Veterans For Peace Reclaims Armistice Day, Nov. 11
We have just returned from the Albany Veterans Day Parade, which we still believe is the largest west of the Mississippi River (despite what Auburn, WA is now claiming). The weather and the turnout, both in parade entrants and observers was tremendous. We have posted several pictures in our photo album.
This year, the Linus Pauling Chapter 132 of Veterans For Peace entered the parade with a float and a very specific theme: “Veterans Reclaim Nov. 11 as Armistice Day.” We were joined by members of Alternatives to War, the Albany Peace Seekers and Occupy Corvallis.
Even though we are veterans, we tire of the mantra, “support the troops” because these days this sentiment is so linked to support for wars of choice fought for profit and empire. And on Veterans Day, the hollow patriotism rises to a fever pitch with the militaristic displays running the gambit from civil war reenactors to very young children outfitted in camouflage.
So today, we rang our bell eleven times, carried signs with quotes from the Armistice Day proclamation and handed out ¼ sheet fliers to educate folks on the original meaning of this day. The parade-goers gave us a warm reception. Many children actually said they had learned about Armistice Day in school.
One more thing: Did you know that war is illegal in the United States? The 1929 Kellogg-Briand Pact, which outlawed U.S. participation in war is still on the books and listed among the treaties in force under the heading, “Renunciation of War,” at the U.S. State Department web site. And for more info see this.
Peace be with you on this 93rd Armistice Day.
VFP 132 Endorses Oregon Death Penalty Repeal
Veterans For Peace, Linus Pauling Chapter 132 in Corvallis, Oregon has formally endorsed the work of Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. In making the endorsement, Chapter 132 members stated:
"While Veterans For Peace focuses primarily on finding alternatives to war as an instrument of foreign policy, the repeal of the Oregon death penalty is totally in keeping with the peace and justice initiatives our organization has supported for over 25 years and we wholeheartedly support the work of OADP."
Chapter 132 has also encouraged the other five Oregon VFP chapters to endorse OADP. Individuals can endorse OADP by visiting their web site and using the link that says, "Create new account." You can also receive their newsletter to stay current on issues, like the Gary Haugen case, and upcoming events.
We also highly recommend listening to the audio from Sister Helen Prejean's talk on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the City Club of Portland. Sr. Prejean is the author of "Dead Man Walking," the subject of the Oscar-winning film by the same name, and a captivating speaker.
If you are a resident of Oregon, you should consider contacting Gov. Kitzhaber, asking him to set a moratorium on the death penalty so that Mr. Haugen is not killed as scheduled on Dec. 6th.
Contact us for more information on how you can get involved in the repeal of the Oregon death penalty.
VFP 132 Honored by Oregon Mediation Association
June 18, 2011. At their 25th Anniversary Gala in Portland, the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA) honored Veterans For Peace, Corvallis with their Mediators' Choice Award, presented to those "who have made an extraordinary contribution towards peacemaking in Oregon's communities."
VFP 132 was recognized along with a number of people from Corvallis (see list below*) for their work in healing the community following the arson attack on the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center in December, 2010. Bart Bolger, president of Chapter 132, accepted the award on behalf of VFP 132, including those who planned and conducted the "Peace Tree" planting at the Islamic Center in February, 2011: John Gaylord, who conceived of the planting and emceed the event, George Hutchinson, Todd & Esmeralda Allen, Joe Magner, and Ken Oefelein.
* Mohamed Siala, Salman Alfarsi Islamic Center; John Evans, First Christian Church; John Dennis, First Presbyterian Church; Benjamin Barnett, Beit Am Jewish Community; Elizabeth Oettinger, First Congregational Church; Laurie Childers, Fellowship of Reconciliation USA; Wajdi Said, Muslim Educational Trust; Rania Ayoub, Muslim Educational Trust; Judi Kloper; and Jessica Campbell
by Eleanor J. Bader
[This is an excellent article on nationwide TiR efforts. The full article cited below includes many links to participating organizations.]
"The setting changes but the scene does not: Men and women in crisply pressed uniforms enter public high schools across the country and cajole the teenagers they meet into signing on the dotted line to serve Uncle Sam. Thanks to Section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, recruiters from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy have the same access to secondary school students as college recruiters or potential employers. This, in concert with mandatory Selective Service registration for all 18-year-old males and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery [ASVAB] exam that is given to nearly three-quarters of a million high school juniors and seniors each year, has prompted many domestic peace activists to organize opposition to the militarization of youth. They advocate "truth-in-recruiting," arguing that lofty promises made at the time of enlistment -- extensive travel, scholarships or an easy route to U.S. citizenship -- often fail to materialize once service begins." Read the full article here.
Bradley Manning Update
On March 20 , 2011, several hundred activists joined Daniel Ellsberg, Retired Army Colonel Ann Wright, David House, Jeff Paterson, Courage to Resist, Veterans for Peace and CodePink in Quantico, Virginia to rally for PFC Bradley Manning, who has been held in solitary confinement for over 300 days at the Marine brig there. 30 were arrested.
On March 21, 2011 a group in Portland, Oregon led by Veterans For Peace organizers protested in front of the Pioneer Courthouse.
Watch the video of the Portland action above. VFP 132's Leah Bolger is at the bullhorn in the video above.
More Collateral Murder: Afghan Boys Massacred While Collecting Firewood
Who Will be the Next Bradley Mannning?
While PFC Bradley Manning suffers his pre-trial cruel and unusual punishment in solitary confinement at the Quantico Marine Base Brig, one wonders, "Who can take his place?" Who might be brave enough to report the next in the seemingly endless series of atrocities at the hands of western forces in Iraq and Afghanistan?
More "Collateral Murder." We have no video (like that contained in the Collateral Murder tape) of the latest attack on helpless civilians. But the gruesome result is not hard to visualize given the reports by family members forced to collect their young sons' body parts. The innocent boys were mowed down by NATO helicopter gunships after "erroneous intelligence" misidentified them as insurgents. Read the full account in this N.Y. TImes story. The officer ultimately responsible, General Petraeus, commander of the occupation of Afghanistan, said his people would investigate and "...take disciplinary action if appropriate." [italics ours]
We must demand our elected leaders stop this killing and destruction. Every expert who knows the real situation on the ground in Afghanistan will testify that there is no viable military solution there. Atrocities like the murder of those nine boys only alienate the population and foment a more determined insurgency. President Obama must be held to his promise to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July of 2011. Congresswoman Barbara Lee [CA-9] is currently collecting signatures from her colleagues on a letter to the president urging him to keep that promise. Call your representative and ask him or her to sign that letter. And she recently re-introduced a bill, The Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act (H.R. 780), which, by the way, is NOT yet co-sponsored by either Rep. DeFazio or Rep. Schrader.
More Reasons Why Bradley Manning Deserves Our Thanks and Support. Please watch this short (12 minute) German documentary about the "Collateral Murder" case [warning: graphic violence against innocent civilians]. It was recently released in an English-language version and features interviews with Ethan McCord, the soldier who attempted to save the children shot by U.S. gunners, and Ray McGovern, the former CIA analyst and current VFP member. You might ask yourself, "Why can't we get this kind of honest journalism in the U.S.?"
To sign a letter of support for Bradley go here: http://standwithbrad.org/ And to help with Bradley Manning's defense, please visit Courage to Resist, to make a donation.
And, as always, for the latest excellent reporting on the situation in Afghanistan, go to http://rethinkafghanistan.com/.
Corvallis VFP Hosts "Peace Tree" Planting at Local Islamic Center
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On February 13, 2011, Chapter 132 hosted over 200 community members for a "Peace Tree" planting at the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center in Corvallis. This was part of an ongoing community healing process after a late-2010 arson fire attack on the Center. The tree was intended to symbolize the enduring spirit of inclusiveness, peace and mutual support for people of all cultures and religions in our community. Speakers included Mayor Julie Manning of Corvallis; Reverend Liz Oettinger, First Congregational United Church of Christ; Rabbi Benjamin Barnett, Beit Am Jewish Community; and Mohamed Siala, Director of the Islamic Center.
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| Mayor Julie Manning of Corvallis looks on as the Director of the Islamic Center, Mohamed Siala, offers remarks. (Photo: Esmeralda Allen) |
Following a brief ceremony, community members were invited to add a small amount of planting compost to the mountain hemlock (a species indigenous to Oregon) to complete the planting and begin its new life in Corvallis.
The Islamic Center hosted an "open house" afterward to increase mutual understanding and share messages of support.
Our chapter is now working to place a small engraved stone monument near the tree to commemorate the occasion.
The event was well covered by local and Eugene-area media:
Corvallis Gazette-Times (don't miss the "images" tab)
KMTR -- Eugene TV
KEZI -- Eugene TV (click the "watch now" button in lower right of video window)
KLCC (Eugene public broadcasting--click on the little "speaker icon" after the story title)
[Some of the media incorrectly reported that the tree was donated. We are still fund raising for the tree and monument. If you would like to help, please contact us at: info@vfpcorvallis.org.]
VFP 132 Year in Review - 2010
(From the VFP National Newsletter, Spring 2011)
Veterans For Peace, Chapter 132 hosted talks and community discussions in Corvallis by David Swanson, David Barsamian, the “No Soy El Army” Tour, and David Cobb.
At our “Second Saturdays” benefit concert series, we collected donations of nearly $4,400 for such causes as Haiti earthquake relief; a local “Housing First” project for area homeless persons; “Move to Amend”; and PFC Bradley Manning’s defense fund.
We tabled at the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition’s “Sustainability Fair” providing information on the environmental cost of war and every-day military operations.
On Memorial Day, we did a “freeway blog” on Interstate-5, hanging from an overpass a banner which read, “One Trillion Dollars for War?”
Our “Truth in Recruiting” visits to three area high schools and a workshop at PeaceJam Northwest helped ensure students considering a military career had the facts necessary to make an informed decision.
We also staffed the Corvallis men’s winter homeless shelter for a week.
In December, VFP 132 issued a press release from all five Oregon chapters condemning an arson attack on the Islamic Center in Corvallis. We also joined in a city-wide program aimed at healing and understanding, as well as demonstrating our desire for peace and harmony among all members of the community regardless of religious or cultural background. As we closed the year, the chapter began planning a “Peace Tree” planting and commemoration ceremony at the Islamic Center, which you can read about in the story on this page.
You can view the entire VFP newsletter here.
