Friends Bulletin- Building the Western Quaker Community Since 1929-March 2003

24 Pages·2003·2.9 MB·English

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What About the Children of Iraq?
Friends Bulletin Editorial
The official publication ofPacific,
Hold the Children in the Light!
North Pacific and Intermountain
Yearly Meetings ofthe Religious For me, there is one burning question at the heart ofpacifism: is the taking ofinnocent
Society ofFriends (Quakers) life everjustified? The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevskyposedthis question with
(Opinions expressedare those brutal frankness in The Brothers Karamazov:
ofthe authors, not necessarily ofthe
Yearly Meetings.)
Imagine thatyou are creating a fabric ofhuman destiny withthe objectofmaking men
Anthony Manousos, Editor
3033 Raintree Ave happy, giving them peace and rest at last, but it was essential and necessary to torture
CA to death one tiny creature, and to found that edifice upon her unavenged tears, would
Torrance, 90505
310-325-3581 you consent to the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell the truth!
E-mail: [email protected]
<<www.westernquaker.net>> In the 20lh century (and going all the way back to the time ofKing Herod), political
leaders have been all too willing to answer “Yes” to that question. Innumerable innocent
IMYM Corresponding Editor children have been slaughtered in the name of Great Causes, such as Peace and Security.
Alicya Malik The current situation in Iraq is no different.
W
2693 Avenida Azahar As I send this issue to press in mid-February, it was not certain whether war will be
Tucson, AZ 85745 launched against Iraq by the end ofthis month or sometime later this year.
NPYM Corresponding Editors What is certain is that George Bush and his fellow hawks are working feverishly to
Jean Triol promote a “holy war” againstterrorism. Anotherthing is certain: ifthe warparty manages
PO Box 367 to stage the war(s) that they are planning, countless innocent children will suffer and die.
MT
Somers, 59932 According to UNICEF, sanctions against Iraq have.already caused the deaths of
Peg Morton
nearly a million Iraqis, many ofthem children, over the past decade.
5Eu1g0eVnea,n OBuRre9n74S0t2 In the event ofa US blitzkreig against Baghdad, many more children will die-per-
haps the very children whose pictures appear in this issue.
PYM
Corresponding Editor As one Quakerprotester summed it up so well, “Next time you fill up your gas tank,
Marybeth Webster
PO Box 2843 say a prayer for the children ofIraq....” (See p. 6).
Grass Valley, CA 95945 Numerous pundits have written commentaries about Iraq, but none have expressed
the realities oftoday’s world better than the children of Santa Monica Meeting in their
Board of Directors letter to George Bush:
Robert Griswold, Clerk
1745 Cherry St
Denver, CO 80220 We couldusethe moneyyou spend onbombsto find waysto make everythingelectric
LannyJay, Treasurer and solar in America. Then we wouldn’ t needthe oil. We could drop flowers andfood
18602 Old Monte Rio Rd from airplanes insteadofbombs. Then the Iraqi people would knowwe love them. We
Guemeville, CA 95446
could fly a big sign betweentwo bombers which says, “Americanpeople love you....”
Lisa Down, Recording Clerk
PO Box 11197 We bet when you were a kid you didn’t like war. Please put your mind in a kid’s body
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 and remember how scary it feels. (See p. 21.)
Jeannie Graves
Box 19855
WA Thank God for the wisdom ofchildren! And thank God for Friends who have been
Seattle, 98109-6855
PhyllisHoge working for peace in such an amazing variety ofways. During the Christmas holidays,
213 Darmouth SE Elizabeth Boardman went to Baghdad to express her solidarity with the Iraqi people.
NM
Albuquerque, 87106 Other Friends have made buttons, written and visited their elected officials, attended
Jo AnnTaylor
demonstrations, and even sung peace carols. As each ofus does our bit for peace, let us
2850 Midvale Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90064 hold in the Light the beautiful children and young people featured in this issue.
Norman Pasche
W
620 Columbia St
WA
Monroe, 98272-1211
V
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2 March 2003 Friends Bulletin
—
In this issue
"Elizabeth Boardman: A
Friend in Baghdad” by
Robert Collier
"Meeting Clerk Spent
Christmas in Iraq” from
MM
the San Francisco
Newsletter
5 "Where Ss the Prince of
Peace?” by Elizabeth
Boardman
6 "Western Friends Meet-
ings Oppose War Against
Iraq”: Minutes from Santa
Cruz, Boulder, and
Claremont Meetings
7 "AFSC Humanitarian Work
in Iraq and Afganistan”
8 "I Don’t Look Dangerous”
by Bob Runyan
Elizabeth Boardman with Iraqi women-Photo byAlan Pogue
9 "A Quaker Peace Initia-
tive” from the College
Boardman: Park Quarterly Meeting
Elizabeth
11 Calendar
12 "New Peace Websites” by
A
Friend Baghdad
in Editor and "What Did
Jesus Really Mean....?” by
Fred La Mott
13 "Being a Friendly Web
By Robert Collier
Presence...” by the Editor
San Francisco Chronicle*
With warperhapsjustweeks away, ac- 14 "Ten Ways to Promote
tivists such as Boardman have been com- Peace” by the Editor
A
candle clutched in one hand, Eliza-
xxbeth Boardman is bundled up ina chill iifntghteobIroamq,bsansdtasrtomtoefsaallyatnhdeyAwmiellrisctaaynesvoeln- 15 Friendly News
desert wind, standing outside the Al-Taji diers fight their way through the streets of 16 "Answering the Call...” by
power-generating plant 15 miles from Frances Forster
Baghdad. They are here, they insist, not to
downtown Baghdad.
support the regime of Saddam Hussein 18 Book Reviews
The plant was destroyed byUS bombs —
“He’s an evil man,” says Boardman but 20 Memorial Minutes and
in the 1991 Gulf War, and if war comes
to remind the world of the damage a war Friendly Responses
again, as seems increasingly likely, Ameri-
can bring.
can missiles may once again reduce the Classifieds
Their presence angers critics who re-
plant to rubble. Elizabeth Boardman, 61, gardactivists like Boardman aspropaganda Boardman insists she is not driven by
is here to “bear witness,” doing her part, dupes ofa totalitarian regime. politics or ideology. The executive direc-
however small, and possibly in vain, to try When actorandMarin Countyresident tor of the North and South Market Adult
to stop it. Sean Penn visited Baghdad last week, he Day Health Center, a San Francisco non-
“Saddam Hussein doesn’t know me,
was labeled by some as a latter-day “Hanoi profitthatprovides medical care forsenior
and I’m not here to support him,” says Jane,” a reference to actress Jane Fonda’s citizens, Boardman describes herself as a
Boardman, one of several dozen foreign
notorious visittoNorth Vietnam during the “hard-core Quakerpacifist.”
peaceactivistsconductinga vigil inthe cold
Vietnam War. Furtherammunition forsuch
Iraq night air. “I’m here to stand with the criticisms came when the Iraqi government Family Tradition
Iraqi people, who are suffering from US
claimed that Penn agreed with its conten-
policies that I think are completely wrong.” tion that the regime possessed no weapons The daughter ofa World War II con-
*Usedwithpermissionofauthor. Firstappeared of mass destruction, an assertion angrily scientious objector, she protested US in-
in SF Chronicle, December 23, 2002. denied by Penn. tervention in Central America in the 1980s
March 2003 Friends Bulletin 3
by withholding her federal income taxes. Kathy Kelly, co-founder of Voices in Nevertheless, forBoardman,whoplans
Now, with a war in Iraq seeming closer, she the Wilderness, acknowledges that her to return to the Bay Area early next month,
decided that Baghdad was the place to be. organization’s credibility was tarred last her visit to Iraq has been more than a quix-
“My daughter said, ‘Oh, Mom, you September when it staged a demonstration otic gesture. In addition to resumingherday
would do this,’ and a lot of other friends outside UN headquarters in Baghdad. Crit- job, she says, she will be undertaking ahec-
and family worry about me here. And I was ics point out that demonstrations except tic round ofspeaking engagements.
petrified for a while after I made the deci- those staged by the government are usually “I hope that my experience here can
sion to come,” she says. “But Ijust remind banned. help invigorate people back home who may
people now of the Iraqi civilians and US It was “a disaster,” she said. “We’re think waris inevitable and are losing hope,”
soldiers who will be in real danger. They’re here to protest the fact that UN sanctions she says.
the ones to worry about.” andUS bombs have killed hundredsofthou-
Standing alongside Boardman outside sands ofchildren in the past decade, but we
the Al-Taji powerplantare Catholics, Men- get saddled somehow with being dupes.” Meeting Clerk Spent
nonites, Jews and Buddhists, prompted to Many ofthe activists seemed aware of
come here, they say, by deeply held reli- the contradictions ofprotesting against US Christmas in Iraq
gious beliefs. policies in a country where free speech is
“The principal thing for me, for my sharply curtailed.
soul, is to identify with the victims,” says “If I got up in a church service here from the San Francisco
CharlesLiteky,aformerArmychaplain who and yelled, ‘Down with Saddam,’ I’d be Meeting Newsletter
says he plans to stay if war comes. A San tossedoutofhere. Iwouldn’t last24hours,”
Francisco resident whose long career as an admits the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, a Catholic E
lizabeth Boardman, clerk of San
anti-war activist has earned him two stints Maryknoll priest and longtime anti-warac-
Francisco Meeting, left for Baghdad
in federal prison, Liteky spends most ofhis tivist whojust ended a two-week visit with
on December 12th to join the Iraq Peace
days here ata local orphanage run by Catho- other religious activists, during which they Team there, and stayed in Iraq until New
lic nuns, helping children with cerebral held a service at a local Chaldean Catholic
Year’s Day. The peace team held vigils for
palsy to eat and play. church and read a statement opposing a US
peace, volunteered in hospitals and schools,
“I may be able to save a child in the war. “There’s control here that I’ve never
attended public events, and responded to
orphanage during the bombing, or admin- seen.”
events as the way opened.
ister first aid to somebody in the neighbor- Manyofthevisiting Americans saythat
“The leading [to travel to Iraq] came
hood with the skills I learned in Vietnam,” whatevertheir misgivings about the politi- to me from messages in a Meeting forWor-
says the 71-year-old Liteky, who was cal situation, they have been surprised by
ship in mid-September,” Elizabeth said. “I
awardedthe Congressional Medal ofHonor the warmth and hospitality ofeveryday Ira-
in 1968 when he carried 22 wounded sol- qis they have met. was afraid I would chicken out if I didn’t
make a commitment immediately, so right
diersto safety during heavy combat in Viet- “I expected people here to be very an-
after Meeting, I told David Hartsough that
nam. gry at Americans, but I’ve found that they
I realized Iwas suddenly free to take a stand
Asked whether he would do the same make distinctions between the American
ofthis sort.”
forawounded American soldierfighting in people and our government, which is a lot Meeting Member David Hartsough is
Baghdad, Liteky responds, “Ofcourse I’d more than our government does in return,”
the Executive DirectorofPeaceWorkers In-
go get him, no matter whether he was an said Sister Simone Campbell, a Catholic
ternational. David put Elizabeth in touch
American soldier or an Iraqi soldier. nun who is a Sacramento lobbyist for Jeri-
with Voices in the Wilderness, an organiza-
They’re all human beings.” cho, an interfaith social services coalition.
tion that is campaigning against the sanc-
“I metamotherwhocan’tgetchemotherapy
tions in Iraq. Voices in the Wilderness sends
Voices in the Wilderness for her young boy with cancer because the
delegations of Peace Teams to Iraq in di-
Liteky, Boardman and other activists medicines are viewed as ‘dual use,’ “ refer- rect defiance ofUS laws.
ring to materials that the United Nations
are members of an organization called Elizabeth is a mother, grandmother,
says couldbe used forchemical orbiologi-
Voices in the Wilderness, whose headquar- and director of a service agency with 52
cal weapons. “It broke my heart. But she
ters is in Chicago. The anti-war group has staff members. Reactions to her travel
brought dozens ofAmerican delegations to was very sweet. She wasn’t angry at me.” plans among her many family members,
Iraq since 1996 to protest US policies to- friends, and colleagues has been mixed.
ward Iraq and UN sanctions, in effect since When the Shooting Starts Some think that she is taking the peace
the 1991 Gulf War, saying they have un- testimony to an extreme. They shake their
fairly affected Iraq’s civilian population. But even those who say they are will- heads and promise to hold Elizabeth in
After Voices in the Wilderness was ing to stay even ifwar comes know there the Light. Others would go in a moment
fined $20,000 by the Treasury Department may be little they can do once the shooting themselves, if only they were free. This
for violating the US ban on travel to Iraq, starts. group was confident that she would re-
members ofthe group traveled to Washing- “We couldn’t stop a bomb with our turn safely. Elizabeth felt the same muddle
—ton earlier this month to deliver payment bodies, and we can’t stop the war,” said of ideas herself. “Am I out of my mind,
in virtually worthless Iraqi dinars. Kelly. or in the hands ofGod?” she wondered.
4 March 2003 Friends Bulletin
O
Elizabeth’s life has not been the same warded “Reports from the Field” of other round to grace, I feel very loving towards
since she made herdecision. She has read a Peace Team members in Baghdad. everyone, and beloved in turn, as though I
great deal about Iraq, and about peace Waiting forherdeparture date involved were in the hands ofGod and cradled up to
teams, and has learned far more about war waves of fear and grace in turn, as Fran the Divine breast.”
and US foreign policy than she everwanted Peavey, a veteran in such trips, told her to To read Elizabeth’s letters from
to know. She has “come out” as a peace expect. “When I am afraid, I just want to Baghdad, and to learn more about Peace
activist. She has 140 names on here-list for get in bed and have someone take care of Teams, go to San Francisco Meeting’s new
reports about this venture, including for- me,” Elizabeth said. “Whenthe cycle comes website at www.sfquakers.org.
"Where the
Is
Prince of Peace?”
Elizabeth Boardman
San Francisco Meeting
Christmas Eve
attended the Christmas Eve Mass at the
I
Church of Saint Theresa in Basrah,
the city ofIraq closest to Kuwait, where US
bombs are already being dropped. At the
Christmas service, where the familiar story
ofthe firstChristmas was actedoutby chil-
dren, learned about some of the people
I
who are at risk to die from those bombs, or
from the leukemia caused by the depleted
uranium used nowadays in US weapons, or Photo ofmotherandchildren byElizabeth Boardman
from the dysentery which will run rampant Christmas Day
ifthe waterand sewage systems are broken now is “in five men,” five American men,
up again. On Christmas, still in Basrah, I shared and their hope is that voting Americans
Thepeoplewho are injeopardy include lunch with fifteen Muslim and Christian will be able to influence these men.
the young girl who played the part clerics and one other American woman. Iraqis are loyal to their own leader,
of Mary in the pageant, in her traditional Luncheon was a feast ofhummus and ol- they said, and will resist the destruction
blue cloak with gold trim. The people to be ives, chicken and rice, spread out upon oftheir country. The mosque in which we
harmed include the live “Baby Jesus” at carpets in a mosque. (It was a different sat together was bombed in 1991 and
young Mary’s knee. The people to be mosque which was bombed the next day.) again in 1998. “We will rebuild it again
bombed include the choir ofteenaged boys We visitors from Voices in the Wil- and again and again” if necessary, they
and girls who sang “Joy to the World” and derness were not expected, but our Mus- vowed.
“Angels We Have Heard on High.” The lim hosts, Sunni and Shi’ites together, As they pressed more food on us,
people to die may include the archbishop welcomed us, and sent a runner to call for these ecumenical clerics remarked that,
himself, in his robes and high hat, who has their Christian counterparts to share in in contradiction to American legal and
refused the urging of his seven siblings in this opportunity to talk. moral principles, the US administration
Detroit to come to safety with them. They wanted us to understand that treats Iraq as “guilty until proven inno-
The USA hasjudged Iraq to be “guilty they consider as brothers and sisters all cent” in the realm ofweaponry. And they
until proved innocent” and thus men and women “ofthe Book” (i.e. Mus- noted without rancor that the facts are
deserving ofbombardment. But the people lims, Christians and Jews). They urged us clearas to which country does have weap-
in this church were clearly innocent ofany to understand that they are not fundamen- ons of mass destruction, has used them,
wrong to the United States. Indeed, they talists or terrorrists. They told us and threatens to use them again.
welcomedusmostwarmly, though we came how their constant prayer is for peace. Where was the Christian “Prince of
from the enemy country which has belea- These men, like all others we talked Peace” this Christmas Day?
guered them for so long and threatens to to in Iraq, insist that they have no hard You can read the rest of Elizabeth’s
destroy them soon. It was impossible to feelings towards the American people. letters at the new San Francisco website
keep from weeping. Their view is that the evil in the world at www.sfquakers.org.
March 2003 Friends Bulletin 5
V-
-
S£
Western Friends F
fRAQ
Meetings Oppose
RFM£M8CR
War Against Iraq frej iit rm&Mmtysm* V/ EClTNam h.
/
Numerous Western Meetings have ap- gkva m L
provedminutes opposing warin Iraq. Here
CHILDREN
is a sampling ofFriends ’ statements.
Santa Cruz Meeting
Santa Cruz Monthly Meeting ofthe Re-
ligious Society of Friends affirms the
historic testimony ofFriends againstall war HO
and killing, affirming that all life is sacred
andthat the destruction oflife neverbrings
resolution to human conflict nor embraces
the richness ofhuman diversity. Wartoday >vJf\R
destroys entire populations, and the weap-
ons ofwar carry with them poisons which Beth andBillLovett ofVisalia Meeting - Photo byDavid Chandler
contaminate the earth. states possessing, developing orsupplying While we share these objections, our
Specifically at this time the Meeting mass terrorweapons, including the US and concern goes beyond the policyto its basic
directly opposes the waging ofwar by this Russia. premise, the concept of“preemptive strike”
countryagainst Iraq. With greatsadness we • the Israelis and Palestinians to a fair and or preventive war. The President and his
see the suffering ofthe people ofIraq, the lasting peace. advisors appear convinced that Saddam
starvation and illness which has visited • the world to a secure energy future by Hussein is “uniquely evil,” seem certain of
them inpartthrough ourcountry’s prosecu- his plans for the future oppression of his
tion ofthe GulfWar and the enforcement altering ourown wasteful use ofoil, which own people and for aggressive moves
of economic sanctions which have pre- is destabilizingan entire regionandthe bio- against his neighbors. The President and
vented humanitarian aid from reaching sphere.
his advisors claim they have not just the
them. We embrace the culture and history • justice-seeking peoples to international
right, but the responsibility to displace
ofthis land and people. institutions that willjudge, punish and de- Hussein before he strikes. We have no illu-
The Meeting urges all ofits members ter terrorism in all its forms. sions about Saddam Hussein, but rather
to find direct expression of thei—r opposi- contend that such a claim to omniscience
tion to this escalation ofviolence includ- The sad loss ofthousands oflives to terror reflects an arrogance which is immoral and
ing war-tax resistance, public demonstra- should not blind us to the risk we face of
dangerous.
tion and public civil disobedience, paid ad- losing our national soul ifwe, in response, We call on ourselves and others in the
vertisements and letters to the editors of bully the world. We cannot hope to create coming months to oppose this so-called
newspapers, communicationto membersof a better world through force of arms. We “Bush Doctrine” and insistthat itgive way
Congress and the United States’ adminis- can do so only by modeling a world with- to the humility in the framing of foreign
tration, widespread work in public educa- out violence. policy that the President espoused at the
tion, and the initiation of other creative beginningofhisterm. Ourenormouswealth
Claremont Meeting
endeavors. and power do indeed place us in a central
position in the current world scene. We
C
Boulder Meeting laremont Meeting ofthe Religious So
must use thatpreeminence in ways thatwill
ciety ofFriends feels the needto com- help alleviate the helplessness and hope-
B
elieving, as Friends, that military force municate to other Quaker bodies and the lessness which characterize the lives ofso
solves no problems but rather post- largercommunity its concern aboutthe US many ofthe world’speople and whichgive
pones solutions and creates suffering, we government’s policy toward Iraq. For rise to political instability and oppressive
ask fellow citizens tojoin us in moving our months, the Presidentand his advisorshave governments.
government toward wisdom and peace in insisted that the need for what they call a There is muchtobe done. We look for-
the Middle East. Instead ofmaking waron “regime change” in that countryjustifies a ward to working with all those who reach
Iraq and its people, our nation should be military invasion. Forthe moment, the Ad- out with faith and love, who strive toward
leading: ministration seems to have backed off in apeaceful settlementofall ofthe vexatious
the face of doubts and negative reaction problems that make the Middle East such a
• the UN in a global disarmament process, from ourallies everywhere and from many dangerous place both for those who live
to beginwith Iraq but quickly involving all Republicans as well as Democrats. there and the world as a whole.
6 March 2003 Friends Bulletin
AFSC Humanitarian
Work and
in Iraq
Afghanistan
Iraq Is a Vulnerable Country
O
ne grim legacy of the Gulf War in
1990/91 was the intentional destruc-
tion ofIraq’s civilian infrastructure by the
United States. The damage of the war re-
sulted not from stray bombs, but from pre-
cision-guided weapons that struck electri-
cal plants, oil refineries and transportation
networks. This has causeda humanitarian
crisis.
Under sanctions, Iraq has never fully
recovered from the war, saddling ordinary
Iraqis with regular rolling blackouts, dirty
water that carries disease, and utter isola-
tion from the international community. Iraq. The Bodeja Water Treatment project the governmentto payteachersalaries, and
From 1990 to 2000, UNICEF found that will help build a bridge offriendship from presence of a strong local implementing
Iraq suffered the worst change in mortality the peopleoftheUnited Statestothepeople organization. AFSC is seeking US schools
levels among children under five years old of Iraq. This is an important way to be a to sponsor the rehabilitation ofindividual
ofany ofthe 188 countries surveyed. Child part ofthe solution. schools in Afghanistan.
mortality rates in Iraq more than doubled But it takes more than reconstruction • Literacy programs for women. Literacy
to achievepeace. It takespolitical aware- training, especially for war widows who
during the decade.
ness and action. now head households, will be combined
What You Can Do More than 150 organizations have al- with vocational training so thatthe women
ready endorsed the Campaign of Con- also learn atrade such as tailoring. Classes
Donations to the Campaign of Con- science. We have said no to the continued are beginning with 80 women in the
science will fund the comprehensive reha- isolation of Iraq. We have publicly sup- Bamiyan area. Successful graduates ofthe
bilitation of the Bodeja Water Treatment ported sending humanitarian reliefto Iraq literacy program are awarded a sewing
plant outside the city ofBaqooba. without a license from the US government. machine andothertools neededtocontinue
Baqooba is the capital of Diyala, a We have signed the Campaign’s peace their new skills. $32 will buy a sewing
province that borders Baghdad in the west, pledge, a rejection of escalating violence machine for a new graduate.
Iran in the east and the Kurdish zones in against Iraq.
the north. It is an agricultural region known The Campaign ofConscience is an ef- • Providing playgroundequipment. Play is
as “the citrusbasket ofIraq.” Itexperienced fort to change US policy towards Iraq. Us- an importantpart ofeducation forchildren
a large influx ofrefugees as people fledthe ing advocacy and education, the campaign as they learn to interact, c—ooperate and en-
bombings ofBaghdad in 1990/91. calls on the United States government to joy each other’s company especially in a
The Bodejawatertreatment plant will initiate the ending of economic sanctions country such as war-torn Afghanistan.
serve more than 9,000 people in many scat- against Iraq, and support for rebuilding a AFSC is installing jungle gyms, seesaws,
tered villagesand five schools. Reconstruc- devastated country. merry-go-rounds, swings and a slide in el-
tion will be guided by Iraqi engineers with ementary schools. The equipment is locally
a local labor force. All materials will be Educational Work in Afghanistan manufactured and thus gives a boost to the
purchased locally in Iraq. Afghan economy. Just $2000 buys a com-
In Afghanistan, AFSC continues its com- plete set ofplayground equipment for one
Friendship & Reconciliation mitment to education with: school.
