[amc] Fw: Department of Peace
- From: "Ray Gingerich" <RGingerich@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Austin Mennonite Church" <amc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2005 10:08:36 -0500
AMC friends,
I think the Dept of Peace is worth examining closely and supporting
individually and possibly as an organization. Of course, the reminder from our
church leaders that we tend to "expect too much from government and not enough
from the church" can help us to keep our critical thinking intact as we examine
how much we want to support or push this cause.
Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: Peggy Kelsey
To: "Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@canc.com
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 9:12 PM
Subject: Department of Peace
Friends,
I am writing to ask for your support for a bill that will be reintroduced into
the United States House of Representatives on September 14, 2005 to establish a
cabinet level Department of Peace. The scope of the bill is very broad, going
well beyond conflicts between nation states. The Department of Peace will
address virtually all forms of violence, domestic and international, and the
underlying causes, and the bill establishes a number of offices within the
Department to develop specific approaches to these issues. The plan is to make
increased resources available to programs with proven track records of reducing
violence and improving communication among all peoples, and to develop new
programs where none exist.
I urge you to read the proposed legislation. You can go to
www.thepeacealliance.org and click on the Department of Peace. Once on the
DOP website, click on the "Background" hyperlink at the top of the page on
"Read the Bill". (You also may find other items of interest to you on the
website.) You will see that in addition to international conflicts, the
Department will focus on domestic violence (and alcohol and drug abuse which
often underlies such violence); animal abuse; crime, punishment and
rehabilitation; and many other areas in need of examination and fresh
approaches.
The bill consolidates into one place a number of issues that many of us have
been concerned with for some time. The DOP bill is a positive, concrete
proposal for beginning the transition to a more peaceful society and world, and
is a beautiful vehicle for advancing the discussion of these critical issues.
The campaign strategy is based on dismantling hostility and bridging the gap
between diverse viewpoints, entirely consistent with the Nonviolent
Communication principles of Marshall Rosenberg and the teachings of Mahatma
Gandhi. If we can at least start a dialogue instead of a debate, we will be a
long way towards the overall goal. (The old bill number was H.R.1673, that can
be used to identify it in your contacts.)
What I am asking of you:
1. Call the Washington, DC office of your Representative in the House. (To find
out how to contact your Representative, go to www.congress.org and enter your
zip code. Their photo will appear, and you can click on "info" under the
picture. This will take you to the website, which gives the telephone number
of the Washington office, along with a wealth of other information.) When you
reach the office of your Representative, state your name and residence address,
and ask that he or she support the bill authorizing the Department of Peace,
H.R. 1673.
2. Also ask for a written response from your Representative stating his/her
position on the bill and the reasons for the position. This will require the
office to at least become familiar with the proposed legislation, and to give
some thought to the merits of the proposal. Be respectful of your
Representative and his/her position in future communications. As Martin Luther
King, Jr. said, "You have no moral persuasive influence over someone who can
sense your underlying contempt."
3. Ask at least 10 other people who you believe to be supportive of the
principles of the legislation (whether or not they agree with the specific
structure of the Department or details of the legislation) to also call the
Washington office of their Representative on September 14.
4.As your schedule permits, begin attending the monthly meetings of the local
supporters of the DOP. In Austin, the meetings are held on the last Monday of
each month, beginning at 7:30 pm, at 22 Pillow Road, in Sunset Valley ( a small
town surrounded by Austin, near West Gate Blvd. and Jones Road). The next
meeting will be September 26th. (For info: phone: 892-0788)
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
In Peace and with Appreciation for your help,
Peggy Kelsey
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