Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Pacifica Commentary for March 23, 2005
TERRI SCHIAVO
The sheer opportunism of the president and the Congress has been made clear to the world. They have taken advantage of a
woman who has lived in a vegetative condition for fifteen years in order to promote their deadly agenda.
"It is wisest to always err on the side of life," says the president in a historic statement of hypocrisy. Did he err on the side of life by sending thousands of healthy young Americans to death, serious injury and mental illness in an unnecessary war in Iraq?
Did he err on the side of life by massacring endless thousands of healthy Iraqi children and other non-combatants?
Congress holds a special session, Bush jets back to the nation's capital. Were these acts necessary? Of course not!
DR. QUENTIN YOUNG, pnhp@aol.com, http://www.pnhp.org who chairs the Department of Medicine at Chicago's Cook County Hospital says, "It is stunning how little regard this president has for human life. His interest seems to extend to only one tragic brain-damaged woman. The U.S. is the only industrialized country to lack health care coverage for all citizens. Over 18,000 Americans perish every year because they lack health insurance. A lack of health insurance increases the chances a 55-year-old will die before they turn 64 by 40 percent. If the president wanted to save lives he would call for an emergency session to make Congress vote to extend Medicare to
every American."
Jesuit Father SIMON HARAK, amc@warresisters.org, http://www.warresisters.org says, "The more universal your ethical principles are, the more moral force they will have. I hear of Bush's flying back to D.C. to sign the Schiavo bill, and I think of him flying back from his first presidential campaign to sign the death warrants of Texas prisoners. I think of Bush signing a bill in Texas to cut off funds for life support for people who want their children to live, but can't afford it. I hear of the government's concern for this individual, tragic case, and I think of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children whom we diseased and starved to death during sanctions, and now the hundred thousand more Iraqis who have died in this invasion and occupation.”
Friends, if our minds are clear, we will acknowledge that we have witnessed this
administration conduct one great act of self condemnation. May Terri Schiavo rest in peace, and may there be reconciliation between her husband and her parents. Neither Pope nor President have authority over her future.
The sheer opportunism of the president and the Congress has been made clear to the world. They have taken advantage of a
woman who has lived in a vegetative condition for fifteen years in order to promote their deadly agenda.
"It is wisest to always err on the side of life," says the president in a historic statement of hypocrisy. Did he err on the side of life by sending thousands of healthy young Americans to death, serious injury and mental illness in an unnecessary war in Iraq?
Did he err on the side of life by massacring endless thousands of healthy Iraqi children and other non-combatants?
Congress holds a special session, Bush jets back to the nation's capital. Were these acts necessary? Of course not!
DR. QUENTIN YOUNG, pnhp@aol.com, http://www.pnhp.org who chairs the Department of Medicine at Chicago's Cook County Hospital says, "It is stunning how little regard this president has for human life. His interest seems to extend to only one tragic brain-damaged woman. The U.S. is the only industrialized country to lack health care coverage for all citizens. Over 18,000 Americans perish every year because they lack health insurance. A lack of health insurance increases the chances a 55-year-old will die before they turn 64 by 40 percent. If the president wanted to save lives he would call for an emergency session to make Congress vote to extend Medicare to
every American."
Jesuit Father SIMON HARAK, amc@warresisters.org, http://www.warresisters.org says, "The more universal your ethical principles are, the more moral force they will have. I hear of Bush's flying back to D.C. to sign the Schiavo bill, and I think of him flying back from his first presidential campaign to sign the death warrants of Texas prisoners. I think of Bush signing a bill in Texas to cut off funds for life support for people who want their children to live, but can't afford it. I hear of the government's concern for this individual, tragic case, and I think of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children whom we diseased and starved to death during sanctions, and now the hundred thousand more Iraqis who have died in this invasion and occupation.”
Friends, if our minds are clear, we will acknowledge that we have witnessed this
administration conduct one great act of self condemnation. May Terri Schiavo rest in peace, and may there be reconciliation between her husband and her parents. Neither Pope nor President have authority over her future.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
PACIFICA COMMENTARY FOR MARCH 9, 2005
TORTURE
Jonathan Schell has referred to the media as the obfuscation industry. Let us cut through that obfuscation regarding the matter of torture. The president of the United States, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense have made themselves perfectly clear. They all approve torture. They support torture and they promote torture. There is absolutely no question about it. They know it goes on in our domestic prisons, they know it goes on in our military behavior. They know that through a foul process called rendition we are also sending suspects to torture and death in foreign lands without due process.
The mealy mouthed comments, the weasel words and the flat out double talk of these four officials have made their approval of torture transparent. The entire torture industry, much of which is conducted by corporate mercenaries, represents the face of evil. First and foremost, it is immorality at its lowest and most stinking level. It is wrong, unforgivable and self-condemning on the face.
Secondly torture endangers our personnel overseas. Instead of the Geneva Accords which instruct all combatants that they are to give only their name rank and serial number, they now can expect torture treatment in kind.
As the Grand Inquisitor showed him the instruments of torture, Galileo was content to say that the sun goes around the earth. No one should be expected to say anything true under torture. Torture is simply the pristine form of terrorism. It is nothing less than extreme rape.
Those who conduct torture the are living dead. They are shallow, banal, obedient zombies. It would be better for them if they had never been born.
The statements of top officials demonstrate the dictionary definition of mealy mouthed. What they say about torture amounts to either avoiding the question or flat out lies.
Torture is also unconstitutional and illegal. A functional Congress would begin impeachment proceedings immediately.
In the centuries of history of this abomination, nothing of value has been learned. Nothing but the inhumanity of the torturers. Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in Article Five:
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Demand an end to this disgrace to the United States of America.
Jonathan Schell has referred to the media as the obfuscation industry. Let us cut through that obfuscation regarding the matter of torture. The president of the United States, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense have made themselves perfectly clear. They all approve torture. They support torture and they promote torture. There is absolutely no question about it. They know it goes on in our domestic prisons, they know it goes on in our military behavior. They know that through a foul process called rendition we are also sending suspects to torture and death in foreign lands without due process.
The mealy mouthed comments, the weasel words and the flat out double talk of these four officials have made their approval of torture transparent. The entire torture industry, much of which is conducted by corporate mercenaries, represents the face of evil. First and foremost, it is immorality at its lowest and most stinking level. It is wrong, unforgivable and self-condemning on the face.
Secondly torture endangers our personnel overseas. Instead of the Geneva Accords which instruct all combatants that they are to give only their name rank and serial number, they now can expect torture treatment in kind.
As the Grand Inquisitor showed him the instruments of torture, Galileo was content to say that the sun goes around the earth. No one should be expected to say anything true under torture. Torture is simply the pristine form of terrorism. It is nothing less than extreme rape.
Those who conduct torture the are living dead. They are shallow, banal, obedient zombies. It would be better for them if they had never been born.
The statements of top officials demonstrate the dictionary definition of mealy mouthed. What they say about torture amounts to either avoiding the question or flat out lies.
Torture is also unconstitutional and illegal. A functional Congress would begin impeachment proceedings immediately.
In the centuries of history of this abomination, nothing of value has been learned. Nothing but the inhumanity of the torturers. Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in Article Five:
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Demand an end to this disgrace to the United States of America.
PACIFICA COMMENTARY FOR MARCH 3, 2005
COALITION OF JUSTICE AND PEACE GROUPS
It was a privilege to participate in a massive gathering of some five hundred peace and justice organizations in St. Louis last month. We were struck by the maturity of the assembly and the harmony demonstrated by so many autonomous communities working together under the banner of United for Peace and Justice.
One key action, which we should all support, is coming up shortly. I am speaking of the International Day of Protest against the War in Iraq which is planned for Saturday, March19th.We ask all groups to endorse and support this day of protest in Los Angeles which is called by the ANSWER COALITION. For information call 323/464-1636.
We demand an end to the occupation of Iraq and denounce it as one of history's great war crimes.
Some thoughts on how to do it:
* Any supplemental budgetary funds granted by Congress must include expenditures for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. This means ending the occupation and removal of U.S. bases. This position is in support of Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey's recent resolution.
* Support Iraqi sovereignty by giving them control over reconstruction.
* Support international agencies assisting in reconstruction.
* Provide real support for our troops by ending the "stop loss" policy, which keeps troops on active duty far beyond their contract agreements.
Provide psychological counseling, health care and benefits to returning Iraq veterans and their families.
The art of making a moral revolution is the art of uniting forces.
We look for the unification of all progressive forces in opposition to the
on-going criminality of the Iraq War. We will accomplish this by
identifying our strategic points of unity. Clearly there are many things to
be done and it is logical to have a division of labor among these hundreds
of grass roots organizations.
We will gather at Noon on Saturday, March 19th on the famous corner of Hollywood and Vine to recall the infamous day when this on-going disaster began. The Iraq War is spiritually bankrupting the United States, killing its youth and massacring innocent civilians.
It was a privilege to participate in a massive gathering of some five hundred peace and justice organizations in St. Louis last month. We were struck by the maturity of the assembly and the harmony demonstrated by so many autonomous communities working together under the banner of United for Peace and Justice.
