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Discerning
Dissent
March 31, 2003
By Norma Sherry
There's a huge misconception being proliferated in the media
about war protestors. I've read that these misguided seekers
of peace don't support our service men and women; that they
are the fringe of society; misfits that jump on every anti-American
bandwagon or cause; that they, themselves are un-American.
The organizations that have made gathering a coalition have
fared even worse. In the newspapers, on the web, and in the
television news, we've been told they are not only Anti-American
but have Marxist ties and are anti-government; that they have
supported brutal regimes and have an ulterior motive that
has been hidden from the poor souls who have been misguided
in their belief that this war upon Iraq is an unjust war.
Countries that have not joined in the American plan to "shock
and awe" and bring Iraq and its leaders to its knees
are said to be contemptible, irrelevant, meaningless, and
worthless little nations. French has been replaced with freedom
when it comes to fries. Wine has been poured down drains and
bushwhackers encourage anyone who will listen not to ever
purchase another bottle of Evian.
A local reporter described those that prefer peace over
war as ridiculous and stupid. He's not alone in his belief.
He says the silly, arrogant speakers at the peace rallies
are foolish; that they are persuading no one; that they are
simply singing to the choir. Perhaps this is partly true.
For many months peace loving citizens from around the world,
and particularly here in the states, have fought an upward
battle to get their conscientious voices heard. Their thoughtful,
persuasive arguments have had little or no media coverage.
Finally, in the eleventh hour there have been snippets in
the news - carefully chosen segments that bolster the contention
that these groups of beleaguered citizens are foolish indeed.
None of the eloquence and the passion, or for that matter,
the truth, has been reported.
People for peace come from all sectors of our society: Democrat,
Republican, liberal, right wing, leftist, preacher, pastor,
rabbi, man, woman, white, black, yellow, red, Jewish, Catholic,
Christian, Buddhist, soldier, veteran, intellectual, scholar,
student, homeless, educated, uneducated, doctor, lawyer, cashier,
rich, poor, and every thing and every one in between. They
are not the scum of the earth. They are not the hippie, flower
child, dope heads that the media and particularly, the talk
show combatants seem bent on portraying them.
Some in fact are even Nobel laureates. Not just any laureates,
but laureates of science and economics. Forty-one, to be precise
have declared their opposition to the war against Iraq in
a formal declaration.
Among the signers, laureates all, were Hans A. Bethe, one
of the atom bomb architects; Walter Kohn, a defense adviser
to the Pentagon; Norman F. Ramsey, one of the Manhattan Project
scientists who readied the bomb that struck Hiroshima and
a NATO advisor; Charles H. Townes, a past research director
at the Pentagon. Simply and eloquently, they declared, "…
Even with a victory, we believe that the medical, economic,
environmental, moral, spiritual, political and legal consequences
of an American preventive attack on Iraq would undermine,
not protect, U.S. security and standing in the world."
For the first time in the history of labor unions, 130 million
workers belonging to over 200 unions and 550 union leaders
from 53 countries have signed an International Labor Declaration
demanding that the US abandon the illegal aggression against
Iraq.
Religious leaders from Briton and the United States joined
together and in part, said: "We represent a diversity
of Christian communities - from the just war traditions to
the pacifist tradition. As leaders of these communities in
the United States and the United Kingdom, it is our considered
judgment that a preemptive war against Iraq, particularly
in the current situation would not be justified."
Their statement went on to say, "…our nations and the
international community must pursue these goals in a manner
consistent with moral principles, political wisdom, and international
law. As Christians, we seek to be guided by the vision of
a world in which nations do not attempt to resolve international
problems by making war on other nations. It is a long-held
Christian principle that all governments and citizens are
obliged to work for the avoidance of war."
The Rev. Dr. Konrad Raiser, the general secretary of the
World Council of Churches, informed the United Nations Security
Council that they, "…strongly believe that pre-emptive war
against Iraq is illegal, immoral and unwise."
Senator Robert Byrd on the floor of the Senate delivered
a most eloquent and frightful speech. To his fellow representatives
he proclaimed that, "The doctrine of preemption - the
idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately
attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may
be threatening in the future - is a radical new twist on the
traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention
of international law and the UN Charter."
And a much less known speaker, but a world citizen and humanitarian,
Philip J. Rappa, spoke fervently and emotionally when he delivered
the following speech at a peace rally in January, 2003:
"Friends, neighbors, fellow citizens, on this day we
congregate in hope and in prayer, but more importantly fully
aware and in total control of our mental faculties.
"We join together for all the world to bear witness
that we the people demand peace.
"We join together to remind this president, and this
congress, that we the people shall hold them accountable…for
what is done in our name.
"We gather here today, Mr. President, because of our
love of country. We gather here today, Mr. President, because
we honor the men and women in our armed forces; Mr. President,
because we honor their sacrifice and dedication to duty; Mr.
President, because they are our sons, and our daughters, our
fathers, and our mothers. Mr. President, in their stead, and
in their honor we join together in peace, for peace.
"Mr. President, Mr. Ashcroft, we gather here today
because it has become obvious that we the people must inform
you that protest and dissent is patriotic.
"Mr. President, we gather here today because it seems
necessary for we the people to remind you that the presidency
of the United States is a temporary job.
"We gather here today, Mr. President, because we the
people so love this nation - Mr. President, because of our
belief in the principles of our Constitution and our Bill
of Rights.
"We gather here today, Mr. President, because we the
people believe in our hearts, and in our minds…and to our
very marrow, that we are a nation of laws, not men.
"We gather here today, Mr. President, because the soul
of the world can only be saved when each of us believe the
truths that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their creator with the inalienable rights to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
"Not just for America, Mr. President, but a guarantee
for all the world's citizens.
"We gather here today, Mr. President, because of all
your talk of unilateral, pre-emptive strike, regime change,
or your plans for as you would say, new-cu-lur first strike.
"Mr. President, we gather here today, because we the
people are aware these ideas are not new. These ideas are
the ways of kings, and dictators.
"Mr. President, this course of action shows a lack
of wisdom and a lack of vision. The mere suggestion is un-American
and inhumane.
"Mr. President, we gather here today, because we the
people believe - and are certain of this, that without proof
of a clear and imminent threat - should this administration
attack Iraq, or any other sovereign nation we the people will
come to realize that America, on that day, in that hour, from
that moment on will be nothing more than a rogue nation.
"Mr. President, we gather here today, because we can
be as certain as tomorrow's sunrise – if you take us down
this path, other nations will emulate your policies, other
nations will disregard international treaties and laws. The
final result will be international anarchy
"Your legacy, Mr. President, will be entering a new
century taking us from the cold war to a nuclear winter of
our discontent.
"Mr. President, we gather here today, because we the
people believe the world cannot survive your version of enduring
freedom.
"Mr. President, we gather here today, because we the
people suggest that you fulfill FDR's promise to the world
– a call to arms for enduring peace encompassing four freedoms:
freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear,
and freedom from want.
"A foundation built on right, not might with the knowledge
that the world cannot be right until all its people live free
from hunger, censorship, and the dread of bombs.
"Mr. President, we gather here today, because my fellow
American's understand our children and future generations
will judge us by our words – and our actions, but mostly by
our decisions.
"I believe if we the people just allow this to happen
that our collective consciousness and our collective soul
will be irreparably damaged because we the people still have
the right to choose our fate and our future….Peace be to all
– and blessed are the peacemakers."
I suggest that these are not the insignificant, ignorant,
misinformed, illiterate, kooks that the proponents of war
suggest they are.
I close by offering two final views, one of a well-known
conservative talk show host who bellows that he has single-handedly
and intellectually destroyed the liberal media. As the bombs
of shock and awe were beginning their assault upon Iraq, he
laughed and quipped, "Please, don't surrender, I want
to see this."
And the last, was from a soldier in Iraq. "It was a
spectacular light show," he said, speaking of the shock
and awe.
As the bombs destroy Iraq, I fear we have lost our place
in history, our dignity, and the respect of the world at large.
I fear the world as we know it, will never be the same.
Norma Sherry is Vice President of the Civil Liberties Defense
Committee and Together Forever Changing. She is an award-winning
writer with many published works. In this capacity she has
joined a coalition of concerned individuals to educate and
stimulate an awareness of the attack upon our civil liberties
within the U.S. Patriot Act and the impending U.S. Patriot
Act II.
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