- An Open Letter on Stealing from Soldiers

12 May 2008

An Open Letter to PSR Students, Faculty, Staff, and Other Community Members;

Last week, we, the members of Seminarians to End War (SEW), began to collect the items for our final care package for our “adopted” soldier serving in Iraq, from the donation box in the Holbrook lobby. To our deep disappointment, we found that items we ourselves had placed in the box were no longer there. That is, some member(s) of the PSR community had stolen these items from the donation box.

This theft calls for community-wide repentance.

A systemic analysis of this theft reveals that the Holbrook Lobby may be more like the Oval Office than most of us would like. Perhaps PSR is willing to continue the Bush Administration’s pattern of irresponsibility and its eagerness to deny US soldiers the human comforts that would seem to be deserved by anyone suffering the inhumane treatment of the US military.

Unlike during wars of our parents’ and grandparents’ generation, today’s US Americans have not been asked to sacrifice to help the “war effort” in Iraq. John McCain, George W. Bush, and other Republicans “hawks” who initiated this war have blocked the latest G.I. Bill, which would provide veterans with adequate care and provide soldiers with adequate safety equipment. This care would be too generous, they argue. Taking the past week’s events here at PSR as an example of citizen opinion, they might be correct. Some of us seem unwilling to sacrifice even a candy bar – which we did not even buy – for others.

Perhaps we have not made clear enough that these care packages are not part of the war effort, but instead part of our peace effort. We see how the war’s effects do not take place only abroad on the front lines of battle. The repercussions of war resound for decades in the lives of all who experience it. Currently, hundreds of veterans attempt suicide every month; this is part of the travesty of war that those who wage it would rather we did not know. As faith leaders who work for peace, we choose to know this – and to act to ameliorate this sin. By supporting the mental and spiritual health of one soldier, we are helping end part of the war being waged on the battlefront of his very soul.

This was theft not only from our friend in service in Iraq. It was also theft from all the members of the PSR community who have been donating what they can afford.

We have another chance to rectify the damage of this theft. We have postponed sending out our final care package, in order to gather more candy, snacks, and other items. If you took any items from the donation box, we invite you to donate at least as much as you took. If you did not take the items, but would like to contribute toward the care package, we invite you to join us in supporting “our” service person and we thank you for taking part in this peace effort. Please place your donations in the box by Friday, May 16th.

May we all confess our complicity in the many layers of war’s sin.

Blessings of peace and healing,
the members of Seminarians to End War, Sow Peace (SEW Peace)

- Five years too many.

Yet again, we mourn this hellish incarnation of war. This war is on Iraq, and it is showing yet again why all war is humanity’s great sin.

Here are some pictures: one sign from today’s rally at San Francisco’s Civic Center (put to good use); the other sign from the two-way protest at Berkeley City Council a few weeks ago (the one where the Lafayette Flag Brigade deigned to enter Berkeley city limits in order to sing patriotic songs (poorly) and make it known to anyone who would listen that they didn’t like the Berkeley City Council’s decision to support the Code Pink protests at the Berkeley Marine recruiting station; in response, ‘Code Pinklets’ (as the Flag Brigadiers called them) and folks from the World Can’t Wait campaigns staged a counter-protest; I’ll let you guess which protest this sign is from).

The pictures below are from the memorial vigil at Grace Cathedral. As an acolyte passed among the crowd dispersing incense, clergy from various faiths (among them Christian, Buddhist, and Jewish) read off the names of victims of this war on Iraq. We crowded around them, standing among pairs of shoes placed on the cathedral steps.

The effect of the shoes was profound. I appreciated the somber tone of the vigil, even while my soul is fed by the liturgy of street protests just as much. The memorial vigil allowed me a few moments to pause and try to really remember the loss, as Jesus urged us to do as his disciples.

