Dallas Peace Times

DALLAS PEACE TIMES a publication of the Dallas Peace Center

September 2009

www.dallaspeacecenter.org

Volume XXIV, Number 8

Dr. Juan Cole:

Prejudice hurts U.S. relations with Muslims

Dallas Peace Center • The Dallas Peace Center is the oldest and largest peace & justice organization in North Texas.

By Kathy Schoemer How many Americans are prejudiced?

The answer may be surprising. In his book, Engaging the Muslim World, Juan Cole, President of the Global Americana Institute, and professor at the University of Michigan, states that as many as two-thirds of Americans admit to having some prejudice about Muslims.

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Mission The mission of the Dallas Peace Center is based on a vision of reconciliation: to promote education, dialogue and action for peace and justice.

Dr. Juan Cole

Cole was in Dallas on August 6 to speak as part of the Dallas Peace Center’s 2009 Summer Dinner Lecture Series.

After September 11, politicians started speaking about “crusades” and “Islamic fascism.” This language is offensive, embarrassing, and grammatically incorrect to Muslims. Additionally, this lingo created a sense of fear for Americans and paved the way for the war in Iraq. Selling the war to the public meant manipulating this information – and manipulating it to look defensive, indicating that we need to go to war now, in case Iraq poses a threat in the future. “I can’t imagine we didn’t go into Iraq without interest in (their) 150 billion barrels of oil,” said Cole. By denying the Geneva Convention and excluding people from the legal process, “they wanted to take the law where King George III would be happy.”

While conditions have improved since the Bush Administration, Cole was quick to point out that American attitudes need to change in order to keep our country viable.

People wonder why should we bother to get along with Muslims, said Cole. What they don’t realize is that “it’s more important Continued on page 3

Mark Your Calendar!!

2009 Peacemaker Awards Dinner Thursday, December 3 honoring

Carol Crabtree Donovan 2009 Peacemaker of the Year

KinderUSA

2009 Peacemaking Organization of the Year

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

September 2009

UNRWA offers relief for Palestinian refugees

By Trish Major A “temporary indefinite” organization. That is how Dr. Thomas Neu, executive director of American Friends of UNRWA described the UN agency with the longest name – United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Appropriately, the oxymoronic turn of phrase also describes the people they are helping. Because of the precarious situation in the Middle East, UNRWA employment contracts are made for no more than two years, and yet there is no end in sight for the need for its services.

Neu came to Dallas on August 24 to talk about UNRWA at an event hosted by the Dallas Peace Center, UNA-Dallas and KinderUSA. He said UNRWA has the sharpest focus of all UN agencies because it only deals with people in the Middle East – Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Syria. UNRWA is also unique in that its funding is voluntary – member nations are not required to give money to it, yet it is able to employ 29,000 staff people to run schools,

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

5910 Cedar Springs Rd. Dallas, TX 75235 Tel 214-823-7793 admin@dallaspeacecenter.org www.dallaspeacecenter.org The Dallas Peace Times is a monthly publication of the Dallas Peace Center, a nonprofit organization.

A one-year Dallas Peace Center membership costs $35 and includes a subscription.

Copy deadline for October issue: September 15, 2009 Peace Times Advisory Team Paulette Cooper Roger Kallenberg Robert Dennis Gene Lantz Betty Jane Ferguson Kelli Obazee Walt Harrison Kathy Schoemer Editor

Trish Major

to 80 percent of the Gaza strip.

They have dried legumes and grains in their storehouses that can meet 70 percent of the people’s nutritional needs, but good health demands fresh fruits and vegetables.

This results in “hidden hunger,” Tom Neu, center, talks with Les Glickman and Roger the condition of looking healthy, but Kallenberg after his speech. lacking essential vitamins. Neu said a whole generation clinics and relief services.

The first rule of operating in is shorter than their parents, and along this environment, said Neu, is to be with that comes impeded mental ability carefully nonpolitical. “You can’t and physical coordination.

Health care is also hurt by the work in the middle of a boxing match without taking some punches,” he said. blockade. Neu said that 500 tons of The organization is constantly accused donated medical equipment is sitting of favoritism toward one country or in warehouses outside of Gaza. Of 480 political party – but it tries to lessen drugs that are considered essential, 77 these problems by administering its are out of stock in Gaza clinics. These services directly rather than funding deficiencies especially take their toll on other groups. It focuses on the now, people who are on dialysis or dealing making sure the schools stay open and with cancer.

