[Peace] Second Pamphlet

[Barbara Dyskant]

Hi,

Here is the text for the second pamphlet that will be available at the
Teach-In.


                 Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort (A.W.A.R.E.)
(http://www.anti-war.net)
                     SEPTEMBER 11TH AND BEYOND  
                                    
We condemn the terrorist attacks of September 11th.  We mourn the victims, and
feel the perpetrators need to be brought to justice.  We condemn all terrorism
and the targeting of civilians anywhere in the world, by anyone.  We believe
that Americans are a generous, peace-loving people.   We also understand that
Islam is a peaceful religion, in no way responsible for the terrorist acts.

We urge our country to seek out and support peaceable solutions to the terror
of September 11th and all terrorism, and to promote, in cooperation with
people
all over the world, access for everyone to what is needed for a full and
productive life.  We need to refrain from terrorist acts ourselves, even in
response to terror against us.

We also urge our country to adopt a policy of not supporting dictatorships and
repressive regimes in any country, including those we deem “friendly” to U.S.
interests.  We cannot have a double standard for how we respond to repressive
governments. .

We are dismayed and saddened by the response of the U.S. government to the
September 11th attacks.  Major points of our concern include:
1.      The U.S. military response attacking Afghanistan is tragic and
unacceptable.  It leads to more terror and severely harms national and
international peace and security.   Violence brings even more violence.  We
feel that the bombing, with its attendant civilian casualties, has  increased
international sympathies for perpetrators of terrorism rather than isolating
them.  The attackers of Sept. 11th need to be dealt with in the international
courts.  It is not acceptable to kill civilians.

2.      Under recent sweeping legislation, our personal liberties, including
freedom of speech and assembly, and freedom from undue search, surveillance,
and seizure, have been dangerously curtailed without justification on the
grounds of national security.   We must guard our freedom as zealously as our
security.   

3.      We are denied access to the information required to make informed
decisions. The White House pressures the media to make government policies
look
acceptable, leading to a false proclamation that we are “united” behind our
president.  Dissenting views go unpublicized, and dissenters, including
educators, are being censured.  Our own Attorney General has publicly stated
that dissenters “only aid terrorists” and will “give ammunition to America’s
enemies”. Reporters are instructed to carefully craft their stories to
minimize
civilian casualties.   At the directive of the U.S. government, TV stations
have censored news stories including Middle Eastern broadcasts.  U. S.
Government information sources to the public have been cut,, including those
informing us of toxic risks in our own communities.    

4.      We are outraged about the imminent starvation of millions of Afghans,
including children, put at risk by the U.S. bombing. Our air-dropped food
cannot satisfy this need, especially as the terrain still contains unexploded
land mines.  Winter has begun and people are already dying from cold and
hunger.

5.      We are dismayed that our government continues to support repressive
regimes, such as those in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

6.      We are concerned about the targeting of Muslims, people of Middle
Eastern descent, and all immigrants and visitors.  Recent executive orders
have
specifically abridged immigrants’ legal rights, including the possibility of
secret trials by military tribunals.  Middle Eastern immigrants are being
singled out for questioning.

7.      Although our government has loudly deplored the Taliban treatment of
women, the Northern Alliance has also been known for brutality towards women. 
Furthermore, RAWA, the predominant women’s organization in Afghanistan, has
been excluded from representation at the U.N. conference on the Afghan interim
government, despite repeated pleas for inclusion.  Our government has remained
silent.

8.      We are dismayed that our government is contemplating extending the war
to other countries, which may include Iraq, Somalia and Yemen among others.

9.      We are dismayed that the U.S. government has spent billions of our
dollars “bailing out” large corporations that claim losses due to the
September
11th tragedy, yet has done little to help poorer workers and families who have
been impacted.  For example, millions of dollars have been given to American
Airlines, but no support has been allotted to the thousands of workers laid
off
by the airline. 
.      
True security is not attainable unless everyone has access to the resources
they need to meet the basic human requirements of food, shelter, health,
safety
and justice.  We must no longer tolerate the U.S. government’s allowing
staggering inequalities between rich and poor here and abroad.   Our natural
resources must be conserved to be available for generations to come.   Our
government has long supported repressive regimes and policies that divert
resources of people abroad to enhance the profits of those in control.  For
example, the U.S. government’s desire to use and control access to oil has led
to much of the grief inflicted abroad.  We need to focus on safe, sustainable
energy policies that do not require massive imports.   For example, our
abundant wind resources can be developed to meet much of our need for energy,
as is being done in Europe.   

As we mourn the deaths of those whose lives were stolen on September 11th, we
also need to open our hearts and empathize with innocent people around the
world who have died in staggering numbers due to governmental military and
economic policies, including those of our own government. Life is sacred, and
in our grief we share the grief for the thousands of Iraqi children who die
from lack of food and medicine due to our governmental sanctions, and for
Palestinians who are killed as their land is occupied by the Israeli
government, whose army is subsidized by our money.

To successfully counter terrorism, the U.S. must set a superb example by
seeking peaceful solutions to these grave problems, avoiding retaliating with
further violence, and avoiding support of repressive regimes, including those
which are friendly to U.S. “interests”.  By promoting peace, and promoting a
sustainable and just future for all, we can ensure security and justice for
everyone for generations to come.



A.W.A.R.E. (Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort) is a coalition of groups and
individuals working to prevent military build-up and promote peaceful, just
solutions to our problems.   We meet Sunday evenings at 6PM at the University
YMCA, 1001 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL   We also offer a speakers’
bureau. 
Our website is http://www.anti-war.net.   We can be reached by e-mail at
aware at grex.org.   We can also be reached at (217) 352-3670 and at (217)
586-6938.   We look forward to speaking with you.





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