I imagined the people who, but for being murdered by this war, might have stood there on the steps filling those shoes. There would have been hundreds of them, thousands, hundreds of thousands – the actual number don’t really matter when mourning. Too many. I wondered if they would stand in those shoes staring out from the steps, as the shoes were pointing, facing the world with accusing eyes, or if they might turn around and listen to the prayers being spoken from the top of the cathedral steps.

With the lessons from my Swedenborgian friend still fresh on my mind, I understood for the first time the concept of angels, at least as she describes them: the disembodied presence of those humans who have died but are still among us. And even though fear (and its companion, hatred) was the source of their deaths, these angels only love, and ask us to remember.

I also knew that a pair of shoes was not nearly enough to remember the complexity of even one single person lost in this war. Standing next to my partner and amongst many of my dear friends, I felt just how much effort it would take to properly remember anyone so dear to me as them.

Shoes were not made to memorialize murders; they are not strong enough to bear the burden. But they are an important start.

- Sweatshop-made crucifixes…. unsurprising, but sad

Emily writes, “see the article below…I’m speechless…”

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2007Crucifixes Made Under Horrific Sweatshop Conditions In China, Linked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity Church in New York, And Nationally to the $4.63 Billion Association for Christian Retail

At a press conference today in front of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee, released a 73 page report documenting the brutal sweatshop conditions under which crucifixes are made for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity Church and the Association for Christian Retail at the Junxingye factory in Southern China.

To read the whole report, click here.

- Progress on international debt reduction

Meighan Pritchard and I had a great visit to Representative Barbara Lee’s office on October 17, 2007. After several frustrating weeks trying to grab the attention of the Oakland office staff, our meeting with Saundra Andrews, Director of Constituent Services actually sent us home with the tambourines. Saundra has promised to schedule an on campus (yes – here at PSR) appearance for Representative Lee while she is in the Bay area during the next Congressional break.

That gives our SEWPeace and Peace Week community an opportunity to raise the dual issues of ending funding for the war machine AND raising awareness of the implications of oppressive debt (international as well as domestic). I suggested that Rep. Lee try to schedule her visit for a Tuesday during the lunch hour so that we could have a larger contingent of students, faculty, and staff. We are most likely looking at a date in mid November to early December. I will keep you posted!

The other good news is that the companion Jubilee bill was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday, October 16, 2007.

- Drop the Debt not Bombs Follow-up

I am happy to report that our efforts to support Jubilee USA Network and International Debt Cancellation are continuing. Today Michelle and I attended a meeting with Jennifer Tang, Senior Field Representative in the San Francisco office of United States Senator Barbara Boxer. We are hopeful that Senator Boxer will consider being one of the first four co-sponsors of the Senate version of the Jubilee Act (HR 2634). We will keep you posted on this!

What can you do to get “active” in our efforts to impact global poverty through cancellation of odious international debt? Sign up on the Jubilee USA Network at www.jubileeusa.org. Sign up as a supporter, sign up for the blog, find out about the Cancel Debt Fast (act fast because the FAST ends on October 17th). You can find a guide for leading your congregation in becoming a Jubilee congregation (a spiritual leaders best form of grass roots organizing). You can find a plethora of resources to educate and inform yourself on this issue. If you are interested in being part of a small affinity group – a Peace and Economic Justice action/advocacy group, contact me at robynmorrison <at> sbcglobal.net.

- Peace Week Events!

Peace Week at the Pacific School of Religion
September 17-21, 2007

Coordinated by PSR students and PSR Peace Particles
(Seminarians to End War and Sow Peace, a.k.a. SEW Peace)
All events are free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact sewpeace <at> gmail.com.

Schedule of Events for Education, Witness, and Action

All Week Growing Art Piece on PSR Quad

Monday

12:30 pm – Mudd Building Consecration of the Art, with music and free peace T-shirts

Tuesday
PSR Chapel Service 11:10 am, PSR Chapel — Luke 16:1-13, “Drop the Debt, not Bombs” – Robyn Morrison, preaching

Wednesday
Taize Worship 7:30 pm, PSR Chapel

Thursday
Healing Prayer Worship Service 6:30 pm, PSR Chapel — Psalm 79

Thursday-Friday
24-Hour Peace Pray-in Buckham Chapel – 6:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Friday – International Day of Prayer for Peace
Peace Teach-in – all workshops take place in the Mudd Building
10:30 am – Workshops:
1. Pastoral Care for Veterans, with VA Hospital Chaplain Carolyn Talmadge
2. Peace for Israel and Palestine, with the Network of Spiritual Progressives’ Nichola Torbett
3. Rebecca Ann Parker sermon, “Theological Education in a Time of Wars,” podcast and discussion
1:30 pm – Workshops:
1. Veterans for Peace, with Ted Arrindal and other PSR veterans
2. Creative Writing for Peace, led by Christina Hutchins
3. ENGAGE Training, with Pace e Bene trainers Ryan Baum and Robyn Morrison (session runs 1:30-4:30 pm)
3:00 pm – Workshops:
1. Peace Pilgrim – movies and discussion, led by Sheryl Butler
2. “Ground Truth” – movie about the Iraq war, hosted by James Leveque

Public Panel 6:30 pm – PSR Bade Museum, “Resisting Imperial Peace: Theological Reflections”

Worship Service 8:30 pm – PSR Quad, Preaching by Lynice Pinkard of First Congregational Church of Oakland, “There is a Balm in Gilead”
Party for the Peaceful 9:30 pm – Mudd 100

- A Little of Our History

Check out Kim’s new report on the founding of our SEW Peace Particular Group, at the top of the “Join Us” page. And while you’re at it, check out some updates on the “Events” page, the “Resources” page, the “Multitude” page… okay, maybe just everything! I’ve been busy here!  (Peace from Audrey)

- Week of Peace!

LOOK OUT for..

PEACE WEEK at PSR!

September 17-21, 2007

…and other peace & justice actions!

Coordinated by PSR students and PSR Peace Particles

GET INVOLVED!

Contact sewpeace <at> gmail.com

 

And click for more details…here!

- Day of Prayer for Peace: September 21

… so start organizing now!

The Church of the Brethren’s On Earth Peace agency is hiring a short-term organizer for their nationwide effort to coordinate events for the International Day of Prayer for Peace on September 21 this year, as part of the UN’s Decade to Overcome Violence. Info about the job position is on the On Earth Peace facebook page, at

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2496511675

I think SEW Peace should be sure to hold some of the events for this day. This seems like a great opportunity to plug into the national Christian mobilizing for peace – so conveniently timed for the school year, too!

- Working for Peace in Haiti

from Ari, Carla, and Djalòki, in Haiti

We just found your website today from a Google Alert and I just wanted to let you all know how very encouraging your blog is, especially to know that Christian leaders as you say are going forward with their eyes open to the system of the world and how it uses and sucks up the countries that it has pillaged!

We live in Haiti and have a vision for healing. The transatlantic slave trade was one huge event that has left its scars as well as the genocide of the native peoples. All this is infected our societies and threatens our future as humans on this planet.

We hope to come to San Fransisco this fall with our historical drama/mime with a complete soundtrack that we toured with last spring 2006 to universities. It is a play that describes the brutal history and possible scenarios for healing. It is our fear that keeps us going after wars, until we confront this fear, this ancient fear, we will keep going to war and keep fueling the machine for war because of our western arrogance that masks in a horrible way this fear. Love
casts out all fear. The miracle is that the healing responsibility is in the heart of the African people and they have proven that!

We are looking for universities to perform our play and talk about this vision of healing. If you think that this would be something the seminar at Berkeley would be interested, we have a committee in SF that is helping to set up our fall tour. Just let us know, but we would be honored if you would look at the blogs too.

Here are our blogs about our vision for healing the rascism that is based on the principle of Jesus, incarnation in order to know another’s pain, to relive another’s history in order to understand and bring healing.

http://nasonje.blogspot.com
http://memoryvillage.blogspot.com
http://3innocents.blogspot.com