[Peace-discuss] Re: request for your reflection on war

[Ann-Marie Shapiro]

Here is my statement.  I also edited it a little bit and sent it to the News
Gazette as a letter to the editor.  :-)

He says that he supports our troops- but does he know that the Republicans
just cut veterans care by $25 billion dollars?  She says she stands with our
president, but has she wondered why the whole world, which sent its love and
support to American following 9-11, now cowers in fear and loathing?  He
says he believes in democracy, but does he remember that right now, we are
supposed to be building a democracy in Afghanistan?  And that the democratic
opposition leaders of Iraq are ignored by the US- and oppose our war?  She
says she cares about "collateral damage" and hopes it won't be too bad- but
did the national news explain that 40% of Iraqi civilians are under 16 years
of age, and how our fuel air bombs work?  The humanitarian agencies in Iraq
won't give us the time of day- they know we target civilians on purpose.
Americans say they are scared.  Yes.  This doesn't feel so good, does it?
This is what imperialism feels like, with the dawning of awareness and
self-empowerment in those we have repeatedly crushed for centuries.
Violence is the most easily-recycled commodity- the attack on 9-11 was
directly caused by US aggression and intervention in the Middle East.
Saddam had nothing to do with it; no one has produced a shred of evidence to
that effect.  But those we have intimidated for so long are not going to
allow us to behave this way forever.  Do we really think otherwise?  When
the chickens come home to roost, remember that violence is the way people
deal with their problems.  Right?

Ann-Marie

The greatest evil...is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and
minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, well-lighted offices, by quiet men with
white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need
to raise their voices."
--  C.S. Lewis