[JPI] Invasion Response & Austin on Thursday

Wed Mar 12 10:34:13 CST 2003

Plans are to meet at the UU fellowship at 305 Wellborn Rd. at 5:00 on the
day the bombs start dropping or the next if it is late in the day.  We will
march to the Bush Library (1.5 miles.)  Some will stand at the legal and
unrestricted entrance; other will go into to the constitution free zone.  We
expect to be issued an order to go to the, out of the way and unseen, free
speech zone.  Some may do this; others may be willing to risk arrest.
University rules regarding free speech seem to be rapidly changing.  It may
be that by that time we will be allowed to demonstrate at the Library.
World democracy seems to be working amazingly well; it may be that we never
need to hold that demonstration. - Hugh
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven J Olshewsky" <steveo at neo.tamu.edu>
To: <jpi at philebus.tamu.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 9:32 PM
Subject: [JPI] Invasion Response & Austin on Thursday


>
> 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]
> >
> >
> >-----     -----
>
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