Of the 640 schools in Gaza, 18 the clinics are staffed.

One policy matter that Neu did were destroyed in the Israeli attacks speak out on, however, is ending the and 218 were damaged, yet in eight Israeli blockade of Gaza. He told of months no building materials have been how Palestinians are suffering because allowed in to repair them.

Unemployment is rampant in Gaza they can’t get the resources they need since the Israeli attack at the end of and the blockade makes things worse: last year. In the area of nutrition, Fishermen are not allowed to go out far Continued on page 4 UNRWA coordinates food distribution

Chapel site ready for building On July 22, the congregation of the Wednesday Night Worship Service at the Cathedral of Hope blessed the site of the Interfaith Peace Chapel and hauled away the blocks of the footprint garden in preparation for construction of the Philip Johnson building.

September 2009

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

AI issues report on post-coup violence in Honduras Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya was forced out of his country on June 28 in a military-backed coup d’etat led by Roberto Micheletti. Since that time, human rights advocates have been gravely concerned about the military’s excessive use of force against the thousands of Hondurans protesting the coup.

In August, Amnesty International published a report titled Honduras: Human Rights Crisis Threatens as Repression Increases. At the August

25 meeting of the DPC’s Committee for Democracy in Honduras, held at The Progressive Center of Texas, AI member Phyllis Guest reviewed the report.

Numerous examples are included in the report to bear witness to AI’s concerns that police and military are repressing peaceful protests across the country, that gender-based violence is prevalent and that UN human rights covenants, to which Honduras is a party, have been violated. Media and human

rights workers have been prevented from carrying out their activities. The report includes several photographs documenting physical abuse.

The report concludes, “Amnesty International strongly urges the international community to intensify efforts to find a solution to the political crisis in order to prevent the spiral into a human rights emergency in Honduras.”

To download the report, type the title into your search engine.

Muslims hold nuanced views of U.S. Continued from Page One that we get it right in the next 20 years than it is today.” With more countries stepping up their standard of living and world population skyrocketing, the Mexican oil reserves may not be able to keep up with the demand. Currently, the United States uses up to a quarter of the world’s oil. If we keep using the Mexican reserves, those resources will decline. Without oil from Mexico, the Middle East could be a primary source of oil and gas since it is rich in natural resources, providing as much as 70 percent of the world’s oil reserves and 65 percent of natural gas.

And if dwindling resources are not enough to convince people to get along with their distant neighbor, population might be. According to Cole, the Muslim population is projected to double by 2050, reaching nearly onethird of the world population by 2010.

But changing Muslim attitudes towards America will be a challenge due to previous policies. Currently, the United States is operating in three major countries: Iraq and Afghanistan, and now Pakistan. The US has destabilized the eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia with our philosophy of pre-emptive strike and torture.

The “Bush administration upset the apple cart and opened up a can of worms,” said Cole.

Prior to the Bush administration, nutcases were saying that the U.S. will come (one day) and steal your resources, rape your women and men. “Bush blew the lid off those problems and opened up Pandora’s Box” by making those prophecies come true, said Cole. U.S. approval plummeted in polls.

U.S. approval rating in Turkey dramatically dropped, from 56 percent in 1999 to only 9 percent after 2008.

In Indonesia in 1999, there was a 75 percent approval rating for the U.S., dropping to only 30 percent.

Despite these grim statistics, as many as 67 percent of Muslims want better relations with the U.S. and say that getting out of Iraq would improve their view of the U.S. There are more U.S. allies in the Middle East than in Europe. Countries such as Egypt and Turkey continue to be strong allies for the United States. Like Westerners, Arabs are also concerned about the rising threat of terrorists. (Those that do take a favorable view of Al Qaeda don’t believe they are doing terrorism.)

Politicians and media try to make us forget the past, said Cole. During the ‘80s the attitude was, if you are not pro Al Qaeda your morals were questionable. Five years later, they were saying Osama bin Laden is the incarnation of evil.

Snell show in Dallas

The art show Don Snell, From Then ‘til Now will hang in the Lillian Bradshaw Gallery on the 4th floor of the downtown Dallas Public Library from September 2 to September 20. A reception with the artist will take place on September 2, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Proceeds from two paintings in the Dallas show will benefit the Dallas Peace Center.

Snell and his partner, Ruth Roberts, have been involved with peace and justice activities in the Austin area and statewide for many years. They coordinated bicycle pilgrimages to Pantex in the early 1980s, and Ruth staffed Texas Peace Action and the Fund for Nuclear Responsibility for many years.

