An appeal to America: we are Christians, from different communions. And citizens who span the political spectrum.We grieve that our nation is not standing for "liberty and justice for all," nor treating Iraqis as we would be treated. We believe that accountability begins at home, that wise leaders know their mistakes, and that honest leaders admit them. Fear and resentment will never guide us to a just and lasting peace. Any nation that hopes to be "under God" must live for a positive vision of world community, not a blind response to terrorism that tragically makes others see us as if we were terrorists ourselves. We appeal to the American people An American people may be:
* The war on Iraq is not a just war. It did not pass the test when it was started. And it does not pass the test now. * War is the most extreme action a society can take. It should only be unleashed after exploring every other road. But all roads All Roads is a 2001 interactive fiction game by Jon Ingold that placed first at the 2001 Interactive Fiction Competition. It also won the XYZZY Awards for Best Game, Best Setting and Best Story and was nominated for Best Individual Puzzle and Best Writing. were not explored before we started this ill-considered war. Supposedly we went to war: * To eliminate weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or . But there were no weapons of mass destruction. * To sever the connections between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. But there were no connections to sever. * To establish democracy. But in truth we have still done little to grant "full sovereignty" to Iraq, and much to keep the country under our control. * To remove a brutal regime. But we allowed torture cells to exist, including sexual humiliation--and shamelessly photographed the results. The time has come to bring this unjust and ill-considered war to an end. * How many more American troops will lose their lives? How many more innocent Iraqis will be killed and maimed maim tr.v. maimed, maim·ing, maims 1. To disable or disfigure, usually by depriving of the use of a limb or other part of the body. See Synonyms at batter1. 2. and made homeless? How many more bitter enemies and future terrorists will arise from our misguided efforts? * Since most Iraqis want us to leave, why are we building as many as 14 new military bases there and establishing the world's largest embassy? More and more experts agree* that there is no military solution in sight. We call immediately for: * A full investigation, by an independent body, into the abhorrent ab·hor·rent adj. 1. Disgusting, loathsome, or repellent. 2. Feeling repugnance or loathing. 3. Archaic Being strongly opposed. crimes at Abu Ghraib and other U.S. prisons. * A truly international peacekeeping force to be established by the United Nations. * A comprehensive plan for self-government, humanitarian aid, and economic reconstruction, through the UN's Special Representative. * A clear timetable to end the occupation, not to perpetuate it by other means. It is time for full accountability. And time to face reality about the war. Initiating Endorsers : Sarah Coakley (Harvard Divinity School Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's purpose is to train graduate students—either in the academic study of religion, or in the practice of a religious ministry. ), William Sloane Coffin Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. (June 1, 1924 – April 12, 2006) was a liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist with international stature. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. , Jr. (Riverside Church, retired), Clifford Green (Hartford Seminary), Stanley Hauerwas (Duke Divinity School The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina is one of thirteen seminaries founded and supported by the United Methodist Church. It has 39 full time and 18 part time faculty and over 500 full time students. ), David Hollenbach, S. J. (Boston College), Marilyn McEntyre (Westmont College), Peter Paris (Princeton Seminary), Luis Rivera-Pagan (Princeton Seminary), Albert Raboteau (Princeton University), Duane Shank shank (shangk) 1. leg (1). 2. crus ( 2). shank n. The part of the human leg between the knee and ankle. (Sojourners), Glen Stassen (Fuller Seminary), Lawrence M. Stratton (Princeton Seminary), Kathryn Tanner (Chicago Divinity School), Mark Lewis Taylor (Princeton Seminary), Deborah van Deusen Hunsinger (Princeton Seminary), Miroslav Volf (Yale Divinity School The main mission of Yale College at its founding in 1701 was religious training. In its charter, it was designed as a school "wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts & Sciences who through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church & Civil State. ), Jim Wallis (Sojourners), William Werpehowski (Villanova), Nicholas Wolterstorff (Yale Divinity School), Bill Wylie-Keller-man (Seminary Consortium of Chicago). Coordinator: George Hunsinger (Princeton Seminary). Affiliations for identification only. * Including Gen. William E. Odon, Gen. Anthony Zinni, Gen. Joseph Hoar, Prof. Juan Cole, Dilip Hiro, Dr. Pauline H. Baker and many others. We make no claim about their view beyond what they say about the dire situation in Iraq. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion