NEW YORK PEACE NETWORK Alert #181

Dear Peace Advocate,

Anniversaries are usually happy celebrations of birthdays or weddings, but last week there were too many sad ones. Tuesday, October 7th, was the seventh anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Saturday, October 11th was the sixth anniversary of the Congressional authorization of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Each year that goes by is another year too many. Each of these dates remind all of us that we need to make change NOW, before yet another year goes by.

But even in the present tense, this is going to be a big week. Next Wednesday, Oct. 15th, is the third and final Presidential debate. In earlier debates we have heard about the economy, but not about the need to reduce the military budget. We have heard arguments for and against diplomacy with Iran and there has been conversation about a 16 month time frame or bringing the troops home in victory. But neither candidate has pledged to be a Peace President, advocated funding our communities first, or adopting a culture of human rights and dignity.

The first Presidential debate was around foreign policy issues, while Wednesday’s will be around domestic policy. By separating domestic and foreign policy the debate organizers maintain the myth of duality, as though the current crisis in the U.S. economy is not directly tied to our foreign policy choices or our bloated military budget. Worse, the candidates will not be taking questions from the audience, as though Americans won’t ask meaningful enough questions.

But that does not mean that the candidates will come to New York without hearing from New Yorkers. There will be thousands of New Yorkers, including a large contingent of Peace Action members, at the front gates of Hofstra University to demand that our next President be a peace maker. If you can make it out to Hempstead, please join us. We will be gathering at Hempstead train station from 3:00 – 4:30 and then walking down Fulton Avenue/Hempstead Turnpike to Uniondale Avenue, in front of Hofstra. At 7:00, we will be supporting an action by Iraq Veterans Against the War. (For detailed travel directions and times please click here, or call the Peace Action New York State office at 646-723-1749.)

If you can’t join us on Wednesday, please call both candidates. Tell them that as a New Yorker, you are upset that they are coming to New York, but not addressing New Yorkers’ concerns about the percentage of our economy that is going to fund the military, rather than our communities. New Yorkers want to bring the troops home!

Thanks for all you do and I hope to see many of you on Wednesday.

Cheryl
Peace Action Fund of New York State
info@panys.org

PS – It is a sad reality that in our constant struggles, our victories are often relegated to the post script, but they are worth noting all the same. Last week the House leadership announced that they will NOT be voting on H. Con. Res. 362, the blockage of Iran legislation introduced by Gary Ackerman. Even the House leadership acknowledged that the legislation was ultimately shelved because of the incredibly strong and organized push-back from the peace community. Congratulations!