A Peaceful Response to Syrian Crisis

Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice issued this statement on Sept. 4, 2013. We give thanks for the continued efforts to work for a nonviolent resolution to the tragic conflict in Syria, and urge you to keep the people of Syria in your prayers and support humanitarian efforts on their behalf.

"As people of faith from diverse traditions, Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice joins with a growing number of faith organizations and people of good will around the globe in condemning chemical weapons use in Syria or anywhere, and insisting that the world community, in particular our own United States government, respond to this tragedy using diplomatic and political tools, not military intervention. We implore Congress to refuse to authorize any military action against Syria. Bombing and killing Syrians to send a message that bombing and killing Syrians is wrong makes absolutely no sense.

U.S. military interventions in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan over the last 60 years make it clear that war as a solution to world problems is NOT the answer. By denying the president the authority to use military force against Syria, the United States Congress could bring us one step closer to the end of senseless war.

If the Syrian government did, in fact, use chemical weapons against its own people, the world has tools available to respond to that heinous act.  The United Nations should call on the International Criminal Court to investigate all parties that may be using chemical weapons or committing crimes against humanity in Syria.  The U.S. should convene a meeting of the 189 signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention so that they can collectively decide how to respond as called for in the terms of the treaty. Meanwhile, our House and Senate should pass pending bipartisan legislation prohibiting military aid to Syria. Crimes against humanity and those who commit them can, are, and must be justly dealt with in courts of law. Bombs, no matter how precisely targeted, do not have the power of juries and judges to differentiate between innocent and guilty.

In preparation for the upcoming Jewish Holy Days, Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center writes that during Rosh Hashanah we are to “plead with God – which means also with ourselves – to move from the throne of Punitive Justice to the throne of Compassionate Repair.” 

“Drop gas masks, not bombs,” is the metaphor Waskow proposes. Translated, he means, “use the power of the U.S. in nonviolent, non-miitary, nonlethal ways to counter Assad’s (or the rebels’) possible use of chemical weapons.”

Pope Francis has also addressed the situation in Syria. “I appeal strongly for peace, an appeal which arises from the deep within me. How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed! … Never has the use of violence brought peace in its wake. War begets war, violence begets violence."

Francis announced that Saturday, Sept. 7, in St. Peter's Square, "we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace!”

In addition, the Roman Catholic Fides news agency reports that the Grand Mufti of Syria, the spiritual leader of Sunni Islam in that country, expressed his intent to join the Pope in this prayer, praising the initiative to "pray for peace in Syria" as "good and for the good of humanity."

The Friends Committee on National Legislation states, “The world community needs to act forcefully to bring those responsible for using chemical weapons—anyone who commits war crime—to justice. But U.S. military action will hurt more than help, increasing violence and risk of more chemical weapons attacks. There is a nonviolent path forward in Syria.”  ( Click here for FCNL's excellent resources and information on this issue.)

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also calling for restraint, urging, “Diplomacy should be given a chance and peace given a chance. It is important that all differences of opinion should be solved through peaceful means and through dialogue.”

Now President Obama has given each member of Congress an historic opportunity to stand up and be counted. Each representative and senator needs to hear from us, the American people, to let them know that once and for all we reject the indiscriminate killing of innocents in response to the killing of innocents."

Contact information for local Congress members:

Senator Barbara Boxer
Oakland Office: (510) 286-8537
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 224-3553
Use website for email messages: boxer.senate.gov

Senator Dianne Feinstein
San Francisco Office: (415) 393-0707
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 224-3841
Use website for email messages: feinstein.senate.gov

Representative Anna Eshoo - thank her for her strong statement issued 9/11/13 against military action
Palo Alto Office: (650) 323-2984
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-8104
Use website for email messages: eshoo.house.gov

Representative Mike Honda
San Jose Office: (408) 436-2720
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-2631
Use website for email messages: honda.house.gov 

Representative Jackie Speier
San Mateo Office: (650) 342-0300
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-3531
Use website for email messages: speier.house.gov  

Representative Sam Farr
Salinas Office: (831) 424-2229
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-2861
Use website for email messages: farr.house.gov

Representative Barbara Lee
San Francisco Office: (415) 556-4862
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-4965
Use website for email messages: pelosi.house.gov 

Representative Zoe Lofgren
San Jose Office: (408) 271-8700
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-3072
Use website for email messages: zoelofgren.house.gov 

Representative Jerry McNerney
Stockton Office:  (209) 476-8552
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-1947
Use website for email messages: mcnerney.house.gov

Representative Nancy Pelosi
San Francisco Office: (415) 556-4862
Washington D.C. Office: (202) 225-4965
Use website for email messages: pelosi.house.gov

Photo credits: The first photo is from blog.godreports.com. The second is from catholicsun.org.  The third is from caritas.org.nz.  Thank you!