From listener at bellsouth.net  Sun Mar  2 23:08:58 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 21:08:58 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Sen. Frist poll on the war with Iraq
Message-ID: <002901c2e132$3bcb7880$6401a8c0@potters>

Please tell Sen. Frist that you live in Tennessee and that you oppose
unilateral war! This is our chance!
I've called his office and never felt that my opinion was counted or that it
was going to be communicated to him. Maybe if enough of us answer this poll,
he'll listen...
It takes about 2 min. - please do it!
Kit Potter
Nashville Friends' Meeting

   EASY WAY TO TELL SEN. FRIST THAT YOU OPPOSE WAR WITH IRAQ:  All you have
to do is go to this website of Sen. Frist's and vote.  [note: more than 70%
of the responses to his poll so far are from OUTSIDE of Tennessee.  Your
vote can make a real difference.]
<http://frist.senate.gov.master.com/texis/master/search/+/form/Saddam%20Huss
ein.html>





From listener at bellsouth.net  Mon Mar  3 12:43:08 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 10:43:08 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Sen. Frist poll on the war with Iraq
References: <5.2.0.9.2.20030303102707.00a96240@mail.mindspring.com>
Message-ID: <000d01c2e1a3$f89c31e0$6401a8c0@potters>

ooops! Of course I was not wanting anyone to lie!!! How silly that I was so
careless with my phrasing: my apologies if anyone took it that way. Please
go ahead and vote on Sen. Frist's site, but of course tell them if you are
or are not a Tennessean.
Thanks for catching that, Courtney!
Peace to all,
Kit
----- Original Message -----
From: "COURTNEY SICELOFF" <csiceloff at mindspring.com>
To: "Kit Potter" <listener at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 9:30 AM
Subject: Re: [saymaListserv] Sen. Frist poll on the war with Iraq


> Kit,
> I assume your email was directed at TN  voters to indicate that one is
living in TN.
> Whoever put it on the SAYMA list should have indicated that.
> Glad to see you mobilizing opposition to the war.
> courtney
>
> At 09:08 PM 3/2/03 -0600, you wrote:
> >Please tell Sen. Frist that you live in Tennessee and that you oppose
> >unilateral war! This is our chance!
> >I've called his office and never felt that my opinion was counted or that
it
> >was going to be communicated to him. Maybe if enough of us answer this
poll,
> >he'll listen...
> >It takes about 2 min. - please do it!
> >Kit Potter
> >Nashville Friends' Meeting
> >
> >   EASY WAY TO TELL SEN. FRIST THAT YOU OPPOSE WAR WITH IRAQ:  All you
have
> >to do is go to this website of Sen. Frist's and vote.  [note: more than
70%
> >of the responses to his poll so far are from OUTSIDE of Tennessee.  Your
> >vote can make a real difference.]
>
><http://frist.senate.gov.master.com/texis/master/search/+/form/Saddam%20Hus
s
> >ein.html>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list
> >sayma at kitenet.net
> >http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma
>
>


From listener at bellsouth.net  Tue Mar  4 00:10:48 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 22:10:48 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Petition to the UN for Mar. 6! Takes 2 min.!!!
Message-ID: <000a01c2e204$0a5b5720$6401a8c0@potters>

Dear friends and family,

I'm hoping you can join me on an emergency petition from 
citizens around the world to the U.N. Security Council.  The
petition's going to be delivered to the 15 member states of
the Security Council on THURSDAY, MARCH 6.

If hundreds of thousands of us sign, it could be an enormously
important and powerful message -- people from all over the
world joining in a single call for a peaceful solution.  But
we really need everyone who agrees to sign up today.  You can 
do so easily and quickly at:

  
http://www.moveon.org/emergency/

The stakes couldn't really be much higher.   A war with Iraq
could kill tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and inflame
the Middle East.  According to current plans, it would require
an American occupation of the country for years to come.  And
it could escalate in ways that are horrifying to imagine.

We can stop this tragedy from unfolding.  But we need to speak
together, and we need to do so now.  Let's show the Security
Council what world citizens think.
Thanks
Kit Potter

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From Evdavwes at aol.com  Wed Mar  5 06:45:59 2003
From: Evdavwes at aol.com (Evdavwes at aol.com)
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 05:45:59 EST
Subject: [saymaListserv] Upcoming Quaker workshop:  Experiment with Light
Message-ID: <147.c227c37.2b972f67@aol.com>

Dear Friends,

I am sending this out to SAYMA friends generally.  Please join us.

Asheville and Swannanoa Valley Meetings have invited English Friend Rex 
Ambler to visit us for a morning workshop, "Experiment with Light."  The 
workshop will be at Asheville Friends Meeting House on Saturday, March 15, 
from 9 am to 1 pm.  There is no charge, but we will be accepting donations to 
defray expenses.  Lunch will be included.  Please let me (David Clements, 
828-280-4431) know if you wish to attend, and whether you will need 
childcare.  For out of town friends, we would be happy to arrange overnight 
accommodations.

Rex will have spent the week of March 2-7 at Pendle Hill offering a workshop 
on the same topic.  Below is a description of that workshop (which will 
describe to some extent what we do in the shorter workshop.)

Welcome to all

David Clements

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Quaker faith and life are based on experience, not on authority.  ?This I 
knew experimentally,? said George Fox of his spiritual insights.  But what is 
the experience?  We will first look at what Friends experienced at the start 
of the Quaker movement.  Then we will do an experiment to discover if that 
experience is still available to us.  Included will be a meditation in which 
we seek to experience ?the light? as early Friends understood it.  This can 
be a searching and powerful experience.  Finally, in small groups and in the 
larger group, we will share what happened and reflect on the significance of 
the light for us today.  

"Rex Ambler is a British Friend who has been traveling in the ministry and 
leading ?Experiment with Light? workshops for several years.  He taught 
theology at Birmingham University for over thirty years.  His most recent 
books are Truth of the Heart: An Anthology of George Fox (2001) and Light to 
Live By: An Exploration in Quaker Spirituality (2002)."






%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

David Clements, Evan Richardson, Wesley Clements, Lila Richardson
79 Cumberland Avenue
Asheville, NC  28801
828-285-0601



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From Evdavwes at aol.com  Wed Mar  5 06:49:18 2003
From: Evdavwes at aol.com (Evdavwes at aol.com)
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 05:49:18 EST
Subject: [saymaListserv] Upcoming Quaker workshop:  Experiment with Light
Message-ID: <1df.3a5ddbe.2b97302e@aol.com>

Dear Friends,

I am sending this out to SAYMA friends generally.  Please join us.

Asheville and Swannanoa Valley Meetings have invited English Friend Rex 
Ambler to visit us for a morning workshop, "Experiment with Light."  The 
workshop will be at Asheville Friends Meeting House on Saturday, March 15, 
from 9 am to 1 pm.  There is no charge, but we will be accepting donations to 
defray expenses.  Lunch will be included.  Please let me (David Clements, 
828-280-4431) know if you wish to attend, and whether you will need 
childcare.  For out of town friends, we would be happy to arrange overnight 
accommodations.

Rex will have spent the week of March 2-7 at Pendle Hill offering a workshop 
on the same topic.  Below is a description of that workshop (which will 
describe to some extent what we do in the shorter workshop.)

Welcome to all

David Clements

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Quaker faith and life are based on experience, not on authority.  ?This I 
knew experimentally,? said George Fox of his spiritual insights.  But what is 
the experience?  We will first look at what Friends experienced at the start 
of the Quaker movement.  Then we will do an experiment to discover if that 
experience is still available to us.  Included will be a meditation in which 
we seek to experience ?the light? as early Friends understood it.  This can 
be a searching and powerful experience.  Finally, in small groups and in the 
larger group, we will share what happened and reflect on the significance of 
the light for us today.  

"Rex Ambler is a British Friend who has been traveling in the ministry and 
leading ?Experiment with Light? workshops for several years.  He taught 
theology at Birmingham University for over thirty years.  His most recent 
books are Truth of the Heart: An Anthology of George Fox (2001) and Light to 
Live By: An Exploration in Quaker Spirituality (2002)."






%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

David Clements, Evan Richardson, Wesley Clements, Lila Richardson
79 Cumberland Avenue
Asheville, NC  28801
828-285-0601



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From CIsland at aol.com  Thu Mar  6 13:57:55 2003
From: CIsland at aol.com (CIsland at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 12:57:55 EST
Subject: [saymaListserv] Correcting Misinformation in SAYMA
Message-ID: <1d4.4836742.2b98e623@aol.com>

Dear Friends of SAYMA, 

Your Ecological Concerns Network has heard some expressions of concern that 
compact fluorescent lights (cfl's) may present a health hazard.  It feels 
like this has the life of a rumor: Someone originally expresses a feeling and 
an idea that comes from their own imagination, others hear it and pass it on, 
in the transmission and re-transmission it begins to sound like and believed 
that the original idea is a fact.  

The following are genuine facts that counter a notion of health risks from 
cfl's.  

Those of us who have had regular compact fluorescent lights (cfl's) in use 
for years have never had a complaint about any health problems, including no 
vision problems.   

I have heard a couple of people, myself included, refer to discomfort and 
stressed out feelings from the excessive brightness and glare from the long 
tube fluorescent lights, such as around three to four feet long, typically 
installed in sets of FOUR! in offices, stores, public places, etc.  Many of 
us believe that these fixtures cast far, far too much brightness and glare 
for eye comfort and overall feelings of well being.   Absurdly, in the office 
where I worked for years, an office that was only about 14' X 10', (Really 
small), the installed lighting was one of those fixtures with four 4' long 
tubes in it.   I could not stand that and removed two of the tubes, having 
plenty of light from the remaining two.   In 2001 I moved into an office two 
and a half times larger that had the same type of lighting fixture.  I have 
never used that lighting fixture in that office.   Instead, I put in two 
table lamps with "natural spectrum" cfl's and a torchiere lamp with the 
rather new "double D" fluorescent light bulb in it.   This lighting scheme 
creates a much more relaxed atmosphere in the office than long, glaring 
fluorescent tubes that directly beam excessive light into the whole room - 
and it provides plenty of light to do my work.   

What a contrast in the quality of light from cfl's due to their relative 
smallness and the shading provided by the lamp shades and globes in which 
they are installed, compared to the long glaring fluorescent tubes.   

Actually, the light on the area where I am sitting typing this now is cast by 
an UN-shaded, UN-diffused regular cfl.  I have sat and worked at this 
location for years under this light. None of the three of us in the family 
have had any problems whatsoever from this UN-shaded, UN-diffused regular 
cfl.   This particular cfl casts what is termed "warm" light; it is sort of 
beige in tone.   (There are, I think I have seen, some regular cfl's that 
cast a brighter, whiter light, but not the full spectrum light.   The latter 
might not be as good if it were not shaded.) 

SUMMARY, the level of intensity (and glare, if any) created by compact 
fluorescent lights (cfl's) is categorically, distinctly and significantly 
less than the intensity and the high glare produced by the typical very large 
long tube fluorescent light fixtures commonly seen in offices, stores and 
other public places.  The reduced level of light intensity (and glare, if any 
at all in cfl's) eliminates the eye strain and other physical distress that 
the long tube fluorescent fixtures produce.      

For what it's worth, 

Bill Reynolds, Chattanooga Friends Meeting 
Coordinator of SAYMA's Ecological Concerns Network's compact fluorescent 
lights project

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From earthsteward at urisp.net  Fri Mar  7 15:21:01 2003
From: earthsteward at urisp.net (Daryl Bergquist)
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2003 13:21:01 -0600
Subject: [Fwd: Re: [saymaListserv] Correcting Misinformation in SAYMA]
Message-ID: <3E68F11D.40708@urisp.net>



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [saymaListserv] Correcting Misinformation in SAYMA
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2003 08:19:10 -0600
From: Daryl Bergquist <earthsteward at urisp.net>
Reply-To: earthsteward at urisp.net
To: CIsland at aol.com
References: <1d4.4836742.2b98e623 at aol.com>



I'd like to add my two cents to Bill's note on compact fluorescents.

First, I would like to describe other health/comfort related issues 
associated with "long tube" fluorescent lights that do not exist with 
compact fluorescents.  These issues, buzz and flicker, are due to the 
transformer type ballasts which have been traditionally used with "long 
tube" fluorescents. Transformer ballasts operate at the 60 hertz (cycles 
per second) frequency of the power grid. Fluorescent lights using 
transformer ballasts flicker on and off every cycle.  Some people can 
perceive this and it causes head aches and other problems for some 
people.  All but some of the earliest (heavy) compact fluorescent bulbs 
are driven by electronic ballasts which usually operate at 400 hertz. 
 At this higher frequency, fluorescents do not flicker. The variable 
delay from excitation to light emission is such that flicker is smoothed 
out at this frequency.  For this reason fluorescent lights operating on 
electronic ballasts do not flicker, they give a continuous light.  Even 
if  they didn't our bodies would not be able to detect a flicker at 400 
hertz frequency.  Electronic ballasts are available for use in 
commercial applications with smaller diameter T 8 "long tube" 
fluorescent bulbs.  These provide significant energy savings as well as 
eliminating the buzz and flicker.  I have installed them in residences 
as well, but they are not  rated for this use since they might interfere 
with radio or tv reception.  Residential rated electronic ballasts for 
"long tube" fluorescent lights are being developed.

I have heard some concern of trace amounts of toxic materials used in 
fluorescent lights, and heard that the overall environmental balance is 
way in  favor of  fluorescents.

The bottom line is that compact fluorescents provide good light, save 
money and energy, and have better impact on the environment than 
incandescents in most applications.  We use them and I encourage others 
to do the same.

Daryl Bergquist,  Royal Worship Group


CIsland at aol.com wrote:

> Dear Friends of SAYMA,
>
> Your Ecological Concerns Network has heard some expressions of concern 
> that compact fluorescent lights (cfl's) may present a health hazard.  
> It feels like this has the life of a rumor: Someone originally 
> expresses a feeling and an idea that comes from their own imagination, 
> others hear it and pass it on, in the transmission and re-transmission 
> it begins to sound like and believed that the original idea is a fact. 
>
> The following are genuine facts that counter a notion of health risks 
> from cfl's. 
>
> Those of us who have had regular compact fluorescent lights (cfl's) in 
> use for years have never had a complaint about any health problems, 
> including no vision problems.  
>
> I have heard a couple of people, myself included, refer to discomfort 
> and stressed out feelings from the excessive brightness and glare from 
> the long tube fluorescent lights, such as around three to four feet 
> long, typically installed in sets of FOUR! in offices, stores, public 
> places, etc.  Many of us believe that these fixtures cast far, far too 
> much brightness and glare for eye comfort and overall feelings of well 
> being.   Absurdly, in the office where I worked for years, an office 
> that was only about 14' X 10', (Really small), the installed lighting 
> was one of those fixtures with four 4' long tubes in it.   I could not 
> stand that and removed two of the tubes, having plenty of light from 
> the remaining two.   In 2001 I moved into an office two and a half 
> times larger that had the same type of lighting fixture.  I have never 
> used that lighting fixture in that office.   Instead, I put in two 
> table lamps with "natural spectrum" cfl's and a torchiere lamp with 
> the rather new "double D" fluorescent light bulb in it.   This 
> lighting scheme creates a much more relaxed atmosphere in the office 
> than long, glaring fluorescent tubes that directly beam excessive 
> light into the whole room - and it provides plenty of light to do my 
> work.  
>
> What a contrast in the quality of light from cfl's due to their 
> relative smallness and the shading provided by the lamp shades and 
> globes in which they are installed, compared to the long glaring 
> fluorescent tubes.  
>
> Actually, the light on the area where I am sitting typing this now is 
> cast by an UN-shaded, UN-diffused regular cfl.  I have sat and worked 
> at this location for years under this light. None of the three of us 
> in the family have had any problems whatsoever from this UN-shaded, 
> UN-diffused regular cfl.   This particular cfl casts what is termed 
> "warm" light; it is sort of beige in tone.   (There are, I think I 
> have seen, some regular cfl's that cast a brighter, whiter light, but 
> not the full spectrum light.   The latter might not be as good if it 
> were not shaded.) 
>
> SUMMARY, the level of intensity (and glare, if any) created by compact 
> fluorescent lights (cfl's) is categorically, distinctly and 
> significantly less than the intensity and the high glare produced by 
> the typical very large long tube fluorescent light fixtures commonly 
> seen in offices, stores and other public places.  The reduced level of 
> light intensity (and glare, if any at all in cfl's) eliminates the eye 
> strain and other physical distress that the long tube fluorescent 
> fixtures produce.     
>
> For what it's worth,
>
> Bill Reynolds, Chattanooga Friends Meeting
> Coordinator of SAYMA's Ecological Concerns Network's compact 
> fluorescent lights project
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list
>sayma at kitenet.net
>http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma
>




From listener at bellsouth.net  Fri Mar  7 19:37:19 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 17:37:19 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] An amazing thought for peace
Message-ID: <002a01c2e502$7efe8560$6401a8c0@potters>

See how this idea works for you, and act as you are led. I actually sent an email.
Peace,
Kit

Beloved Friends, Now and then a message comes across my desk that I know I must pass on. Several days ago a friend forwarded an email to me from Helen Caldicott regarding a way we could assure an end to possible war in Iraq, and I have to agree that this could work. As you probably know, Pope John Paul II is adamantly against this war and has called it "a defeat for Humanity." He sent an emissary to Iraq and Washington to deliver a personal message and continues to urge political leaders to protest a possible US led invasion. If there is one person whose life George Bush would be unwilling to risk it would be the Pope's. Therefore, millions of people around the world are being asked to email, fax or even telephone His Holiness asking him to personally station himself in Baghdad until a proper solution can be found. If he would do it, it would work. I would like to suggest we take this request one step further. The Pope has been a strong voice for peace and reconciliation for many years now, and has called the spiritual leaders of the world together twice to pray for peace in Assisi. I suggest the Pope call another gathering of spiritual leaders opposed to war and violence in Iraq, imploring them to join him in a statement George Bush cannot ignore. If they gather in Baghdad and ask the people of the world to join them in prayer, then the war will not happen. Then the inspectors would have more time to do their work and a political solution would surely be found. I have already emailed the Pope and I ask you to do the same. Also, please forward this email to as many people as you can, for it will be hard for His Holiness to ignore the requests of millions of people. I consider this a spiritual solution coming from religions that have in the past been the cause of so much separation. Please help us spread the word for this important mission. Please send your email to: accreditamenti at pressva.va <mailto:accreditamenti at pressva.va>. If you would like to send a fax from the US, the number is: 011-39-06698-85378 (from other countries drop the 011 prefix), and to phone call: 011-39-06-69-82. Imagine the impact of such a statement of peace from the leaders of the world's religions from Iraq. Let this be a "Victory for Humanity." It is the eleventh hour. The war may begin any day now. Please do not wait letting the Pope hear your important voice. In Peace, James Twyman
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From earthsteward at urisp.net  Sat Mar  8 01:02:42 2003
From: earthsteward at urisp.net (Daryl Bergquist)
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2003 23:02:42 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Another 11th hour proposal for US - Iraq conflict
Message-ID: <3E697972.6020303@urisp.net>

Sojourners has a proposal for resolution of the conflict with Iraq which 
basically calls for UN rather than US action.  According to the web 
site,  a delegation of  church leaders from the US  developed this 
proposal  during and after a discussion with Tony Blair.  

I signed the petition and was put on their weekly email newsletter.  

Read the details and sign the petition at:

 http://www.sojo.net/action

I couldn't get through to the website the second time I tried tonight, 
 they may be overwhelmed with response.

Daryl Bergquist,  Royal Worship Group



From perryt at bellsouth.net  Sat Mar  8 16:22:12 2003
From: perryt at bellsouth.net (Perry Treadwell)
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2003 12:22:12 -0800
Subject: [saymaListserv] [Fwd: the Gathering]
Message-ID: <3E6A50F4.6000609@bellsouth.net>

  Advance notice to SAYMA Friends

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: the Gathering
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2003 13:41:22 -0800
From: Perry Treadwell <perryt at bellsouth.net>
To: AFM Friends <afmdiscussion at yahoogroups.com>



Atlanta Friends, The catalogue for the 2003 Gathering is in the mail. 
Since this is an Eastern Gathering a lot of people will be attending so 
look at the dead lines and get your selections in early so your children 
get in and you get your preferred workshops. If you need financial help 
let your meeting know. FGC matches MM and YM financial support. Perry
2003 Gathering of Friends

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, PA

28 June to 5 July, 2003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PLEASE USE FOR YOUR NEWSLETTERS OR OTHER PUBLICATIONS!
You may request a digital copy of this release from gathering at fgcquaker.org

Friends General Conference will hold the 2003 Gathering of Friends at 
the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, June 28-July 5, 
2003. The theme is ?Coming to Peace.?

?In a time of uncertainty and fear, we will look at ways Friends can 
come to peace within themselves, within their meetings, within their 
communities, and throughout the world,? explains Gathering Committee 
co-clerk Von Keairns of Pittsburgh Friends Meeting (Lake Erie Yearly 
Meeting).

?The peaceful surroundings of the campus at Pitt-Johnstown will offer 
Friends a respite, and a place to renew their spirits,? adds Dale 
Keairns, who is co-clerking the Gathering committee.

The Gathering Community will be gathered in worship, from the opening 
meetings on Sunday morning through a closing meeting on Saturday, July 
5. A daily Bible half-hour, FLGC worship and the Silent Center will also 
be available.

South African Friend Duduzile Mtshazo, former clerk of the Africa 
Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation, will offer a 
keynote address on Sunday night, June 29, leading the Gathering in its 
understanding of Coming to Peace. Monday evening, Vanessa Julye and 
Christopher Sammond will model responses to queries on personal peace 
within, and Gathering attenders will be asked to consider each query for 
him or herself.

On Tuesday evening, families, teens, Adult Young Friends, seniors, 
singles, and everybody else will be invited to choose from a potpourri 
of activities designed to appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. 
This Pieces of Peace evening will include storytelling, swimming, folk 
dancing, a family film, discussion opportunities, and so much more. 
Wednesday night will find adults exploring the traditional interest 
groups on topics from homeschooling to Islam.

Thursday night folk singers Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow will present 
a concert reflecting Coming to Peace.

Friday evening, July 4, Tony Prete will explore how the biblical idea of 
shalom can be a blueprint for living a life that, as George Fox 
affirmed, "takes away the occasion of all wars." Biblical shalom is 
based on a conviction of sufficiency--that there is "enough"--rather 
than a conviction of scarcity--that there is "not enough." It includes a 
commitment to restoration for those whose right to sufficiency is 
violated by those who live by the principle of scarcity?a "jubilee" 
justice that spans all relationships, from the interpersonal to the global.

In Junior Gathering, children entering grades 1 to 7 will choose among 
theme groups appropriate to their age. Younger children (including 
infants) have a warm and supportive environment, staffed by adults who 
consider it a treat to be with them. Those in Junior High form a strong 
community, sharing a variety of activities including some practice in 
Quaker decision-making.

High Schoolers may expect to experience a loving spiritual community 
composed of friendship and zany antics. Adult Young Friends is a 
community that provides an intimate space within the Gathering for post 
high school age Friends to live and have fun together while exploring 
their spirituality and roles as adult Quakers.

Music making and singing will abound. Yoga, contra dancing, folk 
dancing, and other movement opportunities will occur throughout the 
Gathering. Friends creativity will be displayed, performed and 
celebrated again this year in the Lemonade Art Gallery. The Gathering 
Store will offer a unique collection of books, First Day School 
Materials, tapes, Gathering and FGC merchandise, and handcrafted 
consignment items.

Johnstown is located in Central Pennsylvania. The campus is situated on 
a plateau in the Allegheny Mountains, promising cool breezy nights and 
warm pleasant days.

Friends General Conference has financial support for Gathering 
attenders. Scholarships and workgrants are available to help make 
Gathering affordable. First time attenders scholarships match grants 
from monthly and yearly meetings. General scholarships assist families 
and individuals with the expenses of room/board and registration. 
Workgrant opportunities include staffing the Junior Gathering program, 
assisting at the information desk, helping with routine tasks or taking 
on a specialized assignment. Additional information is available from 
Liz Perch, Conference Coordinator, at the address below. Friends are 
urged not to let cost issues keep them from considering attendance.

Detailed information about the Gathering will be available in the 
Advance Program. The Advance Program is mailed to all monthly meetings 
and to Friends on FGC mailing lists as well as all Friends in nearby 
Yearly Meetings in March and should arrive by 1 April 2003. You may also 
request an Advance Program by contacting Friends General Conference at 
1216 Arch Street, 2B, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 561-1700 or email 
(gathering at fgcquaker.org).

More information about the Gathering and FGC is available on the World 
Wide Web at http://www.fgcquaker.org/gathering/. Access to the World 
Wide Web is often available at your local library.

The Gathering of Friends is a program of Friends General Conference, 
which provides resources to help members and attenders of constituent 
meetings discover how God?s Spirit is leading us individually and 
corporately and to follow that leading.




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From earthsteward at urisp.net  Sun Mar  9 11:37:50 2003
From: earthsteward at urisp.net (Daryl Bergquist)
Date: Sun, 09 Mar 2003 09:37:50 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] [Fwd: DRAFT COUNSELOR TRAINING]
Message-ID: <3E6B5FCE.5040108@urisp.net>



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: DRAFT COUNSELOR TRAINING
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 21:27:14 -0600
From: "Dawn L. Rubbert" <auntdawn at i1.net>
To: "Daryl Bergquist" <earthsteward at urisp.net>



PLEASE share widely...Space Available  Daryl....We have spaces so
I am casting a  wider net at the last minute....  Dawn

DRAFT COUNSELOR TRAINING
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHEN: Saturday, March 15th, 8:45 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
WHERE: 1001 Park Street, St. Louis Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
OFFERED BY: The Peace Resources Committee of Illinois Yearly Meeting
TRAINER: Bill Galvin, Center on Conscience & War (CCW), Washington, D.C.
FEE: $50 (includes lunch and training manual) -- Scholarships available
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bill Galvin will lead an intensive workshop to
prepare participants to work in their communities
as counseling and information resources for those
of selective service registration age, for active
reservists, and for military service people.

We ask that you enroll by March 11th. Form Below

There will be a general "informational session," on
Sunday March 16th at 1 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House
(tentative site). See separate announcement in two weeks.

ALL PARTICIPANTS are expected to commit to providing
counseling and serving as a resource in their community regarding
the information provided during training. Each is expected to think
about how they will make themselves available, how much time they
can give, and how they will make their availability known.

Several Friends meetings, AFSC, and others have made
special contributions to enable scholarship help, so that no one
interested would stay away for lack of the $50 fee (which includes
lunch, and a comprehensive training/resource manual.)

For additional information go to: (http://iym.quaker.org/calendar.html )

TO REGISTER USE THE FORM BELOW AND EMAIL IT TO
auntdawn at i1.net or call 314-647-1287 (evenings or before 8:30 a.m.)

Dawn Rubbert, St. Louis Friends Meeting (Quaker)
Member - IYM Peace Resources Committee

===========================
Application For Draft Counseling Training
Saturday, March 15, 2003 (9a.m. - 5p.m.)
St. Louis Friends' Meeting House (Quakers)
1001 Park Street, St. Louis, Missouri

Your Name

Your Mailing Address

Your Phone Number

Your Email Address

How did you learn about this workshop?

Your Affiliations (religious, organizational, projects, etc.)


Why do you want to be trained?


Participants must commit to provide counseling and to serve as a resource
in their communities about the information provided during training. Will
you commit to providing counseling in your area and to serving as a
resource?     ___yes         ___no

How and when will you communicate to your community that you are available
to provide training?


Cost of the training includes the manual and lunch. No one is turned away
from training  due to lack of funds. Do you need information about
assistance with the cost of training?    ___yes        ___no

If your application arrives after this workshop is full
___wait-list me        ___add me to the mailing list

Please tell us about any mobility requirements, dietary needs, or other
advance requirements.

Do you need local housing?
If ' Yes',  please tell us about allergies, mobility requirements, or other
issues.

