[JPI] Invasion Response & Austin on Thursday

[Steven J Olshewsky]

Agreed that we all hope there will be no invasion.

It looks like the World Community and Public Opinion are having a good 
effect.

Also, Praying for Peace might be having a good effect.

Still in all, might not hurt to make some signs in advance just in case.

At 10:34 AM 3/12/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>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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