Today I read an article about a court decision which declares that Iran and Al Quida were responsible for the events of 9-11-01.  I will be interested in looking at all the evidence that allows for this conclusion and civil verdict.  If it holds up through appeal, what are the greater implications?

Let’s see….Iraq was not responsible for the attack on America.  Iraq’s alleged involvement was part of the justification for invading a sovereign nation.

Let’s see…Iraq allegedly had weapons of mass destruction stock-piled which could be used to attack America again.  This too was part of the justification for invading a sovereign nation.  No weapons of mass destruction was uncovered.

No WMD. No connection to 9-11.  Why did we invade a sovereign nation?

Were we told the truth about why American troops were placed in harm’s way?  Were we there for regime change all along, to remove a government that was not supportive of American interests in the region?  What is the truth?

Does this verdict about who was responsible for 9-11, by a legitimate branch of government, allow for investigation into the apparent deception told to the American people?

Going to war is serious.  The war, we are told is no over.  Will the lies live on?

Peace

12.13 A Prayer
Prayer for President Obama

Lord God, we pray for President Barack Obama.
We praise you for the gifts you have nurtured in him:
to think clearly, to speak eloquently, to interact effectively.
Guide him, God, to use these skills both wisely and well
as he leads our nation and serves our world.

Thank you for his bright summons to audacious hope.
May we citizens bracket that vision with faith and love,
so that civility and justice mark our nation’s journey
into an unknown and somewhat scary future.

May the glare of publicity never blind him to truth.
May political power never dull empathy with ordinary people.
May pride of position never corrode his conscience.
Warn him, Lord, when evils, disguised as good,
tempt him to stray from what is right and true.

Teach him to backtrack from wrong turns amiably,
but to follow right roads tenaciously.
Strengthen hi s commitment to servant leadership.
May neither acclaim nor criticism tarnish his congeniality.

Show him patterns of patience that tarry but do not dawdle.
When he is tired and stressed, refresh him, Lord,
in his body, in his mind, in his spirit.
When alone he wrestles over difficult ethical and policy issues
may this follower of Jesus heed his Master’s guiding voice.

Oh, and Lord, in busy times remind President Obama
of his heart-felt pledge and studied practice:
to be an attentive and loving husband and father.

Amen!

Peace and Joy!

Arthur O. Roberts

Now that the election is over and Obama will take office let us be thankful, certainly.  Our hard work and efforts have paid off.  But let us not let down our desires to work for peace in Iraq and in Afghanistan.  Let us not rest in our desire to stop preemption and first strike as foreign policy.  Let us pay attention that those of us who supported this candidate are paid attention to by the man who is now president.  Visit change.gov and state you views.  Communicate!  Insist!  Stay motivated!  Stay involved!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Peace!

The above represent my views and not necessarily those of the Peace Forum as a group!

At the November meeting of the Forum, those present determined the importance of keeping active as a voice of peace and social justice now that there is a new administration in the White House. We generated a must do list that we will post on appropriate an internet site. We were told that there is a specif site created to do so. Once the specific list is edited, It will be published for comment here. This writer will also sen out this list to the Forum’s mail list.

For now, know that the top items will include the following:

• Bring home the troops from Iraq as soon as possible and practical, and to not redeploy the troops to Afghanistan.
• Refrain from unilateral incursions into independent and sovereign nations which could expand the “war on terror”. (Pakistan, Syria)

The list will also include items that are related to, peace and justice. We will also post the site where you may submit your own independent lists of must do’s for the new administration.

Let’s celebrate this historic election by holding accountable the new administration to the progressive values that we believe got him elected.

I am now teaching at OIT. I am currently teaching a class on Death and Dying. I am not now doing the genocide class Perhaps in the near future.

I am happy for the opportunity to teach at this level. peace to all!

David

I will be teaching two classes at Klamath Community College this Fall term (2008).

One class is the Psychology of Genocide.  (PSY 299).  The events in Sudan/Darfur and the charges of genocide and crimes against humanity being brought against Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, will most certainly be evaluated and examined.

The other class is on Death and Dying.  Thsi will be offered as a Sociology Class.  I am not sure of the course number.  Staff is listed as the instructor.  This will be an inquiry into the attitudes towards death and dying and ultimately living in American Society.  We will also look at how different faith perspectives look at death and dying.

David

The Klamath Basin Peace Forum was present in the 4th of July Parade in Klamath Falls, Oregon. We were sandwiched between two Children’s entries.  One from the YMCA and the Other for a Children’s Theater Production of Mulan, I believe.  There were about 15 of us marching for peace.  We had peace banners, the Klamath Basin Peace Forum banner, and an American Flag.

I noticed many acknowledgments.  I heard no negatives and saw no hand gestures suggesting disapproval.

Hope to see some of you at the next meeting.  July 13th at eh Congregational United Church of Christ.  That is a Sunday at 4:00 P.M.

David

David

Currently, the peace forum sponsors a weekly “People in Black” gathering on Friday evenings on the corner of 9th and Main.  People gather beginning at around 5:00 P.M.  Peace flags and messages affirming peace are often seen.

Recently we remembered the 5th Anniversary of the start of the Iraqi War.

Recently we held community forums and information nights about Kenya and Uganda.

We are hoping to consider other activities to encourage new members and redefining who we  are.

Peace is the Way my brothers and sisters.  Peace.

David