We Must Receive Your Application By:  Tuesday, March 11
Checks ($50) Payable To:  IYM Peace Resources Committee




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From listener at bellsouth.net  Sun Mar  9 18:15:42 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 16:15:42 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] NEW real alternative to war on Iraq - MUST READ
Message-ID: <003a01c2e689$6cc2a9c0$6401a8c0@potters>

Dear Friends,
This is something to consider! These people have made a proposal that one
might have wished for a year ago - yet it still might work even now. It is a
well-reasoned, positive plan of action. Have a look at this; even if it is
the only antiwar action you take today it will be time well spent.
Sincerely,
Kit Potter
----------------------------------------
> ***One of the most important action alerts ever distributed
> by Sojourners***
>
> We are at a critical moment in time. A real possibility
> exists to prevent war on Iraq. However, in one week it could
> be too late.
>
> If you have ever wanted to take action, the time is now.
>
> High school and college students across the country are
> boycotting school and shouting, "Books not Bombs." Hundreds
> of thousands of Americans have gathered in New York, San
> Francisco, Washington, D.C., and other cities declaring, "War
> is Not the Answer!" Great Britain witnessed the largest march
> in its history as more than 1 million people pleaded, "Don't
> Attack Iraq!"
>
> Germany, France, China, and Russia openly oppose war without
> U.N. support, and Great Britain could change course.
>
> Now, for the first time, a clear and compelling third
> alternative has emerged. Following an hour-long meeting of
> U.S. church leaders with British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
> led by Sojourners executive director Jim Wallis, we have
> outlined a six-point plan that details a more effective way
> to remove Saddam Hussein from power without killing innocent
> people. Jim shared this vision with Tony Blair and now shares
> it with you.
>
> Please take a few minutes to read the complete six-point plan
> and e-mail it from our Web site to President Bush, Prime
> Minister Blair, and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. You
> will then have the opportunity to send this same e-mail alert
> to others.
>
> Sojourners urges you to contact as many people as you can.
>
> We encourage you to:
> 1. Read the plan at http://www.sojo.net/action;
> 2. Send it to your family, friends, teachers, pastors,
> denominations, and others;
> 3. Encourage them to do the same;
> 4. Write or call local newspapers, radio and television
> stations, and politicians and tell them about this new
> alternative to war;
> 5. Lift up this effort in your prayers.
>
> The more people that hear about this third way, this
> alternative to war, the greater the chance that war might be
> averted.
>
> Please go to http://www.sojo.net/action today!
>


From kcarlyle at juno.com  Mon Mar 10 11:48:34 2003
From: kcarlyle at juno.com (Kim Carlyle)
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 10:48:34 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] SAF--Limited Time Offer
Message-ID: <20030310.113824.-350779.2.kcarlyle@juno.com>

Hello Friends,

Yes Friends, the clock is ticking down to the submission due date for the
Fourth Month issue of Southern Appalachian Friend.

Do you have opinions? Perhaps you are against war. Express yourself in an
article for yearly meeting Friends.

Do you write poetry? Send us a sonnet. No ode is too odious -- we'll take
it for better or verse. 

Do you have monthly meeting or worship group news? The SAYMA community is
interested in your local community.

Do you have news of personal accomplishments that you'd like to share?
SAYMA wants to know.   

What's going on in SAYMA committees? Don't leave us in suspense. We can't
wait until yearly meeting.  

Know is the time for all good Friends to come to the aid of the
newsletter. 

If you can submit your articles, poems, news, or detailed autobiographies
by April Fool's Day, you'll have the best chance of getting published.
Send to SAFeditor at SAYMA.org 

Don't delay. Column inches are going quickly.

SAF eds. -- S&K Carlyle 

________________________________________________________________
Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
Only $9.95 per month!
Visit www.juno.com

From moriah at preferred.com  Mon Mar 10 18:19:46 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 17:19:46 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: not just "fight or flight"
Message-ID: <00a601c2e766$fe127c60$0500a8c0@oem>

Oh wow!  Research suggests that women get something beyond the "fight or
flight" hormone/response.  Read on...

^o^
\_/
Mary Calhoun
Foxfire FM, SAYMA

PS -- I checked the UCLA website; Shelley Taylor is real.

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 5:42 AM
Subject: [Fwd: UCLA STUDY ON FRIENDSHIP AMONG WOMEN]

| UCLA STUDY ON FRIENDSHIP AMONG WOMEN
|
|
| By Gale Berkowitz
|
| A landmark UCLA study suggests friendships between women are special.
| They shape who we are and who we are yet to be. They soothe our
| tumultuous inner world, fill the emotional gaps in
| our marriage (or partnerships],and help us remember who we really are.
| By the way, they may do even more.
| Scientists now suspect that hanging out with our friends can actually
| counteract the kind of stomach-quivering stress
| most of us experience on a daily basis.
| A landmark UCLA study suggests that women respond to stress with a
| cascade of brain chemicals that cause us to
| make and maintain friendships with other women.
|
| It's a stunning find that has turned five decades of stress
| research---most of it on men---upside down.
|
| "Until this study was published, scientists generally believed that
when
| people experience stress, they trigger a hormonal
| cascade that revs the body to either stand and fight or flee as fast
as
| possible," explains Laura Cousino Klein, Ph.D.,
| now an Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State
| University and one of the study's authors.
|
| "It's an ancient survival mechanism left over from the time we were
| chased across the planet by saber-toothed tigers."
|
| Now the researchers suspect that women have a larger behavioral
| repertoire than just "fight or flight. "In fact," says Dr.
| Klein, "it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of
| the stress responses in a woman, it buffers the
| "fight or flight" response and encourages her to tend children and
| gather with other women instead.
|
| When she actually engages in this tending or befriending, studies
| suggest that more oxytocin is released, which further
| counters stress and produces a calming effect. This calming response
| does not occur in men", says Dr. Klein, "because
| testosterone---which men produce in high levels when they're under
| stress---seems to reduce the effects of oxytocin.
| Estrogen", she adds, "seems to enhance it."
|
| The discovery that women respond to stress differently than men was
made
| in a classic "aha!" moment shared by two
| women scientists who were talking one day in a lab at UCLA. "There was
| this joke that when the women who worked
| in the lab were stressed, they came in, cleaned the lab, had coffee,
and
| bonded", says Dr. Klein.
|
| "When the men were stressed, they holed up somewhere on their own. I
| commented one day to fellow researcher,
| Shelley Taylor that nearly 90% of the stress research is on males. I
| showed her the data from my lab, and the two of us
| knew
| instantly that we were onto something."
|
| The women cleared their schedules and started meeting with one
scientist
| after another from various research specialties.
| Very quickly, Drs.Klein and Taylor discovered that by not including
| women in stress research, scientists had made a
| huge mistake: The fact that women respond to stress differently than
men
| has significant implications for our health. It
| may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that
oxytocin
| encourages us to care for children and hang out
| with other women, but the "tend and befriend" notion developed by Drs.
| Klein and Taylor may explain why women
| consistently outlive men. Study after study has found that social ties
| reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood
| pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol. "There's no doubt," says
| Dr.Klein, "that friends are helping us live longer."
|
| In one study, for example, researchers found that people who had no
| friends increased their risk of death over a
| 6-month period.. In another study, those who had the most friends over
a
| 9-year period cut their risk of death by more
| than 60%. Friends are also helping us live better.
|
| The famed Nurses' Health Study from Harvard Medical School found that
| the more friends women had, the less likely
| they were to develop physical impairments as they aged, and the more
| likely they were to be leading a joyful life. In fact,
| the results were so significant, the researchers concluded, that not
| having close friends or confidantes was as detrimental
| to your health as smoking or carrying extra weight!
|
| And that's not all! When the researchers looked at how well the women
| functioned after the death of their spouse, they
| found that even in the face of this biggest stressor of all, those
women
| who had a close friend and confidante were more
| likely to survive the experience without any new physical impairments
or
| permanent loss of vitality. Those without friends
| were not always so fortunate.
| Yet if friends counter the stress that seems to swallow up so much of
| our life these days, if they keep us healthy and even
| add years to our life, why is it so hard to find time to be with them?
|
| That's a question that also troubles researcher Ruthellen Josselson,
| Ph.D., co-author of Best Friends: The Pleasures and
| Perils of Girls' and Women's Friendships (Three Rivers Press, 1998).
| "Every time we get overly busy with work and
| family, the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other
| women," explains Dr. Josselson. "We push them right to the
| back burner.
|
| That's really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to
| each other. We nurture one another. And we
| need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of
| talk that women do when they're with other
| women.
| It's a very healing experience."
|



From earthsteward at urisp.net  Fri Mar 14 12:52:53 2003
From: earthsteward at urisp.net (Daryl Bergquist)
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 10:52:53 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] [Fwd: Robert Muller and a Candlelight vigil]
Message-ID: <3E7208E5.4000904@urisp.net>

  I was about to put these two together in an email, when I received 
this from my friend Tad in Massachusetts.  

*******************************************************

Dear Friends: I met Robert Muller (http://www.robertmuller.org/)
about 20 years ago when I first became involved in US-Soviet
peacemaking. He was an  incredible voice then and remains one today.
His boundless love and optimism makes it impossible for me not to be
a part of a candlelight vigil in my area this Sunday evening @ 7pm.
Looking forward to joining my light with yours! Bill

Waging Peace

Dr. Robert Muller, former assistant secretary general of the United Nations,
now Chancellor emeritus of the University of Peace in Costa Rica was one of
the people who witnessed the founding of the U.N. and has worked in support
of or inside the U.N. ever since. Recently he was in San Francisco to be
honored for his service to the world through the U.N. and through his
writings and teachings for peace. At age eighty, Dr. Muller surprised, even
stunned, many in the audience that day with his most positive assessment of
where the world stands now regarding war and peace.

I was there at the gathering and I myself was stunned by his remarks. What
he said turned my head around and offered me a new way to see what is going
on in the world.  My synopsis of his remarks is below:

"I'm so honored to be here," he said.  "I'm so honored to be alive at such a
miraculous time in history. I'm so moved by what's going on in our world
today."

Dr. Muller proceeded to say, "Never before in the history of the world has
there been a global, visible, public, viable, open dialogue and conversation
about the very legitimacy of war".

The whole world is in now having this critical and historic
dialogue--listening to all kinds of points of view and positions about going
to war or not going to war. In a huge global public conversation the world
is asking-"Is war legitimate? Is it illegitimate? Is there enough evidence
to warrant an attack? Is there not enough evidence to warrant an attack?
What will be the consequences? The costs? What will happen after a war? How
will this set off other conflicts? What might be peaceful alternatives? What
kind of negotiations are we not thinking of? What are the real intentions
for declaring war?"

All of this, he noted, is taking place in the context of the United Nations
Security Council, the body that was established in 1949 for exactly this
purpose. He pointed out that it has taken us more than fifty years to
realize that function, the real function of the U.N. And at this moment in
history-- the United Nations is at the center of the stage. It is the place
where these conversations are happening, and it has become in these last
months and weeks, the most powerful governing body on earth, the most
powerful container for the world's effort to wage peace rather than war. Dr.
Muller was almost in tears in recognition of the fulfillment of this dream.

"We are not at war," he kept saying. We, the world community, are WAGING
peace.  It is difficult, hard work. It is constant and we must not let up.
It is working and it is an historic milestone of immense proportions. It has
never happened before-never in human history-and it is happening now-every
day every hour-waging peace through a global conversation. He pointed out
that the conversation questioning the validity of going to war has gone on
for hours, days, weeks, months and now more than a year, and it may go on
and on. "We're in peacetime," he kept saying. "Yes, troops are being moved.
Yes, warheads are being lined up. Yes, the aggressor is angry and upset and
spending a billion dollars a day preparing to attack. But not one shot has
been fired. Not one life has been lost. There is no war. It's all a
conversation."

It is tense, it is tough, it is challenging, AND we are in the most
significant and potent global conversation and public dialogue in the
history of the world. This has not happened before on this scale ever
before-not before WWI or WWII, not before Vietnam or Korea, this is new and
it is a stunning new era of Global listening, speaking, and responsibility.

In the process, he pointed out, new alliances are being formed. Russia and
China on the same side of an issue is an unprecedented outcome. France and
Germany working together to wake up the world to a new way of seeing the
situation. The largest peace demonstrations in the history of the world are
taking place--and we are not at war! Most peace demonstrations in recent
history took place when a war was already waging, sometimes for years, as in
the case of Vietnam.

"So this," he said, "is a miracle. This is what "waging peace " looks like."

No matter what happens, history will record that this is a new era, and that
the 21st century has been initiated with the world in a global dialogue
looking deeply, profoundly and responsibly as a global community at the
legitimacy of the actions of a nation that is desperate to go to war.

Through these global peace-waging efforts, the leaders of that nation are
being engaged in further dialogue, forcing them to rethink, and allowing all
nations to participate in the serious and horrific decision to go to war or
not.

Dr. Muller also made reference to a recent New York Times article that
pointed out that up until now there has been just one superpower-the United
States, and that that has created a kind of blindness in the vision of the
U.S.  But now, Dr. Muller asserts, there are two superpowers: the United
States and the merging, surging voice of the people of the world.

All around the world, people are waging peace. To Robert Muller, one of the
great advocates of the United Nations, it is nothing short of a miracle and
it is working.

-Gordon Davidson <www.visionarylead.org>




Date: 12 Mar 2003 11:03:20 -0000
From: "Wes Boyd, MoveOn.org" <moveon-help at list.moveon.org>
To: "Bill  Pfeiffer" <bill at sacredearthnetwork.org>
Subject:  Please help with a Global Vigil for Peace

Dear MoveOn supporters around the world,

Please visit http://www.globalvigil.org and plan a candlelight vigil
for peace in your area on Sunday, March 16 at 7 pm.  MoveOn.org and
the Win Without War coalition, together with Archbishop Desmond Tutu
and many faith-based organizations, are calling this vigil, and we
need your help.

Beginning in New Zealand, this will be a rolling wave of candlelight
gatherings that will quickly cross the globe.  It's up to you to make
this happen.  Today we are asking individuals, like you, to organize
a vigil in each community.  We're hoping that thousands of small
groups around the world will be inspired to come together and
stand for peace.

For more information about how to make this happen in your community
and to join with millions of others around the globe, go to

    http://www.globalvigil.org

It's time for the world to come together in this moment of darkness
and rekindle the light of reason -- and of hope.  It's time to renew
our commitment to building a positive world for our children.

With your help, we will see the first candlelight vigil to sweep
around the globe on the evening of March 16th.  Together, we will
lead the nations of the world away from an unnecessary war and
toward a peaceful and prosperous future.

This is a key moment in history.  Be a part of it.  Go to:

    http://www.globalvigil.org

Thank you,

-Wes Boyd, MoveOn.org
  Tom Andrews, Win Without War
  Tuesday March 11, 2003

P.S.  You can make your local vigil as small or as big as you wish.
The important thing is to act now and to add your efforts to the
efforts of thousands of others around the world.  Whether you plan
a gathering with just your closest friends, or organize an event
for thousands, you will be making a difference.  Register your
event on our web site above.

Immediately afterward, please report your vigil to our web site
or to photos at moveon.org, with digital photographs if possible.
If you know how, please crop and resize your photos to approximately
200h x 150v pixels and send them in .jpg format.  Please include
the city, location and country of your vigil.  We will compile the
reports and photos for the media.

P.P.S. Yesterday, we delivered to the 15 United Nations Security
Council members anti-war comments from one million people around
the world, gathered last week in just five days.  180 boxes of
your petitions were delivered, which drew extensive media attention.
It now appears that the Bush administration's resolution on Iraq will
fail to garner Security Council support, and world public opinion has
been a key part of this.  Thank you!









Date: 12 Mar 2003 11:03:20 -0000
From: "Wes Boyd, MoveOn.org" 
To: "Bill  Pfeiffer" 
Subject:  Please help with a Global Vigil for Peace

Dear MoveOn supporters around the world,

Please visit http://www.globalvigil.org and plan a candlelight vigil
for peace in your area on Sunday, March 16 at 7 pm.  MoveOn.org and
the Win Without War coalition, together with Archbishop Desmond Tutu
and many faith-based organizations, are calling this vigil, and we
need your help.

