War in Iraq - Women have the Power

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday February 10, 2003 17:54 by Pearse Stokes - private individual ppstokes at hotmail dot com 39 Pembroke Gardens, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 +353-87-2453118

This letter explains why women must take the lead in stopping the ongoing wars in the Middle East. If you can use this idea, or publish it, or circulate it, please feel free to do so. Keep up the good work!

Dear Sir or Madam

For all the differences between the races, there is one unifying thread throughout humanity. When faced with unbearable suffering, we cry out for our mothers. We all do. Men and women, children and adults. Iraqis and Americans, soldiers and civilians. On the battlefield or at work, blown to pieces or tortured to madness. As at birth, we turn to our mothers in our last pleas for comfort.

It is entirely natural that women have led the way in fighting war and suffering. We are now perilously close to more war in the Middle East. Millions have died there as a result of decades of western interference. Their pitiful cries still ring out across the deserts. Iranians, Iraqis, Palestinians, Israelis, Kurds, Turks. All crying. Mummy! Mammy! Momma! Ummi! If you try, you can hear them now.

To some, especially mothers like Ann Murphy, the cries are deafening. The primeval force on which we rely for life stirs them into action. Sometimes their actions appear pathetic, useless, or just plain illegal. A hammer against an aircraft - maybe one fewer child crying itself to death, cut down, legless, motherless.

Remember Greenham Common: A small group of women pitched their tents against a Nuclear Airfield. Armed with wirecutters, hammers, and their convictions, they drew attention to the absolute, final madness of nuclear weapons. It all seems so familiar. It worked then, perhaps now. Those women made the World a safer place, for a while, at least.

In the current conflict, we men haven't performed very well. Women are better endowed. Their creative and nurturing energy is a force to be reckoned with. Right now would be a good time for them to unleash it.

Women influence the men around them, more than anything does. Knowing what has been and will be inflicted on all the people of the Middle East, women should call on every one of our elected representatives, demanding that they publicly reject the call to war. Women can make their unions, organisations, committees and councils do likewise. Put up websites. Take part in discussion groups and public gatherings. Whatever they do, acting together or alone, women may hold the key to the current crisis facing this fragile World, and the lives of possibly millions of people.

If you think there is an alternative, cup your hand to your ear and listen.

Yours faithfully

Pearse Stokes
39 Pembroke Gardens
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Ireland

Tel +353-1-87 245 3118 (Int’l)
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