Why peace?
Because we want justice for our dead; and because
we want our safety back. Because we want a world in which the
events of September 11 can never be repeated.
We support President Bush's resolve to end terrorism, but not
his military agenda for doing it.
We recognize that we are now in a world where indiscriminate
military actions can make us less safe, rather than more, and we
believe that the best security for the U.S. and the world is
peace--peace, particularly, in the Middle East.
The world has an opportunity to unite for one goal. We call
upon our leaders and our neighbors to demand loud and clear that
the U.S. join the globe in forging a response to this terrorism
that does not escalate the cycle of world violence, and cost
more human life.
We call on our leaders to promote a far braver discourse than
war. We call on them to say that world peace is what September
11's martyrs truly deserve to have enacted in their name. Let
President Bush seize this extraordinary moment in world history
-- an extraordinary, precious opportunity when all nations of
the world wait upon America's next breath -- to partner on an
equal footing with world nations to create the first truly
global alliance investigating and condemning violence in all its
forms.
It is our strong belief that a non-military response is the
best strategy for a permanent end to terror. We believe in a
non-military response for the following reasons:
- Because justice will be better served. We believe
that the perpetrators of these crimes should be brought to
justice. As Americans, our conception of justice includes
due process and a fair trial. By using the systems of
international law and jurisprudence in place, we can best
ensure peace, justice, and freedom worldwide. If we abandon
our commitment to justice in times of crisis, we undermine
the very foundation of our freedom.
- Because a war on terrorism is likely to increase
terrorist activity at home, not just overseas.
Indiscriminate killings of Afghani citizens or other
innocent citizens of the globe will achieve nothing but
death, and it is certain to inflame retaliation and even
further terrorism--and it lowers us to the level of the
terrorist attackers. Just as we condemn these terrible
attacks, so we condemn all situations in which civilians are
killed for the values or actions of their governments.
- Because there are many concrete measures, other than an
indiscriminate war, that we can take to respond to September
11's acts of horror. Here are some being suggested
worldwide, in an astonishing consensus:
- We must proceed with the investigation into terrorism
via the use of a truly international team, citing and
utilizing international human rights law. The Geneva
Convention and other international agreements are steps
toward a system of international human rights law that
is agreed to by nations around the globe. By supporting
this system, the United States makes clear that despite
its power, it is accountable to the core values of
democracy.
- We must call for immediate resolution of the Israel/Palestinian
conflict as a world security measure.
- The U.S. must begin immediately to forge a respectful,
alliance-building dialogue with Middle East Muslim
communities and their governments. As he did last night,
President Bush must state often and loudly that the
majority of Muslims in the Middle East and at home did
not and do not support terrorist action. But President
Bush must also begin to truly listen to Middle East
nations' suggestions for how to repair their scarred
relations with the United States, and to their
suggestions for how to address the anger that erupts in
terrorism. And President Bush must pledge to discontinue
the U.S.'s own violence-supporting actions across the
Middle East.
- Because a non-military response can help to cure the
disease of terrorism rather than its symptoms. We have
the means, the ability and the will worldwide to eradicate
the root causes of terrorism. When people are desperate,
they are easily controlled, and we believe that the terrible
conditions of many people around the world contribute
substantially to the power people like bin Laden hold over
them. We do not in any way deny that ultimately people are
responsible for their own actions. But let us put money into
international humanitarian aid, worldwide public education,
and the nutrition of starving peoples, and we will create an
environment inhospitible to terrorism and its proponents.
OUR CALL IS THIS: President Bush and citizens around the
globe, let us not enter into World War III. Rather, let us begin
immediately to forge WORLD PEACE I.
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