Freedom
and Democracy Coming Under Siege in Washington, DC
As
President Bush was proclaiming his "mandate" to spread freedom
and democracy around the world, in the crowd below on the Capitol
grounds, police whisked away a demonstrator who had dared to unfurl
a protest banner. Banners and signs were banned at the inauguration
ceremony on the Capitol grounds. Caught on the CNN cameras, the irony
of the moment was profound. It reflected how much has changed in the
U.S. with respect to cherished political freedoms since President
Bush's first inauguration in 2001. Dissenters
beware. The new tone was set by the Bush administration and Congressional
leaders in the political aftermath of the 2001 attacks: "Either
you are with us, or you are against us," they said, as they
mobilized the nation for a global war without end against unknown
enemies in unknown places.
Who
would dare object to the "war on terror" to avenge the
attacks on the U.S.? Who would dare question the expanded, intrusive
domestic police powers to snoop on private citizens and round up
suspected sympathizers? Who would dare object to a war against Iraq,
whose alleged weapons of mass destruction posed an imminent threat
to peace and security? Who would dare oppose spending hundreds of
billions to prosecute these wars and "support our troops"
who are in harm's way in defence of liberty?
The
patriotism of the few members of Congress who did dissent in the
first months of the "war on terror" was called into question,
just as it was for those who questioned the President's war in Iraq.
They were punished for their dissent by their opponents in the election
campaigns of 2002 and 2004, with political attacks questioning their
loyalty and patriotism. This became a central theme in the presidential
contest as well.
But
the chill on public dissent has been extended much further than
this. Peace and justice groups such as the American Friends Service
Committee have been investigated by the FBI. City police departments
across the country have used aggressive new tactics to break up
and deter peaceful public demonstrations, indiscriminately arresting
hundreds of demonstrators and bystanders. American Muslims fear
to contribute to their charities or to speak freely of their concerns
about what their government is doing in their name. Mosques have
been asked to turn over membership lists to the FBI. Even members
of Congress have been detained at airports when they were identified
erroneously by the "terrorist watch lists" as persons
of concern.
Back
in Washington, D.C., at the White House, religious leaders, who
were once routinely welcomed by both Republican and Democratic administrations,
are denied audiences with White House officials: "If you are
not here to support us, we are not interested in talking with you,"
is the message. Rational and moral persuasion have no currency there,
unless it supports the prevailing view.
Capitol
Hill has become an armed encampment. Machine-gun toting guards now
patrol the Capitol steps where tourists once roamed freely. Streets
are routinely closed to traffic during heightened security alerts.
Dozens of permanent new police check points have been set up. Concrete
barriers have been erected around government buildings and monuments.
All visitors are thoroughly searched before entry into congressional
buildings, and access to the Capitol Building is tightly controlled.
Since
the anthrax attacks, postal mail from constituents to their members
of Congress is delayed for weeks as it is irradiated, opened, and
screened off site before being delivered. Guards bar advocacy groups
like FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) from bringing
written materials in to distribute to members of Congress and their
staffs. Many members' offices refuse to accept hand-delivered brochures
and statements out of fear that they may be laced with lethal pathogens.
The
recent inauguration epitomized the extremes to which the new security
state will go in the name of protecting "freedom and democracy".
One hundred square blocks were closed off to vehicle traffic for
the day. Over 6,000 police and 7,000 military troops were deployed
for security (roughly 13 armed guards for every 100 spectators).
All access to the speech and parade route was through a dozen check
points where everyone was searched. All signs and posters were banned
from the Capitol grounds. Snipers were on roofs. Was this Bagdad
or Washington, D.C.?
The
changes described here may not sound out of the ordinary for many
in countries with a longer experience of extremist violence and
heightened security measures. And, anyone who has attempted to stroll
past the heavily armed and fortified U.S. embassy in Brussels would
not be surprised. (It's the one with the armoured car in front,
where pedestrians must show identity papers before passing on a
public sidewalk). But in the U.S., these trends are nonetheless
alarming.
What
do these trends portend - for political and religious freedom -
for rational, civil, political discourse - for citizens and groups
being able to communicate their concerns to their representatives
- for the U.S. Congress as a deliberative body and as a check on
the power of the President?
Our
country's light, as a beacon of freedom and liberty, seems to be
dimming.
Ned
Stowe, Senior Legislative Secretary, Friends Committee
on National Legislation
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Memories
of Rudi Schwarz
Rudi Schwarz
was one of the Friends who, in 1974, took part in and made a significant
contribution to the Wuppertal Consultation, called to consider putting
in place a Quaker Representative in Brussels. The report of the Consultation
says “… we were particularly happy to have with us Rudi
Schwarz of Bonn, whose job includes the briefing of German Diplomats
assigned to Brussels,...”. Some
Friends pointed out that the term European Community must logically
involve all Europeans, whereas others felt it would be better to
concentrate during the discussions on Western Europe, and especially
on the European Economic Community. Rudi Schwarz said that while
it would be desirable in principle to have all European countries
involved in the EEC, it would be another generation before Eastern
Europe could be involved. 31 years on, his prediction was not far
wrong.
Highly
knowledgeable and quiet, he would sit and listen, considering what
was being said, looking at it critically. I remember a Friend asking
his advice on the use of diplomatic lobbying - would QCEA’s
letters and statements reach the right person at the right level,
or would it get stuck in bureaucratic draws? Rudi carefully explained
to us the inner workings of the diplomatic representations in Brussels
and in doing so, made no small contribution to building confidence
that Friends would be able to make a real contribution to peace
and justice.
It
must have been very satisfying for Rudi to see the cold war come
to an end and the European Union welcome the new Member States.
He died in early 2005.
Anita
Wuyts
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Getting
Together on a Personal Basis
Much is
said and written about globalisation. And more often than not, this
has a negative slant. But there are good things about a world that
has become smaller through communications and through the personal
knowledge of a wider range of people.
In Europe, shortly after WWII, the concept of Town Twinning was introduced.
The idea was to bring citizens from different parts of Europe together
on a people to people level to get to know and understand each other
better. There are now many towns and cities across Europe that have
regular and effective contact with their ‘Twin Towns’
not only in Europe but also across the globe.
This
is not about funding people or communities in poorer countries.
This is about cultural exchange, visits, school exchanges, pen-friendships
and cooperation at a municipal level.
At a time when the world is getting smaller and when divisions between
peoples, religions, ethnic groups and cultures are being magnified
by media and government responses to the so-called ‘threat
of terrorism’ it is even more important to make sure that
people get to know each other on a more personal level. That is
the kind of understanding which builds bridges and changes hearts
and minds.
There
is also an increasing tension between European citizens and ‘the
US’. To the extent to which this is a reaction to the general
foreign policy approach of the US administration, this is understandable.
To the extent to which it puts barriers in the way of US and European
citizens communicating, understanding each other and recognising
their diversities and similarities, this is, at the very least,
regrettable.
Quaker
Meetings on both sides of the Atlantic can do something practical
to further such mutual understanding. As a start, Meetings on both
sides of the Atlantic can find out whether their town or city is
already twinned with another town or city with a Quaker Meeting.
The two Meetings could then set up contacts between their members
to support each other in their work for peace and understanding.
There
is also the initiative of Mayors for Peace which can be found on
the internet at: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/mayors/english/index.html
and where Meetings can find out whether their Mayor has signed
up to the initiative and whether their twin town or city has also
signed up. This could form the basis for mutual support and contacts.
If your city or town has not signed up for this initiative, then
you could encourage your Mayor to do so.
If
your town or city is not twinned with another town or city then
you could try to establish contact with suitable partners through
your local Quaker Meeting and try to get something off the ground.
You can start by looking on the internet for potential partner Meetings
bearing in mind that you might want to look for some characteristics
that you have in common.
In
short, there are lots of ways in which Friends can contribute to
getting people in their and other communities to know and understand
each other better. We would love to hear from any Meeting that is
involved in such initiatives so that we can publicise your achievements.
Martina
Weitsch
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Asylum
Seekers and Refugees – It’s Time to Act –
Recently
QCEA asked Friends to tell us about their help for asylum seekers
and refugees.
The replies on action in this field which QCEA has received show the
importance of local groups as contact points for new arrivals. The
following forms of assistance seem to have been particularly useful:
- help in legal matters (volunteering of lawyers;
preparing lists of lawyers with special relevant experience) and
simply being with immigrants during crucial stages of the application
process
- psychotherapeutical care
- finding accommodation of acceptable standards, particularly
if the uncertainty of status extends over long periods
- help in the fight for survival by finding a minimum of income-yielding
work (this could lead into “gray” areas because of
work permit restrictions)
- finding tools for work (e.g. a sewing machine, a piano for a
music teacher)
- lobbying with appropriate political authorities for more open
and flexible rules
- and if the result of the application process is negative, demanding
that deportations are done in a humane and responsible way.
Please
e-mail, fax or mail us more about
your activities on this issue.
Dieter
Hartwich
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News
in Brief
Friends
Quarterly Special Edition Friends
Quarterly April 2005 will be a themed edition on economic justice
reflecting the range of themes which were addressed during 2 days
of intense discussion and dialogue at the QCEA/QPSW Conference in
November 2004.
Bombspotting
XL
On
16 April 2005, just before the NPT Review Conference (May 2005),
Bombspotting are planning a massive, international Bombspotting
XL-action at the different places in Belgium connected with nuclear
weapons: NATO headquarters in Brussels, SHAPE (NATO military HQ)
in Mons, and the military base at Kleine Brogel. They will try,
in an open and nonviolent way, to inspect these places for nuclear
weapons or evidence about their involvement in nuclear weapons policy
and to stop this preparation of war crimes.
For
more information please visit : www.bomspotting.be
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