One key action, which we should all support, is coming up shortly. I am speaking of the International Day of Protest against the War in Iraq which is planned for Saturday, March19th.We ask all groups to endorse and support this day of protest in Los Angeles which is called by the ANSWER COALITION. For information call 323/464-1636.
We demand an end to the occupation of Iraq and denounce it as one of history's great war crimes.
Some thoughts on how to do it:
* Any supplemental budgetary funds granted by Congress must include expenditures for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. This means ending the occupation and removal of U.S. bases. This position is in support of Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey's recent resolution.
* Support Iraqi sovereignty by giving them control over reconstruction.
* Support international agencies assisting in reconstruction.
* Provide real support for our troops by ending the "stop loss" policy, which keeps troops on active duty far beyond their contract agreements.
Provide psychological counseling, health care and benefits to returning Iraq veterans and their families.
The art of making a moral revolution is the art of uniting forces.
We look for the unification of all progressive forces in opposition to the
on-going criminality of the Iraq War. We will accomplish this by
identifying our strategic points of unity. Clearly there are many things to
be done and it is logical to have a division of labor among these hundreds
of grass roots organizations.
We will gather at Noon on Saturday, March 19th on the famous corner of Hollywood and Vine to recall the infamous day when this on-going disaster began. The Iraq War is spiritually bankrupting the United States, killing its youth and massacring innocent civilians.
PACIFICA COMMENTARY FOR FEBRUARY 16, 2005
THE TRUE FAITH
Why is religion such an area for hatred, political conflict and war? Mahatma Gandhi dealt with this problem on a daily basis. Gandhi saw no distinction between the City of God and the City of Man. He insisted that there be a political consciousness in religion and a religious consciousness in politics. In short he saw them as the same. If spiritual people reject ahimsa or non-harm they will approve of every form of violence to attain their objectives. Saints, he thought, could be more murderous than sinners. In short, he saw the trap of fundamentalisms.
Religion must rid itself of dogmatic certainty. Shedding dogma intellectually is required in order to practice non-harm in the physical world . In a parallel to the Hippocratic oath of doctors, the religionists must agree to do no harm and thus open their minds to the validity of other faiths. The proof of faith is not doctrinal purity. That should be obvious from centuries of inquisition conducted according to Dostoevsky by people who had no faith at all. Instead of the impossible task of trying to define God, the person of faith defines a life-style of total dedication, sacrifice and love. This is the "proof of faith."
This is how Satyagraha or truth force can become the motor force of religion and politics. Satyagraha is direct action without violence. It is the true act of faith. It includes refusal to cooperate with laws that are unjust joined with the willingness to suffer the consequences. Yes, we are speaking of non-violent law-breaking. At a meeting in South Africa in 1906, 3000 Indian citizens met at the Empire Theatre in Johannesburg. On the agenda was an item resolving that the members of the Indian community would go to jail rather than to submit to an ordinance requiring them to carry a residency permit under pain of deportation or prison. At first it was to be decided by majority vote. But then Gandhi suggested that each person should decide for themselves whether to take a vow before God to break this law. A vow was different from a majority vote. By taking a vow each person has an obligation to keep it. "A person who lightly pledges their word and then breaks it is a person of straw," said Gandhi. All present rose and took the vow. In the case of the Indian community in Transvaal it meant deliberate violation of a government ordinance and a commitment to fill the local jails.
Regardless of our religious or non-religious background, as we rid ourselves of dogmatic certainty, as we accept non-harm and a dedication to truth force, we will become spiritually capable of the non-cooperation which is required to end corrupt government.
Why is religion such an area for hatred, political conflict and war? Mahatma Gandhi dealt with this problem on a daily basis. Gandhi saw no distinction between the City of God and the City of Man. He insisted that there be a political consciousness in religion and a religious consciousness in politics. In short he saw them as the same. If spiritual people reject ahimsa or non-harm they will approve of every form of violence to attain their objectives. Saints, he thought, could be more murderous than sinners. In short, he saw the trap of fundamentalisms.
Religion must rid itself of dogmatic certainty. Shedding dogma intellectually is required in order to practice non-harm in the physical world . In a parallel to the Hippocratic oath of doctors, the religionists must agree to do no harm and thus open their minds to the validity of other faiths. The proof of faith is not doctrinal purity. That should be obvious from centuries of inquisition conducted according to Dostoevsky by people who had no faith at all. Instead of the impossible task of trying to define God, the person of faith defines a life-style of total dedication, sacrifice and love. This is the "proof of faith."
This is how Satyagraha or truth force can become the motor force of religion and politics. Satyagraha is direct action without violence. It is the true act of faith. It includes refusal to cooperate with laws that are unjust joined with the willingness to suffer the consequences. Yes, we are speaking of non-violent law-breaking. At a meeting in South Africa in 1906, 3000 Indian citizens met at the Empire Theatre in Johannesburg. On the agenda was an item resolving that the members of the Indian community would go to jail rather than to submit to an ordinance requiring them to carry a residency permit under pain of deportation or prison. At first it was to be decided by majority vote. But then Gandhi suggested that each person should decide for themselves whether to take a vow before God to break this law. A vow was different from a majority vote. By taking a vow each person has an obligation to keep it. "A person who lightly pledges their word and then breaks it is a person of straw," said Gandhi. All present rose and took the vow. In the case of the Indian community in Transvaal it meant deliberate violation of a government ordinance and a commitment to fill the local jails.
Regardless of our religious or non-religious background, as we rid ourselves of dogmatic certainty, as we accept non-harm and a dedication to truth force, we will become spiritually capable of the non-cooperation which is required to end corrupt government.
PACIFICA COMMENTARY FOR FEBRUARY 9, 2005
THE BUDGET
When you call your members of Congress today and the rest of the week, please consider the following recommendations. Remind them that there is not one cent in this new and massive budget to pay for endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore when they receive the new request for 80 billion more as a supplemental appropriation request they should:
1. Oppose any new funds: No supplemental 80 billion dollars for endless war. Any new funds should be allocated solely for troop withdrawal and interim troop protection.
2. End the occupation: Halt U.S. military actions immediately, shift U.S. troops to the borders of Iraq and leave no U.S. bases behind. Support Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey's (D-CA) resolution calling on the President to begin the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
3. Support Iraqi sovereignty: Give Iraqis full control over reconstruction funds including Iraqi ministries, new police and security forces. Terminate contracts with U.S. companies and turn projects over to Iraqis while providing transparent accounting of all U.S. contracts.
4. Stabilize Iraq: Commit to long-term U.S. financial support for Iraqi- led reconstruction and allow the UN and other international agencies to support an Iraq democracy free from U.S. intervention.
5. Provide real support for our troops: End the "stop-loss" policies that keep troops on active duty far beyond their contracts. Provide thorough psychological counseling, health care, and benefits to returning Iraq war veterans and their families. Bring our troops home!
And while we hypocritically turn our sights on Iran accusing that country of having an incipient nuclear weapons program, US nuclear weapons spending has grown by 84% since 1995. The total cost of our nuclear forces is 40 billion anually. This includes ten thousand nuclear warheads with some 2,000 on hair-trigger alert. By what warped logic do we think we have a right to these genocidal instuments? And we are the only power that has used them.
The proposed budget is an immoral document. Anyone concerned about moral values in or out of government should simply reject it. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.
When you call your members of Congress today and the rest of the week, please consider the following recommendations. Remind them that there is not one cent in this new and massive budget to pay for endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore when they receive the new request for 80 billion more as a supplemental appropriation request they should:
1. Oppose any new funds: No supplemental 80 billion dollars for endless war. Any new funds should be allocated solely for troop withdrawal and interim troop protection.
2. End the occupation: Halt U.S. military actions immediately, shift U.S. troops to the borders of Iraq and leave no U.S. bases behind. Support Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey's (D-CA) resolution calling on the President to begin the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
3. Support Iraqi sovereignty: Give Iraqis full control over reconstruction funds including Iraqi ministries, new police and security forces. Terminate contracts with U.S. companies and turn projects over to Iraqis while providing transparent accounting of all U.S. contracts.
4. Stabilize Iraq: Commit to long-term U.S. financial support for Iraqi- led reconstruction and allow the UN and other international agencies to support an Iraq democracy free from U.S. intervention.
5. Provide real support for our troops: End the "stop-loss" policies that keep troops on active duty far beyond their contracts. Provide thorough psychological counseling, health care, and benefits to returning Iraq war veterans and their families. Bring our troops home!
And while we hypocritically turn our sights on Iran accusing that country of having an incipient nuclear weapons program, US nuclear weapons spending has grown by 84% since 1995. The total cost of our nuclear forces is 40 billion anually. This includes ten thousand nuclear warheads with some 2,000 on hair-trigger alert. By what warped logic do we think we have a right to these genocidal instuments? And we are the only power that has used them.
The proposed budget is an immoral document. Anyone concerned about moral values in or out of government should simply reject it. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.
