Moral Courage

I find it interesting that Peace Action is lobbying for more cultural exchanges between the US and Islamic countries. I am so traumatized from having lived my life in a western country and the difficulties that befell me that I am probably not the right person to comment on this piece of advocacy. Wonderful group, though.

This is a press release that came out very, very recently:


U.S. Largest Peace Group Responds to Obama Cairo Speech

WASHINGTON - June 4 - Peace Action, the nation’s largest peace organization, responded to President Obama’s speech to the Muslim world in Cairo, Egypt. Paul Kawika Martin, the group’s political director, stated:

“Peace Action appreciates the diplomatic power of President Obama’s words emanating from the Muslim country of Egypt. It will be deeds not words that, in the end, heighten the United States’ moral stature and make Americans safer. Some of these actions include:

“In the Afghanistan region, halt all air and Predator drone strikes that kill, injure and traumatize innocent civilians and drive people to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Provide an exit strategy for U.S. troops to come home as soon as practicably possible.

“Bring all troops and contractors home from Iraq by next summer without leaving 25, 50 thousand or more troops in the country.”

“Become a moral example by not only renouncing torture, but closing the Guantánamo Detention Facility in Cuba, the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and the military prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

“Cut U.S bureaucracy to provide more visas to Muslim students and professionals that allow cultural exchanges.

“Increase Iranian diplomacy at all levels including lifting the ban on routine diplomatic contact with Iranian officials.

“And lastly, significantly increase Afghan and Iraqi-led humanitarian aid, development work and funds to solve the refugee and internally displaced peoples crisis for Afghans, Pakistanis and Iraqis.”
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Founded in 1957, Peace Action, the United States' largest peace and disarmament organization with over 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 34 states, works to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons, promote government spending priorities that support human needs and encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights.