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Reconciliation The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) is a group composed of people from many faiths, and no particular faith -- all coming together to support nonviolence and justice. Offering people of conscience an action response to a morally-impaired U.S. foreign policy. |
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Local News and Announcements... Don't miss anything...please scroll downMid-MO FOR Condemns Israel's Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla & Mourns the Deaths of HumanitariansPublic Statement passed out at 2 June News ConferenceCo-sponsored by Mid-MO FOR & MU PIPA (Palestine Israel Peace Association) To view the Columbia Daily Tribune’s article on the news conference, log onto http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/jun/02/local-residents-decry-attack-on-gaza-aid-flotilla/ The Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation mourns the killing of at least nine people and the injuries of dozens of others in the May 31 Israeli attack of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. This attack by Israel against the humanitarian mission is an affront against humanity. The Mid-MO FOR condemns Israel’s violent actions and supports an international, impartial investigation of the incident. We additionally oppose violence by Palestinian or Israeli combatants and support nonviolent resolution of conflicts between the peoples. We urge Israel to follow through on public promises to release all of the nearly 700 people, taken by force from the six Gaza-bound ships and detained by the military. Furthermore, we implore US officials to pressure Israel to end its illegal blockade of the occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip and to cease sending US dollars to enable the Israeli military to undertake such actions with impunity. We sadly recognize U.S. complicity in arming Israel and enabling its human rights abuses. In July 2008, the United States signed a contract worth $1.9 billion to transfer the latest-generation of naval combat vessels to Israel at U.S. taxpayer expense; some of those vessels were likely used in this barbaric attack on international humanitarian activists. Currently, Congress is in the process of appropriating a record $3.2 billion in military aid to Israel this budget year. The Gaza Freedom Flotilla boats were attacked by the Israeli military in international waters, a clear violation of international law. An elite commando unit of the Israeli military, armed with heavy automatic weapons, boarded the ships. Israel must be held responsible for this use of disproportionate force and for recklessly endangering the lives of all civilians onboard. The Flotilla was attempting to break Israel’s illegal and immoral three-year siege of the 1.5 million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Israel military forces, during its December 2008-January 2009 assault on the Gaza Strip, codenamed “Operation Cast Lead” killed more than 1400 Palestinians. Beyond the horrific murderous actions, the “operation” further exacerbated the human suffering of the siege, causing $2 billion in infrastructural damage. Israel has nonetheless consistently refused to allow rebuilding materials into the Gaza Strip. High-end medical supplies, as well as a revolving list of items that has included pasta, jam, and cardamom, have also been denied. When armed might is used to attempt to break up clearly organized nonviolent resistance to injustice, the conscience of humanity is offended. Besides that, the judgment of history goes against those seeking to preserve entrenched privilege when confronted by disciplined and determined People Power. Earlier this spring we recalled with shame the gunning down of unarmed protesters at Kent State University 40 years ago. We think of the murder of hundreds at Tiananmen Square when the Chinese government attempted to suppress democracy. The brutal beatings at the Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama during the Civil Rights struggles are another example of the might of the State brought to bear against those courageously standing against injustice. In these and so many other cases we see the power of nonviolent direct action -- which is not just refusal to engage in violent defense of rights, but also the vivid expression of the power of Truth, the willingness to sacrifice all for justice. Those who have perished in this humanitarian flotilla will join, in the annals of history, those we respect as having advanced the claims and interest of all mankind against those who, in an ultimately futile effort, try to suppress the just aspirations of humanity. We mourn the loss of these brave souls, and honor their efforts to relieve suffering. --David Finke, Mid-MO FOR Board Chair and Jeff Stack, Mid-MO FOR Coordinator 0 Comments (perma-link) Email this:  
June 2, 2010 Public Statement-- Condemning the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and mourning the deaths of humanitarians The Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation mourns the killing of at least nine people and the injuries of dozens of others in the May 31 Israeli attack of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. This attack by Israel against the humanitarian mission is an affront against humanity. The Mid-MO FOR condemns Israel’s violent actions and supports an international, impartial investigation of the incident. We additionally oppose violence by Palestinian or Israeli combatants and support nonviolent resolution of conflicts between the peoples. We urge Israel to follow through on public promises to release all of the nearly 700 people, taken by force from the six Gaza-bound ships and detained by the military. Furthermore, we implore US officials to pressure Israel to end its illegal blockade of the occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip and to cease sending US dollars to enable the Israeli military to undertake such actions with impunity. We sadly recognize U.S. complicity in arming Israel and enabling its human rights abuses. In July 2008, the United States signed a contract worth $1.9 billion to transfer the latest-generation of naval combat vessels to Israel at U.S. taxpayer expense; some of those vessels were likely used in this barbaric attack on international humanitarian activists. Currently, Congress is in the process of appropriating a record $3.2 billion in military aid to Israel this budget year. The Gaza Freedom Flotilla boats were attacked by the Israeli military in international waters, a clear violation of international law. An elite commando unit of the Israeli military, armed with heavy automatic weapons, boarded the ships. Israel must be held responsible for this use of disproportionate force and for recklessly endangering the lives of all civilians onboard. The Flotilla was attempting to break Israel’s illegal and immoral three-year siege of the 1.5 million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. Israel military forces, during its December 2008-January 2009 assault on the Gaza Strip, codenamed “Operation Cast Lead” killed more than 1400 Palestinians. Beyond the horrific murderous actions, the “operation” further exacerbated the human suffering of the siege, causing $2 billion in infrastructural damage. Israel has nonetheless consistently refused to allow rebuilding materials into the Gaza Strip. High-end medical supplies, as well as a revolving list of items that has included pasta, jam, and cardamom, have also been denied. When armed might is used to attempt to break up clearly organized nonviolent resistance to injustice, the conscience of humanity is offended. Besides that, the judgment of history goes against those seeking to preserve entrenched privilege when confronted by disciplined and determined People Power. Earlier this spring we recalled with shame the gunning down of unarmed protesters at Kent State University 40 years ago. We think of the murder of hundreds at Tiananmen Square when the Chinese government attempted to suppress democracy. The brutal beatings at the Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama during the Civil Rights struggles are another example of the might of the State brought to bear against those courageously standing against injustice. In these and so many other cases we see the power of nonviolent direct action -- which is not just refusal to engage in violent defense of rights, but also the vivid expression of the power of Truth, the willingness to sacrifice all for justice. Those who have perished in this humanitarian flotilla will join, in the annals of history, those we respect as having advanced the claims and interest of all mankind against those who, in an ultimately futile effort, try to suppress the just aspirations of humanity. We mourn the loss of these brave souls, and honor their efforts to relieve suffering. --David Finke, Mid-MO FOR Board Chair and Jeff Stack, Mid-MO FOR Coordinator 0 Comments (perma-link) Email this:
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| Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation |
P.O. Box 268 Columbia, Missouri 65205 |
| Questions about the Fellowship of Reconciliation? -- contact Jeff Stack at
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