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The meeting opened at 2 p.m. with introductions and a brief discussion of the agenda.Present: Ed Solenberger, Clerk of USQ, Carolyn and Jim Dalton, Shirley and Dick Wenner, Sheila Lunger, all of Millville meeting, and Barry and Juanita Bishop, Karen Frock, Mary Engel, and Jane Keller, all of Pennsdale Meeting. Ed Solenberger offered to serve as clerk, Jane Keller as recorder.Friends entered into a half-hour of silent worship.
For the ensuing hour, Friends discussed their reactions and concerns to the crisis created by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Those reactions included the following comments:
We are not alone in our pacifist stance as church leaders across the country have taken a stand against wars and further violence.
Our goal must be to create tolerance and understanding, to reach out to the community, to educate about Islam, to educate the children on peace and relationships.
We envision a world where there is not hatred and injustice. Love, reconciliation and peace are our values
Concern: we are not being truthful as a nation, facing what atrocities we have done and the injustice we have perpetrated.
Concern: nationalism takes us away from tolerance.
The Golden Rule is key: we would not want our country invaded as we plan to invade Afghanistan.
We need to pay our U.N. dues and support the World Court.
Religious leaders need to take the power. Government is not moral; we need to lead the government.
We need to reach out to the Muslim community.
As peacemakers, we may be targets.
We need to make a statement.
Following a break for refreshments, Friends gathered again. Dick and Shirley Wenner and Jim Dalton had to leave to fulfill other obligations. The Friends who remained entered into a period of worship sharing. About half-way through this period, the clerk called for a reconsideration and vocalization of the themes of the afternoon, what we as a Society see as our role. The following points were made:
- There is a need for public action, locally, globally. PYM needs to be involved in that action with vocal and assertive peace efforts. We suggest that a peace staff person be added at the PYM level. We need to address how meetings can be a part of that work.
- We need to support members who are vocal in their peace efforts.
- We need a concrete public statement/action that will effect change.
- We need to offer humanitarian relief to Afghanistan.
- We recommend that Friends call for the creation of a cabinet-level position of Peace Secretary, to work actively for peace, to acculturate us to peace rather than war and retribution.
- U. S. needs to acknowledge our role in terrorist activities, to admit our own failures.
- PYM needs to address its position on the U.N. We need to urge the U.S. to pay its U.N. dues and support the World Court.
- We need to speak truth to power.
Positive steps:
a. live in the world in a peaceful, positive way
b. build Peace Park at the site of the World Trade Center to remind all of our commitment to peace
c. we need to mediate with others, not impose our solutions
d. we need to ask our representatives, Congresspersons and Senators to come to us to hear our voice
e. we need to bring government attention to peace concerns, right sharing of resources
f. we need to take action when there is clarity, to nurture peace at all times, not only in times of conflict, even if we don't expect to see the fruits of our work
g. we need to assess the traumas involved; use the principles of restorative justice in healing the traumas of the victims, the perpetrators and the community.
h. we suggest a coalition of peace churches as a delegation to speak to George W. Bush.
i. we need to dialogue one-on-one with other people about our concern for peace
j. we need to examine our behavior based on the concept of sovereignty as inconsistent with the interdependence of all countries, acknowledging our own interdependence.The threshing session closed with a period of silent worship and thanks to Friends for their presence and concern
Jane C. Keller
Recording Clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM