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Nancy Reagan coined the phrase, “Just Say No”, as an expression of what she felt would be an effective means to fight illegal drug use in this country. If we as a nation simply refused to either purchase or use these drugs, despite temptation and ready availability, then the drug problem would cease to exist. The supply of drugs in the world would not matter, as there would be no demand. As a drug prevention strategy, “Just Say No” failed miserably.
Our country is now addicted to preemptive war. Judging from election totals, Bush now does, just barely mind you, have the “political capital” to do whatever he wants, including the invasion of any country he wishes to conquer and occupy. We who believe the war in Iraq is morally wrong, and that coming conflicts in Syria, Iran and North Korea will be equally indefensible, must do something about it.
Democracy means more than walking into a voting booth every four years. It means that the will of the people must be spoken, very loudly, at all times. In a very active but nonviolent way, we the people of the United States must "Just Say No" to both the Iraq war and any others that George W. Bush may launch against the countries of the world. If you know someone in the Individual Ready Reserve who is being called back to active duty in the Army, urge that person, strongly, not to report. Help him or her to fight such a callback. If you know any service members who are home on leave, try your best to convince them not to go back to Iraq after their furlough ends. If you have contact with a family member or friend who is already serving in Iraq, let them know how you feel about them being there fighting an immoral war. Stand outside of recruiting offices and talk to those going in and coming out; make sure they hear the good of nonparticipation in unjust wars, as they most certainly will be told of the “nobility” of murdering innocents in the name of democracy.
We must do whatever it takes, in a strictly nonviolent way, to stop the United States in its addiction to war. Nonviolence will work, and we have no choice but to employ it. If we resort to violence, we will be no better than George W. Bush. You do not fight fire with fire. You fight it with the cooling waters of nonviolence resistance. But you must fight it.
Our country is now addicted to preemptive war. Judging from election totals, Bush now does, just barely mind you, have the “political capital” to do whatever he wants, including the invasion of any country he wishes to conquer and occupy. We who believe the war in Iraq is morally wrong, and that coming conflicts in Syria, Iran and North Korea will be equally indefensible, must do something about it.
Democracy means more than walking into a voting booth every four years. It means that the will of the people must be spoken, very loudly, at all times. In a very active but nonviolent way, we the people of the United States must "Just Say No" to both the Iraq war and any others that George W. Bush may launch against the countries of the world. If you know someone in the Individual Ready Reserve who is being called back to active duty in the Army, urge that person, strongly, not to report. Help him or her to fight such a callback. If you know any service members who are home on leave, try your best to convince them not to go back to Iraq after their furlough ends. If you have contact with a family member or friend who is already serving in Iraq, let them know how you feel about them being there fighting an immoral war. Stand outside of recruiting offices and talk to those going in and coming out; make sure they hear the good of nonparticipation in unjust wars, as they most certainly will be told of the “nobility” of murdering innocents in the name of democracy.
We must do whatever it takes, in a strictly nonviolent way, to stop the United States in its addiction to war. Nonviolence will work, and we have no choice but to employ it. If we resort to violence, we will be no better than George W. Bush. You do not fight fire with fire. You fight it with the cooling waters of nonviolence resistance. But you must fight it.