[MAPC-policy] X's response

[MAPC-policy] X's response

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-10-31

>From: X <X>
>To: X <X>
>Subject: Re: city resolution for peace
>Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 09:51:10 -0600
>
>The deadline for the next council meeting agenda is too soon for me to
>consult with
>my colleagues about this resolution.  I can bring it up at the caucus
>meeting this
>weekend.  While I prefer the first version, as it best represents my
>beliefs, the
>second version would be less of a bloodbath and more likely to pass on the
>council
>floor.  The reality of this is that Berkely just passed a similar
>resolution, in
>which they received thousands of calls an e-mails, etc., blasting them for
>it.  The
>State Journal recently had an editorial about it too.  Basically, the
>concerns that
>my fellow progressives will have will most likely be centered on the
>McCarthyism that
>is about and bound to ensue.  But does that mean they won't support either
>version? I
>don't know.
>X
>
>X wrote:
>
> > Dear Mr. X:
> >
> >      I am writing as a member of the newly-formed Madison Area Peace
> > Coalition (www.madpeace.org).  We are a citizen coalition of over thirty
> > member organizations, representing over 5000 people in the Madison area.
> > Madison Area Peace Coalition (MAPC) supports a non-violent response to
>the
> > attacks of 9/11.  Specifically, we advocate:
> >
> > (1) Peace and Justice, not War and Revenge
> > (2) Protecting our Civil Liberties, and
> > (3) Unity and Protection of Arab-Americans and Others in the wake of the
> > attacks.
> >
> >          I am writing to request your assistance in introducing a
>resolution
> > to the Common Council endorsing some portion of our position.
> >
> >          Below is the draft our coalition has put together.  Below that
>is a
> > weaker draft, in which only the next-to-last clause has been changed.
> >
> >          I just realized last night that we are bumping up against a
> > deadline to get things on the agenda for the next Common Council
>Meeting.  I
> > would like to ask you whether you would be willing to sponsor either of
>the
> > resolutions below.
> >
> >          I look forward to discussing this with you soon.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > X
> >
> > Policy Committee
> > Madison Area Peace Coalition
> > =====================================================================
> > >A RESOLUTION regarding the urgent need to provide emergency
>humanitarian
> > >assistance and development assistance to civilians in Afghanistan,
> > >including Afghan refugees in surrounding countries.
> > >
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       a disastrous humanitarian crisis is underway, with an
>estimated
> > >7.5 million people in Afghanistan facing critical food shortage or
>outright
> > >starvation this winter; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       70 percent of these people are women and children, and
>the UN
> > >estimates 400,000 children under five will likely die this year, an
> > >increase of over 30 percent from last year; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       food aid shipments have been disrupted because of U.S
>bombing in
> > >Afghanistan; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       the aid agencies active in the region, including the
>Nobel
> > >laureate Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oxfam International and the
>World
> > >Food Program have stated that the U.S. food
> > >drops can not meet the increasing and urgent need for assistance; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       Madison now participates directly and indirectly in U.S.
>military
> > >efforts through many channels, including the federal taxes its citizens
> > >pay, and through its citizens' participation in the armed forces; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       the Mayor and Common Council are appalled at the mass
>starvation
> > >that will result from these actions to which they are a party if the
> > >situation is not speedily addressed; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       The Mayor and Common Council deplore the dishonor such
>an outcome
> > >would be for the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11th;
> > >
> > >NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Common Council urge a
> > >resolution to the situation that minimizes loss of life; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT humanitarian concerns must now be a top
> > >priority for U.S. policy toward Afghanistan, especially as there exists
>a
> > >narrow window of opportunity for supplying food to the region's
>population
> > >before winter makes this difficult or impossible; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Afghanistan's neighbors should immediately
> > >reopen their borders to allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the
> > >U.S. and other members of the international community must be prepared
>to
> > >contribute to the economic costs incurred by the flight of desperate
>Afghan
> > >civilians; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States must actively support the
> > >work of various agencies to deliver assistance in Afghanistan,
>particularly
> > >through overland truck convoys, and support safe humanitarian access to
> > >affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian agencies in
> > >quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale humanitarian
>catastrophe;
> > >and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States should contribute to
>efforts
> > >by the international community to provide long-term, sustainable
> > >reconstruction and development assistance for the people of
>Afghanistan,
> > >including efforts to protect the basic human rights of women and
>children;
> > >and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States should immediately stop
> > >military action against Afghanistan because that is the main obstacle
>to
> > >addressing the humanitarian catastrophe there; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the people of Madison, in solidarity with
>the
> > >international community and in their capacity as citizens of the United
> > >States, will consider the Government of the United States responsible
>for
> > >both the direct consequences of its military actions in Afghanistan and
>for
> > >the results of its indifference to the priority of humanitarian
>concerns in
> > >Afghanistan and the surrounding region.
> > >
> > >====================================================================
> > >WEAKER VERSION (next-to-last clause has been changed)
> > >
> > >A RESOLUTION regarding the urgent need to provide emergency
>humanitarian
> > >assistance and development assistance to civilians in Afghanistan,
> > >including Afghan refugees in surrounding countries.
> > >
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       a disastrous humanitarian crisis is underway, with an
>estimated
> > >7.5 million people in Afghanistan facing critical food shortage or
>outright
> > >starvation this winter; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       70 percent of these people are women and children, and
>the UN
> > >estimates 400,000 children under five will likely die this year, an
> > >increase of over 30 percent from last year; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       food aid shipments have been disrupted because of U.S
>bombing in
> > >Afghanistan; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       the aid agencies active in the region, including the
>Nobel
> > >laureate Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oxfam International and the
>World
> > >Food Program have stated that the U.S. food
> > >drops can not meet the increasing and urgent need for assistance; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       Madison now participates directly and indirectly in U.S.
>military
> > >efforts through many channels, including the federal taxes its citizens
> > >pay, and through its citizens' participation in the armed forces; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       the Mayor and Common Council are appalled at the mass
>starvation
> > >that will result from these actions to which they are a party if the
> > >situation is not speedily addressed; and
> > >
> > >WHEREAS,       The Mayor and Common Council deplore the dishonor such
>an outcome
> > >would be for the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11th;
> > >
> > >NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Common Council urge a
> > >resolution to the situation that minimizes loss of life; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT humanitarian concerns must now be a top
> > >priority for U.S. policy toward Afghanistan, especially as there exists
>a
> > >narrow window of opportunity for supplying food to the region's
>population
> > >before winter makes this difficult or impossible; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Afghanistan's neighbors should immediately
> > >reopen their borders to allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the
> > >U.S. and other members of the international community must be prepared
>to
> > >contribute to the economic costs incurred by the flight of desperate
>Afghan
> > >civilians; and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States must actively support the
> > >work of various agencies to deliver assistance in Afghanistan,
>particularly
> > >through overland truck convoys, and support safe humanitarian access to
> > >affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian agencies in
> > >quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale humanitarian
>catastrophe;
> > >and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States should contribute to
>efforts
> > >by the international community to provide long-term, sustainable
> > >reconstruction and development assistance for the people of
>Afghanistan,
> > >including efforts to protect the basic human rights of women and
>children;
> > >and
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States should support democratic
> > >processes in Afghanistan leading to a government which represents all
>its
> > >people, including women.
> > >
> > >BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the people of Madison, in solidarity with
>the
> > >international community and in their capacity as citizens of the United
> > >States, will consider the Government of the United States responsible
>for
> > >both the direct consequences of its military actions in Afghanistan and
>for
> > >the results of its indifference to the priority of humanitarian
>concerns in
> > >Afghanistan and the surrounding region.

Wednesday, October 31, 2001 10:46 AM

[MAPC-policy] X's response