SUMMER 2003The following statement was approved by consensus in a called meeting of members and attenders of Greenwich Friends Meeting on February 23, 2003. The statement was minuted as the position of Greenwich Friends Meeting on war in Iraq, and approved for use by the meeting and by individuals in the meeting community as a statement of faith and action.
Woodstown Monthly Meeting united with this minute on March 2, 2003.
Salem Quarterly Meeting, in a regularly scheduled meeting for worship with attention to business on March 9, 2003, also united with the minute, and approved its dissemination within our meeting communities and neighborhoods, to the local media, and to diverse Friends organizations.
C. Michael Gibson, clerk of Salem Quarter,
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
he United States government’s movement toward war on Iraq threatens the peace and security of all people. We are in convinced opposition to this war.
The following are some of our concerns:
- Such a war would legitimize “preemptive military strikes” by any nation that feels threatened by another.
- This could set a precedent leading to an increase in war and violence.
- War on Iraq will cause unacceptable loss of human lives, destruction and human suffering.
- The aftermath of war on Iraq will include years of chaos and additional suffering in Iraq, instability in the Middle East and possibly the whole world, hatred of the United States for years to come and an increase in acts of terrorism against countries viewed as responsible for the war.
- Resources will be diverted to the costs of war that could be used to address the domestic and international problems that fuel war.
As an alternative to war we endorse:
- The ongoing efforts of the international community and the United Nations to continue arms inspections and move toward seeking an international consensus on a peaceful course of action; and
- Continued exploration of strategies designed to address the root causes of violence and political instability.
Such is the path to real global security. We urge all people to join us in opposing war on Iraq.
There is no way to Peace. Peace is the Way.
[Mullica Hill Monthly Meeting also united with this minute at its meeting for worship with attention to business on March 10, 2003—Ed.]
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Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM
