[Peace] meeting minutes 1/13

[patton paul]

Presentation:
A World War II conscientious objector spoke.  He was motivated by Quaker
religious ideals in his refusal to participate.  As alternative service he
was a research subject in hepetitis research and fought forest fires in
California.  He also refused to register for the draft during the Korean
War.  When news of the Holocaust emerged he was horrified and had some
doubts about his decision not to fight.  On the other hand, the allies also
used carpet bombing against the civilian populations of German cities.  He
mentioned four typical objections to participating in war
1. this is not my war
The military often recruits from the poorest most marginalized groups in
society.  In WWII many poor blacks were recruited from the deep south.
2. the system is rotten- war is supporting the system
This sort of objection was voiced by many Socialists with respect to WWII
3. War is irrational- there are better ways of settling international
disputes.
4. War is immoral from a religious standpoint
The religious objection is one of the most common objections to
particpating in war, and the one that has garnered the most respect.
Some organizations that provide information to people considering
conscientious objection are:
The National Service Board for Religious Objectors NSBRO
Vietnam Veterans Against War VVAW

News of the Week:
Carl presented news of the week and will be posting a separate report

Recent events:
43 people showed up for last saturday's Prospect for Peace.
Unfortunately, 2 police officers also showed up and stopped Ricky Baldwin
from distributing fliers to passing motorists.  The police officers
charged Ricky with obstructing traffic, but then proceeded to obstruct
traffic themselves by parking their police cars in the right lane thereby
forcing everybody on the crowded street to change lanes to pass them.
Ricky had a letter from the police department stating that we do have the
right to distribute the fliers.

Channel 15 recently reported on an AWARE protest, and has consistently
given good press to AWARE

local white supremacist Matt Hale was arrested for threatening a judge and
hiring an assassin.

Financial Report:
AWARE has $3,571.74, and also has $1,090 in contributions for the D. C.
protest trip,  $100 dollars has also been contributed towards scholarships
for those who want to attend but can't afford it.

Upcoming events:
Student Peace Action is sponsoring U of I participation in the national
walk-out day to oppose the war, which will be held on January 29.
Students can pledge to boycott their classes for a day, and instead attend
a day of events dealing with peace and social justice.  The events will
take place at Lincoln Hall between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm with a rally and
performances between 12:00 and 2:00 pm.  On January 20 there will be a
final planning meeting at 5:00 pm at a location yet to be determined.

on January 30 at 7:00 pm in Natural History building rm 228, Dr. William
Baker, who is the director of Christians and Muslims for Peace will be
giving a lecture entitles "Caught in the Crossfire"  about the people of
Kashmir and how the longtime dispute between India and Pakistan over
Kashmir has affected the people of Kashmir.  The talk is sponsored by the
Muslim Student Association.  They have asked AWARE to co-sponsor the
event.  A vote will be taken on whether to do this at the next meeting.

The big anti-war protest in Washington D. C. is this saturday Jan. 18.
AWARE has rented vans and will be sponsoring a trip to Washington to
take part in the demonstration.  The trip will leave at 8:30 am on friday
morning.  The group will stay overnight at a Presbyterian Church in Silver
Springs on friday and saturday night and will return to Urbana-Champaign
by late sunday.  So far 29 people are signed up through AWARE, but others
from U-C will be going too.  If you want to sign up, contact Charlotte
Green at 367-5720 or chgreen48 at yahoo.com.

for those who can't go to Washington Protest on Prospect will be held as
usual from 2:00 to 3:30 pm on saturday from 2:00 to 3:30 pm.

Anti-War yard signs are available from Jeff Sowers

This sunday at 5:00 pm Krannert there will be an event to commemorate the
life of Dr. Martin Luther King.  AWARE will be distributing literature
highlighting Dr. King's support of the peace movement.  If you want to
help put up fliers before the event of hand out literature at the event
contact Peter Rolloff.

Students from 20 countries will be required take part in a special
registration by the INS as an anti-terrorism measure.  A fund is being set
up to help make sure that this process is conducted fairly.  It will be
used to get information out about university resources available for
students affected by the new rules, and to keep an immigration lawyer
on retainer in case one is needed to protect the rights of affected
students.  AWARE voted to contribute $100.00 to this fund.

On tuesday Jan. 21, Moveon.org is sponsoring a meeting with congressman
Tim Johnson to express opposition to the war the meeting will be held at
12:30 pm at Congressman Johnson's office at 2004 Fox Drive in Champaign,
Illinois.

__________________________________________________________________
Dr. Paul Patton
Research Scientist
Beckman Institute  Rm 3027  405 N. Mathews St.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  Urbana, Illinois 61801
work phone: (217)-265-0795   fax: (217)-244-5180
home phone: (217)-328-4064
homepage: http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ppatton/index.html

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.  It is the
source of all true art and science."
-Albert Einstein
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