Gary Storm on Ending
the Occupation in Iraq
February 17, 2006
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My name is Gary Storm,
Urbana resident, retired faculty member from the
University of Illinois at Springfield, and member of
AWARE.
AWARE, the peace and justice advocacy group in
Urbana-Champaign, has scheduled a Town Meeting to
discuss a resolution it has submitted to the Urbana City
Council to end the occupation in Iraq. The Town Meeting
will be held in City Council Chambers, 400 s. Vine in
Urbana, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21. The
purposes of the meeting are threefold: (1) to share the
text of the resolution being submitted to the Council,
(2) to allow panel members to provide important
background information and to discuss their reasons for
supporting the resolution, and (3) to give Urbana
residents an opportunity to ask questions and/or make
comments. The event will be carried on Public Access
Television, Channel 6.
The Town Meeting represents the culmination of a series
of programs that have taken place during the fall of
2005 designed to raise public consciousness about the
war and occupation and to encourage citizens to
thoughtfully formulate their views on these important
matters. AWARE sponsored a series of panel presentations
called “Voices from Iraq”, for example, at which
individuals and families who have had personal
experiences in Iraq during the last three years have
shared their experiences and perspectives with local
citizens. The Interfaith Alliance also sponsored a
“Peace Vigil” in December at which 10 area religious
organizations had speakers present their views on ending
the occupation as soon as possible. AWARE collected 60+
signatures at the vigil endorsing the resolution being
submitted to the Urbana City Council, and it added many
more at its booths in Lincoln Square Mall and at the
Peace Bazaar during the holiday season.
Among the questions that will be addressed by panelists
at the Town Meeting are: What is the national
organization “Cities for Progress” doing to help local
communities end the occupation in Iraq? What are the
economic and social impacts of the war and occupation on
the City of Urbana? on the University of Illinois? What
are important moral and religious reasons for ending the
occupation? Why should the City Council take up the
resolution? What are local Muslim perspectives on the
war and ending the occupation?
AWARE planners have met with the Mayor and many of the
City Council Members to discuss the resolution, and all
of these leaders have been invited to attend the Town
Meeting. Don’t miss this opportunity to let your voice
be heard on this issue that is so important to our city
and country. Please to attend the Town Meeting on
Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Urbana
Council Chambers at 400 S. Vine.
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Listen
to the commentary: