[Peace-discuss] Re: Peace-discuss Digest, Vol 27, Issue 38

[John Bambenek]

I'm particularly interested in exactly what attacks on the first
amendment are taking place...

I mean, if we're in an essentially fascist society, where are the box
cars and why aren't most of you on them?

On 4/14/06, peace-discuss-request at lists.chambana.net
<peace-discuss-request at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Mort's comments (Bob Illyes)
>   2. William Sloane Coffin (Bob Illyes)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 11:05:45 -0500
> From: Bob Illyes <illyes at uiuc.edu>
> Subject: [Peace-discuss] Mort's comments
> To: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> Message-ID: <6.1.1.1.2.20060414100832.02130930 at express.cites.uiuc.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> Being a soldier, like being a policeman, is a legitimate career
> choice, Mort. The legitimate purpose is to protect the peace by
> preventing crime, both personal and international. In order to
> do this, they must be prepared on occasion to meet violence with
> violence, which is why they carry and sometimes use guns.
> When they are used for aggressive purpose instead, it is to the
> political leadership that one must look for blame, and to the
> people who back that leadership.
>
> Soldiers and police are scarcely angels. None of us are, and they
> are as a group no better or worse than any of the rest of us.
> Most of them, like most of us, entered their line of work with
> reasonably good intentions and with some trust that they would
> not be misused. They are being misused in Iraq, and they were
> misused in Vietnam, with awful consequences. The returning
> veterans who have sold out to evil are in the minority. Most
> are reasonably decent people who have been thrown into a situation
> that no one should ever be thrown into, and are seriously
> traumatized by the experience. They deserve our kindness, not our
> contempt.
>
> If we are to use the referenda we just got on the ballot to
> advantage, we must use them as a starting point of a conversation
> with the other side. If we demonize them, this conversation will
> not happen and no minds will be changed.
>
> If you've read the stuff I write for the Public i, you'll see that
> my main concern is attacks on the Bill of Rights, particular the
> First Amendment. This concerns me much more that war. There has
> been (as you know) a long-term systematic attack on the First
> Amendment that has its roots in McCarthy. We would not be in
> Iraq now if the press had not failed us. I think that direct
> democracy may be our best bet, and the referenda give us a fine
> opportunity to have a conversation that is long overdue regarding
> the war, the press, the constitution, and the actual intentions
> of our representatives.
>
> One must not forget that the people are sovereign, that they hold
> real and ultimate power. We can only be ruled by the few if they
> can divide us. What we need to do is connect, not demonize each
> other. The administration knows this, and their intent is division.
> If we play into their hands, they will win. Perhaps they will, but
> I believe the ball is now in our court. Will we use this advantage
> wisely?
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2006 11:45:32 -0500
> From: Bob Illyes <illyes at uiuc.edu>
> Subject: [Peace-discuss] William Sloane Coffin
> To: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> Message-ID: <6.1.1.1.2.20060414113944.02234948 at express.cites.uiuc.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> I'm sorry to hear that William Sloane Coffin has died. I hadn't
> heard of him for a year or two, and feared that he was already
> gone. He was one of the finest men who ever walked the earth.
> Although a pastor, he never hid beyond the "authority" of the
> Church, but only said what he knew by personal experience. He was
> always on the side of social justice and of peace. If you have
> not read him, have a look at his book Credo.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
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> End of Peace-discuss Digest, Vol 27, Issue 38
> *********************************************
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j
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