Beginning in New Zealand, this will be a rolling wave of candlelight
gatherings that will quickly cross the globe.  It's up to you to make
this happen.  Today we are asking individuals, like you, to organize
a vigil in each community.  We're hoping that thousands of small
groups around the world will be inspired to come together and
stand for peace.

For more information about how to make this happen in your community
and to join with millions of others around the globe, go to

    http://www.globalvigil.org

It's time for the world to come together in this moment of darkness
and rekindle the light of reason -- and of hope.  It's time to renew
our commitment to building a positive world for our children.

With your help, we will see the first candlelight vigil to sweep
around the globe on the evening of March 16th.  Together, we will
lead the nations of the world away from an unnecessary war and
toward a peaceful and prosperous future.

This is a key moment in history.  Be a part of it.  Go to:

    http://www.globalvigil.org

Thank you,

-Wes Boyd, MoveOn.org
  Tom Andrews, Win Without War
  Tuesday March 11, 2003

P.S.  You can make your local vigil as small or as big as you wish.
The important thing is to act now and to add your efforts to the
efforts of thousands of others around the world.  Whether you plan
a gathering with just your closest friends, or organize an event
for thousands, you will be making a difference.  Register your
event on our web site above.

Immediately afterward, please report your vigil to our web site
or to photos at moveon.org, with digital photographs if possible.
If you know how, please crop and resize your photos to approximately
200h x 150v pixels and send them in .jpg format.  Please include
the city, location and country of your vigil.  We will compile the
reports and photos for the media.

P.P.S. Yesterday, we delivered to the 15 United Nations Security
Council members anti-war comments from one million people around
the world, gathered last week in just five days.  180 boxes of
your petitions were delivered, which drew extensive media attention.
It now appears that the Bush administration's resolution on Iraq will
fail to garner Security Council support, and world public opinion has
been a key part of this.  Thank you!




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From moriah at preferred.com  Fri Mar 14 18:44:03 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 17:44:03 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Robert Muller & candlelight vigils
Message-ID: <000e01c2ea7b$6a2546a0$0500a8c0@oem>

Thank you, Daryl, for bringing us Robert Muller's vision.

As of 5:00 pm today, Friday, there are candlelight vigils organizing
within 40 miles of most of the SAYMA meetings and worship groups. Our
list-server can accommodate messages with photos.  Local f/Friends might
want to envision sharing images of themselves and the vigils they
participate in.

^o^
\_/

Mary Calhoun
list-administrator, sayma at kitenet.net
-------------------------
"Art, not arms."



From moriah at preferred.com  Fri Mar 14 21:40:31 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 20:40:31 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 153 subscriber = "member"
Message-ID: <002801c2ea94$bc545ce0$0500a8c0@oem>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMP ^o^ Bulletin 153
Confusing word...
 "member" = subscriber
------------------------------------------------
an FYI about sayma at kitenet.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(from the Administrative Assistant)


<|>    Please announce/post this for your attenders, so as to save some
hurt feelings among f/Friends who are _not_ subscribed to
sayma at kitenet.net.  Thank you!

<|>    Occasionally a person not subscribed to SAYMA's e-mail
list-server sends a message to it at sayma at kitenet.net.  The list's
software automatically sends a rejection message because only
subscribers can post messages.

<|>    The subscribers-only rule is in place to help keep
advertisements, porn, and other junk mail off the list-server.

<|>    Unfortunately, the list's software uses the word "member" as a
synonym for "subscriber," saying, "post by non-member to a members-only
list."  This has resulted in non-subscribers both having their posting
rejected, and also thinking their standing as a Quaker was being judged
by whoever ran the list.

<|>    The list-administrator will see if there's a way to change the
confusing word.

<|>    Meanwhile, f/Friends wanting to subscribe in order to post a
message can visit the website
http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma to get on the list.
This address also appears at the bottom of every sayma at kitenet.net
message.

~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 030403 ~~~~~~

_______________________________________
IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present"

is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details
to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free
list-server:  semi-official information, bulletins that you can print,
post, announce, publish, or pass around.  Please address questions,
corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org,
276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p), or
SAYMA Admin Asst, PO Box 2191, Abingdon, VA 24212-2191.
Thank you!  ^o^
-----------------------------------------------------
To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server,
sayma at kitenet.net.  You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net,
writing only the word       subscribe    in the body of your e-mail
message.  You can also subscribe on the web at
http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma.
------------------------------------------------------



From eedgerton at wilkes.net  Fri Mar 14 22:47:04 2003
From: eedgerton at wilkes.net (Ted Edgerton and Melissa Meyer)
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 21:47:04 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: PFF -  Quaker Lake flyers
Message-ID: <4.1.20030314214624.00c494f0@mail.wilkes.net>

Piedmont Friends Fellowship is holding its annnual gathering at Quaker Lake 
near Greensboro North Carolina.  Sayma Friends are welcome!  
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From pennywright at earthlink.net  Mon Mar 17 19:20:23 2003
From: pennywright at earthlink.net (Penelope Wright)
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 17:20:23 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] FGC Opportunity
Message-ID: <003501c2ecdb$cece1340$b69b50d8@oemcomputer>

Dear SAYMA Friends,
I just received the announcement printed below from Beckey Phipps, clerk of FGC Religious Education Committee and as one of your appointed representatives to FGC I am passing it along for your consideration. We are blessed with a strong and thriving youth program in our yearly meeting, but I have heard that some of our monthly meetings labor hard to provide programs for the children in their meetings. I urge each of you to seek out someone from your monthly meeting who might be led to attend this conference, either in anticipation of service in your monthly meeting or with the yearly meeting program. Regretfully, it coincides with SAYMA's spring representative meeting so many of us are otherwise obligated.
I know both Kri and Johanna Anderson (daughter and mother) and find them to be gifted and caring in the matter of young Quakers. Kri clerks the annual FGC Young Quakes Conference and serves her yearly meeting as an appointee to Central Committee where she serves on the Religious Education Committee and the Long Range Conference Committee. She is also part of the planning committee for a World Gathering of Young Adult Friends in England in 2005. Johanna has been a faithful servant of the Junior Gathering for many years.
Praying for peace with you and the world,
Penelope Wright

April is fast approaching and so is the Pendle Hill-FGC Religious Education Conference, ?Nurturing Young Friends: Coming of Age in the Quaker Community.?  The April 4-6 weekend conference, led by Kri and Johanna Anderson, is a celebration of adolescence and an opportunity to share the joys and challenges of working with Quaker youth.

The RE Committee developed this conference in response to the tremendous need that we have heard from Friends throughout the Yearly and Monthly Meetings of Friends General Conference. Each of you, I?m sure recalls, hearing that high school-aged youth often do not feel engaged by our meetings? religious education programming and that many adults feel at a loss to respond.

Shirley Dodson, Director of Conferences, says that attendance at conferences related to high-school aged youth is traditionally low.  Let this conference demonstrate a transformation of our response to Young Friends. Here is an opportunity for you to become a participant in a renewed movement of nurturing our youth and their gifts of ministry. And in a joyful, empowering manner!

As Anne Thomas, Bible studies presenter at the last Young Quakes Conference said, ?It is not that Young Friends are the future of the Religious Society of Friends, they are the Religious Society of Friends!?

Pass the word along to your Monthly Meeting, to Friends in your Yearly Meeting, register now!  It is not too late.

Scholarship funds are available!  Pendle Hill can provide a matching grant for whatever amount a Monthly or Yearly meeting will provide to an attender of the conference.  This is a wonderful, generous opportunity!

If you have any questions, contact Shirley Dodson at (800) 742-3150, ext. 127.

Also, you can find the conference and registration materials at the Pendle Hill web site: www.pendlehill.org


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From earthsteward at urisp.net  Wed Mar 19 11:55:37 2003
From: earthsteward at urisp.net (Daryl Bergquist)
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 09:55:37 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Analysis of the politics behind the War
Message-ID: <3E7892F9.60108@urisp.net>

This speaks to Woolman's concerns about the seeds of war in our 
possessions and lifestyle.

 Daryl

Hello !

Welcome to Thom Hartmann's Newsletter for March 13, 2003

To comment on the newsletter, please do not reply to this email, but use 
the message boards at:

http://www.mythical.net/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?category=2


==========


The Empire Needs New Clothes
by Thom Hartmann

    It's easy to vilify George W. Bush as a cynical warmonger, anxious 
to attack Iraq to repay the oil companies that funded his election 
campaigns.  But to do so is to make a dangerous and fundamental error, 
and such a myopic view of the Bush administration's policies puts 
America's future at risk.

    The reality is that the current administration has a clear and 
specific vision for the future of America and the world, and they 
believe it's a positive vision.  In order to put forward an alternative 
vision, it's essential to first understand the vision of America held by 
the New Right.

    The core of the neoconservative vision was first articulated on June 
3, 1997, in the Statement of Principles put forth by the Project For The 
New American Century (http://www.newamericancentury.org) Signed by Dick 
Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Bill Bennett, Jeb Bush, Gary Bauer, Elliott 
Abrams, Paul Wolfowitz, Vin Weber, Steve Forbes and others from the 
Reagan/Bush administration, it clearly stated that "the history of this 
century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American leadership."

    Frankly acknowledging that America is a small portion of the world's 
population but uses a large percentage of the world's oil and other 
natural resources, Poppy Bush is famous for having said, "The American 
lifestyle is not negotiable."

    McMansions for two-person families, a transportation infrastructure 
based on 6,000-pound SUVs carrying single individuals, cheap Chinese 
goods at Wal-Mart and cheap Mexican food in the supermarket - all of 
this is not anything America intends to give up.  We're king of the 
hill, and we intend to stay that way, even if it means going to war to 
keep it.

    At the core of this is oil.  When the administration's people say 
American involvement in Iraq is "not about oil," they're often 
responding to charges that they're only going after profits for American 
oil companies.  They speak truth, in that context, when they say the war 
isn't about revenues from oil - the profits will only be a desirable 
side-effect.  What the war is really about is the survival of the 
American lifestyle, which, in their world-view, is both non-negotiable 
and based almost entirely on access to cheap oil.

    The same year Cheney, et al, wrote their papers on The New American 
Century, I wrote a book about the coming end of American peace and 
prosperity because of our dependence on a dwindling supply of oil. 
"Since the discovery of oil in Titusville, PA, where the world's first 
oil well was drilled in 1859," I wrote in The Last Hours of Ancient 
Sunlight, "humans have extracted 742 billion barrels of oil from the 
Earth.  Currently, world oil reserves are estimated at about 1,000 
billion barrels, which will last (according to the most optimistic 
estimates of the oil industry) 'for almost 45 years at current rates of 
consumption.'"

    But that doesn't mean that we'll suck on the straw for 45 years and 
then it'll suddenly stop. When about half the oil has been removed from 
an underground oil field, it starts to get much harder (and thus more 
expensive) to extract the remaining half.  The last third to quarter can 
be excruciatingly expensive to extract - so much so that wells these 
days that have hit that point are usually just capped because it costs 
more to extract the oil than it can be sold for, or it's more profitable 
to ship oil in from the Middle East, even after accounting for the cost 
of shipping.

    The halfway point of an oil field is referred to as "The Hubbert 
Peak," after scientist M. King Hubbert, who first pointed this out in 
1956 and projected 1970 as the year for the Hubbert Peak of US oil 
supplies.  Hubbert was off by four years - 1974 saw the initial decline 
in US oil production and the consequent rise in price.  In 1975, 
Hubbert, who is now deceased, projected 2000 for a worldwide Hubbert 
Peak.  Once that point had been hit, he and other experts suggested, the 
world could expect economy-destabilizing spikes in the price of oil, and 
wars to begin over control of this vital resource.

    Most of the world has now been digitally "X-rayed" using satellites, 
seismic data, and computers, in the process of locating 41,000 oil 
fields.  Over 641,000 exploratory wells have been drilled, and virtually 
all fields which show any promise are well-known and factored into the 
one-trillion barrel estimate the oil industry uses for world oil reserves.

    And of that 1 trillion barrels, Saudi Arabia has about 259 billion 
barrels and Iraq is estimated by the US Government to have 432 billion 
barrels, although at the moment only about 112 billion barrels have been 
tapped. The rest, virgin oil, can be pumped out for as little as $1.50 a 
barrel, making Iraqi oil not only the most abundant in the world, but 
the most profitable.  This at a time when virtually all American oil 
fields (except the Alaska North Slope) have dwindled past the Hubbert 
Peak into $5 to $25 per barrel pumping costs.

    Thus, we see that our "lifestyle" - our ability to maintain our 
auto-based transportation systems, our demand for big, warm houses, and 
our appetite for a wide variety of cheap foods and consumer goods - is 
currently based on access to cheap oil.  If we assume that the American 
people won't tolerate a change in that lifestyle, then we can 
extrapolate that our very security as a stable democracy is dependent on 
cheap oil.

    Viewed in this context, the rush to seize control of the Middle East 
- where about a third of the planet's oil is located - makes perfect 
sense.  It's a noble endeavor, in that view, maintaining the strength 
and vitality of the American Empire.

    Of course, there are a few cracks in this vision.  In order to have 
such a new American century, we must be willing to foul our waters and 
air with the byproducts of oil combustion and oil-fired power plants, 
and tolerate the explosions in cancer they bring.  We must be willing to 
gamble that raising CO2 levels won't destabilize the atmosphere and tip 
us into a new ice age by shutting down the Great Conveyor Belt 
warm-water currents in the Atlantic.  We must be willing to hold the 
rest of the world off at the point of a bayonet, and to take on the 
England/Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine type of terrorism that 
inevitably comes when people decide to assert nationalism and confront 
empire.

    And, perhaps most distressing, the third George to be President of 
the United States must be willing to clamp down on his own dissident 
citizens the same way that King George III of England did in 1776. These 
are the requirements of empire.

    The last American statesman to put forth a different vision was 
President Jimmy Carter, who candidly pointed out to the American people 
that oil was a dwindling domestic resource.  Carter said that we mustn't 
find ourselves in a position of having to fight wars to seize other 
people's oil, and that a decade or two of transition to renewable energy 
sources would ensure the stability and future of America without 
destabilizing the rest of the world.

    It would even lead to a cleaner environment and a better quality of 
life.  Carter put in place energy tax credits and incentives that 
birthed an exploding new industry based on building solar-heated homes, 
windmill-powered communities, and the development of fuel alternatives 
to petroleum.

    Ronald Reagan's first official act of office was to remove Carter's 
solar panels from the roof of the White House.  He then repealed 
Carter's tax incentives for renewable energy and killed off an entire 
industry.  No president since then has had the courage or vision to face 
the hard reality that Carter shared with us.

