Re: [Mpls] Anti-war resolution

[Brandon Lacy]

I would encourage folks to do some digging and review the debates around the issues of diversting in Burma and South Africa. You will find that the debates centered around moral and policy issues as opposed to the economic issues which were a tool for enforcing our moral values on another nation.

Also, James Jacobsen wrote that he believes anti-war folks who are pushing for an anti-war with Iraq proposal would not do so if someone were to have crashed a plane into the Mall of America. I would beg to differ, to begin with Saddam Hussein, as far as I know, hasn't crashed anything into the United States. The second point to be made is that the people of New York were overwhelming opposed to a general military response to 9-11.

There also is the question of when is it appropriate to take a moral stand regardless if one has the power to directly change the outcome of an event? I believe there are few people on this list who will deny the power of public pressure on our government and elected officials. Exit polls tend to rule in the United States just after Corporations.

The City Council of Minneapolis is made up of full time elected officials. The vote on whether or not to support a war in Iraq will neither prevent them from voting on whether or not to upgrade our sewer system nor will it hinder them from focusing on our budget and economic issues. But what it can do is publicly state that the City of Minneapolis is opposed to a war with Iraq. If you'd like, you can tie the resolution to the potential enconomic impacts on the city during a period of recession and huge defecits. The wording can be arranged so that it is intimately tied to the potential impact of another outbreak of anti-Muslim/Middle East violence in our city (or has everyone forgotten the stories of Somalis who were afraid to leave their homes for weeks after 9-11?

Just as Martin Sabo has been elected to the House of Representatives to represent the people and interests of the 5th District of the State of Minnesota, and Gary Schiff been elected to represent the people and the interests of the 9th Ward of the city of Minneapolis. We wouldn't bat an eye at Sabo if he made a position statement on the War (and he has), but we are up in arms about Gary Schiff. Preposterous.

And, although I greatly respect Patrick Peterson, I seriously doubt that should the City of Minneapolis pass a resolution opposing war with Iraq that in some way our credibility will be damaged.

Peace,
Brandon Lacy Campos
Powderhorn Park

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