Hurricane Katrina brought ordinary life to a halt for the people on the Gulf Coast. People in the area and farther away faced the challenge of charity with wonderful generosity. There is so much to do now and there will be many more opportunities for weeks, months, even years to come. Hearts, now open to the needs of hurricane victims, will need to remain open for a long time.
And what about the work of justice, the challenge to change systems or create new systems that better meet human needs. Good, workable evacuation and human care plans obviously were not in place in many areas. Warnings about the devastation that could be caused by a major hurricane near New Orleans were ignored. There were instances where a political reward system rather than wisdom or practical skills was a determiner in the appointment of so-called leaders. Choices made about use of funds on the federal level pandered to politics, war mongering and profiteering. Even the laws of nature seem to have been ignored. That there are problems is very clear.
The immediate role of justice isn’t always clear and there is always the danger of purposeful or accidental forgetfulness. There are some issues we cannot afford to let that happen to. The needs of the poor must be on the top of the list of considerations in all future planning. The elderly, ill, children, women, addicted, and homeless are real people and their special needs cannot be pushed aside. Environmental abuses cannot be ignored and people deserve to be educated about what hazards they face and receive necessary protection. Economic disparity and racial bias that existed for years becomes evident in a crisis. The ”safety net” has huge holes that must be plugged. No longer can profit override the laws of nature and human health needs. Our government and each of us as individuals must face our tendency to claim invincibility and accept that we live under laws of nature that demand respect. Violent attitudes in society lead to violent actions in a crisis.
So we listen to the news, view the pictures, read the stories over and over again. The tragic facts and real people pain is seared into our minds and hearts. It must be if we are not to forget, if we are to change the systems that exacerbated the destruction and loss of life. Katrina forced us to face some real situations of inadequacy and failure. We will want to push the message aside. Justice people need to forgive and be forgiven. We cannot forget.
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It Happened on August 6... |
In a hot, hot tent tears formed as an hibakusha (survivor of Hiroshima) recounted the story of a lost love when her parents refused permission for their marriage fearing that their children would be born deformed. Smiling American adults watched a small Japanese child intent on catching the signal to ring his bell during a peace concert in a beautiful cathedral. In a friendship park people signed their names on large white, origami cranes – each asking a member of Congress to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Greater Cincinnatians commemorated the 60 th Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 th ,7th , and 9th, 2005.
The first event took place at Oak Ridge, TN. About 1500 people marched several miles and rallied near the entrance of the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant. Just across the barbed wire fence was the facility that had played a major role in every nuclear weapon produced in the U.S. arsenal. Today, the men and women employed there are, among other things, retrofitting the over 10,000 U.S. nuclear weapons so that they maintain their destructive capacity for at least the next 100 years. A tent shielded participants from the blazing sun and 95 degree heat. Stories were told. Songs and chants filled the air. Peace cranes festooned the fence and ashes floated in the air. A remembrance and a promise! Someday this will be a place of peace.
Songs from two adult choirs and one children’s bell chorus echoed through the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington. For twenty years, peace people have met here, or near here, to remember the victims, to sing songs and to promise that the world will someday know peace. Once enemies, now friends and partners, Japanese and American voices sang together and listened to the beauty each can create. A procession of colorful origami cranes served to remind all of the common hope shared. One day the whole world will know that forgiveness is possible even among those who were warring enemies.
We remembered those who died in war 60 years ago. We remembered those dying today. We listened to the grim facts of nuclear war preparation. Candles lit the way of hope. Small peace cranes found their way into pockets, purses and eventually to homes and offices. Large white cranes carried a rainbow of names each urging abolition of all nuclear weapons. A dream emerged and hovered in the hearts and minds of those at the Theodore Berry International Friendship Park. Yes, we can have peace. Yes, we do believe it is possible. Yes, we will continue the struggle as long as necessary for our sakes and for the good of our children. In less –much less- than 60 years no one will attack or bomb.
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Bring Them Home Now Tour in Ohio - A Mother’s Perspective |
A Mother’s Perspective . . .
I am a mother of a 19 year old 3/25 Lima Co. Marine serving in Iraq. One third of his Unit has been killed in action or injured. In early August after losing 22 Marines in less than a week, fearing for my son’s life and driven by conviction, I began my journey to change the direction our country has been going.
I have been waiting for my son’s safe return before speaking out publicly. There is such confusion in our country about patriotism and supporting our troops while being against the war.
I stood at a Marine Family Meeting and told the Major and those present that it was time to bring the Ohio Marines home. I shouted out," My son is not expendable." I wrote to my senators asking for their help. I received no response. I refused to be powerless. I began thinking that Mothers had to win our country back and was planning to organize a Mother’s March on Washington.
I found the web site, www.truthout.org. Here I found Camp Casey, Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, Iraqi Vets Against the War etc. I had never heard of any of these people. I found that there already was a huge march planned for September 24th. WOW! GREAT! I didn’t have to take on the huge task of planning a march. Phew! I just had to go!
And this tells me there is a larger movement ... that is in our bones and is beginning to surface.