• Construction and repair of primary and Make your tax deductible
Public support for the Campaign of secondary schools forgirls andboys. Work contributiont to these pro-
Conscience is critical to break down the has begun on the first schools in the Kabul grams by calling toll free 1-
walls ofisolation the United States govern- vicinity at a cost ofapproximately $30,000 888-588-2372. TheAFSC does
ment is attempting to erect around Iraq. forconstruction ofan eight room building. not receive US Government
Very few non-governmental organizations Criteria forsite selection include: involve- funding. All ofAFSC's work in
(NGOs) operate in these vast areas under ment by the local community (such as do- Afghanistan and Iraq is pri-
the direct control of the Government of nation ofland or labor), commitment from vately funded.
March 2003 Friends Bulletin 7
We
Don’t Look There might be a personal visit. At some
point, maybe in a few months, maybe in a
Dangerous few years, they will come after the money.
This they will easily find in ourfamilybank
by Bob Runyan
accounts or by garnishing my pay. They
Chico (CA) Meeting
will take interest and penalties beyond our
unpaid balance. They will almost certainly
missed my chance to be a conscientious not put Kathy or me in jail (as I said, the
Iobjectorwhenmy numberdidn’tcome up Federal Government has little use for our
in the last year of the draft. It was 1973. bodies, and no one is known to have been
During high school I got the opportunity to jailed for war tax resistance in the USA for
think through whether I could kill other over a decade, though there are thousands
people in a war. I couldn’t see how I could ofresisters).
possibly allow myselfto be trainedto shoot So what’s the point? Ifthey’re going
or bayonet another human being. to take the money anyway, why go through
Well. It’s almost 30 years later and all ofthis?
my wife Kathy and I’ve been well trained The point is that we have a choice
in killing. Not the kindofface-to-face kill- about whether to look the other way while
ing that kept me awake in my high school my money is used for murder. In our way
years. Like a bomber pilot, we never see ofthinking, we have an obligation to object
ourvictimsunlesstheyshowuponthenews. Runyanfamily—Photo by author when we see evil, to avoid participating in
Maybewecan’tevenbedirectly implicated. it willingly or tacitly, and to try to do what
We don’t look dangerous, but we are ac- ofthe yearwe will correctly fill out and file we can to stop it. The military will likely
our federal income tax return as usual, but
complices. get our tax money, but _we will not have
we will only pay 50 to 60% ofthe balance
Over the years we’ve been trained to handed it to them. Theywill have totake it.
lookthe otherway as ourfederal taxespaid due. Theremainder, themilitaryportion, we We don’t look so dangerous. But
for others to kill, or threaten to kill, in our will redirect to worthy causes. With ourtax maybe we are. Instead ofbeing a threat to
places. From Vietnam to Afghanistan and formswe’ll enclose a letterthatwill explain world peace, we’ve taken a step toward
the reasons for our action.
beyond, we’ve had a hand in financing the What will happen to my family and being a threat to world war.
deaths of millions of human beings. With
the nuclear weapons and delivery systems me? Lordknows,but ifpasteventsare good * Good sources for this information
we’ve helped pay for, billions ofothers are predictors ofthe future,thenthis isthe likely are the American Friends Service Commit-
threatened. scenario. First, the IRS will send us letters. tee, War Resisters League, and the Center
These will go from brusque to threatening.
Well, wedidn have a choicedidwe? for Defense Information.
't
We didn’t think we had a choice. If gency funding to purchase supplies locally
we didn’tpayourtaxeswe’dgotojail. That for those affected by the devastating Iraqi
simple, right? The idea ofresistance never sanctions and impending military action.
even occurred to either ofus until seven or AFSC continues to collect cash donations
eight years ago. Since that time Kathy and and material donations for health kits de-
I have wrestled with the idea ofwar tax re- scribed below:
sistance the way I wrestled with the idea of
conscientious objection to the draft in high 4 Bars ofsoap
school. The two ideas are closely related. Plastic bottle ofshampoo (13-24
1
Our family’s bodies and minds are ox size)
uselessto the military at this point. Ourtax Iraqi child in hospital - AFSCphoto 4 Adult-size toothbrushes (please
dollars are valuable. They are beingdrafted leave in packaging)
and have been drafted since we started HEALTH KITS FOR IRAQI PEOPLE Hairbrush
1
working and making a living wage. In Wide tooth comb
1
today’s high-tech military, warm bodies are As the Bush Administration pushes forwar Fingernail clipper
1
ofsecondary importance. Cold cash is key. in Iraq, the AmericanFriends Service Com- Box ofadhesive bandages (mini-
1
Military spending makes up between mittee Emergency and Material Assistance mum 40, assorted preferred)
—
40 to 50% ofthe federal budget, depending Program(EMAP) followingatradition of
on whose statistics one uses.* In order to educationandpeacebuilding in troubledre- Cash donations should be sent to:
—
resist conscription ofmy family’s share of gions ofthe world has shipped three 40- AFSC/Development, 1501 Cherry St.,
this money, I submitted a new W-4 to my foot containers filled with health kits and Philadelphia, PA 19102. To contribute via
employer and adjusted dependent allow- blankets to the Middle East for distribution Visa or MasterCard, call 1-888-588-2372,
my Now
ances to reduce withholding. only in the event ofmilitary action. ext. 1. More detailed information can be
about halfas much is removed. At the end In addition, AFSC has released emer- foundat:: http://www.afsc.org.
8 March 2003 Friends Bulletin
A
Quaker Peace
Initiative
College Park Quarterly Meeting energy (2). The United States is the largest Marketing weapons is causing incon-
January, 2003 importerofoil (24.4 percent oftotal world sistency in US foreign policy as it leads to
imports) and the largest exporter ofweap- supplying weapons to temporary friends
ons. In 1997 US arms exports were $31.8 who frequentlybecomeAmericanenemies.
Introduction billion. That was twice the arms exports Following this transition from a “friend”
from the United Kingdom, France, Russia, to an“enemy,”theUS maythenstartacon-
This is an initiative to eliminate war and China combined (3). Saudi Arabia is flict anduse new weapons to destroythose
by addressing the seeds of war. Our the largest exporter of oil and the largest previouslysuppliedweapons. The US may
country’s current “war on terrorism” is importerofweapons; thiscountry imported supply weapons to two groups fighting
closely connected to the control ofoil sup- $11.6 billion worth ofmilitary equipment within a country orto two countries atwar
plies and the marketing ofweapons. This in 1997 (4). The US Defense budget was againsteachother. Then Peace Units ofthe
initiative offers an outcome ofpeace nur- $261.4 billion in 1999, andthis represented United Nations, NATO or other interna-
turedby US energy self-sufficiencyandre- 32.8 percent ofthe world military expen- tional organizations are sent to establish
source sustainability. ditures. Military costs were $1,437 per peace. Allthree forcesarethenusingweap-
capita in the United States, $571/cap inthe ons manufactured by the same producers.
Why This Initiative Now? United Kingdom, $426/cap in France, Fear and insecurity generate strong
$41 1/cap in Russia, and $33/cap in China support for the production of weapons.
The drums of war beat loudly at (5). The proposed increase in US military These motives are constantly stirred up in
present. Quakers place a high spiritual spending for 2003 to $396.1 billion is our country despite the fact that we live in
value on peace. Respecting “that of God equivalentto about48 percent oftotal mili- a very safe place. Canada and Mexico are
in eachperson,” Quakers cannotkill; Quak- tary expenditures in the world (6). the best neighbors any country canaskfor.
ers seek, in ourTestimony ofPeace, to live The US needs this military power to Oceans surround the country on the east
peace. Ourwork forpeace and againstwar secure supplies of oil from foreign coun- andwestcoasts. Betweenthesetwo oceans
takes manydifferentpaths, such aspromot- tries. People in foreign countries are is a vast territory with millions ofpeople
ingmutual understandingbetween nations, wounded or killed, and their communities who are ready to defend their freedom.
protestingwarbypeaceful demonstrations, destroyed in order forthe US to obtain oil.
helping Conscientious Objectors to notpar- Young American men and women are Terrorism
ticipate inmilitaryconflict, andhelpingthe wounded or killed in military actions
victims of war. In order to secure peace, abroad, fighting not for freedom and de- It is not simple to identify terrorism.
all these activities must bejoined with ini- mocracy, but for oil. Terrorists can be viewed as people in-
tiatives that eliminate the seeds ofwar. volved in violentactivities. However, they
Marketing Weapons
can also be viewed as people fighting for
What Are the Seeds freedom orjustice. Terrorists can be indi-
of This Present War? To market weapons an enemy is viduals, groupsorcountries. Declaringwar
needed; it is difficult to justify aWttaWcking on terrorists creates aperpetual market for
Seeds ofwar lie in inequitable distri- friends. Since the end of II weapons. Violence encourages more vio-
bution ofresources, and the desire to ac- theworldhaswitnessedmany isolatedwars. lence. An effective policy reducing the
quire, use and control these resources. The These limitedbutongoingmilitary conflicts threat ofterrorism would include sharing
control of energy resources and military in various regions create a lucrative mar- ofresources, social equality and fair play
conflicts are interrelated; we importoil and ket for weapons. in world affairs.
export weapons. The US had the Soviet Union as an
enemy but with its disintegration, the rea- Weapons and the National Economy
Oil and Weapons sons for maintaining a big military budget
evaporated. The US sought a new enemy The industrial-military complex pro-
Energy affects domestic and interna- with little success until terrorists came vides jobs for individuals, families and
tional policies. US citizens represent only along. The “war against terrorists” is now communities in the country. It isperverse,
4.5 percent ofthe world population (1), but being used topromote military buildup and however, in that these jobs are sustained
consume 25.1 percent ofthe world’s total the sale ofweapons. by killing many people around the world.
March 2003 Friends Bulletin
9
A lasting peace would eliminate any need most, urban centers are now operating at We Can Do It
for the production and marketing ofmili- maximum capacity andcannotbe expanded
tary products. Many industrial plantswould without massive expenditures, and the Oil is a finite resource; once used up,
close, no military researchwould be needed, building ofentirely new power corridors. it is gone. Sooner or later we will need
and military bases would be eliminated. The expense and displacement through the to develop national renewable energy
condemnation ofexisting real estate forthis supplies to sustain our quality oflife. We
Quaker Peace Initiative purpose is staggering. Instead, new indus- have to responsibly manage our natural
trial plants producing safe, renewable en- resources and therefore we need to de-
This Quaker Peace Initiative asserts ergy can be located in our communities. velop a modern energy efficient transpor-
that the US seeks, and in a reasonable tation system. We have to manage energy
amount oftime, achieves, sustainable na- Benefits of This Initiative usage in all our life activities. We have
tional energy self-sufficiency. This initia- no other choice.
tive has five major components: The overall benefits of this Quaker Energy self-sufficiency is a patriotic
Peace Initiative are many and lasting. There act. Our government may not have an un-
• Reliance on sustainable national energy will be many new business opportunities derstanding for this Peace Initiative. This
sources based upon the marketing of energy pro- is unfortunate but can be expected. Learn-
• Development and management ofan en- duced from national renewable resources. ing from the history ofour country, it has
New energy technologies can be exported always been people, not the government,
ergy efficient transportation system
to foreign markets. The environmental ben- who initiated the beneficial changes in
• Decentralized, local production ofenergy
efits ofthis responsible earth stewardship our society. The American people initi-
by safe and renewable means
are tremendous. Socially, the equal alloca- ated the abolition of slavery, the civil
• Allocation ofa major portion ofthe US tion and distribution of energy resources rights movement, the women’s equal
defense budget to this initiative greatly enhances the ability ofall peoples rights movement, improved working con-
• US establishes/honors/enhances interna- to have enough food, shelter and security. ditions in industry, child protection leg-
tional programs so that all peoples and na- Because a major seed ofwarwill be elimi- islation, improved environmental quality,
tions become energy self-sufficient using nated, energy self-sufficiency will enhance protection ofendangered species, protec-
sustainable resources ournational security. Therefore,thedefense tion ofour natural treasures, anti-smok-
budget can be allocated to this energy self- ing policies, organic farming, food safety,
Reliance on Sustainable National sufficiency program. healthy lifestyles, and sustainable living
Energy Sources or renewable energy systems.
A Quaker Vision In these ways, the American people
The development and management of for the United States have always provided leadership. Fre-
our sustainable natural resources can help quently they had to persuade the govern-
usachieve energy self-sufficiency. Ourpro- The United States will achieve energy ment to incorporate these changes into
ductive farmland and forestland can pro- self-sufficiency by responsible develop- national policies and laws. This will also
duce energy and chemicals that we have mentandmanagement ofnatural resources. happen with the Quaker Peace Initiative.
been presently importing from oil-rich Rural communities andmetropolitan areas People will lead the government to the
worldregions. Hydrogen fuels canbe used. will become energyproducing regions. No realization that energy self-sufficiency
Solar electric systems can be installed in military activities will be required to safe- will obviate our dependence on foreign
urban and rural communities and in vast guard ourenergy supplies. Research facili- oil and eliminate this major contributor
areas ofourcountry to generate electricity. ties and industrial companies will develop to unrest throughout the world. Our na-
Wind power and hydropower can be used andproduce renewable energy systems and tional security will be enhanced, our en-
to generate electricity. modemtransportation systems. The US will vironment will be enhanced, and peace
export new energy technology and modem will become possible. American citizens
Energy Efficient Transportation transportation systems to other countries. will lead their government in changing
The American economy will prosper, the culture of war and domination into
Thetransportation ofpeople andgoods and our country will have friends around the culture ofpeace and cooperation.
can be designed and managed as an energy the world. The United States will become
efficient system. Ourtransportation system a leader and not a bully in foreign affairs.
canconsistoffuel-efficientvehicles, buses, The US will cooperate with democratic (1) Statistical Abstracts ofthe United
and lightrail incommunities and fast trains governments, not with dictators who have States, 2000
connecting all major areas. Fuel cells can oil. (2) Ibid.
power motor vehicles. Our country will respond to terrorism (3) Ibid.
withmeasures combining internationalpro- (4) Ibid.
Local Energy grams forenvironmentaljustice and social (5) Ibid.
equality with defense preparedness. Our (6) Centerfor Defense Information
It is no secretthatourcurrent distribu- country will become arainbow ofhope and (7) Statistical Abstracts ofthe United
tion systems for electricity to many, ifnot not a threat for people around the world. States, 2000
10 March 2003 Friends Bulletin