Re: [Mpls] City Council Cops Out on Iraq

[Jordan Kushner]

Barbara, i can sympathize (and empathize) with the perils of living in the central city.  This is exactly why it Dean Zimmermann is doing the right thing by speaking out against war.  Why?:   First, if the crime in Phillips has such an impact on daily life, can you imagine how life must be in a country where there is a lack of food and clean water due to U.S. economic and military aggression, and then literally have bombs dropping on one's house and neighborhood, and now the threat of an invading army?  Local elected offiicals, as the rest of us, have an ethical obligation to speak out against atrocities being committed in our name.  Anyone in an official and visible position has more of an obligation because they are in an official and visible position.   Second, there ARE connections between what the U.S. is doing (?)12,000 miles away and what is happening in Phillips.  The hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on the war machinery to invade countries 12,000 miles away needs to be directed at the problems in our inner-cities.  Imagine how much a small portion of that money could do to improve housing, stimulate economic development, provide job training, drug treatment, etc.    The only hope for urban problems is for city and community leaders to stop responding to problems in a reactionary manner, and address the underlying causes.  This includes recognition that what happens in the city of Minneapolis  is not just based on what happens in the city of Minneapolis.  Our problems are connected to what is happening elsewhere.  In particular, the problems are rooted more in Washington then the disenfranchised teenager in Phillips.  If more communities recognized that and directed energies accordingly, we get some real change.   Jordan Kushner (now moving from Powderhorn to suburb) ----- Original Message ----- From: Barbara Lickness To: Jordan S. Kushner ; Minneapolis Issues Forum Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2002 10:34 AM Subject: Re: [Mpls] City Council Cops Out on Iraq Personally Jordan, I wish Dean Zimmerman would spend more time passing resolutions that would help his war torn ward than concentrating on issues that are 12,000 miles away from here. While I am not diminishing the significance of the ward in Iraq, we elected our city council people to concentrate on the city.  I expect that to take precedence over everything else. If I have a passion about the war in Iraq, I am calling Paul Wellstone or Marty Sabo, not Dean Zimmerman or Robert Lilligren. Since Dean has taken office he has offered resolutions for us not to watch T.V. for a week, against some human rights offenses in some country in the way beyond and now the war in Iraq. HELLLLLLOOOOO, he has people that fear for their lives every single day in Phillips and sleep with one eye open. I haven't seen one resolution from him that might help them. In fact, I hear very little from him on the horrendous crime issues in Phillips other than the police are brutal.  Mostly, he shows up at meetings late, stands in the back of the room, says nothing and then leaves. So far R.T. is the only city leader that is taking a leadership role about the crime problems in Phillips.  Many of the people I speak with in war torn Phillips are wondering when he will put their safety and well-being ahead of his other passions in countries far away.  This is why he was elected. If Dean wants to debate the war in Iraq, then run for U.S. congress or U.S. Senate. In the meantime, Phillips needs his attention here in Phillips. Barb Lickness/Whittier     "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead Yahoo! - We Remember 9-11: A tribute to the more than 3,000 lives lost