[Peace-political] Revised and expanded statement

[Al Kagan]

I just heard that 2 Americans have been murdered today, a Sikh and a 
Pakistani American.  We always need to reiterate the need for 
leadership to protect Muslims,  Sikhs and anyone else who might be 
mistaken for a Muslim in the US.

>When talking to Tim's staffer, we should have a concise, 
>easy-to-understand one-page document with rationale and specific 
>requests for action.  Here's my proposal for what we take to his 
>office.
>-Peter
>
>We are U.S. citizens and residents interested in helping our 
>government find the least violent response possible to the attacks 
>of September 11.  We offer the following sentiments and observations:
>
>The US government should offer all aid necessary to assist the victims. 
>
>The US government should capture those responsible for the attacks. 
>The mindless killing of thousands of innocent civilians should not 
>be allowed to happen, and if the planners of the attacks can be 
>found and tried in a fair and just trial, they should be imprisoned. 
>
>Our government should abide by established international law and 
>standards of conduct when operating outside US borders.
>
>Military strikes against uncertain targets compromise American 
>safety.  We fear that our government may enter a military war 
>against an ill-defined enemy.  We believe that such attacks, whether 
>"pin pricks" such as the 1998 strikes against Sudan and Afghanistan 
>or full-scale invasion, will not make us more secure.  We feel that 
>US attacks will provoke more attacks against the US. 
>
>Civilian deaths are unacceptable in any US response.  The September 
>11 attackers claimed thousands of civilian lives.  A US response 
>that takes more civilian lives places our government in the same 
>category as the attackers.
>
>American freedoms must not be compromised.  We should learn from our 
>history.  The Palmer Raids of 1920, Japanese internment camps during 
>World War II, the McCarthy Red Scare, and the FBI's Counter 
>Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) of the 1960s and 1970s all teach 
>us that America is diminished when our government denies Americans 
>their civil liberties.  We hope that America will not be scarred by 
>another similar event.
>
>Enhance safety by promoting democracy and helping satisfy human 
>needs.  Now is the time to reject the Cold War doctrine articulated 
>by George Kennan in 1948:
>
>
>We have about 50% of the world's wealth, but only 6.3% of its 
>population. In this situation we cannot fail to be the object of 
>envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise 
>a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this 
>position of disparity...We should cease to talk about vague 
>and...unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of living 
>standards and democratization...The less we are hampered by 
>idealistic slogans, the better.
>
>Such attitudes put all Americans at risk by fostering rage against 
>our government.  Our post-Cold War government must articulate a new 
>doctrine which rejects Kennan's ideas.
>
>Cease efforts to elevate commercial privileges above civil, 
>political, and economic human rights and environmental protection. 
>As an economic superpower, we must take leadership in addressing 
>human needs.  Promoting trade agreements and funding financial 
>institutions (such as the International Monetary Fund and World 
>Bank) that disregard human need will inevitably put Americans at 
>greater risk to future attack.
>
>To put out a fire, the fuel source must be depleted. 
>
>If we want peace, we must have justice.
>
>Please use your office to promote justice and enhance the safety of 
>all Americans.

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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