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

McKinney recounts confrontation with Israeli warships Former congresswoman and presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney came to Dallas a little over a month after her release from an Israeli jail. On June 30 her boat was seized by the Israeli military, boarded and forced off its intended course toward Gaza.

The 21 human rights workers aboard were jailed.

The Greek-flagged boat, the Spirit of Humanity, was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive trees and children’s toys to Gaza, whose people are suffering under a blockade imposed

by Israel.

McKinney told the Dallas audience that the ferry had made a 30-hour journey from Cypress to Gaza, and was in international waters when the Israeli navy warned them not to proceed. The Israelis then disabled the ferry’s GPS and vigorously rocked the boat, she said. The ferry continued on course for about four hours without the GPS, “so

From the Board Diane Baker is an ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ Church, and served as a minister in congregations for thirty years and another fifteen years as a Hospice Chaplain. She has studied a variety of Western and Eastern spiritual practices, and has ministered in American and German churches.

She has been on the board of the DPC for two years and has served on the Swords Into Plowshares Committee with emphasis on ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pastors for Peace and supporting the Holy Land Foundation. In the

September 2009

Gaza troubles reap long-term effects

Cynthia McKinney

Photo by Kris Moore

they were forced to use Plan B – they boarded us.” McKinney said they were surrounded by eight warships and four speedboats when the Israelis took control of their boat.

McKinney shared the podium with CBS-Channel 11 reporter Steve Pickett, who questioned whether McKinney’s views are broadly shared by other Americans. Several times she reiterated that the mainstream news media not only skews information about her, but also about current events. “There are a lot of members to my congregation,” she said, “but they are being held back because the media is parroting what they are told to say.”

Continued from page 2 enough to catch anything, farmers can’t get seeds, and even if they do have crops they can’t get them to market. The official unemployment figure is 40 percent, but Neu speculated that it is as high as 80 percent because people have given up trying to find work.

Sanitation is a major problem in this small, boxed in area: the water is salty, the air is dusty because farmland is going fallow, and disease travels fast.

Neu said that the blockade is hard on the new generation of Gaza residents because they never have the opportunity to travel and broaden their world. They have never seen the hills of Judea, they have never been to Jerusalem, they have never met an Israeli. “They will be less informed about the world around them,” he said.

“Think of having walls around this county – how dreary and tiring that would get in a lifetime,” Neu said.

UNRWA can provide some relief, but it can’t provide a full life.

Baker: Working to make peace a reality past year and a half, Diane and her husband Bob have served as co-chair of the Fundraising Committee.

Diane has been on many caravans with Pastors for Peace, including Cuba, Central America, and Chiapas. She has lived in Europe, traveled in Asia, and understands the social, economic, and political forces that come to bear as a result of the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

Initially, she felt her calling was to support, stand with and be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters

in need. Recently, she has come to see the importance of pulling our resources together in order to make peace a reality.

In expressing both of these needs for creating peace and justice she has found support in the Dallas Peace Center. As Diane has grown as a peacemaker from the ‘60s, she understands the importance of involvement in the movement by actions in solidarity, marching, protesting and even civil disobedience.

She also realizes the importance of an organization like the DPC to keep that movement going toward the ultimate goal, and the importance of sacrifice in both time and treasure to keep it happening.

September 2009

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

Rally for Truth & Accountability with Cindy Sheehan & friends

“Those who have authorized the use of torture must be held accountable to ensure that no precedent is set to endanger future generations.”

Saturday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m.

Outside John Pershing Elementary School, 5715 Meaders Lane, in front of the gates leading to George W. Bush’s home.

Rational Radio Progress Forum at Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Parkway, Dallas, Saturday, September 19

12:30-1:30 p.m. Daybreak author and afterdowningstreet.com co-founder David Swanson debates the resolution: “George W. Bush should be prosecuted for war crimes” broadcast live on AM1360 Rational Radio from the Lakewood Theater.

1:30-2:00 p.m. Code Red with Tunde Obazee performing live 2:00 p.m. The Rational Radio Progress Forum with #1 nationally-syndicated progressive talk show host Thom Hartmann, activist Cindy Sheehan, bio-fuel pioneer Jes Sprouse, filmmakers Nicole Torre and Melissa Roddy, author David Swanson and a musical performance by David Rovics at the Lakewood Theater, Admission $10/$5 with student ID at ticketmaster.com (search AM1360).

