"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

*- this page is a mirror of the original at: http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_1645198,00.html

Peace activists want to be heard

Vets organize a peace group; couple marches

By Mike Baird, Caller-Times
January 1, 2003

A World War II veteran who flew 30 missions over Germany is contacting comrades and visiting antiwar Web sites. He's organizing a local chapter of Veterans for Peace.

A couple who owns a local coffee shop is planning a second peace march, and using their business as a place for expression of free speech, with a focus on conscientious objection.

In this Navy town, birthplace of the American GI Forum, where one of the largest employers is a military helicopter repair facility, there are pockets of war resistance. Small pockets.

Retired Methodist minister Dana S. Green doesn't consider himself a conscientious objector - a classification for those who oppose war in all circumstances. And his service flying missions during World War II rule him out as a pacifist. But he does take a strong stand against possible war with Iraq and is seeking other veterans who agree.

Keith Rowley, 38, and Milena Worsham, 30, describe themselves as pacifists. They own the Lotus Cup coffeehouse, 501 Water St., where they encourage a forum tilted against war with Iraq.

"It's scary to hear the level of non-critical thinking going on at Texas A&M's campus," Rowley said. He's a full-time network manager who teaches computer graphics at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. "We're more artist-types than political organizers, but we see the Lotus Cup as a place to encourage peace and critical thinking about politics."

Recently, the couple invited the public to help them decorate their second holiday Peace Tree. They spent the evening with like-minded friends and customers making "peace intention" decorations. One decoration was a heart made from pipe cleaners around a Styrofoam earth with the caption "Let it begin in our hearts." On top, where most Christmas trees would have a star, they placed a globe.

The couple agrees that the Coastal Bend is a difficult place to communicate antiwar sentiment. So far, the coffee shop has been the best place for them to meet others with similar mindsets. The couple said they "just connected" (at the coffee shop) with a group of teachers from Portland who share their views.

"Part of the problem of being a conscientious objector here is the way people cater to the military - afraid of losing local jobs," Worsham said. "To say you're opposed to the war means you're not a patriot. There's an excessive amount of blind patriotism."

About 20 people did join the couple for a Peace March on Ocean Drive following 9/11, and they are now planning another one in mid-March. Two nights weekly they offer an open microphone at the coffee shop to encourage free speech, which Worsham admits she uses as a strong platform for her antiwar sentiment.

This sentiment isn't restricted to civilian ranks.

Conscientious objection status changes the career path of some military personnel, about 200 a year, according to the Pentagon. Brian Cross, staff member with the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors in Oakland, Calif., said many service personnel who call already were uneasy about military duties, and the renewed threat of war has caused them to think about conscientious objector status.

Religious leaders nationwide are offering concern. Many advocate peace, and clearly voice opposition to a war.

"The Christian moral tradition sends a very clear 'no' to pre-emptive war on Iraq," said Shaun Casey, an assistant professor of Christian ethics at the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Corpus Christi's Green had more to say about this. He served his country when he believed it was the right choice, but takes a clearly different stand now.

"George Bush is determined to have war with Iraq, even if he has to deny the United Nations Charter," Green said. "The whole thing is as false as a three-dollar bill."

Contact Mike Baird at 886-3774 or bairdm@caller.com

*- this page is a mirror of the original at: http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_1645198,00.html

Write your government officials!:

President George W. Bush
email: president@whitehouse.gov
White House Opinion Line:
(202) 456-1111
Washington Office:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, US 20500
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson
Washington Office:
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-4304
Phone: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 224-5220
Main District Office:
10440 N. Central Expressway, #1160
Dallas, TX 75231
Phone: (214) 361-3500
Fax: (214) 361-3502

Senator John Cornyn
Washington Office:
517 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
Main District Office:
2323 Bryan St., Ste. 2150
Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (214) 767-3000

U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz
Washington Office:
2470 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4327
Phone: (202) 225-7742
Fax: (202) 226-1134
Main District Office:
3649 Leopard, #510
Corpus Christi, TX 78408
Phone: (361) 883-5868
Fax: (361) 884-9201

Governor Rick Perry
Citizen's Opinion Hotline: 1-800-252-9600
PO Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
Phone: (512) 463-2000
Fax: (512) 463-1849
Washington Office:
122 C St., NW, Ste. 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 638-3927
Fax: (202) 628-1943

State Senator Juan Hinojosa
PO Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711-2068
Phone: (512) 463-0120
Fax: (512) 463-0229
Main District Office:
612 Nolana Ste, 410B
McAllen, TX 78504
Phone: (956) 972-1841
Fax: (956) 686-8462

State Rep. Jaime Capelo
E1.424 Capitol Building
Austin, TX 78768-2910
Phone: (512) 463-0462
Fax: (512) 463-9545
Main District Office:
501 S. Tancahua
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Phone: (361) 882-2277
Fax: (361) 882-2881

City of Corpus Christi:

Mayor Neal, Loyd
email: dianag@ci.corpus-christi.tx.us
Phone: (361) 880-3100
Fax: (361) 880-3103

Kelly, Bill (District 1)
email: maryj@cctexas.com
Phone: (361) 289-1383
Fax: (361) 289-0712

Colmenero, Javier D. (District 2)
email: jcolmenr@davlin.net
Phone: (361) 880-3105
Fax: (361) 880-3113

Noyola, Jesse (District 3)
email: jnoyola@davlin.net
Phone: (361) 880-3105
Fax: (361) 880-3113

Scott, Mark (District 4)
email: mscott@sanjacintotitle.com
Phone: (361) 880-3105
Fax: (361) 880-3113

Kinnison, Rex (District 5)
email: rkcpatx@aol.com
Phone: (361) 880-3105
Office: (361) 884-6396
Fax: (361) 880-3113

Cooper, Melody (At Large)
email: joe@melodycooperlaw.com
(361) 887-8014 (wk)
(361) 850-7383 (hm)

Chesney, Brent (At Large)
email: bchesney@firstam.com
Phone: (361) 880-3105
Fax: (361) 880-3113

Garrett, Henry (At Large)
email: chiefhcg@aol.com
(361) 949-8406
cell: (361) 850-3113
fax: (361) 949-0162

the South Texas Alliance for Peace & Justice website is graciously and freely hosted by:

please support local peace-loving businesses!