Rapid Response: Join Thousands in saying NO to more troops in Iraq
Mandate for Peace “What part of ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ don’t they understand?”Bob Edgar, from Middle ChurchPresident Bush is expected to announce on Wednesday an escalation of troops to Iraq. The President is calling it a “troop surge.” Yet experts warn that the President’s actions amount to an act of desperation, and that as proposed, the increase in troops amounts to little more than putting more American “targets” in lethal crosshairs of an Iraqi civil war. Moreover, the American people and the new Congress have stated overwhelmingly that they do NOT want to escalate the war. They want to END it!We enthusiastically join our friends at Win Without War who, immediately following the President’s announcement, will call for a national grassroots response that will take place within 24 hours, at 7pm on the following day, to say "NO!" to the President. This means that on Thursday people across the country are coming together in a variety of events to tell both the President and Congress that Americans do NOT want more troops in Iraq. Can you attend one of these events? Please go here to learn more and become part of an event in your community Events are springing up all over the country, but there's always room for more. If you don't see an event in your area, you can host your own. They're easy and we've done most of the legwork for you -- compiling an event kit that is chock full of information, tips, and tools (including posters) to make each event a success. Visit www.americasaysno.org/lead to host an event this Thursday -- and be sure to advertise it to all your friends and neighbors.One more thing – Your ONLINE actions make a difference also. Please take a moment to sign the “Mandate for Peace” petition that already has more than 30,000 signatures! To sign the petition, go HERE Finally, whatever your faith tradition, we ask you to pray for, meditate upon, and lift up PEACE. With more than 3,000 of our soldiers dead, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi innocents dead, wounded, or displaced, we who love peace MUST do all we can to stop it. For the first time in more than six years we have a Congress who is willing to stand up to the President on this horrendous war. Let’s give them the support they need to stop this latest reckless act of aggression and begin the peacemaking process.Blessings to you for all you do! Vince Isner and the FaithfulAmerica.org PS: Care about minimum wage? We thought so! TODAY is a crucial national call-in day urging the House to lift the minimum wage! A vote is expected soon and you can help! All you need is right here! Sign this petition and notify:Your Congressperson Your Senators I add my voice to those of the majority of the American people in opposing the war in Iraq and call for the new Congress to pass legislation requiring the prompt removal of all US troops from Iraq and discontinue funding formilitary purposes in Iraq except the safe withdrawal of all U.S. forces. Additionally, Congress should:--Make real its existing stated commitment to no permanent US military bases in Iraq.--Support an Iraqi-led reconciliation process to shape a peaceful post-occupation transition.--Investigate and punish companies engaged in illegal war profiteering.--Commit significant funds to the reconstruction of Iraq, under the control and direction ofIraqis.--Provide funding for full benefits, adequate healthcare, and other support for returningservicemen and women.--Make every effort possible to ensure the peaceful resolution of conflicts with Iran andNorth Korea.
- Stephen Rockwell's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Dear Mr. President
January 11, 2007 WAWA Blog
http://www.wearewideawake.org
Dear President Bush,
I listened attentively to your speech last night.
I was grateful you admitted you made mistakes as we all know you had unintelligent intelligence and have been poorly guided.
Mr. President, about two years ago I saw a clip of a reporter asking you if you had prayed for Saddam Hussein before bombing Baghdad.
You got that deer in the head light look in your eyes and stumbled over a few words then admitted you had not prayed for your enemy before attacking him.
Mr. President, when you were Candidate Bush, you claimed your favorite philosopher was Jesus.
JC told us we must pray for our enemies and he taught that evil as well as good runs through every human heart.
Thomas Jefferson weeded out the miracle stories from the gospels and clarified the teachings of Christ in The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, to name a few:
Treat people the way we want to be treated...Those who think they know the most are the most ignorant...Do not bear grudges and to always work for PEACEFUL resolutions, even to the point of returning violence with COMPASSION.
JC did it even while being nailed to a cross.
Mr. President, you carry a cross of the loss of over 3,000 American lives, hundreds of thousands of injured and traumatized and their families pain and suffering alongside of unknown thousands of innocent Iraqis caught in the crossfire of violence.
Mr. President, I pray you will see the light and fight the war on terror at the root: it begins with dealing with WHY there are the likes of Al Qaeda and Hezbollah; and understanding that violence returned for violence only ups the ante for more, it cannot quench it.
Mr. President, I heard you speak of liberty and justice and Middle East democracies that uphold the rule of law. I am grateful to again hear you say what you have said before:
"In the long run, there is no justice without FREEDOM. There can be no human rights without LIBERTY. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know the United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for liberty, we stand with you."-President George W. Bush, Second Inaugural Address
When I first heard you say that, as when I heard you last night, I wondered if you gave a thought to the occupied Palestinians?
Mr. President, I will be one of we the people for peace and justice in the streets of DC on January 27th
http://unitedforpeace.org/
I am anticipating positive meetings with my Senators representatives and members of the House on January 29th. My focus is to shine a little light onto the road to Jerusalem which has entered the fortieth year of occupation.
My hope is to make contact with every Congressional representative who has ever taken an AIPAC trip to invite them to take a reality tour through the West Bank to see the view from the other side of The Wall, to better equipt them to do what is in the best interest for the American people.
Here are but a few opportunities:
Sabeel Reality Tour through the West Bank Feb 28-March 7, 2007
See the political "facts on the ground" in the West Bank in the 40th year of Israeli Occupation:
http://www.sabeel.org/
Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegations to Israel/Palestine
* Spring - Fall 2007 Schedule:
March 17th -31st;
May 26th-June 9th;
July 28th-August 11th;
November 3rd-17th:
Interfaith Peace-Builders (IFPB) sends delegations to Israel and Palestine so that US citizens can see the conflict with their own eyes. Participants have the opportunity to learn directly from Israeli and Palestinian nonviolent peace/human-rights activists, to spend time in Palestinian and Israeli homes, and to experience the situation of Palestinians living under military occupation. For more information, contact the IFPB office directly by phone 202-244-0821.
Only after Congress sees the view from both sides of The Wall, can they truly act in the best interest of the American people.
e
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Eileen Fleming,
Celtic Christian of The Beatitudes, agitator church, state, and limp MSM,
Activist, poet, author creative spiritual literature, historical fiction and my memoirs from OPT
Reporter and Editor of http://www.wearewideawake.org/