease waste, fraud and abuse of

authority in United States government operations, to support the fundamental

concepts embedded in our Open Society, to support our troops and our

veterans, and to protect the rights of U.S. citizens to speak without reprisal

on

matters securing the general welfare and defense of our nation.

Activities will include congressional tribunals followed

by a May 15 Congressional hearing, rallies, and a whistleblower " Movie

Night " and book signings and receptions.

Simply stated, America's truth-tellers want to make America's

promise work. They present gripping human, personal stories, and ask for

protections that would make our nation safer. WWW promises an opportunity to

explore

the deep and searching questions as a society that cannot afford to lose

important freedoms.

Sunlight really is the best disinfectant. These soldiers

for the truth are asking for clean hands in medicine, in government, and in

corporations. To protect our security, we need the best policeman of all: the

truth.

The joint task force of WWW urge you to write your Congressman, your

Senator, the media, and your friends to support this conference and its goal of

a

safer, freer America. If you can get to Washington, come to the events. They

are open to the public, and most are free.

J. Murtagh Jr.

Atlanta GA 30329

404 633 9715

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0510-11.htm

http://makeitsafecampaign.org/www/

http://whistle-week-in-dc.org/Jim.htm

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