[JPI] Invasion Response & Austin on Thursday

[Steven J Olshewsky]

Other cities are planning Peace Demonstrations in response to the start of 
any Iraq Invasion.

Do we have any such plans in the works?

Also, this:

>ACT NOW so these don't have a chance (if the war starts during the debate on
>these things, we MUST amp up our efforts as that will be used to gain
>support):
>
>1.  Resolution for the State of Texas to SUPPORT THE WAR and all related
>policies
>2.  Resolution to support STAR WARS
>3.  Bill to make DRAFT REGISTRATION AUTOMATIC for men getting drivers
>license (no room for conscientious objection) -- violation of separation of
>Church/state
>
>(1 and 2 will be presented at a hearing this Thursday morning -- ATTEND if
>you can; 3 will likely come up this week or next. Write your objection to
>sponsor asap, and cc your rep. -- see below.)
>
>STATE OF TEXAS - House of Reps site:
>http://www.house.state.tx.us/welcome.php
>WHO IS MY REP.?  http://www.house.state.tx.us/help/visitor.htm
>
>Thank to Les Breeding & State Rep. (and Peace Center Director) Lon Burnam
>for keeping us abreast.
>
>-----1.  RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE WHOLE PACKAGE!-----
>HCR 75 by Rep. Eissler / et al.  (no mention of who the 'et al's are)
>Memorializing the U.S. Congress to support President Bush's policies of war
>on terrorism, homeland security, and disarmament
>action against Iraq.
>http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlo/78R/billtext/HC00075I.HTM
>contact your rep and rep. Eissler
>http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist15/eissler.htm
>
>WHO IS MY REP.?  http://www.house.state.tx.us/help/visitor.htm
>
>
>-----2.  RESOLUTION SUPPORTING STAR WARS!-----
>Subject: Missile Defense Bill coming up in Texas Legislature
>
>This Thursday (March 13), the House Committee on Defense Affairs and
>State-Federal Relations will hold a public hearing for HCR 68 by Rep. Larry
>Taylor (R-Friendswood). The caption of this resolution is "A resolution
>memorializing Congress to support efforts to build and deploy a national
>missile defense system as rapidly as possible." (This type of resolution
>does not create law but it does urge the US Congress to take action on
>missile defense.)
>
>The hearing will be at the Texas Capitol building in the Underground
>Extension, Room E2.010. It will be held at 8:00 AM.  The following are
>members of the Committee:
>
>Rep. Frank Corte, Chair
>Scott Campbell, Vice-Chair
>Leo Berman
>Diane Delisi
>John Mabry
>Tommy Merritt
>Paul Moreno
>Richard Noriega
>Gene Seaman
>
>The e-mail address for members of the legislature and their staff is:
>firstname.lastname at house.state.tx.us (example:
>les.breeding at house.state.tx.us)
>
>I am happy to consult with anybody interested in this bill about the public
>hearing process and how best to communicate with the committee about this
>bill.
>
>Les
>les.breeding at house.state.tx.us
>
>
>-----3.  BILL TO FORCE YOUNG MEN TO KILL/making selective service
>registration mandatory and automatic-----
>
>(Thanks for the following go to the Austin Center for Peace and Justice.)
>
>Prior to the 1978 Selective Service law, when a Conscientious Objector
>registered as such with the SSS at age 18, HE was assigned a CO
>classification (1-O). However, under the 1978 law, there is no special
>status for CO's, and in the event of a draft, a CO would be conscripted like
>anyone else and then have to apply for CO status on his way to boot camp,
>making for a situation rife with the opportunity for abuse.
>
>For this reason, CO's have been reluctant to register since 1978. Many
>others (25% of eligibles) simply neglect to register for a variety of
>reasons. So, the SSS wants states to mandate an automatic draft registration
>for men between 18 and 25 who apply for a driver's license or ID card and is
>lobbying all 50 states to mandate such a registration.
>
>Last session this issue was debated in committee and HB 116 was introduced
>to implement the above. However, a compromise was reached wherin SSS
>registration was oprional when applying for a DL. However, in the current
>legislature, Rep Bob Hunter, from Abilene is reintroducing the original bill
>requiring mandate.
>
>* It is suggested to appeal to 1st amendment (separation of church/state)
>concerns rather than racial or gender inequity concerns, as sponsor Hunter
>is "a VERY conservative Christian" according to one Abilenite.    Using the
>'equal rights' argument with this man wouldn't make a dent-i.e., that SS is
>unconstitutional as it denies the 19th amendment.*
>
>
>
>CALL OR WRITE REP. BOB HUNTER NOW (512-463-0718,
>bob.hunter at house.state.tx.us), with a copy to your Rep. (WHO IS MY REP.?
>http://www.house.state.tx.us/help/visitor.htm)!
>
>Sample letter -- please change to fit your own needs:
>
>Re: HB 479 (in opposition to)
>
>Dear Rep. Hunter:
>
>I am writing to you to ask you to support HB 116 rather than HB 479 on
>grounds of Religious Freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment. From World
>War II to 1978, conscientious objectors (CO's) were recognized by the
>Selective Service System when registering and were given CO status at that
>time. Since 1978, there is no conscientious objector status available to SSS
>registrants, and conscientious objectors will be conscripted like any other
>male between 18 and 25.
>
>Because of this loss of recognized status by the SSS, some conscientious
>objectors are reluctant to register, not because they do not want to be good
>citizens, but because they believe that it is wrong, in God's eyes, to take
>a human life for any reason. In the past, most conscientious objectors have
>been willing, and have, served their country in alternative service (in lieu
>of military service). Many of these men are members of the historic peace
>churches, Mennonites, Friends (Quakers), and Church of the Brethren. Members
>of these religious groups have been in this country since before the
>revolutionary war. Contrary to the vast majority of later immigrants, these
>Christians took refuge in this country for reasons of religious freedom, not
>for economic opportunity. In wartime, they had often suffered persecution,
>not only by society, but by the government itself. During WWII they finally
>won recognition from the government and were given status by the SSS. This
>ended in 1978. Now again, when drafted, they will be conscripted into the
>military against their consciences and are likely again to be exposed to
>abuse because of their firmly held religious convictions based primarily on
>the teachings of Jesus as written in the four gospels of the New Testament.
>
>Understanding that you are a also a person of faith, certainly you must
>understand the dilemma a person must face when forced to choose between
>obeying "God or man," when "man" is the government of ones beloved country.
>Thus, until the government again allows for these good citizens to practice
>their religion according to their consciences, I implore you not to make the
>State of Texas an accomplice to this abrogation of religious freedom. Please
>withdraw your sponsorship of HB 479 in favor of HB 116.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>[You]
>
>
>-----     -----