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Recently a working
group of AWARE the local Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort has
decided to stand outside of various local churches not
in disrespect, but rather as an invitation to the church
members to join us in calling for our government to end
this immoral and illegal war in Iraq.
We ask that our
troops be removed from Iraq as immediate as practical
and safe. In the spirit of this Christmas season, what
better time for Christians and people of conscience to
proclaim and act upon Christ's message of Peace on Earth
and Goodwill Toward Others than by calling for the end
of the US military occupation of Iraq.
We are sure that most
church members now know that the war in Iraq was based
on false and distorted intelligence. The leaders of our
country claimed as fact that we were in imminent danger
from Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and
that Iraq was linked to the attacks of September 11th.
Today we know this
was not true. In fact, much evidence demonstrates that
the leaders of our government knew their intelligence to
be faulty before we invaded Iraq on March 19th. 2003.
But half-truths and contrived evidence was still used to
persuade the American public this war against evil was
necessary for the very survival of our country and our
way of life.
As a result in this,
our country's war of choice, we preemptively invaded
another sovereign nation and its people against the
wishes of the UN weapons inspectors, many of our
traditional allies, and literally millions of people
worldwide. Many prominent religious leaders spoke out
strongly against this war. They pleaded for more
diplomacy, cooperation with other nations and respect
for international law.
As a result of our
haste, today tens of thousands of US servicemen and
women have been killed, injured, or psychologically
wounded. Equally as sad, hundreds of thousands of
innocent Iraqis and families have also experienced these
similar tragedies of war. Today Iraq is a country in
turmoil, disarray, and of unspeakable violence. The
United States, by its unilateral actions, is largely
responsible for the dire state of affairs in Iraq. Our
government's policies and actions have turned Iraq into
an unstable country and terrorist breeding ground.
Is it not time for
people of faith and conscience to stand up and proclaim
an end to this madness of preemptive and perpetual war
and constant use of fear to scare the public? Should not
people of faith and conscience be proclaiming an end to
militarism, occupation, and torture in our names? Should
we not be acting upon Jesus' proclamation to be
peacemakers and not war makers by calling for a more
hopeful and life affirming direction for our country?
AWARE members would
gladly meet with members of local congregations to
discuss these issues in a respectful and educated
dialogue. We also invite church and members of any
places of worship to join us as we meet on Sunday nights
at 5:00 PM. at the Independent Media Center in downtown
Urbana at 202 E. Elm in our work for peace and justice.
It is our hope that
those in the religious community who share similar life
affirming values might also actively work for peace with
a message of hope during this Season of Peace on Earth.
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