The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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>From: "Bert Gedin" <gedinbert@hotmail.com> >To: citext@chebucto.ns.ca >CC: gedinbert@hotmail.com >Subject: Re: [casi] cyber war >Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 15:52:19 +0000 > > >Dear Elga (& List) > >Your interest in religion puzzles me - if you are non-religious, as you >seem to be saying, why should you concern yourself so much with joint >efforts between different religions (= multi-faith) to condemn the proposed >war(s)? You have just heard that the Pope was opposed - haven't you been >following the news, he hasn't become 'anti' in the last few weeks (by the >way, I'm catholic, not Catholic)? So, you aren't interested in, if I >understand you rightly, a religious solution, but you also say that moral >grounds may have little effect. If religion & morality are out, what >remains? Bush/Blair politics? Nothing at all? What may be effective is a >coalition of differing groups & individuals, who, hopefully, are concerned >with the survival of humanity. > >Greetings, Bert Gedin (Birmingham, U.K.). > > >>From: H Sutter <citext@chebucto.ns.ca> >>To: casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk >>CC: Jiale Ye <yejiale@yahoo.com> >>Subject: Re: [casi] cyber war >>Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 10:48:59 -0400 (AST) >> >> >>Dear Jiale and List, >> >>I agree with you that writing to a potentially hostile >>audience could be worthwhile. But no matter how skilful >>you write, the chances of getting through to military >>personnel is probably nil. >> >>By contrast, the propaganda the US is dumping on Iraqi >>military and civil servants has a blackmail effect: >>"Failing to do so will lead to grave personal consequences." >>This is meant to demoralize - not to persuade. >> >>The US propaganda is dumping on the Iraqi people via the >>airwaves is worth than useless, I'd think. For example: >>"UNSCR 1441 has clearly strengthened the cause of peace >>throughout the world. We can only hope that Saddam Hussein >>seizes the opportunity to begin the end of the isolation and >>suffering that his non-compliance with past UN resolutions >>has brought on the Iraqi people." - Such cynicism is merely >>contemptible: The Iraqi people know only too well who is >>responsible for their "isolation and suffering". >> >>As for posting to CASI itself: I myself find it encouraging >>to read posts about peace efforts or condemnations/corrections >>of war propaganda. It makes me feel I am not alone. (I don't >>get much support where I live.) Besides, not everyone on the >>list is necessarily anti-war or anti-sanctions, it seems. >> >>I just read a book about the Resistance in France during WWII. >>Mutual support was very important for morale. This may be >>true for CASI too. And remember, war proponents too are aware >>of its effect. They just choose to ignore it. >> >>: I also wonder if anyone know of any joint effort >>: between different religions to condemn the proposed >>: war (I just heard that the Pope is against it). [...] >>: Is anyone interested in discussing these things further? >> >>I am not religious either, and I don't know how effective >>(and sincere) condemnations of war by religious groups are. >>Merely condemning war on moral grounds may have little effect. >> >>But I know of some temporal (economic) measures to dampen the >>enthusiasm for war. If this has a chance of gaining momentum >>it could be very effective. There are several (small) groups >>trying to get this started. The theory is that the economy >>relies to two thirds (?) on consumer spending. So the majority >>can wield a lot of power, if it chooses to use it. >> >>Another way is appeal to image. The US is spending millions >>on PR efforts to win "hearts and minds" for their wars. A >>concerted email-blitz telling them (tactfully) that they >>are actually losing could help. >> >>But is it feasible? Can you get enough people to join? What >>existing activist groups would join in - or take up these >>ideas? Right now I am trying to find out. And I would like >>discuss this with anyone who is interested. >> >>in peace, >>Elga Sutter >> >> >>-------------Original Message------------- >>Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 21:51:21 -0800 (PST) >>From: Jiale Ye <yejiale@yahoo.com> >>Subject: Re: [casi] cyber war >>To: casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk >> >>I find this piece of news very interesting and I >>wonder if anyone has thought of doing similar sort of >>thing ourselves e.g. writing to the forum frequented >>by the US army/navy/airforce or just anybody in the >>States /Britain telling them the hazards that will >>follow a war on Iraq? Of course it has to be done >>very skilfully in order not to be classified as spam. >>Sorry guys, but I always feel that there is not much >>use posting on this list - because the fact that I am >>on this list means that I have a certain level of >>knowledge of the situation and I don't need much >>convincing in order to appreciate the effect of the >>war. >> >>I also wonder if anyone know of any joint effort >>between different religions to condemn the proposed >>war (I just heard that the Pope is against it). I am >>not religious myself but I imagine they have quite an >>impact on public opinion (all the more so if it is >>joined in by different religious leaders). Is anyone >>taking any initiatives to facilitate this? Is anyone >>interested in discussing these things further? >> >> >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. >>To unsubscribe, visit >>http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss >>To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk >>All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8 is here: Try it free* for 2 months http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk