Brethren Witness-Washington Office - Peace and Justice

War-time reflection by a mother and Christian
Julie Gregonis
Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren
Blacksburg, Virginia

I begin to feel rather sick with the sinister implications of this war, juxtaposed on some of the conspiracy theory thoughts I'm having and happened to read lately. Is this a move toward a "new world order"? Will Iran and Saudi Arabia be next? Forgive me my dark thoughts in this moment, let me share my ponderings over the last few days.

I admire the thousands or millions of people who have taken to the streets to protest. They are continuing to show that this is not a universally accepted decision. My nagging question is: can protest marches really change anything? Yes, they can let those of us who oppose the war know that we are not alone. They can give us the courage to act as we feel called.

Well, I feel called. I feel called to recognize our part in the pain and suffering that is going on now. I want to "dress in sackcloth and sit it ashes", to mourn the wrongness of this war and the suffering it is causing both sides. I want to feel pain. I want to suffer too, in a tangible, visible way. As always, I am staring in the face of the gross inequities of this world, and believing that the answer lies here. I have been observing my lenten commitment to reduce my driving in a "reasonable" way, but I feel like I need to get a little unreasonable. Maybe I was pushed along by the coincidence of chicken pox in our household (no driving at all), but I am going to try not driving at all. My husband drives to work, so he can buy groceries. I have withdrawn my son from his clearly frivolous karate lessons. I am going to pay their cello teacher without attending classes at least until Easter. I am going to try walking to church.

Staying home has been an immediate blessing. My children are calmer, I am less stressed. We have taken more beautiful hikes than we have in the last two years. Our garden is looking good. Food is getting cooked. Maybe being home has done something even more important: it has put me in the position to really seek a direct connection with Jesus as the most important thing in my life. I can see more clearly that not only the people of Iraq and other poor countries are victims of our American greed. We are victims too because we are estranged from our only true source of peace.

I was sharing some of these thoughts with a friend who referred me to John Woolman's writings. I have found a kindred spirit. Here are some quotes and links that I wanted to share with you, written in the time of slavery, they are just as relevant today:

Oh! that we who declare against wars, and acknowledge our trust to be in God only, may walk in the light, and therein examine our foundation and motives in holding great estates! May we look upon our treasures, and the furniture of our houses, and the garments in which we array ourselves, and try whether the seeds of war have nourishment in these our possessions, or not. Holding treasures in the self-pleasing spirit is a strong plant, the fruit whereof ripens fast.

http://www.qis.net/~daruma/woolman3.html

There is a Love which stands in Nature; and a Parent beholding his Child in Misery, hath a Feeling of the Affliction, but in Divine Love, the Heart is enlarged towards Mankind universally, and prepar'd to sympathize with Strangers, though in the lowest Stations in Life. Of this the Prophet appears to have had a feeling, when he said, Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Why then do we deal treacherously every Man with his Brother in prophaning the Covenant of our Fathers?

When the Iniquity of the house of Israel and of Judah was exceeding great, when the Land was defiled with blood, and the City full of Perverseness, Ezek ix. 9. some were found sighing and crying for the Abominations of the times. and such who live under a right Feeling of our Condition as a Nation these I trust will be sensible that the Lord at this Day doth call to Mourning, thou many are ignorant of it. So powerful are bad Customs when they become general, that People growing bold thro' the Examples one of another, have often been unmoved at the most serious Warnings.

Where a Trade is carried on, productive of much Misery, and they who suffer by it are some Thousand miles off, the Danger is the greater of not laying their Sufferings to Heart.
In procuring slaves on the Coast of Africa, many Children are stolen privately; Wars also are encouraged amongst the Negroes, but all is at a great Distance.
Many Groans arise from dying Men, which we hear not.
Many Cries are uttered by Widows and Fatherless Children, which reach not our ears.
Many Cheeks are wet with Tears, and Faces sad with unutterable Grief, which we see not.

http://www.suite101.com/topic_page.cfm/quakerism/1552

And I have felt, in that which doth not deceive, that if Friends who have known the Truth, keep in that Tenderness of Heart, where all views of outward Gain are given up, and their Trust is only on the Lord, he will generously lead some to be Patterns of deep Self-denial, in Things relating to Trade, and handicraft Labour: and that some who have Plenty of Treasure of this World, will example in a plain frugal Life, and pay Wages to such whom they may hire, more liberally than is now customary in some Places

In the Continuation of these Things from Parents to Children there were many wants to supply, even Wants unknown to Friends, while they faithfully followed Christ. And, in striving to supply these Wants, amy have exacted on the poor, many have enter'd on Employments, in which they often labour in upholding Pride and Vanity. Many have looked on one another, been strenghten'd in these things, one by the Example of another, and as to the pure Divine Feeling, dimness hath come over many, and the Channels of true Brotherly Love been obstructed.

We respectfully implore our elected representatives and national leaders not to take military action against the country of Iraq. The country of Iraq represents no imminent or real danger to the people of the United States.
We acknowledge and deplore the brutal dictatorship of Iraq that has brought untold suffering to the people of Iraq, but we plead with our leaders not to multiply that death and destruction.
We urge our national leaders to honor the sovereign rights of other peoples and countries to determine their own destinies–the very principles upon which our own nation was founded.
We recognize that the 112 billion barrels of crude oil under Iraq are a coveted resource, but we plead for the right of the peoples of every country to control their own resources.
We deplore the demonization of enemies that reflects our own national insecurities and only serves to inflate our own self-righteous nationalism.
We call upon our national leaders to comply with and work within the resolutions and policies of the United Nations and not take unilateral military action against other countries.
We plead for peaceful restraint because military intervention in Iraq will surely inflame anti-American passions and breed more terrorism that will in fact weaken our security at home and abroad.
We plead for restraint because United States military action will certainly bring thousands of American and Iraqi deaths, far more than the number killed by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001.
We plead for restraint because United States military action will create a humanitarian nightmare of suffering for millions of innocent refugees.
We plead for restraint because United States military action will destabilize the entire Middle East and destroy any remaining American credibility in the Muslim world.
We urge our elected officials and national leaders to use our tax dollars and human imagination to address the causes of global poverty, not to create more of it, by terrorizing, destroying, and killing innocent others.
We urge the leaders of our nation not to use the Iraqi situation to deflect attention and resources from a multitude of urgent domestic issues.
We urge our national leaders to exemplify the high moral standards befitting the global leadership of a gentle giant, rather than those of a belligerent bully.
Finally, let it be clear: United States military action will not be taken in our name or with our support. We will not accept responsibility for the deaths of Americans or Iraqis; nor will we accept responsibility for a humanitarian nightmare of untold magnitude.
We plead with our fellow citizens of conscience: Speak out now before it is too late. Contact your elected representatives and join us in this plea for peace.

An Open Letter to President Bush
January 16, 2003

Mr. President:

For those of us who, by our confession, stand with the saints, the apostles and the communities of faith in God, humility before God is mandated. You are, by confession, one such person. I am bold to address you as another such person.

Forgive me if this letter implies the agreement of all of the respected members of my church. I would not so presume. However, I do give voice in brotherly love to the divine mandate of humility and respect that many in my church and my community honor.

God's message: "Be still and know that I am God," is given in response to devastating war and chaos, a quaking earth and boiling seas. God deflates the exaggerated pride of enemies with a whisper and shatters the tools of war. Mighty troops lay down their weapons and flee in panic with a well-planted dream. Is there any power so great as God's to rule the earth and move the nations? And so, I am compelled to speak out and caution you about your self-appointed role to save the world from evil ones and the prideful arrogance by which you entice your nation to be an accomplice in the murder of the President of Iraq.

Without a doubt, the USA is unrivaled in military might. I understand that it would take the combined forces of the next 35 largest national militaries to rival our own. You are the Commander in Chief of the world's only superpower. In respect of this status, the leader of our greatest trading partner, Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada, has cautioned America: "When you are the only superpower, you have a responsibility to act kindly." We must heed the advice of other leaders, especially our best friends. Yet, one of your own staff, Mister President, dismissed the legitimate concerns of other leaders as mere jealousy.

The majority of American people oppose your headlong rush to war with the people of Iraq. You ignore them also, as you position our forces for war and incite conflict by your words. While the UN inspectors find no evidence for the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, you argue all the more vehemently for their existence. It is our own military that has amassed enough weapons of mass destruction to destroy most of the world. May the world community monitor our uses and abuses? It appears that you rely upon these weapons and their destructive, ungodly power more than you do upon God.

Can God stand with you while you usurp the authority of God? Vengeance is mine, says God. History reveals that King Solomon's greatness before God was attributed to his request for understanding to discern between good and evil. I speak out of a similar discernment and the clear words of Jesus: "The measure you give will be the measure you get," and "All who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father and he will at once send me more than 12 legions of angels?" The words of this letter ultimately are not my own. Take them or leave them as the Spirit of God permits. But, as Jesus warned, take care not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Mr. President, you want the people of America to stand united with you. With so many who voice opposition to war with Iraq, is it they who stand apart from you or is it you who stand apart from them? Again Jesus' words are pertinent: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Do not spend the good will of the nations and bring down hostility upon our children and grandchildren!

My people are ordinary people. They trust God and they do good to their neighbors. We are people with roots in many nations. As a congregation of the Church of the Brethren, we see the faces of people who suffer in the world as our brothers and sisters under God. And so we reach out in love to them.

In a similar manner, we behold the faces of our struggling brothers and sisters in Iraq. It is the land where God called Abraham and Sara, where God rescued Daniel from the lion's den and where King Cyrus kindly allowed the captive people of Israel to return home and rebuild their lives. It breaks our hearts that those faces are filled with fear at the terror which America intends to bring down on them. We fall on our knees and pray to God that such a horror shall not happen to them or to us. Won't you also fall to your knees and pray with us? Let us bring blessing and not a curse.

Sincerely yours,
John Braun, Pastor
Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren, Seattle

IF YOU HAVE E-MAIL:

If you haven't yet received the opportunity to send faxes/e-mails to your elected representatives via the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)—please give Linda your e-mail address, or e-mail her at lindawms@sdcoe.k12.ca.us

WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE E-MAIL:

You are invited to sign multiple copies of the letter below with your name and address, and give it to Linda to fax to Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein, plus whoever is your Representative (Davis, Hunter, or Filner).