Thom Hartmann For more information call 214-821-7469 or e-mail rich@rationalradio.org.

Jes Sprouse The Dallas Peace Center presents

Music & Musings

An evening for Progressive Thought Dinner Program and Concert to benefit Under the Hood Cafe, GI Outreach Center and Coffeehouse

David Rovics

Musician, songwriter, activist

David Swanson

Author, blogger, organizer, activist

Saturday, September 19

Cathedral of Hope, 5910 Cedar Springs Rd., Dallas­­­ 6:00 pm -- Reception followed by Vegetarian Dinner & Program Suggested Donation: $20 in Advance, $25 at the Door Make reservations at www.DallasPeaceCenter.org

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

September 2009

Amnesty considers Bishop a “prisoner of conscience” Amnesty International has activated its Urgent Action network on behalf of Sgt. Travis Bishop, a conscientious objector stationed at Fort Hood who was court-martialed on August 14.

The following are excerpts from AI’s “Urgent Action” letter: Travis Bishop, a sergeant in the United States army, is serving a oneyear prison sentence for refusing to serve with the army in Afghanistan because of his religious beliefs.

Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for his conscientious objection to participating in war.

Travis Bishop’s sentence was imposed by a court-martial on 14 August, even though the US army was still considering his application

for conscientious objector status.

In a statement made at the courtmartial, Travis Bishop explained that he discovered he could apply for this status only days before his scheduled deployment to Afghanistan. He went absent without leave on the day of his deployment to give himself “time to prepare for my [conscientious objector] application process”. He was away from his unit for about a week, during which he drafted his application and sought legal advice. He returned voluntarily, and on his return to the unit he submitted his application.

Travis Bishop has served in the US army since 2004. He was deployed to Iraq from August 2006 to October 2007.

According to his lawyer, he had

doubts about taking part in military action since then, but it was only in February 2009, when his unit was ordered to deploy to Afghanistan, that he considered refusing to go. In the period before he was due to be deployed, Travis Bishop’s religious convictions became stronger, and led him to conclude that he could no longer participate in any war.

At the court martial, Travis Bishop was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for going absent without leave, suspension of two-thirds of his salary and a bad conduct discharge.

He is imprisoned in Bell County Jail in Texas.

[AI] believes the right to refuse to perform military service for reasons Continued on page 8

September 2009

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

REGULAR MEETINGS Amnesty International Dallas Chapter Group 205 meets on 2nd Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., at Dallas Hall #138, SMU, Contact: Rick Halperin, 214-768-3284.

Defend Darfur Dallas meets every 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., at Half Price Books, 5803 E. Northwest Hwy. Contact Laura McCarthy, laura-mccarthy@ sbcglobal.net.

Amnesty International Fort Worth Group 262 meets 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., at Wesley Foundation at TCU, 2750 W. Lowden, Fort Worth.

Contact Lois Way, 817-293-3445.

First Unitarian Church Social Action Council meets 1st Sundays at 10:30 a.m. in the Parish House at Preston and St. Andrews. Contact Ian Hunter, 469-261-6442.

Amnesty International Tarrant County Group 413 meets 4th Wednesdays at 7 pm in the cafe at Borders Books in the Arlington Highlands Shopping Center (the north side of I-20 at the Matlock exit).

Contacts: Curt Crum at 817-423-1372 or 817-645-9151 or Ellen Kaner at 817-691-7198.

Interfaith Environmental Alliance meets 3rd Thursdays at 7 pm at First Community Church, 9120 Ferguson Rd. Contact: Gary Stuard, garstu@ mymailstation.com.

Amnesty International Group 663 meets 3rd Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., William T. Cozby Public Library, 177 Heartz Road, Coppell, 972-304-3655.

Contact Chip Pitts 214-906-9424.

Animal Connection of Texas meets 2nd Saturdays, 11:00 a.m., Ctr. for Community Cooperation, 2900 Live Oak St. Contact Carol Ware, 972-5512364.

Committee to Restore Democracy in Honduras meets every Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. at The Progressive Center of Texas, in the SouthSide building, 1409 S. Larar St., Suite 1021.

Cuba Friendship Committee meets 1st Mondays, 7:00 p.m. at the Dallas Peace Center, 5910 Cedar Springs Rd. Contact 214-823-7793.