I wanted to go to Camp Casey but couldn’t because of scheduled meetings with the Marines to prepare for the homecoming of our boys. I saw the central Bring Them Home Now Tour plans to DC and realized I could caravan with them to Columbus, Toledo and Cleveland and maybe Pittsburgh!I contacted the Intercommunity Justice in Peace Center to see if we could get them to stop in Cincinnati.. So, my tour began in Cincinnati. I offered housing and breakfast.
It was great to meet them. They are "my kind of people." They are not off the wall, emotional fanatics. They are normal citizens willing to take risks as they speak out from their own experience and knowledge and with integrity against an incredible, illegal and disastrous war. They are compassionate people who suffer the loss of their beloved and they ask why? And they work hard to restore humanity, dignity and respect to our country. And they demand accountability and challenge our leadership to step up to the plate or get out of the way.
I was able to speak at the forums in Columbus and Cleveland. I spoke as a mother who watched five mothers bury their sons in the Cincinnati area in August. I shared the terror that I live with. The sleepless nights. The days and nights of anguish. "How desperately I want my son to live and have hope. He is so young, so idealistic, so confident, so trusting."I was able to visit the offices of the senators who still had not responded to my letters. With others from the Tour we spoke of the many issues involved with this war... depleted uranium, stop-loss, inadequate equipment, not enough men, operatives and the lies and deceit that led the American people into it.
We asked the aides, after we broke through the shell that tells you to "make it quick, I am busy and really don’t want to listen to you" to ask the Senators what they want their legacy to be. We asked them to tell the Senators to look again at the war and why we are there. Not with their jobs in mind or their political party, but to look with their human heart and their conscience. We told them if they see the truth and act from the truth...good will follow.
We participated in rallies and visited with many Americans who are sick of this war and the lies that keep us there and the dishonor it has brought to our country. We met enraged Americans.
There is much more to say about this Bring Them Home Now Tour. It is an important moment. And the March September 24th will be historical. I am convinced that out country is at a historical turning point... "and the people will lead."
I said to my son, "Mike, you have no idea how precious you are to me and dad, your brother and sister." " I know" "We will not let you get away so easily again." "I know you won’t!" "Mike, I am not afraid of the Marines. I am not afraid of the Government, and I am not afraid of the President. I am your Mom!" Chuckling..."I love you, Mom."I will work so Mike and other sons will not have their generosity, their courage, their integrity, their desire to serve, their desire to make a difference compromised. I want my son to always be proud that he is a Marine.
-Peggy Logue , Ohio
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Military Recruiting - Counter Recruiting |
As U.S. popular support for war has declined, so has military recruitment. Recruiters have become desperate. As reported in the Sept 12 issue of The Nation, as of the end of July, the Army had missed recruiting quotas in 4 out of the last 6 months and the Army National Guard had missed recruiting quotas in 9 out of the last 9 months.
In an attempt to turn this around, the Army recently added $500 million to its recruitment budget, raising the total to $1.3 billion. Another 1,000 recruiters have been added, bringing the total to nearly 7, 500.
The US Army Recruiting Command has a motto: “First to contact, first to contract.” Military directives order recruiters to approach high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors repeatedly and to dig in and become as much a part of the school as possible. Recruiters are currently asking the administration to raise sign-on bonuses from $14,000 to $17,000 for those who enlist. Sometimes recruiters get even more creative. In May, the New York Times did an expose revealing that at least 320 of the 1,118 reported “recruiting improprieties” from 2004 had been substantiated by the Army. These improprieties ranged from coercing young people to downright lying to them.
In 2002, the military spent $6.3 million for a video game “America’s Army” as a marketing tool. The Pentagon has also been quietly developing a database of 30 million people between the ages of 1830 through market research. (Yes Magazine, Fall 2005)
WAYS TO COUNTER THE MILITARY SALES PROGRAM
*Get Involved with IJPC’s Counter Recruiting Presence
IJPC’s peace committee is in the process of gaining permission to table on high school campuses when recruiters are present,making sure young people have enough info to make informed decisions. We’ll be handing out pamphlets entitled “Do you Know Enough to Enlist?”, “10 things to Consider Before Signing an Enlistment Agreement”, and suggestions about other ways to obtain financial aid and employment. The peace committee meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7pm @ Peaslee. Join us!
*Take the “I will not kill” pledge
The Fellowship of Reconciliation has launched the “I will not kill campaign in an effort to educate youth about the reality of war and the right to say no to killing. (www.forusa.org)
*Opt Out of Pentagon Database at http://themmob.org/lmca/
*Learn more and Support :
• AFSC National Youth and Militarism Program (www.youth4peace.org)
• National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth (www.youthandthemilitary.org)
• Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (www.projectyano.org)
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Great News from Cincinnati Public Schools! |
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) has revised their comprehensive privacy form to make it very clear and easy for students to choose to opt out of having military recruiters receive their contact information while still allowing colleges potential employers, etc access to their contact info. Yeah!
This revised form was given to students in August as part of a back to school packet and is available to be downloaded form and turned in at any time. This is a big improvement from last year when there was a blanket privacy form that meant choosing to opt out of releasing contact info to military recruiters also meant choosing to opt out of everything else (Colleges, potential employers, etc) Way to go CPS! Thanks to all the parents, community members, and IJPC Peace Committee members that contacted CPS and pushed for the change!!!
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