|
Responses to War
Call the President's comment line and voice your concern (202-456-1111). State your opposition to war as a Christian and American–for talking points see: http://brethren.org/genbd/washofc/SpeakingPeace.htm Call or fax your elected representatives in Washington. Voice your strong opposition to this devastating invasion. Tell them that you support life on ALL sides, be it of US troops or Iraqi civilians. Stress that this war has already caused incredible suffering, and that it will no doubt result in countless deaths. Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-800-839-5276 and ask to be connected to your member of Congress. Call to thank House and Senate members who took some political risk in supporting legislation that sought to at least slow the rush to war. Thank House members who supported House Resolution 24, which called for a slowing if not all out halt to war. For a list of the 29 supporters E-mail the Washington Office or see: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HJ00024:@@@P Thank Senators who supported and cosponsored Senate Resolution 28 which called for sense of Congress that supported UN weapons inspectors efforts before war. Those Senators include: Bingaman (NM), Byrd (WV), Feingold (WI), Inouye (HI), Kennedy (MA), Boxer (CA), Feinstein (CA), Jeffords (VT), Sarbanes (MD). Visit http://www.congress.org to find out who your members are and their contact information.
Our alienation with each other is a reflection of our alienation from God. When we resort to violence, we turn from the source of Life, and indeed from life itself. Christ put a stop in the cycle of revenge–when he suffered and was raised he did not seek revenge upon his persecutors. He suffered in order to bring us to God–to undo the alienation and to bring us back into the loving arms of God.
The National Council of Churches is requesting all congregations to participate in a SPECIAL Candle Lighting Peace Vigil, pausing in the Service for a brief ceremony for peace. Suggested weekly prayers and litanies will be provided both by E-mail and on the National Council of Churches Web site for individuals in each congregation to lead responsive litanies, bible readings and prayers focused on peacemaking. www.ncccusa.org It is hoped that these Candle Lighting Peace Vigils will serve to remind all of us of the importance of working for peace and give us courage and strength to continue the fight for justice. Thousands of folks around the world are a placing a light in their windows to send a message of continued opposition to war and continued hope for peace. It could be a Christmas string or candle, a light bulb, or a lantern. It's an easy way to keep the light of reason and hope burning, to let others know that they are not alone, and to show the way home to the young men and women who are on their way to Iraq. To see a count of the people who are joining in this simple act, from places all over the globe see http://www.moveon.org/windowlight/
A spontaneous war protest has started in Montreal after a popular radio host here announced that Mrs. George W. Bush had cancelled a meeting with a group of women at the White House because several of them planned to attend the meeting with a white scarf round their necks as a silent symbol of their desire for peace. This story has triggered a grass roots E-mail campaign asking those committed to peace in the world to wear a white scarf. If everyone who disagreed with the war were to wear a white scarf around their neck, tie a white handkerchief to their back-packs, their attache case, their school bags, white pennants from car antennas, white flags on balconies and hanging in front of houses the world over, would this not be a powerful message to send to our leaders? May Peace Prevail on Earth!
Create a place for people to post notes/letters of support for one another and the peace movement in general. Peacemakers who begin to feel isolated could be helped by having a forum to post words of encouragement or actions for peace.
The World Council of Churches encourages people of faith around the world to join together in support of an international church leaders' declaration against war in Iraq. The declaration can be signed on-line at http://www2.wcc-coe.org/signatures.nsf/iraq-e. The WCC will use the support generated in ongoing communication and advocacy efforts, for instance with the UN Security Council members. Sponsored by a growing coalition of national and local groups, the Iraq Peace Pledge is a way to publicly register opposition to war on Iraq and add names to a national list of citizens opposed to war that will be delivered to Congressional offices. Visit http://www.peacepledge.org to get involved. "Sojourners," a highly respected magazine of Christian ministry and social justice advocacy, encourages people of faith to support a thoughtful and reflective appeal opposing the current war in Iraq. This appeal is a call to Churches to continue resisting the devastating invasion of Iraq. To support this endeavor, go to http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.home. The Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) provides a brief but powerful pledge addressing the devastating humanitarian crisis in Iraq, a grave situation that will no doubt increase as a result of the recent invasion. To view and sign this pledge, visit EPIC's website at http://epic-usa.org/signon.php.
Some will want to take a more direct action. The United for Peace and Justice coalition has compiled a list of direct actions in which one can engage. See their website: http://www.unitedforpeace.org
|
||||||||||||||||||
The Cross is the ultimate symbol of reconciliation. It brings to mind powerful Christian images of love, forgiveness, and peace–words at the heart of our understanding of life, yet words often left out of political discourse.
Win Without War, a mainstream antiwar coalition has called for worldwide candlelight vigils beginning at 7PM on the day of an invasion. See 