Dallas Area Christian Progressive Alliance meets every 2nd Saturday, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Northaven UMC, 11211 Preston Rd. Contact Kim Batchelor at matthew-25@earthlink.net.

Dallas Sierra Club meets 2nd Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., at Center for Spiritual Living, 4801 Spring Valley Rd., Suite 115.

Contact Ann Drumm, 214-350-6108, ann@dallassierraclub.org.

Jobs with Justice, 7:00 p.m. every 2nd Wednesday, UAW Local 848, 2218 E Main St., Grand Prairie. Contact: Gene Lantz, www.labordallas.org.

Maryknoll Affiliates meet 2nd Saturdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m., “connecting spirituality, global vision, community and action.” Call Ken Eppes, 214-3376867.

Middle East Peace Committee meets 2nd Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., at the Dallas Peace Center, 5910 Cedar Springs Rd. Contact 214-823-7793.

NAACP meets 1st Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Thurgood Marshall Rec. Ctr., 5150 Mark Trail Way. North Texas for Justice & Peace meets every 3rd Sunday, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Paperbacks Plus, 6115 La Vista.

Contact: hftomlinson@riseup.net.

North Texas Peace Alliance meets every 4th Saturday, 10:00 a.m., at Unity Church of Christianity, 3508 Greenville Ave. @ McCommas. Contact: J Johnson, 214-532-3761.

Pax Christi D allas meets 4th Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. See www. paxchristidallas.org. Contact Joyce Hall, 214-357-2173, for location.

Peace & Justice in Sudan Committee meets 3rd Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. Dallas Peace Center, 5910 Cedar Springs Rd. Contact 214-823-7793.

Peace & Justice Center-Arlington meets 4th Sundays, 5:00 p.m., Arlington Yoga Center, 1011 Abram St., Arlington.

Contact Len Ellis, 817-552-3317.

PFLAG Dallas meets 2nd Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. at Northaven UMC, 11211 Preston Rd. Call 972-77-PFLAG. Race Abuse Support Group meets 4th Mondays, 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Black Citizens for Justice, Law and Order. Helps with complaints about EEOC. Martin Luther King Community Center, Core Building, 2922 MLK Blvd., Dallas.

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Dallas Chapter meets 3rd Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Basement Rotunda Area, SMU Dallas Hall, 3225 University Ave. Contact Rick Halperin, 214-768-3284; www.tcadp.org/.

The Texas Inmates Families Assoc., SW Dallas Chapter, meets 2nd Thursdays, 7.00 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 310 Roaring Springs Rd., DeSoto. Call Micki Roark, 214543-8043, www.tifa.org.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff Social Action Ministry meets 2nd Sundays at Noon. All are welcome. Call Stephen Betzen at 214929-3701.

World Peace mtg., first Sundays, 10:00 a.m., Soka Gakkai Cultural Center, 2733 Oak Lawn. Contact Ewe Goh, 214-559-4115.

Catch our columnists!

PEACE begins with ME! and

Labor for Peace now appear on the Dallas Peace Center website

www.dallaspeacecenter.org

DALLAS PEACE TIMES

September 2009

AI urges letters on conscientious objector Bishop’s behalf Continued from page 6 of conscience is part of freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as recognized in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the USA has ratified.

Amnesty International considers a conscientious objector to be any person who, for reasons of conscience or profound conviction, either refuses to perform any form of service in the armed forces or applies for noncombatant status.

Wherever such a person is detained or imprisoned solely for these beliefs, Amnesty International considers that person to be a prisoner of conscience.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please

send appeals as quickly as possible: • S t a t i n g t h a t A m n e s t y International considers Travis Bishop to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his conscientious objection to participate in war; • Explaining that, although Travis Bishop went absent without leave, he did so to complete an application for conscientious objector status and seek legal advice, thereafter returning to his unit to submit the application; • Urging that Travis Bishop be released immediately and unconditionally.

SEND APPEALS TO: Commanding Officer of Travis Bishop’s Unit Lieutenant General Rick Lynch Commanding General

III Corps HQ 1001 761st Tank Battalion Ave. Bldg. 1001, Room W105 Fort Hood, TX 76544-5005 Salutation: Dear Commanding General Military Commander Colonel James H. Jenkins III Headquarters, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Building 10053, Battalion Avenue Fort Hood, TX 76544-5068 Salutation: Dear Commander COPIES TO: Travis Bishop’s lawyer James M. Branum Attorney at Law 3334 W. Main St., PMB #412 Norman, OK 73072

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