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92 Father Roy Bourgeois and Howard Zinn February 28, 2003 Here are thoughts from a letter written by combat veteran, Father Roy Bourgeois addressed to his Brothers and Sisters in the military: Years ago, I went to war in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism. I did not question our leaders who told us our cause was noble. The violence, death and destruction had a great impact on my life. Today, I see war as evil and a crime against humanity. As a person of faith, I believe a loving God calls each of us to be healers and peacemakers in our world. Psalm 33 says it very well: Rulers are not saved by their armies. Nor can they find hope in their weapons. Despite their power, they cannot bring peace. I respectfully ask you to think seriously about not going to war. Refuse to kill! For those you kill will be your brothers and sisters. I plead with you as Archbishop Oscar Romero, assassinated by soldiers trained at the School of the Americas, pleaded with the military of El Salvador: When you hear the words of a man telling you to kill, remember the words of God: ‘Thou shall not kill!’ No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. In the name of God, in the name of our tormented people who have suffered so much and whose laments cry out to heaven, I beseech you, I order you in the name of God, stop the repression! I know what I am asking you has serious implications for each of us. I also know that following the ways of God can bring us peace, hope and deep inner joy. Following those who send us to war will only bring death and destruction. 93 To add some thoughts from Howard Zinn: Yes, we support our troops, we want them to live, we want them to be brought home. The government is not supporting them. It is sending them to die, or to be wounded, or to be poisoned by our own depleted uranium shells. Aside from soldiers refusing to serve, we must call upon journalists who are tired of being manipulated by the government . . . and who will begin to write the truth. The power of our rulers depends on the obedience of citizens, of soldiers, of civil servants, of journalists and writers and teachers and artists. Once these people realize that they have been deceived and withdraw their support, the government loses its legitimacy and power. This government came into power by a political coup, not by popular will. We must ask the incompetent Mr. Bush to step down. We must continue the process of impeachment. No blood for oil, no blood for Bush, no blood for Rumsfeld or Cheney or Powell, no blood for the grandiose designs of empire. What is being planned is not a war at all. It is primarily a massacre of children. The average age in Iraq is 14 years. The first Iraq War was a massacre which has actually never stopped as the daily bombing of the innocent continues. ...

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