Ann Wright at a Veterans for Peace March
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PEACESYRACUSE PEACE COUNCIL’S NEWSLETTER CNY VoiCes for PeACe & SOCiAL JUsTiCE • #865 mArCh/apriL 2019 • PeACeCoUNCiL.NeT • FREE Top: Ann Wright at a Veterans for Peace march. Ann Wright protesting drones piloted from Syracuse at the Federal Build- Bottom: Ann Wright on a Gaza freedom flotilla. ing in downtown syracuse. Photo: Carol Baum. Ann Wright: a True Voice of Conscience by Ron VanNorstrand Growing Up and Getting Out Those who attended Ann Wright’s presentation “Insights Ann grew up in lily-white Bentonville, Arkansas, the on Peace and War from Recent Trips to Pakistan, Turkey, home of Walmart! Many of her classmates who took entry Thailand, Spain, Ireland and Germany” at ArtRage Gallery level jobs with the company instead of attending college are on November 27, 2018 are aware of Ann’s distinguished and now executives. Her mom was a teacher, and her dad was a extensive military and diplomatic careers. Those who attended banker. Her one sister grew up to be a right-wing Republican. the next evening's opening of Robert Shetterly’s “Americans After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Who Tell the Truth” exhibit at Syracuse University are aware Arkansas, she decided she needed to get out and see the world, of Ann’s resignation from the Department of State in protest of in particular Europe, so she entered the Army as a second the Iraq War and her subsequent distinguished and extensive lieutenant. Her first year was at the Presidio in San Francisco, efforts on behalf of peace and justice worldwide. While Ann and then she spent two years with the NATO command in was in town, Julia Ganson and I had an opportunity to meet the Netherlands. Having completed her active duty hitch and with her to discuss her multiple careers and the values that achieving her goal of getting to Europe, she transferred to drove the choices she has made. What follows are notes from the Army Reserves and spent the next three years exploring our discussion. Europe. continued on page 13 In This Issue Become a member & get a free Ann Wright: A True Voice of Conscience �� � � � � � Cover subscription to the Peace Newsletter RON VANNORSTRAND Join SPC! SPC in Action � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3 [ ] YES! I would like to be a member compiled by CAroL Baum and agree to the statement of Purpose (below). select one or both: Do Unto Others: Empathy as a Tool for Change � � � � � � 5 hilarY-ANNE COPPOLA [ ] Work Contribution i would like to be involved in sPC’s work. For Every $100 You Pay in Taxes, Where Does It Go? Minimum of two hours per year. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 [ ] Financial Contribution graphic by ELAINE DENTON enclosed are my annual dues of $_______. Las Noticias del Centro de Trabajadores � � � � � � � � � � 7 Suggested amount: hourly wage multiplied by two, reBBeCA fUeNTes AND KAYLA KeLeChiAN, TrANsLATioN or $15–$150 based on your means. iNTo sPANish BY DeB orieTA Name ����������������������������������� Share the Air: Being Fragrance Free Matters to Us All �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 E-mail ����������������������������������� mADDie Bohrer Phone ����������������������������������� Why the Nation State Law is Bad for Minorities in Israel �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �11 Address ���������������������������������� zachArY fieLD City ������������� State ����� Zip ��������� Preferred contact: [ ] E-mail [ ] Phone peacecouncil.net/membership • [email protected] mail to: 2013 e Genesee st., syracuse, NY 13210 Sign up for spcannouncements, our low volume listserv: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/spcannouncements Like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/syracusepeacecouncil1936 Publication Info SPC Statement of purpose pnl@peacecouncil�net The Syracuse Peace Council (SPC), founded in 1936, is an antiwar/ EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: Carol Baum, Kanat Bolazar, hilary-Anne Coppola, elaine Denton, Donna mühs-mcCarten social justice organization. We are community-based, autonomous and LAYOUT: Carol Baum, elaine Denton and Kanat Bolazar CALENDAR: Kanat Bolazar funded by the contributions of our supporters. PROOFING: Andy molloy, rae Kramer DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR: Susan Adair SPC educates, agitates and organizes for a world where war, violence DISTRIBUTORS: Andy molloy, Dave Griola, Gabe hardy, Jean Doering, Larry Carter- and exploitation in any form will no longer exist. We challenge the Center, Leslie Lawrence, mary & Wayne Chauncey, mary Anne hogan, rich zalewski, existing unjust power relationships among nations, among people robert Poorman, susan Adair, sue Panetta and between ourselves and the environment. As members, we work to Submission criteria, letters, corrections & events: [email protected] • (315) 472-5478 • peacecouncil.net/pnl replace inequality, hierarchy, domination and powerlessness with mutual Advertising: respect, personal empowerment, cooperation and a sense of community. peacecouncil.net/pnl/advertise or (315) 472-5478 Present social injustices cannot be understood in isolation from each Deadlines: Check the web for issue deadlines as they become available. other nor can they be overcome without recognizing their economic and SPC Affiliated Projects & Coalitions: militaristic roots. SPC stresses a strategy that makes these connections Alliance for a Green economy (AGree) clear. We initiate and support activities that help build this sense of Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse community and help tear down the walls of oppression. A fundamental CNY Solidarity Coalition Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and end the Wars basis for peace and justice is an economic system that places human need Urban Jobs Task Force above monetary profit. We establish relationships among people based SPC Steering Committee: on cooperation rather than competition or the threat of destruction. Aly Wane, Amelia Lefevre, Carol Baum, Caroline Kim Tihanyi, Diane swords, Lleni Pach, marianna Kaufman, michaela Czerkies, Ursula rozum, Whitney Garcia Our political values and personal lives shape and reflect each other. In both we are committed to nonviolent means of conflict resolution Sponsored by SYRACUSE CENTER for PEACE and SOCIAL JUSTICE and to a process of decision-making that responds to the needs of us all. 2 • PEACE NEWSLETTER <educate•agitate•organize> SPC in Action Contact Brittany Ramos DeBarros to Keynote SPC 83rd peacecouncil�net [email protected] Birthday Dinner March 30 2013 e Genesee st., syracuse, NY 13210 This may be the first-time an (315) 472-5478 active-duty captain in the US offiCe hoUrs: m–f, 11am–5pm army reserve has celebrated SPC’s e-lists: peacecouncil.net/stay-in-touch Birthday Dinner. Under the hashtag #DroptheMIC, Brittany Staff Organizers Ramos DeBarros demands an end to the Military Industrial Complex Carol Baum (the "MIC"), exposes injustice and [email protected] brings support to the group About Face: Veterans Against the War michaela Czerkies [email protected] (aboutfaceveterans.org). We first met Brittany at the Poor People's Campaign (PPC) sit-in Brittany ramos DeBarros. Photo: summer/fall 2018 CUSLAR Newsletter SPC Program Committees at the War Room in NYS' Capitol last summer. A key spokesperson BEYOND WAR AND MILITARISM (324 University Ave., Syracuse). Doors (also part of CNY Solidarity Coalition) Ron for the PPC, she was also a primary organizer of the action. open at 5:30, dinner starts at 6:00, and Van Norstrand, [email protected] the program starts at 7:30. The suggested Brittany stated at a Washington, DC donation is $30, with a sliding scale of JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE rally last year, “I’m a woman, I’m White, $10-60, but no one is turned away for lack Ursula rozum, [email protected] I’m Latina, I’m Black, I’m Queer, and I’m of funds. You may come for the program NEIGHBORS of the a combat veteran. As a person existing only; please donate what you can. at the intersection of these identities, ONONDAGA NATION This year SPC is experiementing with Jack ramsden, (315) 424-1454 I carry a grave conviction in my core that there can be no economic, racial or having a meat option for dinner. The idea sue eiholzer, (315) 492-2684 of offering meat grew from a desire to [email protected] gender liberation without addressing the militarism that is strangling the empathy be more welcoming towards a diversity NUCLEAR FREE WORLD and morality out of our society.” of people, which can mean a diversity of Diane swords, (315) 391-4484 palates. The main course is lasagna—with Brittany uses her intersecting identities meat, vegetarian or vegan (which is also PEACE NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL and experience of state terrorism while gluten free). deployed in Afghanistan to protest the COMMITTEE Make your reservations by calling 315- Donna mühs-mcCarten, dmuhsmccarten@ immorality, racism, (hetero)sexism and environmental threats of the US military. 472-5478, filling out the form at tinyurl. gmail.com com/yyl34mcz, or mailing your check to Brittany’s timely message supports and the SPC office. All details are on SPC’s PLOWSHARES CRAFTSFAIR COMMITTEE unifies all our struggles at SPC. rae Kramer, (315) 445-2840 website and Facebook event page. The dinner is Saturday, March 30 at – Peter Swords SPC STEERING COMMITTEE University United Methodist Church [email protected] Three Ways to Get Involved with SPC Help at the Birthday Dinner. SPC’s donations and fundraising events.