    And so now we discover these oddities.  Osama bin Laden, for 
example, explicitly said that he had attacked the US because we had 
troops stationed on the holy soil of his homeland - a position not that 
different from Northern Irish, Palestinian, Tamil, and Kashmiri 
terrorists.  And our troops are there to protect our access to Saudi 
oil, a dependence legacy we inherited from Reagan's rejection of 
Carter's initiatives.

    If we are to hold a vision of America that doesn't depend on foreign 
sources of oil and doesn't require the enormous expenditures of money 
and blood to project and protect empire, simply saying "stop the war" 
isn't enough.  We must clearly articulate a vision of what America could 
be in a world in balance, a world at peace, and a world where the 
planet's vital natural resources are protected and renewed.  This is the 
ultimate family value, the highest patriotism, and the most desperately 
needed story to guide the next generation of Americans.

    As President John F. Kennedy said in his 1961 Inaugural Address, 
"All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be 
finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this 
Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let 
us begin."



Thom Hartmann is the author of over a dozen books, including "Unequal 
Protection" and "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight. 
http://www.thomhartmann.com
This article is copyright by Thom Hartmann, but permission is granted 
for reprint in print, email, blog, or web media so long as this credit 
is attached.




From jewen at micronetsystems.net  Wed Mar 19 13:20:44 2003
From: jewen at micronetsystems.net (Julia Ewen)
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 12:20:44 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] 
 Fw: URGENT: Support Emergency UN General Assembly action for peace
 ~ via Voice4Change
Message-ID: <008301c2ee3b$e02f90d0$78e9d2d0@amd1gig>


----- Original Message -----
From: "Julia Parker Ewen" <jewen at micronetsystems.net>
To: "Voice4Change" <webmaster at voice4change.org>
Cc: "Julia Parker Ewen" <jewen at micronetsystems.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 12:00 PM
Subject: URGENT: Support Emergency UN General Assembly action for peace ~
via Voice4Change



Participation Information via Voice4change.

Sender Information:
Name: Julia Parker Ewen
Email: jewen at micronetsystems.net
Address: 2198 Street DeVille, Atlanta GA 30345
Phone: 404-636-3086

Email Contents:


Dear U.N. Ambassador,

President Bush appears determined to wage war on Iraq despite the world's
opposition, despite the progress of UN weapons inspectors, despite the
likelihood that an unprovoked war will foment, rather than eliminate,
terrorism.  The Bush Administration has threatened to attack Iraq even
without the authority of the UN Security Council. This constitutes both a
threat to world peace and to the very integrity of the UN as an institution
dedicated to "the maintenance of international peace and security."  Time is
running short.  This disastrous war must be prevented.

Therefore, I urge you to band together with other nations in support of a
"Uniting for Peace" resolution against an unprovoked invasion of Iraq.

As you know, Resolution 377, adopted by the UN in 1950, was made for
situations precisely like this one.

Uniting for Peace provides that if, because of the lack of unanimity of the
permanent members of the Security Council (France, China, Russia, Britain,
United States), the Council cannot maintain international peace where there
is a "threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression," the
General Assembly "shall consider the matter immediately.." The General
Assembly can meet within 24 hours to consider such a matter, and can
recommend collective measures to U.N. members including the use of armed
forces to "maintain or restore international peace and security."

Such a "Uniting for Peace" resolution could require that no military action
be taken against Iraq without the explicit authority of the Security
Council. It could mandate that the inspectors be permitted to complete their
task. It seems unlikely that the United States and Britain would ignore such
a measure. A vote by the majority of countries in the world, particularly if
it were almost unanimous, would make the unilateral rush to war more
difficult.

Uniting for Peace can be invoked either by seven members of the Security
Council or by a majority of the members of the General Assembly.

Clearly, it our last best hope for fulfilling the mission stated in the UN

Charter: to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war."

Please act now.  It's not too late.

Sincerely,


Julia Parker Ewen
jewen at micronetsystems.net
2198 Street DeVille, Atlanta GA 30345


Form detail can be found at: http://www.voice4change.org/stories/mailUN6.asp


Best Regards,
Voice4Change ~ changing hearts and minds
http://www.voice4change.org




From listener at bellsouth.net  Mon Mar 24 17:09:00 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 15:09:00 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Some spiritual support
References: <3E7208E5.4000904@urisp.net>
Message-ID: <002801c2f249$975c05c0$6501a8c0@heyoka>

When we heard that Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and
Rev. Robert Edgar of the National Council of Churches have called for a
global candlelight vigil for peace this Sunday night, March 16, we got to
thinking about vigil-keeping as a spiritual practice for wartime. This
time-honored way of responding to danger, crisis, and even death is
practiced in most religious traditions and is closely associated with
monastic Christianity.

The word derives from a verb that means "watch" in both the sense of
"observe" and "guard." A vigil is a time of intense wakefulness. The
Bible
is full of stories about people keeping watch, especially during times of
great difficulty and concern for others. Vigils may be silent or filled
with
wails and lamentations. In the Christian tradition, they are seen as
experiences in which we become aware of God's presence -- watching God
watching us.

You may want to keep these traditional understandings of vigil-keeping in
mind this weekend during what promises to be unprecedented global vigil.
Not
only will participants be joining people from all over the world, they
will
be connected through this ancient practice with a cloud of witnesses.

READINGS

Our readings look at the how vigils have been used in the context of the
spiritual life.

* Mary Margaret Funk on Vigil-Keeping in Everyday Life.

In her excellent workbook on Christian practices, "Tools Matter for
Practicing the Spiritual Life," Funk looks at the roots of vigils and
examines two types: the vigil as part of a daily rule of life and the
vigil
during an occasion of concern for another.

http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/excerpts/bookreview/excp_3711.html

* Marcy Heidish on Vigils as a Path through the Valley of the Shadow.

Heidish's book "A Candle at Midnight" specifically addresses the value of
vigil-keeping for those suffering from depression. But as she writes
about
this "spiritual way to face life's stretches of difficulty, uncertainty,
and
waiting," it's clear that this practice has application for many other
situations, including standing up for peace. "A vigil," she writes, "is
an
offering of your time and presence to be specially aware of God."

http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/excerpts/bookreview/excp_2764.html

PRACTICES

* Join the Global Candlelight Vigil for Peace: Sunday, March 16 -- 7:00
PM

More than 4000 vigils have been scheduled in more than 100 countries. To
find a vigil in your area, visit:

http://www.globalvigil.org

* Light a Candle as a Pledge of Peace

Even if you can't get out to a community vigil, you can join this
worldwide
witness by lighting a virtual candle here:

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/special.cfm?p=worldpeace.htm

Salaam, Shalom, Peace,

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat


* * * * * * *

"Spiritual Literacy in Wartime" is an ongoing weekly e-course being led
by
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, authors of "Spiritual Literacy" and
"Spiritual Rx." Copyright (c) 2003 Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Please
feel free to forward this material to others. To see an index of
"Spiritual
Literacy in Wartime" emails and articles, go here:
http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/lists/pth_newsitem.html

If you wish to subscribe to this mailing list,
send an email to:
spiritualliteracyinwartime-request at spiritualityhealth.com
and in the subject line, put:
subscribe

To unsubscribe to this mailing list,
send an email to:
spiritualliteracyinwartime-request at spiritualityhealth.com
and in the subject line, put:
unsubscribe
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From bright_crow at mindspring.com  Tue Mar 25 18:07:38 2003
From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Michael Austin Shell)
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 17:07:38 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Gasoline Prices
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030325170327.009ec660@pop.mindspring.com>

Dear Friends,

Julia Geiger of Jacksonville (FL) Friends Meeting forwarded the following 
to our listserv, without specifically endorsing it herself:


----- Original Message -----
 >>I hear we are going to hit close to $3.00 a gallon by the summer....

 >>With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers need to 
take action. The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is 
if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas!....

 >>How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas.  But 
we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price 
war.

 >>Here's the idea:For the rest of this year, DON"T purchase ANY gasoline 
from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL.....<<


Here is my reply:

As a Quaker who opposes the Iraq War and who opposes our nation's immoral 
energy policy, with its dire consequences for the Middle East, the 
environment and the rest of the world, I am TOTALLY opposed to any
consumer action which seeks to lower American gasoline prices.  The rest of 
the world pays at least $3-6/gallon.  This war is precisely about cheap oil 
FOR US.

Thom Hartmann put it very well in his article, "The Empire Needs New 
Clothes" http://www.thomhartmann.com [shared on the SAYMA listserv recently]:

"Frankly acknowledging that America is a small portion of the world's 
population but uses a large percentage of the world's oil and other natural 
resources, Poppy Bush is famous for having said, 'The American lifestyle is 
not negotiable....'

"At the core of this is oil....  What the war is really about is the 
survival of the American lifestyle, which, in [the] world-view [of the 
neoconservative vision], is both non-negotiable and based almost entirely 
on access to cheap oil....

"When about half the oil has been removed from an underground oil field, it 
starts to get much harder (and thus more expensive) to extract the 
remaining half.  The last third to quarter can be excruciatingly expensive 
to extract - so much so that wells these days that have hit that point are 
usually just capped....  [It's] more profitable to ship oil in from the 
Middle East, even after accounting for the cost of shipping....

"The halfway point of an oil field is referred to as "The Hubbert Peak," 
after scientist M. King Hubbert, who first pointed this out in 1956....

"Iraq is estimated by the US Government to have 432 billion barrels.... 
[It] can be pumped out for as little as $1.50 a barrel, making Iraqi oil 
not only the most abundant in the world, but the most profitable.  This at 
a time when virtually all American oil fields (except the Alaska North 
Slope) have dwindled past the Hubbert Peak into $5 to $25 per barrel 
pumping costs....

"Viewed in this context, the rush to seize control of the Middle East - 
where about a third of the planet's oil is located - makes perfect 
sense.  It's a noble endeavor, in that view, maintaining the strength and 
vitality of the American Empire."

Friends, John Woolman challenged his generation to forsake the material 
privileges which they enjoyed in using products of slavery.  I want to 
challenge our generation to look seriously at what we enjoy at the expense 
of the rest of the world--in particular, now, at the expense of the lives 
of those whom we are killing in the Middle East.

Imagine what would happen if we had to pay $6/gallon for gasoline.  Imagine 
the sort of pressure that would be put on industry to switch to renewable 
energy sources.  Imagine the pressure that would be put on the 
transportation industry and on municipal and state and federal governments 
to develop real, affordable, reliable public transportation.  (In Europe 
one can travel from borough to borough, town to town, country to country, 
using affordable public transportation.)

Imagine what a foreign policy would look like which didn't rationalize war 
for oil, regime change for oil, political and economic blackmail on a 
global scale for oil.

I am highly troubled that we Americans don't want to look at the horrible 
consequences to the world of our squandering lifestyle.

We are killing to preserve that lifestyle.

God help us.

Blessed Be,
Michael.




From jhminshall at attbi.com  Tue Mar 25 20:40:43 2003
From: jhminshall at attbi.com (Janet Minshall)
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 19:40:43 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Gasoline Prices
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20030325170327.009ec660@pop.mindspring.com>
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20030325170327.009ec660@pop.mindspring.com>
Message-ID: <p05100301baa6a6afe9e3@[192.168.1.101]>

Hi Michael,  Good response!  Janet



>Dear Friends,
>
>Julia Geiger of Jacksonville (FL) Friends Meeting forwarded the 
>following to our listserv, without specifically endorsing it herself:
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>>>I hear we are going to hit close to $3.00 a gallon by the summer....
>
>>>With the price of gasoline going up more each day, we consumers 
>>>need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of 
>>>gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not 
>>>purchasing their gas!....
>
>>>How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. 
>>>But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to 
>>>force a price war.
>
>>>Here's the idea:For the rest of this year, DON"T purchase ANY 
>>>gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON 
>>>and MOBIL.....<<
>
>
>Here is my reply:
>
>As a Quaker who opposes the Iraq War and who opposes our nation's 
>immoral energy policy, with its dire consequences for the Middle 
>East, the environment and the rest of the world, I am TOTALLY 
>opposed to any
>consumer action which seeks to lower American gasoline prices.  The 
>rest of the world pays at least $3-6/gallon.  This war is precisely 
>about cheap oil FOR US.
>
>Thom Hartmann put it very well in his article, "The Empire Needs New 
>Clothes" http://www.thomhartmann.com [shared on the SAYMA listserv 
>recently]:
>
>"Frankly acknowledging that America is a small portion of the 
>world's population but uses a large percentage of the world's oil 
>and other natural resources, Poppy Bush is famous for having said, 
>'The American lifestyle is not negotiable....'
>
>"At the core of this is oil....  What the war is really about is the 
>survival of the American lifestyle, which, in [the] world-view [of 
>the neoconservative vision], is both non-negotiable and based almost 
>entirely on access to cheap oil....
>
>"When about half the oil has been removed from an underground oil 
>field, it starts to get much harder (and thus more expensive) to 
>extract the remaining half.  The last third to quarter can be 
>excruciatingly expensive to extract - so much so that wells these 
>days that have hit that point are usually just capped....  [It's] 
>more profitable to ship oil in from the Middle East, even after 
>accounting for the cost of shipping....
>
>"The halfway point of an oil field is referred to as "The Hubbert 
>Peak," after scientist M. King Hubbert, who first pointed this out 
>in 1956....
>
>"Iraq is estimated by the US Government to have 432 billion 
>barrels.... [It] can be pumped out for as little as $1.50 a barrel, 
>making Iraqi oil not only the most abundant in the world, but the 
>most profitable.  This at a time when virtually all American oil 
>fields (except the Alaska North Slope) have dwindled past the 
>Hubbert Peak into $5 to $25 per barrel pumping costs....
>
>"Viewed in this context, the rush to seize control of the Middle 
>East - where about a third of the planet's oil is located - makes 
>perfect sense.  It's a noble endeavor, in that view, maintaining the 
>strength and vitality of the American Empire."
>
>Friends, John Woolman challenged his generation to forsake the 
>material privileges which they enjoyed in using products of slavery. 
>I want to challenge our generation to look seriously at what we 
>enjoy at the expense of the rest of the world--in particular, now, 
>at the expense of the lives of those whom we are killing in the 
>Middle East.
>
>Imagine what would happen if we had to pay $6/gallon for gasoline. 
>Imagine the sort of pressure that would be put on industry to switch 
>to renewable energy sources.  Imagine the pressure that would be put 
>on the transportation industry and on municipal and state and 
>federal governments to develop real, affordable, reliable public 
>transportation.  (In Europe one can travel from borough to borough, 
>town to town, country to country, using affordable public 
>transportation.)
>
>Imagine what a foreign policy would look like which didn't 
>rationalize war for oil, regime change for oil, political and 
>economic blackmail on a global scale for oil.
>
>I am highly troubled that we Americans don't want to look at the 
>horrible consequences to the world of our squandering lifestyle.
>
>We are killing to preserve that lifestyle.
>
>God help us.
>
>Blessed Be,
>Michael.
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list
>sayma at kitenet.net
>http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma


-- 
Janet's new e mail address is :  jhminshall at attbi.com

From moriah at preferred.com  Tue Mar 25 23:25:01 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 22:25:01 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 154 Rep Mtg ...mailbox near you!
Message-ID: <02a001c2f34e$6ce2d980$0500a8c0@oem>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMP ^o^ Bulletin 154
Coming to a mailbox near you!
Rep Meeting registration packets for . . .
---------------------------------------------------------
. . .  Apr 5th, hosted by Asheville FM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


<|>  Registration packets have been mailed to the f/Friends listed
below for the April 5th Rep Meeting in Asheville, NC. (Main
session: 10:00 am Eastern time)

<|>  If you need a packet and aren't on the list, please --
            -- contact one of the people below
                (4 people can register on one form), or ...
            -- contact the SAYMA office at 276-628-5852,
                AdminAsst at sayma.org

<|>  Please register by April 28th; you may register by mail,
phone, or e-mail.  The person to register with is:

<|>  Barbara Esther
            255 Willow Cove Rd, Leicester NC 28748
            barbara.esther at bcsemail.org 
                    (***correction*** / registration form has a typo)
            828/ 683-4839

<|>  Please see IMP^o^ 155 to find out what information to supply by
phone or e-mail in order to register.

<|>  You will need the packet even if you register by e-mail or phone:
it contains directions, map, agenda, and other important information.

<|>  *** If you're interested in "green" travel (car-pooling) to Rep
            Mtg, please contact Bill Reynolds, cisland at aol.com. ***

<|>  If you should have been on this list -- and aren't -- please let
the SAYMA office know.

<|>  If you're on this list and don't need to be, please let the office
know that too!

<|>  Mailed to, in meeting order ...

Michael  Allison  . . . . . . . . . .  Anneewakee 
Free  Polazzo  . . . . . . . . . .  Anneewakee 
Barbara  Esther  . . . . . . . . . .  Asheville 
Margaret  Farmer  . . . . . . . . . .  Asheville 
Lauren  Mitchell  . . . . . . . . . .  Asheville 
George  Oldham  . . . . . . . . . .  Asheville 
Evan  Richardson  . . . . . . . . . .  Asheville 
Betsey  Collins  . . . . . . . . . .  Athens 
Ellen  Johnson  . . . . . . . . . .  Athens 
Janice  Pulliam  . . . . . . . . . .  Athens 
Deb  Weiler  . . . . . . . . . .  Athens 
Kathy  Burke  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Susan  Cozzens  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Priscilla  Ewen  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
'Dolph  Goldenburg  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Carol  Gray  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Bill  Holland*  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Kathy  Johnson  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Joe  Taylor  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Perry  Treadwell  . . . . . . . . . .  Atlanta 
Tom  Brawner  . . . . . . . . . .  Auburn 
Louise  Harmon  . . . . . . . . . .  Berea 
Therese  Hildebrand  . . . . . . . . . .  Berea 
Carol  Lamm  . . . . . . . . . .  Berea 
Tim  Lamm  . . . . . . . . . .  Berea 
Beth  Myers  . . . . . . . . . .  Berea 
Jim  Flege  . . . . . . . . . .  Birmingham 
Mark  Gooch  . . . . . . . . . .  Birmingham 
Connie  LaMonte  . . . . . . . . . .  Birmingham 
John  Geary  . . . . . . . . . .  Boone 
Kathy  Staley  . . . . . . . . . .  Boone 
Bob  French  . . . . . . . . . .  Brevard 
Lee  Scott  . . . . . . . . . .  Brevard 
Joyce  Johnson  . . . . . . . . . .  Celo 
Frederick  Martin  . . . . . . . . . .  Celo 
Bob  McGahey  . . . . . . . . . .  Celo 
Geeta  McGahey  . . . . . . . . . .  Celo 
Colin  Sugioka  . . . . . . . . . .  Celo 
Rachel  Weir  . . . . . . . . . .  Celo 
Ray  Lewis  . . . . . . . . . .  Charleston 
Steve  Mininger  . . . . . . . . . .  Charleston 
Charles  Schade  . . . . . . . . . .  Charleston 
Tom  Baugh  . . . . . . . . . .  Chattanooga 
Nancy  Beecher  . . . . . . . . . .  Chattanooga 
Larry  Ingle  . . . . . . . . . .  Chattanooga 
Bill  Reynolds  . . . . . . . . . .  Chattanooga 
Peggy  Bonnington  . . . . . . . . . .  Clarksville 
Nancy  Winfrey  . . . . . . . . . .  Clemson 
John  Spraker  . . . . . . . . . .  Cleveland 
Stan  Spraker  . . . . . . . . . .  Cleveland 
Sallie  Prugh  . . . . . . . . . .  Columbia 
Julia  Sibley-Jones  . . . . . . . . . .  Columbia 
Annie  Black  . . . . . . . . . .  Cookeville 
Diana  Lalani  . . . . . . . . . .  Cookeville 
Deanna  Nipp  . . . . . . . . . .  Cookeville 
Gladys  Draudt  . . . . . . . . . .  Crossville 
Dennis  Gregg  . . . . . . . . . .  Crossville 
Mary  Calhoun  . . . . . . . . . .  Foxfire 
Beth  Keiter  . . . . . . . . . .  Foxfire 
Christopher  Berg  . . . . . . . . . .  Greenville 
Norman  Goerlich  . . . . . . . . . .  Greenville 
Judy  Guerry  . . . . . . . . . .  Huntsville 
Kristi  Estes  . . . . . . . . . .  Memphis 
Debra  Johnson  . . . . . . . . . .  Memphis 
Ron  McDonald  . . . . . . . . . .  Memphis 
Wib   Smith  . . . . . . . . . .  Murfreesboro 
Pam  Beziat  . . . . . . . . . .  Nashville 
Dick  Houghton  . . . . . . . . . .  Nashville 
Kit  Potter  . . . . . . . . . .  Nashville 
Geoffrey  Pratt  . . . . . . . . . .  Nashville 
Joyce   Rouse  . . . . . . . . . .  Nashville 
Penelope   Wright  . . . . . . . . . .  Nashville 
Kim   Carlyle  . . . . . . . . . .  New Moon / Swannanoa
Susan   Carlyle  . . . . . . . . . .  New Moon /Swannanoa
Nan   Johnson  . . . . . . . . . .  Oxford 
Daryl   Bergquist  . . . . . . . . . .  Royal 
Jane   Price  . . . . . . . . . .  Sevier 
Lyn   Hutchinson  . . . . . . . . . .  Sewanee 
Suzanne   Gernandt  . . . . . . . . . .  Swannanoa 
Kathryn   Parke  . . . . . . . . . .  Swannanoa  
Bob   Welsh  . . . . . . . . . .  Swannanoa 
Sharon   Annis  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Lee   Hoefer  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Kendall   Ivie  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Missy   Ivie  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Jomo   MacDermott  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Turtle   MacDermott  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Kathleen   Mavournin  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Carol   Nickle  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 
Lee Ann   Swarm  . . . . . . . . . .  West Knoxville 

~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ postdate 032503 ~~~~~~

_____________________________
IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present"

is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details
to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free
list-server:  semi-official information, bulletins that you can print,
post, announce, publish, or pass around.  Please address questions,
corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org, or
276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p). 
Thank you!  ^o^
-----------------------------------------------------
To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server,
sayma at kitenet.net.  You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net,
writing only the word       subscribe    in the body of your e-mail
message.  You can also subscribe on the web at
http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma.
------------------------------------------------------



From moriah at preferred.com  Tue Mar 25 23:57:05 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 22:57:05 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 155 Rep Meeting "e-registration"
Message-ID: <02a101c2f34e$6f0396a0$0500a8c0@oem>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMP ^o^ Bulletin 155
Information needed to register electronically
for Spring Rep Meeting ...
..........................................................
but you still need a registration packet!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


<|>  You may register by phone or e-mail for the Spring Rep Meeting
scheduled for April 5th in Asheville NC.  (Main session:  10:00 am
Eastern time)

<|>  Please register by March 28.
        The person to register with is Barbara Esther--
                828/ 683-4839
                barbara.esther at bcsemail.org

|>  You will need a registration packet even if you register by e-mail
or phone; it contains maps, directions, agenda, and other important
information.

<|>  If you need a packet, please --
            -- check IMP^o^ 154 to see if one was mailed to you, or ...
            -- contact a person who was listed, or ...
            -- contact your meeting clerk, or ...
            -- contact the SAYMA office at 276-628-5852,
                 AdminAsst at sayma.org

<|>  Meanwhile, IMP^o^ bulletin 154 will give you partial information.

<|>  Info needed for Rep Meeting registration:

1.  If you need childcare please notify Barbara Esther (828-683-4839)
right away to see if it can be arranged; childcare will be very
limited.

2.  If you need hospitality (place to sleep & light breakfast provided 
by local f/Friend), please register with Barbara right away.

    (a)  Please indicate people who can share a room...
    (b)  ...& those who can share a bed.
    (c)  Friday night for (#) ____ people.
            Expected time of arrival: ______
    (d)  Saturday night for (#) ____ people.
            Expected time of arrival: ____
    (e)  Please say who is arriving when, if the folks below
            are not all traveling together.
    (f)   Any special needs? (Vegetarian, vegan, special diet,
            house without stairs, hills, wood smoke, pets, or a
            child-proof house, etc. ...?)

3.  Names and addresses of person(s) you're registering

4.  Purpose for attending:
           (a) Rep Meeting, M&N, Yearly Mtg Planning, other
           (b) child; please give name(s), age(s) and
                    special needs of child(ren) requiring care.

5.  Year your term ends (of the appointment, if any, that brings
        you to Rep Meeting)

6.  Meeting or Worship Group name

7.  Your contact info:
        area code + phone number (& e-mail address if you have one)
        If giving both, please indicate the preferred means of
            communication

8.  If you ask for hospitality, and your request hasn't been
acknowledged by Apr 1st, please contact Barbara Esther
(828-683-4839) if you need reassurance.

9.  Cancellation:  after registering, if you are unable to attend for
any reason, lease notify Barbara Esther as soon as possible at
828-683-4839, barbara.esther at bcsemail.org

~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ postdate 032503 ~~~~~~

________________________________
IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present"

is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details
to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free
list-server:  semi-official information, bulletins that you can print,
post, announce, publish, or pass around.  Please address questions,
corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org, or
276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p).
Thank you!  ^o^
-----------------------------------------------------
To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server,
sayma at kitenet.net.  You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net,
writing only the word       subscribe    in the body of your e-mail
message.  You can also subscribe on the web at
http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma.
------------------------------------------------------


From moriah at preferred.com  Wed Mar 26 00:09:05 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 23:09:05 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 156 "green" travel to Rep Mtg
Message-ID: <02a201c2f34e$7031b660$0500a8c0@oem>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMP ^o^ Bulletin 156
Earth-Friendly Travel to...
...Spring Rep Meeting in Knoxville
-----------------------------------------------
contact Bill Reynolds
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(from an 3-17-03 phone call with Bill Reynolds,
        member of SAYMA Ecological Concerns Network )


<|>    Please :o) share with your meeting or worship group.  

<|>    "I have volunteered to coordinate car and/or van pooling for
our trips to the April 5 Representative Meeting at Asheville
in order to minimize the aggregate environmental damage from our
vehicle emissions as we travel.

<|>    "If you are planning to go to the meeting and do not already
have arrangements for traveling in a vehicle that will be filled to
capacity, please let me know.

<|>    "And, if you have a vehicle making the trip, let me know
                a) how many spaces are available
                b) where you will be leaving from
                c) when you expect to depart

<|>   " If you seek to 'hitch a ride,' please let me know
                a) where you will be leaving from
                b) when you expect to depart
                c) how many you are

<|>    "Thanks, Bill Reynolds"
                        (Chattanooga FM)
                        cisland at aol.com
                        423/ 624-6821

~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 032503 ~~~~~~

_______________________________________
IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present"

is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details
to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our free
list-server:  semi-official information, bulletins that you can print,
post, announce, publish, or pass around.  Please address questions,
corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org,
276-628-5852 (machine), or SAYMA Admin. Asst., PO Box 2191,
Abingdon, VA 24212-2191.  Thank you!  ^o^
-----------------------------------------------------
To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the free list server,
sayma at kitenet.net.  You can e-mail to sayma-request at kitenet.net,
writing only the word       subscribe    in the body of your e-mail
message.  You can also subscribe on the web at
http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma.
------------------------------------------------------





From earthsteward at urisp.net  Thu Mar 27 08:40:34 2003
From: earthsteward at urisp.net (Daryl Bergquist)
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 06:40:34 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] 
 Position available: Religious Ed Program Coordinator - Philadelphia
 Yearly Meeting
Message-ID: <3E82F142.7070901@urisp.net>

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From listener at bellsouth.net  Fri Mar 28 01:05:48 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 23:05:48 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Logic?
Message-ID: <005c01c2f4ec$dd683b10$6501a8c0@heyoka>

Subject: Elegant Logic...

This is a piece by Peter Fruendlich heard on National Public Radio:

All right, let me see if I understand the logic of this correctly. We are going to ignore the United Nations in order to make clear to Saddam Hussein that the United Nations cannot be ignored.

We're going to wage war to preserve the UN's ability to avert war. The paramount principle is that the UN's word must be taken seriously, and if we have to subvert its word to guarantee that it is, then by gun, we will.

Peace is too important not to take up arms to defend it. Am I getting this right?

Further, if the only way to bring democracy to Iraq is to vitiate the democracy of the Security Council, then we are honor bound to that too, because democracy, as we define it, is too important to be stopped by a little thing like democracy as they see it.

Also, in dealing with a man who brooks no dissension at home, we cannot afford dissension among ourselves. We must speak with one voice against Saddam Hussein's failure to allow opposing voices to be heard.

We are sending our gathered might to the Persian Gulf to make the point that might does not make right, as Saddam Hussein seems to think it does.

And we are twisting the arms of the opposition until it agrees to let us oust a regime that twists the arms of the opposition.

We cannot leave in power a dictator who ignores his own people. And if our people, and people elsewhere in the world, fail to understand that, then we have no choice but to ignore them.

Listen. Don't misunderstand. I think it is good that the members of the Bush administration seem to have been reading Lewis Carroll. I only wish someone had pointed out that "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" are meditations on paradox and puzzle and illogic and on the strangeness of things, not templates for foreign policy.

It is amusing for the Mad Hatter to say something like, "We must make war on him because he is a threat to peace," but not amusing for someone who commands an army to say that.

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From reddeanna at charter.net  Fri Mar 28 21:48:49 2003
From: reddeanna at charter.net (Red & Deanna)
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 19:48:49 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Emailing: bodycount
Message-ID: <001301c2f595$582dbd40$41a09e18@D714S421>

A local Friend forwarded a link to this Web site to me.  I thought SAYMA folks would probably be interested.

Peace,

Deanna
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From moriah at preferred.com  Fri Mar 28 16:26:41 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 15:26:41 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: Statement Against War 
Message-ID: <02af01c2f5aa$8ccebe40$0500a8c0@oem>

Friends,

This is a forward of a Friends General Conference message.

Mary Calhoun
AdminAsst at sayma.org

-------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Hirshkowitz
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 3:48 PM
Subject: FGC: Statement Against War

A Statement from Leaders of Friends Organizations in the U.S.
Regarding the War in Iraq
March 20, 2003

As servants of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), as citizens
of the United States, and as members of the human family, we speak today
to express our profound grief and sorrow over our government's decision
to go to war against Iraq.  This is a choice we know will have enormous
and tragic consequence--many as yet unimagined--for the Iraqi people,
for our own nation, and for the world.  It is a choice we believe was
unnecessary, immoral and unwise, especially since it was taken before
all the nonviolent and diplomatic alternatives were exhausted; indeed,
before some were even explored.

The God we worship is a God of love (I John: 4). This Divine Spirit will
always guide us into "paths of righteousness--into lives of caring for,
service to, and reconciliation with our fellow human beings--if only we
will open ourselves to Divine direction and follow where that leads.
This God tells "what is good, and that is to do justice, and love mercy,
and walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8).  The living Christ, our
Teacher, tells us "to love our enemies" (Mt. 6:44).  We wonder where the
justice, the mercy, or the love is to be found in our government's
decision to launch this preemptive attack, and begin a war where so many
people will die.

We are deeply saddened by the pain and suffering, the destruction and
loss of life, and the grief that this war will bring to the Iraqi
people.  We are deeply saddened as well by the pain and suffering, the
loss of life, and the grief that will be experienced by our soldiers,
their families, and the many, many others who will be victims of this
war.  All these people--Iraqis, American, British and others--are
children of God.  We pray for God's mercy on us all.

If this war goes swiftly, and the military objectives of our government
are achieved, some will call it a success.  But that can never be true.
This war, like every war, represents a profound failure.  It shows the
failure of individuals and governments to address conditions of poverty,
injustice, and oppression that lead to war.  It shows our failure as
human beings to overcome our own fears and greed, which we are told in
Scripture are the root causes of war and strife (James 4:1-2).  It shows
a failure of will and creativity among those in our own government and
others to seek alternatives to military force to resolve our conflicts.
Finally, it represents a tragic failure to work through and respect the
United Nations as the keystone of an evolving international system of
law and diplomacy that can respond to international crises and avert
war.

On this day, in our sorrow and our hope for a better future, we recommit
ourselves to work with all people of faith and goodwill to bring this
conflict to an end, and to do whatever can be done to avoid more wars.
We believe, as President Carter observed in accepting the Nobel Peace
Prize, that "war is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how
to live together in peace by killing each other's children."  And we
pray fervently for that time the prophet Isaiah predicted, when we
"shall beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears into pruning
hooks; and nation will not lift up sword against nation, and we shall
not learn war anymore" (Is. 2:4).

Signatories:

Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary,
        American Friends Service Committee
Joe Volk, Executive Secretary,
        Friends Committee on National Legislation
Bruce Birchard, General Secretary,
        Friends General Conference
Ben Richmond, Director of North American Ministries,
        Friends United Meeting
Steve Baumgartner, Executive Director,
        Pendle Hill
Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary,
        Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

--
Barbara Hirshkowitz * Publications Manager * Friends General Conference
1216 Arch Street 2B * Philadelphia, PA 19107 * (215) 561-1700
E-mail: barbarah at fgcquaker.org  * www.fgcquaker.org

------------------------------------------------



From moriah at preferred.com  Fri Mar 28 16:37:42 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 15:37:42 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: Upcoming ESR Access Courses
Message-ID: <02b101c2f5aa$8f21d600$0500a8c0@oem>

Friends,

A forward of a message from Earlham School of Religion.

Mary Calhoun
AdminAsst at sayma.org

------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: Gail Bingham
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 2:41 PM
Subject: Upcoming ESR Access Courses


ESR Access graduate courses in Richmond, IN, May and August 2003
.       May - Moral and Faith Development, Pastoral Ministry Among
Friends, Writing for Ministry, Ministry Among Unprogrammed Friends
.       August - Educational Ministries, Introduction to Spiritual
Formation, Aspects of Writing As Ministry

Registration is needed one month before the start of a course. Admission
paperwork is needed two weeks before registration. Additional on-line
courses for credit or audit are available during the semesters. To
apply, see ESR's website  www.esr.earlham.edu. For further information
contact: Sue Axtell, ESR Admissions, (800)432-1377 or
axtelsu at earlham.edu.

---------------------------------------------------------


From moriah at preferred.com  Sat Mar 29 00:37:07 2003
From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun)
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 23:37:07 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: Potential stop-the-war vote in Congress
Message-ID: <000601c2f5af$b6ffe220$0500a8c0@oem>

>From a local peace group list-serv.

^o^
Mary
---------------------------------------------------
"Art, not arms."

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Brooks <shbrooks at mounet.com>
To: APEC <Apec at kitenet.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 10:39 AM
Subject: [apec] Potential stop-the-war vote in Congress + more


| Friends and Concerned Americans,
|
| Against all odds, there were enough signatures, e-mails telegrams and
| phone calls within the last 24 hours to Congressman Dennis J.Kucinich
| of Ohio to persuade him to introduce before the House of
Representatives
| in Washington, D.C. a little known resolution that deprives the
President
| of his authority to wage war.
|
| However, we must now persuade Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
| that there is a growing consensus if not a plurality to mandate the
| resolution for a House ballot.
|
| Therefore, please take a moment to e-mail Speaker Hastert by simply
| saying, "I am in favor of introducing HJ Resolution 20 for a vote."
|
| Speaker Hastert's e-mail:
| <mailto:Speaker at mail.house.gov>Speaker at mail.house.gov
|
| Please do this NOW.
| And please forward to every other concerned citizen you know.
|-----------------------------------------------------------



From bright_crow at mindspring.com  Sat Mar 29 23:29:00 2003
From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Michael Austin Shell)
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 22:29:00 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Supporting the Troops
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030329222809.009ec160@pop.mindspring.com>

Dearest Friends,

I have been troubled all day--or actually for several days--over the 
dilemma of what to affirm on behalf of the men and women whom we have sent 
into war in Iraq.

I remain totally opposed to this war.  As the days pass, I see coming to 
pass one after another of those truths about war against which we 
dissenters warned, truths which we know about from Vietnam and from all the 
other lessons of history, but which our government and media and general 
public have pretended to believe we could somehow bypass (or ignore) this 
time around.

At the same time, I know that once those who choose the warrior path have 
committed themselves, there is a warrior morality which comes into play.  I 
know, as a Quaker, that those who have not led to put down the sword follow 
a path of conscience very different than mine.  My regret is that our 
nation has chosen to send several hundred thousand young people down that path.

Here are excerpts from two separate articles in Saturday's NEW YORK TIMES, 
two very different takes on the moral ambivalence of what we have put these 
people into.

The first article interviews two Marine sharpshooters about the difficulty 
of trying to shoot Iraqi soldiers without hitting civilians:

" 'It's a judgment call,' Corporal McIntosh said.  'If the risks outweigh 
the losses, then you don't take the shot.'

"But in the heat of a firefight, both men conceded, when the calculus often 
warps, a shot not taken in one set of circumstances may suddenly present 
itself as a life-or-death necessity.

" 'We dropped a few civilians,' Sergeant Schrumpf said, 'but what do you do?'

"To illustrate, the sergeant offered a pair of examples from earlier in the 
week.

" 'There was one Iraqi soldier, and 25 women and children,' he said, 'I 
didn't take the shot.'

"But more than once, Sergeant Schrumpf said, he faced a different choice: 
one Iraqi soldier standing among two or three civilians.  He recalled one 
such incident, in which he and other men in his unit opened fire.  He 
recalled watching one of the women standing near the Iraqi soldier go down.

" 'I'm sorry,' the sergeant said.  'But the chick was in the way.' "

I read this and think: This man has already given up his awareness of 
humanity.  He began by struggling over the false moral distinction invoked 
in valuing one life (a soldier's) less than another (a civilian's).  Now he 
has rationalized that the civilian life--trivialized as a "chick" who was 
"in the way"--can be casually brushed aside--"dropped"--for the sake of 
destroying the life of the soldier.

The second article discusses the distress of young soldiers who are killing 
for the first time.  It interviews Sergeant Redmond, who "said he did not 
expect the Iraqis to resist so doggedly.

" 'I expected a lot more people to surrender,' he said.  'From all the 
reports we got, I thought they would all capitulate....'

" 'When I go home, people will want to treat me like a hero, but I'm not,' 
he went on.  'I'm a Christian man.  If I have to kill another guy, I will, 
but it doesn't make me a hero.  I just want to go home to my wife and kids.'

"The brigade's chief chaplain, Maj. Mark B. Nordstrom, said he spent more 
than six hours with the troop's soldiers on Thursday after they returned 
from Kift.  Sergeant Redmond was among them.

"Major Nordstrom belongs to a branch of the Mennonites with a pacifist 
theology.  He cites St. Augustine's theory of just war: 'War is love's 
response to a neighbor threatened by force.'

" 'We're in the thousands now that were killed in the last few days,' he 
said today.  'Nothing prepares you to kill another human being.  Nothing 
prepares you to use a machine gun to cut someone in two.

" 'They tell stories amongst themselves,' he added of the soldiers.  'When 
I come up, they tell different stories.  It bothers them to take life, 
especially that close.  They want to talk to me so that they know that I 
know they are not awful human beings.' "

I read this and curse St. Augustine.  I read this and wonder what sort of 
Mennonite this chaplain is.  I read this, and I wonder what to pray for.

How do we support these troops, whom we have sent into such a morally 
insupportable situation?

I have no answer.

Blessed Be,
Michael.



From auntdawn at i1.net  Sun Mar 30 10:35:44 2003
From: auntdawn at i1.net (Dawn L. Rubbert)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 08:35:44 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] Pray for Pres Bush 4/1
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20030329222809.009ec160@pop.mindspring.com>
Message-ID: <001301c2f6c9$a6a53720$caa54ad1@pavilion>

Dear  Friends, Bronwyn Zwirner, an attender and activist in St. Louis,
sent this to me. She recieved it from cousins in New Hampshire.  It echoes
a message we received during worship a few weeks ago
-- Dawn Rubbert, St. Louis MM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sent to us through our Quaker Meeting...

Beloved Friends,

Last weekend 600 people gathered on the Big Island of Hawaii to listen to
the messages of peace from several of the Psychic Children we have been
working with over the past year. I believe it was one of the most profound
experiences any of us have ever had, and the Children themselves were
overjoyed with the opportunity.

In fact, during a panel discussion on Sunday, they presented their idea of a
world wide prayer vigil that they believe would have a profound effect on
the current crisis in Iraq. Its simplicity and wisdom is overwhelming, and
the fact that the idea comes from children makes it irresistible.

They want to call this: A Prayer Vigil for George Bush

They explained that there is so much energy against President Bush that we
are not helping him make decisions for the highest good of every person on
the planet. The more we focus on what we don't like, the more it increases.

They suggest that we See president Bush as God would, and focus on the Light
in the President, thereby amplifying the Light.

The children believe that if hundreds of thousands of people do this at the
same moment, then the effect on his consciousness would be profound. I have
to agree.

Therefore, we have decided to conduct an emergency "Great Experiment IV" and
are asking all the Spiritual Peacemakers around the world to join us in this
important project.

Here are the details:

April 1, 2003, 11 AM New York time, 8 AM California Time (determine your own
time zone based on this) Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people,
will join together for fifteen minutes as one mind and pray for President
Bush (and all those who influence his decision making) to make all his
decisions based on the highest good of all beings on earth.

The Children suggested that we begin by imagining him as a little boy, and
use our energy to empower his heart. They say that the boy is still within
him, though he is very afraid.
He doesn't need to be attacked for what he is doing, but loved, not for his
actions, but for the Truth within him.

We call this: "Seeing as God Sees and Loving as God Loves."
If possible, gather with other people during this vigil, and please pass
this E-mail on to as many people as you can to help spread the word.

Hundreds of people will be joining together in Washington, DC to anchor
these important prayers. We are in the process of securing a permit for a
location as close to the White House as possible, and will have children
present a section of the "Children's Cloth of Many Colors" at the White
House that same day. (The Children's Cloth of Many Colors is over one-third
of a mile long, and is made up of pieces of cloth that have been infused
with the energy of peace from tens of thousands of children from around the
world. It came from the original "Cloth of Many Colors" peace project I
started in 1999 which has been presented at the UN in New York, the US
Capitol, the Pentagon, and many other places around the world.

For more info on the CCMC, go to www.themastersgroup.org .) If you live in
the Washington area and would like to join the group praying near the White
House, send an E-mail to: geharmony at aol.com. You will receive a reply as
soon as the location has been secured.

The Children wanted me to stress that this has nothing to do with agreeing
or disagreeing with President Bush in regard to the war in Iraq. They say
that in order to be Spiritual Peacemakers we must release our judgment and
focus only on the higher good.

George Bush has the power to effect the lives of so many people, and we pray
that he will do so with compassion and peace. The intention of this vigil is
to break down the walls of fear and increase the love in his heart.

It is the gift of the children. Please join us.

Once again, April 1, 11 AM EST, fifteen minutes sending George Bush all the
love you have in your heart. And tell the whole world.

In Peace,
James Twyman



From perryt at bellsouth.net  Sun Mar 30 19:34:15 2003
From: perryt at bellsouth.net (Perry Treadwell)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 15:34:15 -0800
Subject: [saymaListserv] [Fwd: O'Reilly Column]
Message-ID: <3E877EF7.2030105@bellsouth.net>

  Here's another AJC refused to publish

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: O'Reilly Column
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 13:06:27 -0800
From: Perry Treadwell <perryt at bellsouth.net>
To: letters at ajc.com



  Letters,

Bill O?Reilly?s diatribe against Hollywood actors claiming that they 
need a history lesson (AJC 3/28/03) proves that a little history is a 
dangerous thing. O?Reilly is quite selective with his facts. The rise of 
Hitler goes back farther than the 1930's. Look to the First World War 
and its aftermath.
Remember that the Republicans in Congress refused to ratify the League 
of Nations treaty that President Wilson brought back from Paris in 1920 
after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. America became isolationist.
Europe had lost a whole generation of young men. War reparations forced 
on Germany created a destabilized economy that was sunk by the 1929 crash.
In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria then walked out of the League when 
sanctioned. In 1935, Mussolini invaded Abyssinia and then walked out of 
the League.
Seeing the weakness of the League, Hitler began by taking small bites of 
European countries and testing his war machine in Spain.
The roots of the U.S. invasion of Iraq go down deeply into the First 
World War and the posturing of European monarchies who thought the war 
would be over in weeks. At the war's end, the middle eastern countries 
were Balkanized much like the Balkans where we also are peace keeping today.
Iraq was cobbled together for British interests. The Cold War made it 
another dictatorship the U.S. needed to support as a buffer against 
Soviet expansion. Remember, the U.S. helped put Saddam in power and 
helped him fight Iran. Now we reap what we have sown.

Perry Treadwell, Decatur Author, 404.325.1504



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From Jlcpulliam at aol.com  Sun Mar 30 17:48:07 2003
From: Jlcpulliam at aol.com (Jlcpulliam at aol.com)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 16:48:07 EST
Subject: [saymaListserv] Supporting the Troops
Message-ID: <105.2b814c36.2bb8c017@aol.com>

Michael (Bright Crow),

I am torn by this also, and daily, because I have a friend whose son, Roberto 
Pickering, is a Marine in Iraq. This man made several choices through the 
years that I wish he hadn't made and that took him where he is, but now he is 
there, and at home his family worries constantly.  I worry for him primarily 
because I am sad for his mother. 

What do I pray for, for him?  I pray that the best parts of him be made the 
strongest parts of him---that that of God in him will be strengthened.   I 
pray for this man, whom I know mostly as a boy, to be aware that he is loved 
and missed by his family, so that he will be comforted as well as 
strengthened during this time of trial.  

And I pray for his family, that they may be resilient and endure whatever 
they must endure, and gain peace of mind and heart as much as possible.

What do I pray for the rest of the people in Iraq? I pray that God will watch 
over the ones that I know and also all the soldiers and all the civilians in 
Iraq.  I state in my prayer that I don't know what is the right thing to pray 
for, but I ask God to make the best things happen that can happen, for 
everybody involved, even though I cannot guess what that will be. 

Perhaps I should also pray that my friend's son may not be dehumanized by all 
he goes through, so that he may learn, as many Vietnam veterans have learned, 
that war is not the right way to solve things.

And always I pray that he lives through it.

As well as praying for the people in Iraq to be held in the Light of God's 
Love, I often pray for Bush and his cohorts to be held in the Light, too.  I 
don't know anything better than to send out rays of Love and hope that Bush's 
eyes will be opened, or that way will open somehow for something better to 
come into being from this conflict.

I guess I mean that we all need to strive to be our best selves---and not let 
ourselves get bogged down and depressed by the war news.  That is part of my 
daily battle that I need God's help with.

I didn't mean to preach here.  I just thought that by sharing my thoughts, 
something might be brought more into the light for some of us.  I hope this 
helps.

Peace to all,
Janice
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From listener at bellsouth.net  Sun Mar 30 21:59:14 2003
From: listener at bellsouth.net (Kit Potter)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 19:59:14 -0600
Subject: [saymaListserv] 
 Fw: Bible Study: Biblical Storytelling Conference in Atlanta July
 9-12, 2003
Message-ID: <007901c2f739$e3a28270$6501a8c0@heyoka>

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julia Ewen" <jewen at micronetsystems.net>
> To: <sayma-fw at topica.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 6:31 PM
> Subject: Fw: Bible Study: Biblical Storytelling Conference in Atlanta July
> 9-12, 2003
>
>
> > I thought SAYMA Friends might be interested in this. If you are a story
> > teller, or just enjoy hearing story-tellers, or enjoy hearing the
> scripture
> > in a new way, this might be for you. The conference center is a very
nice
> > one, and if you want a focused vacation not too far from home, this may
be
> > the place for you!   Julia Parker Ewen, Atlanta Friends.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Julia Ewen" <jewen at micronetsystems.net>
> > To: "Erin Schroder" <eschrod at bellsouth.net>
> > Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 6:28 PM
> > Subject: Bible Study: Biblical Storytelling Conference in Atlanta July
> 9-12,
> > 2003
> >
> >
> > > The Network of Biblical Storytellers, an interdenominational society
of
> > > storytellers, who focus on Bible story telling is holding its annual
> > > conference at Simpsonwood, the Methodist conference center where
Atlanta
> > > Friends had our gathered meeting retreat last year. Participation can
be
> > for
> > > the whole week or for a single day or even part of a day, and either
> > > commuting participation or overnight stays at the center for all or
part
> > of
> > > the conference are an option.
> > >
> > > I attended for part of a day last year, when the tales from Genesis,
the
> > > Abraham saga, was the focus. It was great! with excellent highly
skilled
> > > storytellers, who made these stories as entertaining as any secular
> > > folktale, and whose talents helped illuminate a number of theological
> > points
> > > in these stories that had puzzled me for years.
> > >
> > > This year the stories of focus include the Battle of Jericho (Joshua
6:
> > > 12-20), the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo (Daniel 3:19-28)
and
> > the
> > > Day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-18) . There are workshops on cultivating
> > > story-telling skills for beginners and for experienced story tellers
and
> > > workshops on discussion and interpretation of the Bible stories and
> > adapting
> > > the insights to effective story-telling techniques. Rather than
> "midrash"
> > > these story tellers emphasize an oral-tradition-like adherence to the
> > > stories as "passed down" in the scripture, but their studies and
> > > interpretations of the story affect how they choose to deliver it.
> > >
> > > One day commuter registration is $95. But I negotiated a $45 fee
> including
> > > my dinner last year for attending the evening "performance" on one day
> > only.
> > > A full conference fee including room and meals at Simpsonwood Is $525
> for
> > > nonmembers if you reserve by April 30, $525 after April 30 but before
> May
> > 30
> > > and $625 after May 30. Add $35 per night for a single room.
> > >
> > > For additional information, you can contact me, or
> > >
> > > Network of Biblical Storytellers
> > > 1810 Harvard Boulevard
> > > Dayton OH 45406
> > > 1-800-355-NOBS
> > > nobsint at nobs.org
> > >
> > > If you want to participate as a storyteller on the program, contact
> Dennis
> > > Dewey, Program Director, 1-800-STORY-XL or DenDew at aol.com
> > >
> > > If a group of six of us go together, we will get one registration
free,
> > and
> > > if we agree to share the rebate equally, that would reduce costs some.
> > >
> > > Registration is by phone or mail or through the website: www.NOBS.org
> > >
> > > But Atlanta people who want to go, it would be helpful to coordinate
our
> > > registration and try to obtain the discount if we can get the required
> > > number together.
> > >
> > > Julia Parker Ewen
> > >
> >
>
>


From bsan at usit.net  Mon Mar 31 11:20:32 2003
From: bsan at usit.net (Brian and Sharon)
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 10:20:32 -0500
Subject: [saymaListserv] Intolerance In a Time of War
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20030331101512.009f1cd0@pop.onemain.com>

Sent to West Knoxville folks and seems an appropriate addition to our 
dilogue amoung SAYMA Friends as well as the rest of the world.
Sharon Annis


 > Be mindful of who we are.   Think about who or what we might become.
 >
 > Intolerance In a Time of War
 >
 > By Brian Willoughby, Tolerance.org
 >
 > March 28, 2003
 >
 > http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15502
 >
 > And so it begins, the intolerance of war.
 >
 > Already this week, even before the bombs began dropping, it
 > had reared its ugly head.
 >
 > Consider an incident in the Houston area, where a woman of
 > French descent who has lived in the United States for 23
 > years, a retired real estate agent, found these words spray-
 > painted in red on her garage door: "Scum go back to France."
 >
 > The words are part of a wave of anti-France animosity, based
 > on France's refusal to support our nation's unilateral march
 > toward war.
 >
 > Francoise Thomas discovered the words Saturday morning. Some
 > neighbors rallied to her side, painting over the hateful
 > graffiti and bringing Thomas flowers and chocolates. She and
 > others wonder if a neighbor did it. Who else, they ask, know
 > Thomas is from France?
 >
 > Suspicion, backlash, anger and fear. These are the homeland
 > insecurities that surround us in times of war.
 >
 > Muslims will feel it. Arab-Americans will feel it. Peace
 > activists will feel it. The divides that separate us will be
 > drawn into sharper relief. What can be done, what can you
 > do, to bridge those divides?
 >
 > Lessons of 9/11
 >
 > If 9/11 taught us anything, it taught us that our biases are
 > emboldened in times of stress and pain.
 >
 > Statistics gathered from various sources by the U.S.
 > Department of Justice make it clear that heightened fears
 > bring heightened stereotypes:
 >
 > There has been a 1700% increase in reported hate and bias
 > crimes against Arabs, Muslims and those perceived to be Arab
 > or Muslim since 9.11.
 >
 > At least three individuals were murdered and likely four
 > more were murdered after 9.11 as a result of Anti-Arab
 > backlash.
 >
 > Within six months of 9.11, the American-Arab Anti-
 > Discrimination Committee received reports of 600 violent
 > incidents directed against Arab-Americans in the United
 > States including acts of physical violence, vandalism,
 > arson, beatings, assaults with weapons and direct threats of
 > specific acts of violence.
 >
 > Forty-five cases of beatings, harassment, threats and
 > vandalism were reported in the six months following 9.11
 > against Arab-American students in elementary, high schools
 > and universities.
 >
 > And as is true of all hate-crime statistics, many incidents
 > go unreported due to further fears of retribution.
 >
 > Knowing this, the Arab American Institute in Washington,
 > D.C., met in late February, when war clearly was imminent,
 > to discuss fears of another such backlash.
 >
 > "Since we went through this once already, especially in a
 > lot of bigger communities, we're better prepared this time,"
 > said Jean AbiNader, managing director of the Arab American
 > Institute. "This time, it's a rekindling and rebuilding of
 > good relations."
 >
 > Those relations, though, are strained by the Department of
 > Justice's ongoing "special registration" of foreign
 > visitors, from mostly Muslim countries, which has resulted
 > in widespread detentions and complaints.
 >
 > "We still don't know who has been detained and who has been
 > deported," AbiNader said. "This cloud of secrecy exists."
 >
 > Despite those strains, AbiNader doesn't expect the backlash
 > from this war to be as harsh as the post-9.11 backlash.
 >
 > "For the jocks who would be prone to violence, this war will
 > seem like the greatest video game ever," AbiNader said.
 > "They'll be able to displace their bigotry - or their
 > elevated sense of patriotism - by watching the news and
 > cheering on the troops."
 >
 > When activism becomes a target
 >
 > Victoria Cunningham is the office manager for Code Pink, an
 > antiwar organization in Washington, D.C. that dubs itself
 > "Women's Pre-Emptive Strike for Peace."
 >
 > Cunningham is the first to read the group's hate mail.
 >
 > "We get more than a hundred negative emails some days," she
 > said. "It ranges from, 'I have nothing to say to you; you
 > make me sick' to, 'How would you like it if I tried to rape
 > and kill you and you had to find a peaceful way to stop
 > me?'"
 >
 > The same anger can be seen in the protest/counter-protest
 > conflicts that happen on street corners across the nation,
 > where each side, to a degree, demonizes the other. Peace
 > activists become unpatriotic Americans sleeping with the
 > enemy; military supporters become warmongers intent on
 > killing innocent women and babies in Iraq.
 >
 > "Everything in the world becomes polarized into good and
 > bad, black and white," said Byron Bland, associate director
 > of the Center on Conflict and Negotiation at Stanford
 > University. "The world becomes divided into those who are
 > fighting evil for good and those who aren't."
 >
 > That's an environment that allows the free-speaking Dixie
 > Chicks and French contrarians to become targets of hate, so
 > we end up eating Freedom Fries while choking on our own
 > narrow-mindedness.
 >
 > "When great issues are at stake, you want to be on the
 > 'right' side of them. That right side justifies horrendous
 > things you do to people on the wrong side," Bland said. "A
 > more realistic sense, of course, is that life is a mixture
 > and people are mixtures; it's a distortion to see them
 > polarized into us and them."
 >
 > Cunningham, Code Pink's office manager, wishes more people
 > would understand such mixtures. "My boyfriend is a captain
 > in the Marine Corps over in Kuwait right now, and others
 > here (at Code Pink) also have loved ones over there," she
 > said. "That's one of the reasons we stand up. We don't want
 > our troops and our people to be used unjustly. But instead
 > of understanding that, it all just becomes another point of
 > polarization to get us divided."
 >
 > [Brian Willoughby is Senior Writer for Tolerance.org]
 >
 >
 > (c) 2003 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
 > MSN 8 helps ELIMINATE E-MAIL VIRUSES. Get 2 months FREE*.



From perryt at bellsouth.net  Mon Mar 31 16:12:22 2003
From: perryt at bellsouth.net (Perry Treadwell)
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 12:12:22 -0800
Subject: [saymaListserv] Letter to IRS
Message-ID: <3E88A126.1010304@bellsouth.net>

Friends, This is the letter that I am including in my federal tax return 
and sending to my congress people. Perry

PERRY TREADWELL
2442 SHADYDALE LANE
DECATUR, GEORGIA 30033
404/325-1504, e-mail perryt at bellsouth.net


Date

To the Internal Revenue Service and other persons concerned:

Again this year, for the 30th time, I am refusing to pay the war tax. I 
usually pay 50 % because that is the portion that goes to the military. 
This year I am sending all of the calculated tax to Hagars House, a 
safe house for battered mothers, because the U.S. imperialism in Iraq is 
depleting money for domestic use.

This is a religious conviction based on my membership in the Religious 
Society of Friends (Quakers). It is ironic that conscientious objection 
has been recognized over a half a century, but I am not allowed to 
practice one of the basic testimonies of Quakerspeaceby being forced 
to pay for war.

I try to live a simple life that does not foster 
the occasion for war.
 
As Judge learned Hand wrote in 1935, 
Anyone may arrange his affairs 
that his taxes shall be as low as possible... .


I find this war with Iraq similar to all other wars in that violence is 
used as a substitute for diplomacy. It would be impossible to document 
all the countries in the world where the U.S. administrations have 
overthrown or have attempted to overthrow governments: Iran, Iraq, 
Chile, El Salvador, Panama, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Cambodia to 
name a few. The U.S. is a major arms supplier for the world. I will not 
be a part of this corruption.

By making this public statement again this year, I am willing to bear 
any consequences. It is time for every concerned citizen to put their 
money where their mouth is.

Signed.

Perry Treadwell