March 22, 2003
Brothers and Sisters in the Military:
"Refuse to Fight! Refuse to Kill!"
You are being ordered to war by a President who was never elected, who has never fought in a war, and who is saying that it is acceptable to use nuclear weapons.
You are being ordered to war in the footsteps of veterans, who, more than 10 years ago, were sent to fight the first Gulf War. Many of those vets returned with severe and unacknowledged illnesses. Many gave birth to severely deformed children. All were abandoned by the Veterans Administration.
You are being ordered to war by the most powerful nation on earth. You are being ordered to war by a nation with the most destructive weapons ever conceived, developed, deployed or used. You are being ordered to war by a nation whose self-acknowledged posture is that of world domination, mastery, control. This nation can have no moral justification for war.
We, the undersigned, are convinced that war is the greatest evil on earth. We believe that humankind must end war, or war will end humankind, and, in fact, all of creation. Our convictions have driven us time and again to the Pentagon, White House and Congress in acts of civil resistance to war. Now, we bring our plea to you, sisters and brothers, in the armed forces.
Refuse to kill.
There are groups established for the express purpose of counseling and supporting military resisters. To find out about your right to conscientiously object to war call:
We know your resistance to war will be difficult and require great courage But please reflect:
We knowingly and willingly make this plea to you in violation of 18 USC Sec. 1381 and 2387.
We knowingly and willingly embrace some of your risk by urging you to refuse duty in the U.S. military. We plead with you, as Bishop Oscar Romero pleaded with Salvadoran troops: "When you hear the words of a man telling you to kill, remember instead the words of God: 'Thou shall not kill!' No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. In the name of God, in the name of our tormented people who have suffered so much and whose laments cry out to heaven, I beseech you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God, stop the repression!'" If you choose to leave the military, please know that our hearts and homes are open to you.
Contact: Jonah House (410-233-6238) or Dorothy Day Catholic Worker (202-882-9649)
Signatures below and those bringing this letter on March 22, 2003, to the Iowa National Guard headquarters at Camp Dodge, IA:
Omar Tesdell
Refuse the order to go to war.
Leave the military before it is too late.
GI Rights Hotline, 1-800-394-9544
(or 1-800 FYI 95GI).
Is it more difficult than fighting in war?
Is it more difficult than being a pawn of corporate greed?
Is it more difficult than living with a violated conscience?
Is it more difficult than living with the poisons of war in your body and spirit?
Wrong is easy. Right is difficult and long. Do what your heart says is right.
Local Contacts: Des Moines Catholic Worker (515-243-0765) or Catholic Peace Ministry (515-255-8114)
William A. Basinger
Frank Cordaro
Linda Meyer
Brian Terrell
Steven Wieland
Mike Fuller
Elton Davis
Jane Magers
Chet Guinn
Mary Ann Mitchell
Fran Fuller
Carla A. Dawson
Ed Bloomer
Helen Oster
Kathleen McQuillen
Sonya Thompson
Jeanne Firth
Jean Basinger
Rita Hohenshell
Carolyn Uhlenhake Walker
