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Now
After nearly four years of war I'd wager
that a few million Americans have held a candle at a vigil, carried
a sign at a rally, passed out a flyer, forwarded an email to
friends, or gone to a demonstration in a distant city. If you,
Dear Reader, are one of these stout souls, this letter is to
you.
But first, may I ask a favor?
For the rest of this letter please forget that at least once
during these years of protest you no doubt mourned that "only
the choir" participated. The choir -- people who actually
do something for peace -- is precisely who I'm writing to.
No doubt it's frustrating that,
except for a few grand occasions, "only the choir"
shows up. But consider this: of the millions of women in the
U.S. at the time, relatively few became active suffragists with
the staying power to eventually get votes for women. Of the
millions of workers suffering from the Great Depression, relatively
few answered the call to sit down in the auto factories to win
recognition for unions. Of the millions of blacks bearing the
weight of segregation, relatively few sat down at lunch counters.
In their day they were "the
choir." When they were the only ones who showed up for
vigils and rallies, they no doubt bemoaned that "only the
choir" had come again. They came to action after action,
moving things forward imperceptibly each time. But when conditions
were right, they acted one more time. And then they made history.
Several indicators confirm
that conditions are right again.
The November elections clearly
proved the public wants to end the war. That sentiment will
surely grow in the months ahead.
This spring, likely in March,
Congress will vote whether to continue the war with another $160,000,000,000
"supplemental appropriation."
This February, the peace movement's
choir, of which you are one, will up the ante of protest. Voices
for Creative Nonviolence, joined by Veterans
For Peace, have initiated the "Occupation
Project" to occupy the hometown offices of Representatives
and Senators who have voted money for the war.
If we miss this opportunity
to greatly hasten peace, the war will still eventually end.
"Eventually," however, will be measured in additional
thousands of lives lost, even more thousands suffering horrific
injuries, and the world becoming more dangerous.
All this clearly adds up to
a historic opportunity.
You have already done something
for peace. Now will you consider taking a giant step that will
mean so much more?
Last week I spoke in Marietta,
Ohio to 35 people, and announced the Occupation Project. I asked
who among them would consider occupying their local congressional
offices. Without a moment's hesitation, six hands went up.
You could hear the choir start to harmonize!
We talked about practical concerns:
having to work, how much will it cost, what will the charge be?
We talked about taking a vacation day and the modest fines involved
for a misdemeanor -- all compared to the enormous suffering Iraqis
and soldiers now endure in this war.
We could have talked about
how much less frightening this is compared to the suffragists
who were arrested, manhandled, and force-fed while they served
long jail terms; how unionists struck in the face of company
goon squads; how civil rights activists tolerated untold abuses
from screaming racists -- and still they carried on. They persevered.
They stepped into the gap when they were needed most. They
won justice and made history.
The Democratic Party now controls
Congress because the grassroots peace movement turned public
opinion against the Bush administration's war. These new elected
officials must see that the time to end this war is now.
Many incumbents, including
my own Congressperson, talk for peace -- even join the "Out
of Iraq" Congressional Caucus -- but vote for war. They
must now be told in no uncertain terms the jig is up.
We will no longer tolerate platitudes for peace and votes for
blood. This is where we draw the line. They either vote to
end the occupation of Iraq or they will be occupied.
Below are links to roll calls
for votes that Rep. Dennis Kucinich listed as the record of war
funding. Check and see how you elected officials voted. A very
few voted against each appropriation, and a call to their office
will confirm if they will continue voting against the war. Several
others have voted against one or two appropriations but in favor
of the rest. These members, and those who consistently vote
money for this war, are our targets.
We will go to their offices
with a pledge for them to sign, confirming they will not vote
for any more death and suffering in this war. If they do not
sign, they will be occupied. A considerably more benign occupation
than they are imposing, but uncomfortable for them nonetheless.
See how your Representatives
and Senators have voted. Talk with other members of the choir
where you live. Get ready to sing a glorious song to end this
war!
CounterPunch
Speakers Bureau Sick of sit-on-the-Fence speakers, tongue-tied and timid?
CounterPunch Editors Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St Clair
are available to speak forcefully on ALL the burning issues,
as are other CounterPunchers seasoned in stump oratory. Call
CounterPunch Speakers Bureau, 1-800-840-3683. Or email beckyg@counterpunch.org.
