Latest news from Rita Brock and Faith Voices for the Common Good

[posted here on 7-15-09]

Message from the Director

On July 6, Robert McNamara died, reminding us of the brilliant, powerful, and arrogant who conjure up immoral wars and steal the youth of the country. The lessons of his folly were documented in the film, "The Fog of War."

Now, we face similar follies: Iraq and Afghanistan. But what might have been the fate of Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan if ordinary soldiers had the legal right to refuse to prosecute these particular wars as illegal or immoral? The film "Sir, No Sir" documents the hidden resistance of soldiers in Vietnam, which included having to "frag," i.e. kill, their commanding officers and refusing to fly bombing missions. Others went to jail.

The first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq, Lt. Ehren Watada, faced a potential eight years in prison at his trial. He was denied a defense based on the morality of the war.

Right now, soldiers must object to "war in any form" to be a Conscientious Objector. The Faith Voices' Truth Commission on Conscience in War, November 15-16 will build nationwide momentum to expandi CO regulations to allow objection to a particular war. This change will protect the religious freedom and the rights of conscience for soldiers who adhere to ethics of just war, rather than pacifism.

We need your support to make this Truth Commission happen. Please donate to it!

Peace,
Rita

P.S. Obituaries usually refrain from speaking ill of the dead. Not so for McNamara, one of the most powerful Secretaries of Defense in the 20th century. Here is a sample from the New York Times:

As early as April 1964, Senator Wayne Morse, Democrat of Oregon, called Vietnam "McNamara's War." Mr. McNamara did not object. "I am pleased to be identified with it," he said, "and do whatever I can to win it."

Half a million American soldiers went to war on his watch. More than 16,000 died; 42,000 more would fall in the seven years to come. "Mr. McNamara must not escape the lasting moral condemnation of his countrymen," The New York Times said in a widely discussed editorial, written by the page's editor at the time, Howell Raines. "Surely he must in every quiet and prosperous moment hear the ceaseless whispers of those poor boys in the infantry, dying in the tall grass, platoon by platoon, for no purpose. What he took from them cannot be repaid by prime-time apology and stale tears, three decades late."

 

BREAKING NEWS!! THE DELEGATION TO IRAN is leaving Aug. 5!

If you still want to send a letter of friendship and solidarity to the Iranian people, email it by July 20 to Rita Brock at rita@faithvoices.org who will deliver the letters in person. Thanks to all who already sent letters.

Axis of Friendship with Iran at Grand Rapids, Michigan

At their 27th General Synod, the two-million member United Church of Christ passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Iran. They also endorsed our Axis of Friendship Day. See the text of the resolution: pdf.

This July 25, Iranian Americans are organizing demonstrations in the U.S. to protest the inauguration of Ahmedinejad, including at San Franciso Civic Center. Support these events in your local area, or organize one!
 

Does Iran's Intifada Have a Future?

By Faith Voices Board Member Amir Soltani

On CNN January 7th, 1998, Iran's reformist president, Muhammad Khatami gave an historic New Year's address to the American people. He pointed to the heavens, indicating that the concurrence of the Western New Year with the Islamic month of Ramadan was a good omen. Then, Khatami prayed that 'at the close of the 20th century, people would ... begin a new century of humanity, understanding and durable peace, so that all humanity would enjoy the blessings of life.'

Khatami's address marked a stunning departure from the anti-Americanism that had fueled the Iranian revolution. A scholar of the enlightenment, he praised Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America:

This book reflects the virtuous and human side of this American civilization. In [Tocqueville's] view, the significance of this civilization is in the fact that liberty found religion as a cradle for its growth, and religion found protection of liberty as its divine calling. Therefore, liberty and faith never clashed.

The invocation of Tocqueville in Iran was no accident.

By insisting on the compatibility of religion and liberty in America, Khatami laid a philosophical foundation for bridging the political divide between Iran and the United States. He did not vilify the United States as the "Great Satan." Instead he held the U.S. as a model for emulation—a democratic civilization whose success reflected the ingenious combination of the principles of religion and the virtues of liberty.

To read more, click here...
 

What About Progressive Christianity?

The abrupt departure of Rev. Dr. Brad Braxton, senior minister of the Riverside Church in New York, after less than a year of his being called, has precipitated extensive soul-searching about progressive Christianity. Is the problem that he was too conservative? Too evangelical? Or too "black"? Do too many churches treat their ministers badly? In a congregation almost evenly divided racially, is racism the core problem? And is this just a Christian problem?

A number of progressive Christian thinkers have posted essays and blogs at Religious Dispatches, Rita Brock included, on what Dr. Braxton's departure says about Progressive Christianity. Post your own thoughts here and keep the conversation going!