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LETTERS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA !
Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee
A nation dedicated to peace does not focus its policies and practices on militarization. Martin Luther King, 1964 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, spoke during his life of three pillars of evil: racism, poverty and militarism. We hope you commit our nation to reducing militarism in all its forms. Second and relatedly, we believe that there can be no peace if there is no justice (see King’s quote above). None of the concerns you and majority of our country deeply cares about requiring federal investments is achievable so long as militarism is our major federal budget priority. The principles and economic rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and underlined by FDR’s Economic Bill of Rights (i.e. Jobs, health care, housing, education, livable wages, food, etc.) are incapable of being met if we continue to prioritize human and physical destruction over human and economic construction. Our federal budget is a reflection of our national values, ethics and norms. It says a great deal about a nation. What does it say about our nation that more than one-half of all federal discretionary spending is focused on the military? We hope you commit to shifting our nation’s budget priorities to addressing the real economic and social security threats at home in our cities, towns and rural communities. Third, we believe diplomacy and development are more certain and lasting prescriptions for resolving conflicts and achieving justice. These strategies include ensuring that all parties to conflicts are at the table and providing those who are affected by decisions an authentic voice in the shaping of those decisions. Such strategies are appropriate to not only international arenas but domestic as well – wherever violence breeds fear and injustice kills hope. Diplomacy and development instead of troop escalation, unending occupations and further militarization are the paths that should be followed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Violence, at best, achieves short-term order; never lasting peace or permanent justice. Thank you for considering these reflections. May they serve as a guide to not only your Nobel Peace Prize speech but also subsequent foreign policy and federal budget decisions. Peace, Greg Coleridge on behalf of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee ps. Below are suggestions from people connected to AFSC here in Ohio on what you should reflect upon when writing your acceptance speech. Little more than 2000 years ago a man was born to this earth whose principal message was one of love and peace. His unparalleled affect on mankind is a testament to the power of his message. During this season, Christians throughout the world celebrate his birth. However, to venerate a man while violating his core precepts is senseless. I hope and pray this holiday season that national leaders and those bent toward terror and forced change will take a step closer to the realization that killing and waging war -- physically, or via economic and social policy -- does not bring peace to this world. I pray that the leaders of men and women recognize that the act of killing does not convert people, but creates more fear and hatred that leads to further aggression, terrorism, suffering and death. I have hope that this savior can yet change the hearts and minds of man to truly understand and live his message of love and peace. Dennis J. Foster, Westlake, Ohio <dennisfoster@roadrunner.com> ------ We should stop military operations immediately. We should concentrate on cutting off financial support of the Talaban by destroying poppy fields (compensating & protecting the farmers) and discouraging sympathetic Islamic nations. If we can't do that we should leave. Austin Kuder <freedom3803@yahoo.com> ------ Get out of Aghanistan now. It is not a war, it is setting our troops up to be sitting ducks for terrorists indefinitely. It is breeding more hatred among radical Islam who will continue to train these young suicide bombers indefinitely. Stop the madness. Lynn Anderson <artistelynn@sbcglobal.net> ------- "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." Martin Luther King Jr. Obviously I would never take credit for this eloquent statement, but I would hope that President Obama would consider the words and spirit of it, especially in the crisis this nation is facing re: healthcare (or the lack thereof…) Steven M. Hill, RN <smhill5211n5@hotmail.com> ------- This is the prayer offered at Mass by a 93-year-old doctor, Joseph Foley, who was sorting out the carnage on Utah Beach on D-Day: "That the peoples of the world and especially the leaders of the nations may come to believe that by its very nature war is a cruel, dirty, and destructive activity, aggravating rather than resolving the problems of suffering humanity, and a direct violation of Jesus' injunction that we love one another." Sue Miller <suzer@ohio.net> ------- PRESIDENT OBAMA: ALL ROADS LEAD TO "US", SO LEAD OUR SOLDIERS BACK HOME ASAP. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WWJD? ... JUST THAT. CAROL <talk2me_carol@yahoo.com> ------- Nobel prize SPEECH my foot. How about Nobel Prizeworthy BEHAVIOR. Ken Champney, Yellow Springs OH <champneyk@juno.com> ------- Obama accepting a nobel peace prize. Isn’t that a oxymoron. Allison Emerson <berdine61777@yahoo.com> ------- Having lost my husband fighting in WW!!, it makes me feel very sad to hear of the young men ( and women ) still losing their lives for what the military calls peace. Our country is in danger of being a colonial power to these countries where we have troops stationed. The cost is killing us. dieter <dieter12@comcast.net> ------- President Obama is a good speaker, but he has not yet thought out a future strategy for the US for the Greater Middle East. Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 was still an isolationist, but he gave a great deal of thought about foreign policy problems. He carefully selected ambassadors personally to Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, and Tokyo. He could see the war coming with Germany and Japan. In September 1937 he began a plan to quarantine the aggressors. War was only possible in the last resort in December 1941 after six other great powers had already begun fighting. When war did come, the President had democracy and international law on his side ,and the people understood the purpose was to defeat three dictatorial, imperial powers. Unfortunately, since FDR's death all US Presidents have been rank amateurs in foreign affairs. The State Department has increasingly fell into a state of confusion during the Korean War, the American Indochinese Wars, Presidential intervention into civil wars in Iraq, Israel and Afghanistan. The immediate recommendation for the Nobel Prize speech is for Obama to read the books and even meet with William R Polk who is knowledgeable about the Middle East. The present policy of following ad hoc military advice that comes from the Pentagon will only lead the US and President Obama deeper into debts and economic poverty. The immediate recommendation for the Nobel Prize speech is for Obama to read the books and even meet with William R Polk who is knowledgeable about the Middle East. The present policy of following ad hoc military advice that comes from the Pentagon will only lead the US and President Obama deeper into debts and economic poverty. Robert H. Whealey, Historian, Ohio University <whealey@ohio.edu> ------- The most pressing world peace issue is the situation in Palestine, one that has been undermining peace and eroding security for over 60 years. The Jewish settlements in the West Bank are illegal. The apartheid wall is illegal. The occupation of Palestine is illegal. The blockade of Gaza is illegal, and the Israeli assault upon Gaza was criminal. This blatant violation of international law and human rights must end. This colossal injustice must end. For it to end, US funds to Israel must end until this apartheid regime complies with international law. Demand an end to the military occupation of Palestine; an end to the blockade of Gaza; and the removal of the apartheid wall. If that demand for justice and human rights is not met by the government of Israel, end all US funding to Israel. very sincerely yours, Werner Lange <werlange@earthlink.net> ------- Please, President Obama, no more money for war, contractors, troops oversees. It pollutes the world. It sucks the hope for a bright future. War sows destruction, terrorists, and displaced people. Use the money for health care, for schools, for veterans. War harms all of us and achieves nothing. For me Peace is knowing that no father has to face the situation where his only option for survival is to sell his children. Maggie Constan <maggieconstan@msn.com> ------- To Mr. President Barack Obama What PEACE means to us True to our God True to our Native Land Right is Right Wrong is Wrong They do not mix PEACE to us is freedom of all negitive We must stand for peace not war. Peace is done in order UNITY (Remember the song) Lift every voice and sing, til earth and heav-en ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty; let our rejoic-ing rise high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. God of our weary years,God of our silent tears, thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; thou who hast by thy might led us in to the light, keep us for ever in the path, we pray. We are all conected, so each one teach one the way of "PEACE-INSIDE" Thank you Birama Tine & Cynthia Tine, Akron Ohio <flowertine@sbcglobal.net> ------- Dear President Obama, Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is a great tribute to your world messages that have been more inclusive and peaceful towards the other countries in this world. As commander-in-chief of the largest and most powerful military in the world you need to give a positive and non-threatening proposal of our future actions.Quickly ending both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and lessening our world wide bases, would show our peaceful resolve and allow some of the tremendous military budget to be used for vital economic, social and environmental problems here in the U.S. Please work to further peace and justice during your administration. Sincerely, Adele Looney, 283 Crestwood Ave. Wadsworth, Oh 44281 ------- barrack obama: will you please prove me wrong? as it is, you are a man of brilliance but no substance; aplomb but no conscience; charisma but no compassion. will you please prove me wrong? you are too smart to think or to believe that sending more lads/lassies to afpak is ANY kind of solution. do the right thing! and until you do, you will find me in the mean streets, alone or in a crowd, calling on SOMEone - YOU - to listen to the voices of the needy rather than the greedy. Peace Mike Ludwig Veterans for Peace, Cleveland, Ohio <j.ludwig@att.net> ------- I applaud your outreach to countries demonized by previous administrations and your attempts to defend the determination of US military actions from the warmongers and war profiteers. The Nobel Committee has recognized your efforts in awarding you the Nobel Peace Prize. Please don't waste this opportunity to bring real peace to the world. Tell the world we are closing our military bases around the world and that we are bringing the all troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Tell the world that the United States of America will no longer conduct military actions except as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force. Tell the world that we will no longer allow American companies to sell arms to any country or group. Tell the world that helping to stop hostilities between nations and tribes will be the focus of our foreign policy. Tell the world that Peace is the responsibility of each person and each nation. Peace and the blessings of peace be with you and with our beloved country. Vicki Armstrong, Akron, OH <vjarm@yahoo.com> ------- "Thank you President Obama for hearing the concerns of so many people who supported you in your candidacy for President of the United States. I am sure you were surprised when you were named as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. However, I was more surprised that you accepted the award. I held out hope that as a man of valor you would respectfully and diplomatically decline the award while the U.S. and you, as the nation's leader, continue to build a better international reputation. You cannot lead a country actively engaged in armed conflict and accept the prize with any degree of dignity. Any offense in diplomacy by declining the award would be forgiven for the grace of admitting that you cannot accept the award at this time." Verdena Lee, D.O., Imani Works, Human Rights Advocacy since 1996, Columbus, OH <hippiedoc@mac.com> www.imaniworks.net ------- We reap what we sow. If we sow seeds of peace--aid for food, for education, for healthcare, for job development, for construction--we will reap peace. If we sow seeds of war--escalating troop deployments, maintaining a military occupation, contracting with private mercenaries--we will reap war. During this time of the year, when thoughts are turned toward "Peace on earth, goodwill toward all", a Nobel Peace prize recipient should be planning how best to sow seeds of peace so that a harvest of peace can be shared by the global community. Patti Longville, Akron, Ohio, <Normarae52@aol.com>
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© 2009 Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee |