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by Marie Simpson, W A M M
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Photo from St. Joan of Arc |
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While talking with Sami Rasouli about what he and his organization, Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT), have been experiencing in Iraq since his last visit to the Twin Cities in 2006, I was reminded to the book by Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace. Sami, a U.S. citizen and former owner of Sinbad’s restaurant on Lyndale in South Minneapolis, spends about nine months of each year working to help the people in his native country, Iraq, and the remaining three months in his adopted country, the United States, witnessing about what is really happening to Iraq and its people since the U.S. invasion and occupation.
This year, Sami brought letters from Iraqi children back to the U.S. and he returned to Iraq with thousands of letters to Iraqi children written by children here. Sami stated, sadly, that he has started to lose hope with adults and is hoping that our children can help the “grown-ups” of both countries, and the world, rediscover their consciences. Sami says that the future is in the hands of the children. His hope is that they will one day will adopt a true philosophy of non-violence and write future policies that disband the culture of war that we are leaving them.
Sami’s message is simple, that war is never the answer. Violence and death cannot bring about true peace. Specifically, Sami describes the disastrous effects the invasion and occupation of Iraq have had on the people of Iraq; personally, as a society, a culture, and as a country.
With first-hand knowledge, Sami reports that Iraq’s infrastructure has been virtually destroyed. He talks softly, but with passion about how Iraqis need electricity, clean drinking water, sewage treatment, communications systems, a medical care system, an education system, a legitimate government, and self-determination. Like most of us, he knows that none of this can happen until Iraq has peace, which can only come after the U.S. occupation ends.
Sami is convinced that the violence in Iraq is mischaracterized by the media as religious infighting when, in fact, the violence is perpetrated by non-Iraqi interests and would cease if the U.S. Coalition left. He asks, “What happened when the U.S. left Vietnam? Peace.” Sami states that Sunni, Shia, and secular Iraqis are united in their opposition to the U.S. occupation. He says that with the exception of a small minority of Iraqis who are U.S. supporters, Iraqis want their country back. They want to address the 4.5 million malnourished Iraqi children, the 7000 Iraqis displaced daily by the violence; the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis displaced both outside and within Iraq, the loss of the Iraqi middle class, and all of the other immediate concerns of the citizens of this war weary country.
Sami has a message to share with U.S. service personnel who may sincerely believe that they are fighting to bring peace to Iraq. He would tell them that they are fighting for outside political and economic interests that are directly in opposition to the interests of the Iraqi people; that their duty to defend the U.S. should not include occupying a nation that poses no threat to their own country. He would like them to watch a film, “Sir, No Sir” (see www.sirnosir.com ) and to read their military manual regarding their right to refuse to follow unlawful orders.
When asked why he left the relative comfort and safety of Minneapolis to return to Iraq and engage in this dangerous mission, Sami’s dark eyes reflect sadness. He speaks of the two parts of himself: the Iraqi, the victim in this conflict, and the American, the aggressor. He states that he has no choice but to try to heal the dark chasm between those two parts of himself.
Sami reaches for a book, Jesus and Mohammad, and reads passages that illustrate his belief that both religions teach peace and are based upon a single deity. He speaks of the one creator, the one mother of all humanity.Sami expresses his heartfelt desire for peaceful and respectful relations between his homeland and his adopted country. He says that with 1.4 billion Muslims in the world, it is time for new and courageous leaders, U.S. leaders who are unafraid to send the message that the current arrogant, ignorant, cowboy approach to foreign relations has failed—leaders who will steer a future where the U.S. will develop relations with other countries based upon respect and cooperation.
Sami wants anyone with connections to classroom children to consider having students write letters to Iraqi children. Letters should include the student’s first name and last initial, the child’s age, name and address of their school. Letters can be sent to “Letters For Peace,” 18520 32nd Ave. N., Plymouth, MN 55447-1029. Sami also brought original artwork from Iraqi artists. Northland Cooperative Posters has created a line of cards portraying some of the art pieces that are being sold to benefit the artists and MPT.
Upon Sami’s return to Iraq, he will be working with MPT and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) planning sixteen conferences to be held in multiple locations around Iraq where participants will come from all areas of Iraqi society, including women, educators, tribal leaders, religious leaders, and students, to discuss the future of Iraq. The participants will explore the disputed items in the Iraqi Constitution and attempt to draft language that will address the concerns of all Iraqis.
In addition to this major project, Sami and MPT will continue the work they have done for several years, assisting Iraqis with the U.S. bureaucracy, helping Iraqis obtain basic services, educating women regarding their rights under the Geneva Convention, and in so many, many other ways—“being peace.” |
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WAMM Action!
No New Nuclear Arms Race
The Bush administration wants to develop and build new nuclear weapons—and return our nation’s production capacity of nuclear weapons to Cold War levels.
At the same time, the administration is condemning nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea. This is more than a double standard: it is dangerous, foolhardy, and wildly expensive.
The first step in this plan is called “Complex 2030,” for the date it would be completed. The name does NOT indicate what it means: the administration wants to build a new, multi-billion dollar bomb plant. The plant would produce a new nuclear weapon called the “Reliable Replacement Warhead” (RRW), the first new warhead to be developed by the U.S. in over two decades.
The administration has asked Congress for $119 million for FY08 for the RRW. This is not necessary on any level; the existing nuclear stockpile is more than sufficient for at least 50 years. The House of Representatives has reduced that funding to $74 million in the FY08 defense authorization. WAND and colleague organizations in the peace and security community are advocating for further reductions in coming legislation.
Independent studies have shown that the U.S. nuclear stockpile will remain “safe and reliable” for at least another 50 years. A 2006 study conducted by American weapons laboratories revealed that plutonium “pits”—the cores that trigger nuclear weapons—remain viable for at least 90 years.
Instead of working to eliminate its stockpile of nuclear bombs —as the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty stipulates—the administration wants to develop new nuclear weapons at the cost of billions.
Take action by visiting Women’s Action for New Directions.
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© 2007 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete July/August 2007 Index - click here
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