The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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[ Presenting plain-text part of multi-format email ] In a message dated 03/13/2003 5:22:54 AM Central Standard Time, mali@gw.hackney.gov.uk writes: > the left sticks to its principles of opposing America even to the detriment > of the aspirations of the people concerned. Recent examples are the > republics of former federal Yugoslavia, Kosovo, East Timor (Indonesia) and > I would hope that those of you who critique the antiwar, propeace movement as a single entity would knock it off. We are not some monolithic entity and your suggestion that we are missing the human rights issues in the countries concerned is an example of a general lack of insight. And as to the claims that this movement stems from "embarrassment" I don't even know how to respond to this. There are those among us who abhor violence and refute the notion that violence can be solved by more violence. I am all too aware of the suffering of the oppressed in Iraq, Palestine, and elsewhere. But this suffering will not be alleviated in an acceptable fashion by killing those who suffer or even those who cause this suffering. Real solutions will only be arrived at when we admit to ourselves that "evil" is a scapegoat and understanding is the cure. SH is a bastard for a variety of reasons. I would rather see him healed and sleepy, not murdered. When we suggest that solving the problem of violence with more violence is acceptable we become that which we struggle against. When you write about the "peace movement" you are writing about me. If you want to know what I think, then ask me, don't assume. When you write about the peace movement you are also writing about tens of millions of others all who come to the table with different ideologies and from different starting points, don't lump us into a single category or single mindset. To do so is disingenuous and is helpful for nothing except taking up space and stroking our keyboards. By the way, Afghanistan is a shit storm according to the international press. I would hardly use that as an example of a successful intervention. The thousands of innocents who have already been killed there would probably not agree with you either, alas they are unable to respond. The cluster bombletts that sit on the ground waiting for a child and the DU seeping into the water and the plants will leave a story to tell for years to come. Of course the pipeline which is awaiting construction tells another story! I refute the notion that we can liberate the people of Iraq with violence. We must lift the economic sanctions whilst ending the proliferation of weapons, the US is the leader in the sales of weapons, 45% globally. The people of Iraq will liberate themselves if that is their choice, but they must be strong to do this. The people of the world have always liberated themselves throughout history! WE outside Iraq can bring pressure to the regime in various fashions that do not involve murder. It has been done before, it will work again. We must not punish the citizens but work to change the leadership, peacefully. We will do the same in the US when enough wake up and see the corruption of the system by the corporations. Peacefully yours, Roger Stroope Austin College Sherman Texas, USA www.austincollege.edu _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk