Newsletters

Date: November 5th 2008

From Rick

Friends,

I know that many of you who are so committed to the work of nonviolence may be feeling, as I have been, a sense of hope and excitement about the future with the news of the election of Barak Obama as our next President. This is a moment filled with the promise of new, global relationships based on diplomacy and development rather than military domination and aggression.

My greatest fear, in these moments after the election, is of complacency. The prophets of old were unrelenting as they railed against the abuses of their kings, even the "good Kings." Jesus and his earliest disciples knew all too well the dangers of leaders who quickly become beholden to the powers and the principalities.

As followers of Jesus who are committed to nonviolence in an age of fear, our task is as great now as it has ever been.

• Now is the time to show the world what the power of love and principled nonviolence can accomplish through projects like the PPF Colombia Accompaniment Project.
• Now is the time to raise our voices together to end the use of torture by all U.S. agencies and their allies, and to reclaim our moral balance in the world community. That is exactly what the PPF has been doing in our efforts to close the U.S. Army School of the Americas (WHINSEC) and to support the work of the faith-based "No2Torture."
• Now is the time to build a clear, bold and unapologetic Christian and Interfaith witness to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to stand firmly against further aggression in Iraq and other places in the world. (christianpeacewitness.org, olivebranchinterfaith.org)

Our work over the coming months and years is going to be more challenging than we can even imagine. Please consider a financial donation now to support the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship's critically important work.

There are so many, many ways to be involved. Write to us at ppfwitness@gmail.com to let us know how you'd like to be involved.

Peace to you,

Rick

Looking ahead:

• Southwest Weekend of Witness Against Torture (November 15-16, 2008)
• Close the SOA/WHINSEC! (November 21-23, 2008)
• Delegation to the Philippines - Jan 2009 (January 2-17, 2009)
• Delegation to Colombia - Jan 2009 (January 20-29, 2009)
• Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in Washington (April 29-30, 2009)