You can call the White House Comment Line: (202) 456-1414, with the message "Let the inspections work; we can win without war!" and especially express concern about Bush's latest threats and continual push for war (talking points are in the letter below).

In addition to signing the letter to be faxed, you can also call your elected representatives (Sen. Boxer, Sen. Feinstein, and your Congressperson; most likely, Susan Davis or Bob Filner, or Duncan Hunter) and encourage them to do all in their power to "Let the inspections work; we can win without war!" You could use the letter below for additional "talking points." All can be reached at (toll-free) 1-800-839-5276.

Dear ________________,

I am deeply concerned that the Administration is undermining the possibility for successful UN weapons inspections and a peaceful resolution of the conflict with Iraq. Rather than providing the strong support needed for the UN inspections to succeed, I see the Administration creating a pretext for war.

Under Resolution 1441, Iraq's weapons report is to be reviewed and responded to through the UN Security Council. Yet, the US continues to pursue its own course of action outside the Council. The Administration pressured the Security Council to release an early copy of the report, has claimed unilaterally that Iraq is in "material breach" of Resolution 1441, is deploying troops to the region and openly planning for postwar occupation of Iraq. This unilateral pursuit of war undermines the UN weapons inspections process and threatens to fracture the hard-won international unity now behind Resolution 1441.

Congress has an important role to play in ensuring that the Bush Administration lives up to the US's international commitments under Resolution 1441 and exhausts all peaceful alternatives to war with Iraq. Any claims that Iraq is in violation of Resolution 1441 must be vetted first through the UN Security Council and backed up with clear evidence. Our government claims that it is using diplomacy backed by force, but US actions reveal a bias for the use of military force shorn of diplomacy.

Congress must act to restrain the Administration's rush to war. I urge you to insist that the Administration stop undermining the weapons inspections through unilateral threats of war and further military build-up in the Middle East. The UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspections Commissions (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be given the time, resources, and support needed to complete their mission. Thank you in advance for your attention to this urgent request, which can save thousands of lives.

Sincerely yours,

You may be wondering what you personally can do about peace, especially in light of the many conflicts around the world. We have a list of ideas for you to consider.

Pray regularly for our world
Place a bumper sticker on your car, showing others that you support a different way of solving conflict.
Many people are displaying the American Flag. In addition, consider displaying a flag for peace.
Pick up some conversation cards in the mixing area—Since Sept. 11, many people have found it difficult to stand as pacifists or speak of loving our enemies. These business size cards provide a means of letting people know about your commitment to peace.
Consider going on a Faith Expedition from the Brethren Witness Office. Many different opportunities are available.
Spend one night each week having a simple meal, remembering those who do not have the basic needs of food, shelter, and security.
For a different perspective on the Middle East, read the Hebron Journal by Art Gish.
Speak up when people talk derogatorily about people from other cultures, races, and religions.
Examine the movies and television that you and your family view. Do they have violent themes?
Evaluate the video games, books, and music to which your children are exposed for themes of violence.
Order the "Adult Peace Basket" or "Children's Peace Basket" from the On Earth Peace Academy.

Place the paper and bag of rice in an envelope (either a letter-sized or small padded mailing envelope - both are the same cost to mail) and address them to:

President George Bush
White House - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

Attach $1.06 in postage. (Three 37 cent stamps equal $1.11)

Drop this in the mail TODAY. It is important to act NOW so that President Bush gets the letters asap, preferably before the report from the inspectors comes out on the 27th.

In order for this protest to be effective, there must be hundreds of thousands of such rice deliveries to the White House. We can do this if we all forward this message to our friends and family. If every Mennonite and every Church of the Brethren household sent one of these, and the tens of thousands of persons from outside these churches who think war is a mistake also send them... we are hundreds of thousands of people!

There is a positive history of this protest! Read on!

"In the mid 1950s, the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation, learning of famine in the Chinese mainland, launched a "Feed Thine Enemy" campaign. Members and friends mailed thousands of little bags of rice to the White House with a tag quoting the Bible, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him." As far as anyone knew for more than ten years, the campaign was an abject failure. The President did not acknowledge receipt of the bags publicly; certainly no rice was ever sent to China.

"What nonviolent activists only learned a decade later was that the campaign played a significant, perhaps even determining role in preventing nuclear war. Twice while the campaign was on, President Eisenhower met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to consider US options in the conflict with China over two islands, Quemoy and Matsu. The generals twice recommended the use of nuclear weapons. President Eisenhower each time turned to his aide and asked how many little bags of rice had come in. When told they numbered in the tens of thousands, Eisenhower told the generals that as long as so many Americans were expressing active interest in having the US feed the Chinese, he certainly wasn't going to consider using nuclear weapons against them."

From: People Power: Applying Nonviolence Theory by David H. Albert, p. 43, New Society, 19.

Thank you all for being people of hope, people of faith.
Susan Ortman Goering

Modesto, California	Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio	Dayton, Ohio