We are guilty of terrorism Terrorism is defined as politically motivated violence against non-combatant targets such as children and women. This violence may be a tactic to demoralize an enemy or it may be collateral damage caused by errant missiles and bombs or unexploded ordinances such as land mines. Although our nation has been stunned by recent murderous attacks, terrorism is not new to the United States. Slavery, Jim Crow laws, strike-busting, the internment of Japanese-Americans, McCarthyism, police brutality, racial profiling, and the War on Drugs are also forms of terrorism. Terrorism is also a major strategy of our federal government in global affairs. Since World War II, with no constitutional or congressional declaration of war in any instance, our military-industrial complex has been directly and indirectly culpable in the killing, maiming, displacing and ruining the lives of millions of non-resistant children, women and men in Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Central and Latin America, Grenada, Panama, Africa, Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Why? Is it to maintain our quality of life; to preserve the status quo for a powerful and wealthy elite; or to demonstrate military power as a political statement: dont mess with U.S.? Despite the jingoism that permeates our public discourse, how can we best honor the victims of Sept. 11? How can we acknowledge with great humility the terrorizing of millions of people at home and abroad in the name of U.S. citizens? And how can we move into the future as more representative people of the Prince of Peace? Rev. Orin W. Dooley Jr.
Retired Pastor, Ellicott City
Back to top Tobacco industry is legally killing people More than 450,000 Americans die annually as a direct result of tobacco use. Smoking causes more than 4 million deaths worldwide each year. In the United States, 3,000 youth, at an average age of 14, take up smoking every day. The 1996 General Conference passed legislation that asked the General Board of Church and Society to explore means to stop tobacco companies from marketing tobacco products to children. The legislation requested that, if necessary, the board should organize a boycott. Last March the board voted to join the Infact boycott against Kraft Foods, which is affiliated with the tobacco company Philip Morris. The boycott is aimed at reducing the widespread support of the tobacco industry by the American public through direct investments, mutual funds, and the purchase of non-tobacco products produced by tobacco companies. The tobacco industry is legally killing people. Express your outrage to our legislators, president and attorney general. Demand that they refuse tobacco money and develop meaningful legislation to control the death industry and join the Infact boycott of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, as well as other Kraft products. Its all explained on the Infact Web site: www.infact.org. Philip Beal
Holland First UMC, Holland, Mich.
Back to top | 
Login/Register to leave comment